Merger will strengthen both clubs, says Mike Drabble

Friday 26th July 2013

Two Kent football clubs are to merge at the start of the 2014/2015 season.

Hildenborough Athletic – who clinched the Haart of Kent County League Premier Division title on the final day of last season without playing – have announced that they will merge with Artois United and will work alongside each other as if they were one this season.

Hildenborough manager Andrew McKenchie, who takes his side to play Kent Invicta League side Rusthall in a pre-season friendly tomorrow, told the club’s website: “The amalgamation of two strong committees can only be a good for both clubs, with years of experience from the two separate clubs coming together to hopefully push us both forward and be in a stronger position to promote the clubs and hopefully make us a more attractive proposition for companies or individuals to sponsor.”

He added: “This is an exciting time for us, with our reserve team entering the Kent County League we are looking to bring in a joint manager to work alongside last season’s manager, Ben Large, making this team stronger, helping in pushing our club in the right direction, this is the focus of everyone involved in the merger and that’s the main thing.”

A statement from Mike Drabble of Artois added: “With so many Hildenborough players now playing for Artois, the merger seemed to be an obvious thing to do. It will strengthen both clubs.

“But we want to take it slowly and do it properly. There are some important decisions still to be made. We’ll run with our separate committees and websites this season but we hope to bring those together over the next 12 months.”

However, the big decision is on the name. Both clubs have long histories (Hildenborough formed in 1903 and Artois in 1969) and are well known in Kent.

Last season’s FA Vase winners Spennymoor Town has a Sunday team. They are very successful, having won four FA Sunday Cup winners. But they’re called the Hetton Lyons Cricket Club.

Mr Drabble added: “So we may follow that example and keep the names. We’ve already had several very good meetings. The main thing about the merger is that we have two strong committees now working for each other. It can only be a positive thing. From an Artois perspective, we want to do everything we can to push Hildenborough up the football pyramid. If we are successful on Saturday’s we should also be competitive on Sunday’s.”

There are also plans to start an over-35 team. Initially they will play friendlies but next season will affiliate with the Kent Football Association and enter the Kent Veterans Cup.

Visit Hildenborough Athletic's website: www.hildenboroughafc.co.uk