Fisher replace Croydon in Kent League

Thursday 18th June 2009

THE KENT League have tonight confirmed that Croydon have had their application to switch to the Combined Counties League accepted, writes Mike Green.

The Croydon Sports Arena outfit, who clinched the Kent League Cup for the very first time with a victory over Erith Town in last season's final, have received official confirmation that they can switch league's at tonight's Kent League Annual General Meeting, held at Lordswood Sports & Social Club.

With the League already losing champions VCD Athletic to the Ryman League, there were questions raised from the floor as to whether Croydon's move was good for the League or not.

Chair Denise Richmond reiterated the League's status that whilst the management committee did not want Croydon to leave, the Football Association had the final ruling which saw the move permitted.

Questions were asked of the Croydon representatives at the meeting (what the Kent League had done wrong) but these fears were alaid as the Surrey club who are affiliated to the Surrey FA felt that they just wanted to play at home in their own county.

Despite this assurance, it was noted by the chair that the League couldn't move forward at this time as effectively they would go into the new season with one fewer club than in the last campaign.

And as expected, Fisher FC were elected "unanimously" into the Kent League (and will continue to be affiliated primarily to the London FA rather than the Kent FA as has been the case for the bulk of the old club's history).

They will remain at Dulwich Hamlet's Champion Hill ground and will play their midweek games on Monday evening.

Despite losing all of their 32 league games last season, Sporting Bengal United have maintained their Kent League status for next season.

Meanwhile, there are changes to the reserve set up, with Kent League Division Two champions Holmesdale joining runners up Herne Bay in Kent League Division One next season.

Folkestone Invicta and Sevenoaks Town have both been relegated into Kent League Division Two.

Greenwich Borough, who have been forced out of their Harrow Meadow ground and have secured a three-year deal to groundshare Holmesdale's Oakley Road, have withdrawn their reserve sides from the Kent League, alongwith Tunbridge Wells and Dover Athletic.

But Beckenham Town will play Kent League (division two) reserve team football again, following a four year absence and Erith Town, who return to the Erith Sports Stadium after a year sharing at Thamesmead Town, also return to reserve division two - this time after just a year's absence.

Visit the Kent League website: www.kentleague.com