Five Kent clubs in the last 32 of The FA Vase is a great achievement, says Denise Richmond

The chair of the Southern Counties Football League has hailed the five Kent clubs that have reached the last 32 of The FA Vase.



Ashford United, Erith & Belvedere, Greenwich Borough, Phoenix Sports and Tunbridge Wells look forward to Fourth Round ties next month.

Phoenix Sports, who are unbeaten in second-place in the table, welcome league leaders Erith & Belvedere to Mayplace Road East on Saturday, which will be a Christmas Cracker for the expected large crowd.

Phoenix, with two games in hand over the Deres, can claim top spot should they win the league game.

Issuing her Christmas message on the League website, Denise Richmond said: “We started this season with 20 clubs, something that we haven’t had for a good few years and so far the season has been quite exciting and promises to remain so.

“League results ebb and flow, with some very unexpected ones at times and because of them there remains fierce competition at the top of the table.

“Phoenix remain unbeaten and I wonder how long that will continue as this coming weekend will be a hard test.”

She added: “We haven’t lost too many fixtures yet due to bad weather (and long may that continue) so all in all we are in the right place regarding fulfillment of fixtures.

“There is also fierce competition at the bottom of the table, where one unfortuante club will make history by being the first one to be relegated.”

Deal Town and Erith Town are both are rooted to the foot of the table with 12 points, although Deal have a couple of games in hand on the Dockers.

“We have had some good runs in The FA Cup, most noteably this season being Greenwich Borough who reached the Fourth Qualifying Round.

“In recent seasons we seem to making The FA Vase more special than we could dream and this season we have excelled again so far with five teams still left in the competition at the Fourth Round stage.

“This is a great achievement for any League.  I can’t remember if we have ever had this many in the Fourth Round.  Good luck to all of them.”

Visit the Southern Counties East Football League website: www.scefl.com