Family oriented club target Kent League in five years

VANDANEL KENT County League Division Two West outfit OPK Football Club has announced the appointment of Simon Kidby as their new chairman, writes Stephen McCartney.

Mr Kidby brings with him a wealth of experience and contacts in the Kent League, having resigned from the management committee at Holmesdale earlier in the season.

He was instrumental in OPK’s secretary Liam Kelly’s appointment as assistant first team coach at Bulmers Cider Kent League outfit Croydon until the end of the season.

Mr Kelly resigns from his role as Crockenhill’s reserve team manager at the weekend, following his arrival at Wested Meadow in November 2008, having managed OPK’s first team for two years prior to this.

Mr Kelly, speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk, spoke about his new appointment and new chairman.

He said: “I am delighted and excited, along with the rest of the committee that we have managed to attract a new chairman with the experience of Simon.

“His experience of Kent football and commercial knowledge running football clubs will hopefully be the building blocks on our already steady foundation here at OPK.

“Since inception OPK have taken the fast-track approach to the Kent County League, however, this is merely the start of where the clubs ambition and potential lay.

“Simon’s appointment will help OPK fulfil its full potential and underline its true ambition.

“I already have Simon to thank for his introduction to Tony Beckingham and Ken Thurgood at Croydon. I have met and trained with the team there, and was extremely impressed.

“Croydon have a keen squad full of confidence and have a fantastic team spirit. I felt instantly welcomed by Tony, Ken and the lads. I am very much looking forward to working with them.”

Mr Kidby revealed ambitious plans for the Charlton based club.

He said: “I have seen Liam in action and spoken to him on numerous occasions. We share the same ambitions and I have been extremely impressed with both his potential and that of OPK’s young squad.

“I have my fingers crossed that Liam will not impress too much at Croydon and return to lead OPK for the start of next season.

“I know the lads at Croydon extremely well and I am hoping Liam’s appointment is the first of many initiatives between the two clubs.”

Mr Kidby explained that he will start work on a five-year plan with the committee immediately, which he believes will see them in a position to apply to enter the Kent Premier League in year five.

He said: “These are exciting times for OPK; the priorities are to obtain immediate status, identify an experienced coach to work alongside Liam and ensure the club is in a position to progress year on year over the five years and beyond.”

He also explained that the club are about to enter into discussions with the Meridian Sports Club regarding ambitious plans to redevelop the site to meet Kent League ground grading requirements.

Mr Kidby also revealed that he hoped to be in a position to shortly announce a four-figure three-year sponsorship deal with a local internet company.

So who are OPK?

OPK Football club, formerly OPK Inferno, were formed in 2006, in remembrance of Owen Patrick Kelly. Brave baby Owen lost his short life after 17 months. Owen’s mother Laura Doherty suffered complications at birth and Owen had to have an emergency birth, which left Owen with severe brain damage.

All the club’s players are friends or relations of Owen’s father, Jonathan (Jinx) Kelly, and decided that this would be a fantastic way of remembering the little miracle whom was only given two weeks to live at birth.

A club statement said, “We only hope as a team we can show all the same courage, strength and determination in our game that the namesake of our club showed every minute of his life.

“We also have a second team named OPK Reserves. These boys are familiar to most of the current squad and are a welcome source of both entertainment, after the game, in competition and rivalry.

“In addition to these changes, we have also changed our home venue, in a bid to attract a better standard of footballer to our club. We will now be playing at The Meridian in Charlton.

“We have also changed the image of our club, moving away from the ref of Inferno and into the Blue, bringing us back to the heritage of baby Owen.

“OPK was formed in 2006, under the name of OPK Inferno. Now just OPK the club is looking to build on what was nothing short of a remarkable last two seasons.”

OPK are currently in seventh place in the Division Two West in the Vandanel Kent County League table - with five wins and four draws from their first fourteen games at their highest ever level, especially considering the club finished in fourth place in the Bromley & Orpington League last term.

The club have a website, similar to Kent League sides Slade Green and Lordswood:

http://www.clubwebsite.co.uk/opkfc/