Cray Valley grab Kent League place as Sporting Bengal move to Essex League

LEWISHAM BOROUGH chief executive Ray Simpson says he is delighted that his club have been admitted into the Kent Invicta League at the eleventh hour, writes Stephen McCartney.


The FA Leagues Committee met yesterday and made some changes to club placements at Kent League (Step 5) and Kent Invicta League (Step 6) level.

The Safety Net Associates Kent League will welcome Cray Valley (PM), who have been moved from the Kent Invicta League, after Sporting Bengal were granted permission to transfer to the Essex Senior League for the coming season.

As a result, Cray Valley, will be replaced in the Kent Invicta League by Lewisham Borough, thus keeping in line with the agreement of the clubs who formed the new competition at the start of this month.

“I am delighted that the club have managed to secure a place in the new Kent Invicta League and even more pleased that we will not have to attend the Appeal hearing at the FA headquarters, which was scheduled for Thursday,” said Mr Simpson.

“This decision will significantly assist the development of football in Lewisham.  We are an ambitious club and do realise that the real hard work will start now in terms of development at Ladywell Arena.

“Works are already underway at the ground to meet the full criteria for at least Step 5 with the firm support of the club patron, the Mayor of Lewisham, Sir Steve Bullock.”

Mr Simpson, whose club finished in sixth place in the Vandanel Kent County League last season, added: “I do wish to formally thank all those who contributed to making this happen and also would like to thank all those who sent messages of support in person, by email, various forums, telephone and by letter.

“We cannot wait for the season to start and be a part of the exciting footballing times in Kent.”

A statement from Cray Valley which was published on www.cray-valley.co.uk said:  “The club has been restructured for the coming season, with the great news that the first team have just been accepted into the Kent League – our dream has come true!

“We won’t be running a reserve side in the South London Alliance, but instead will be concentrating on developing our youth policy by running an under 18 side in the Kent Youth League, and will give good young players the chance to progress by experiencing being part of the first team set up. We will also be running another Under 15 team, again in the Kent Youth League.

“At the time of writing, the new clubhouse and changing rooms are well on the way to being ready in time for the first Kent Invicta game on 20th August, whilst there is now hard standing for spectators around three sides of the main pitch.”

Today’s news means that Canterbury City (who will groundshare Herne Bay’s Winch’s Field ground) and Cray Valley (Paper Mills), who finished in second and third place in the Vandanel Kent County League last season, will be playing Safety Net Associates Kent League football next season, although champions Hollands & Blair will be one of the sixteen sides in the new Kent Invicta League.

Sporting Bengal United, meanwhile, leave the Kent League after a woeful eight seasons, where their highest league position was fourteenth and the east Londoners finished rock bottom four times.

Visit Cray Valley’s website: www.cray-valley.co.uk

Visit Lewisham Borough’s website: www.lewishamboroughfc.com  

Visit Kent League website: www.kentleague.com  

Visit Kent Invicta League website: www.kentinvictaleague.com