Lewisham not being in the Kent Invicta League will damage football in our borough - warns Simpson

LEWISHAM BOROUGH (COMMUNITY) chief executive Ray Simpson says he has lodged a formal appeal against the decision not to invite his club in to the newly formed Kent Invicta League next season, writes Stephen McCartney.


Mr Simpson, who is also the chairman of the Lewisham Football Partnership, highlighted the points to why he feels the south east London club should be one of the sixteen team’s that kick-off the new Step Six League in August.

The exclusion of club’s like Gillingham based champions Hollands & Blair and Lewisham Borough raised eyebrows around Kent as they both have team personnel and facilities, in time, to progress up the football ladder, but to invite football teams that play on park pitches at the lowest tier of the football pyramid is a bitter pill to swallow for Mr Simpson.

He said: “The basis of our appeal made under paragraph 8.2(b) of the Rules & Regulation of the National League System is as follows:

*    The report following the inspection is misleading and does not convey how close we really are to the necessary G category required

*   Unfairness in terms of the decision making procedure to select some clubs and not others given the fact that no club has all the required elements

*  Some clubs who have been invited were not even at Step 7 and now have the opportunity to jump three divisions and above ourselves

*  This (Kent Invicta League) is the next natural step for the club, which would assist them in obtaining funding to develop the facility to Step 5 (the Safety Net Associates Kent League) and beyond

*  Lewisham have been an instrumental and key player in the Kent County Premier Division for a    number of years and have been close to achieving Step 5 having won the Premier Division in 2005-06

Mr Simpson insists, “Lewisham not being in the new Step 6 League would severely damage the future of football in the Borough.”

He insists the Ladywell Arena is well equipped to stage matches in the Kent Invicta League.

“The report indicates that there is no dedicated viewing areas – there are areas all around the stadium with seating around different parts of the ground for 30 people and standing for at least 100 and possibly more.

“London Senior Cup matches have attracted big attendances up to 100 and one midweek league match this season under lights attracted 125 people.

“It is not true to say that the Local authority would be reluctant to do anything to the Stadium as the track has been upgraded to Olympic training standard.  Actually the opposite is the case as given that the profile has been raised for the facility, a commitment to improve the facilities has been assured and easily within the first year and some areas by start of season 2011/12.

“We believe that if there is an intention to get clubs closer to Step 5 then surely the positives that a club has, should be given strong consideration, for example:

·         Floodlights are the most difficult issue to resolve and erect – we already have them
·          We have excellent spacious changing facilities for all, including female officials
·          There are two entrances/exits and not one as was specified.  Our ground is fully enclosed – there is no park type feel to it  and there are no adjoining pitches 
·         There are sufficient toilet facilities more than the one specified in the report
·          The kiosk on site is a good size and provides a good range of refreshments on match days along with match day programmes
·         The pitch playing surface meets the required measurement standard and the quality has improved significantly over the last two years
·         There is a walkway (blue railings) to provide a safe walkway

Mr Simpson added: “We accept that some of the other elements we do not have but we can get them in a relatively short space of time.  Some of what we have will take other clubs years to get – if at all!”

Mr Simpson asks “Is Step 6 purely facility based – should not all factors be considered for clubs applying for this new League?

“If there are clubs who have the facilities but not the playing strength this would make a mockery of them in any new league.

“How can clubs jump from Division Two in our league straight to the new Invicta League and then if they were to be relegated it would be to the Kent County Premier Division.  We clearly have the playing strength and have developed our facilities year on year but need to have access to funding to ensure that significant works are carried out to the required standard – having spoken with the Local Authority and Football Foundation – Step 6 would bring this access for us.

“Step 6 is the next natural step for us – we have always applied for Step 5 as there was no Step 6.  We always believed that we were a Step 6 club and have been treated as such when having been inspected for Step 5.

“Remaining at what would be a weakened Step 7 would be a backward step given that 10 of 16 current Kent County Premier Division clubs would not be participating.

“I believe that a straw poll of clubs would want us in this new league given our current facilities and playing strength.  There are a number of clubs who would take us in the Step 5 League now.

“With more assistance towards developing facilities and adequate timescale being extended to the club, we believe that Ryman League football would have been very possible for us by now.

“There are numerous examples of clubs being assisted to progress and move up the ladder.  We are ambitious but also require the time and finance necessary to develop as an organisation.

“Lewisham has a rich footballing history and was one of the flagship pilots for the Football Foundation when it was created, enabling four new pavilions to be created to bring more opportunities to its residents to take part in football.

“The Lewisham Borough (Community) Football Club has for many years held a pivotal role in terms of football achieving consistently within the Kent County League Premier Division – winners in 2005-06, when runners-up Faversham Town were promoted to the Kent League – and striving to take the lead into Step 5 and beyond.

“The Council has also consistently supported the club in its endeavors and is still working closely to improve and upgrade facilities to enable this.

“Two years ago the umbrella role of the Borough Football Club was merged into new Football Partnership which is going from strength to strength, while the Borough Football Club continues to make great progress with its development squads, and its ongoing international football links.

“This decision will also damage the club’s ability to continue to operate and retain players at that level to compete in a higher league.

“Frankly, the decision has the real potential to put at risk the ongoing wider football development strategy for Lewisham as well as the sustainability of the Lewisham Football Partnership.”

David Fowkes, the chief executive of the London Football Association, added, “The LFA has demonstrated its support for the club and will continue to provide it.  We can state our total support for the club and its objectives both as a football club in itself but also as a champion of the local community. 

“While it can be said that all clubs represent their community – they are, after all, named after their town etc – Lewisham Borough clearly has the London Borough of Lewisham behind it.

“The London FA believe that this is an extremely sound application and should be given the most serious consideration.”

Mr Simpson added, “I understand that there is an FA Executive meeting scheduled to take place on tomorow and have urged that strong consideration be given to upholding this Appeal at that meeting and with the Step 6 Steering Committee with a view to reconsidering the decision to not invite Lewisham Borough (Community) Football Club to participate in the new Kent Invicta Football League for 2011/12.”

Meanwhile, applications are invited for the position of Referees Appointments Officer for the new Kent Invicta League, which will be formally constituted at a meeting of invited clubs on 2 June 2011 and commencing fixtures in August 2011.

The League seek applications from those with experience of Senior Football and are keen to be part of the exciting challenges of a new League in the National Leagues Structure.

The Role of the Referees Appointing Officer is as follows:

Selection of Match Officials to join the Leagues list of Referees and Assistant Referees
Appoint Match Officials, Referees and Assistant Referees to all League and Cup Matches
Maintain Records of all Match Officials appointments and Club Marks
Liaise with the Kent County F A on Promotion Scheme Appointments for Referees
Attend Monthly Management Meetings
Liaise with the Kent County F A and Football Association on Referee matters

Please email your CV to john_moules@hotmail.co.uk 

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

Visit Kent County League website: www.kentcountyfootballleague.co.uk