Del Oldfield: Offer to become Beckenham Town's manager was too good to turn down

DEL OLDFIELD says the offer to become Beckenham Town’s manager was just too good to turn down.

Oldfield was appointed the manager of Kent County League Premier Division side Kent United on 9 November 2003 and guided the Dartford based outfit to a sixth-place finish, having picked up 15 wins, five draws and 10 defeats.

Kent United finished 16 points adrift of promoted champions Halls Athletic.

The side are currently in thirteenth-place of seventeen sides in the eleventh-tier, having picked up two wins, three draws and three defeats.

Kent United are currently 15 points adrift of league leaders New Romney and have Sporting Club Thamesmead (nine points from 10), Borden Village (eight points from 10 games), Metrogas (six points from eight games) and Ide Hill (three points from nine games) beneath them in the table.

Crayford Arrows were beaten 8-5 after extra time in Oldfield’s last game in charge claiming a victory in the Bill Manklow Inter-Regional Challenge Cup Second Round last weekend.

Oldfield took charge of 31 games in all competitions, winning 15, drawing eight and losing six with a 48 per cent win ratio.

Oldfield started his managerial career at Phoenix Sports where he managed their under 18 side in the Kent Youth League.

The Barnehurst based outfit fielded a Reserve Side in the Southern Counties East Football League First Division and Oldfield took charge of the side, where he replaced Ben Kotey in April 2018.

Oldfield then managed Stansfeld in the Kent County League Premier Division before replacing interim manager Stuart Webb on 1 March 2020 to manage Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division side Erith & Belvedere.

Beckenham Town parted company with Darren Anslow by “mutual consent” on Thursday 19 September.

Senior players, Jack Holland, Rob Carter, Harry Gamble and coach Billy Walton took interim charge for the club’s next six games:

21 September 2024 – League – Home – Merstham W3-0

25 September 2024 – Kent Senior Cup – Away – Sevenoaks Town – W3-1

28 September 2024 – League – Away – Erith Town – W3-2

5 October 2024 – League – Away - Burgess Hill Town – L2-4

12 October 2024 – League – Home – Sittingbourne – D2-2

15 October 2024 – League – Away – Broadbridge Heath – W3-2

Beckenham Town remain at the top of the Isthmian League South East Division table, having picked up eight wins, two draws and two defeats from their 12 league games, although the club have played the most number of games in the division.

Beckenham Town travel to second-from-bottom side Lancing on Saturday, five points clear of a Ramsgate side that have won all seven of their league games but Ben Smith’s side do have five games in hand.

“I’d like to say a massive thank you to everyone at the club, on and off the pitch, for an amazing year,” said Oldfield in a statement upon his departure from Kent United this morning.

“There really are some great people involved and I wish them nothing but the best for the future.

“Sometimes though an offer comes along that is just too good to turn down.”

Oldfield, who is a London Taxi driver, has never managed in the eighth-tier of English football before.

“Extremely humbled to even be in the conversation but couldn’t be happier with the appointment and now can’t wait to get going,” added Oldfield.

“A club I played for in the twilight of my career, so I’m fully aware what’s expected of me. Time to get to work.”

A Kent United statement added: “We can today confirm the departure of Del Oldfield as first team manager, who has been offered and accepted a role at Beckenham Town.

“We want to thank Del for all his hard work at Kent United FC both on and off the pitch and wish him well for the future.

“We have appointed Joe Jackson and Chris Hubbard as interim first team managers whilst we begin our search for a permanent manager.”

Beckenham Town issued a brief statement, adding: “We are delighted to announce that Del Oldfield has joined the management team at Beckenham Town.”

The Eden Park Avenue outfit have not confirmed who will form Oldfield’s management team.