Kentish Football 
Tonbridge Angels unveil Keith Masters as their new secretary
Thursday 17th March 2011
TONBRIDGE ANGELS’ assistant manager Alex O’Brien says he is hoping that league leaders Sutton United slip up during the business end of the season, writes Stephen McCartney.
Third-placed Angels are eleven points adrift of the Surrey side with only nine league games left to play, but O’Brien says he hasn’t given up grabbing top spot.
When asked whether Sutton have clinched the title, O’Brien replied, “I don’t know, have they? No! Well, there you go. That’s your answer. They haven’t won it!”
The unpredictability of the Ryman Premier League means that no-one can let complacency slip up in the ranks and O’Brien highlighted Dartford as a side that dropped points on their way to the title last season.
He said: “Even Dartford, last year, were running away with it and all of a sudden there were teams starting to catch them and then they kicked on again so you don’t know what’s going to happen and that’s why we love it. Every week’s different, every game’s different. You just hope you’re up there at the end of the season.”
O’Brien clinched the Ryman League Division One North title with Dartford as a player and that experience will put the Angels in good stead for the weekend ahead, starting with a trip to tenth-placed Canvey Island on Saturday.
“Teams will beat each other and there will be shocks and twists and there will be turns,” warned O’Brien.
“Until you’ve been there and done it - and come out of it - you take that experience on board and that’s what me and Tom (Warrilow) have said.”
O’Brien was sad to see stalwart Charlie Cole resign from his secretarial roles last Friday.
“Everyone knows Charlie Cole. He was the heart beat of the club. He did everything but Charlie’s left on his terms so it’s not like there’s no drama’s.
“I spoke to Charlie (last Friday) and it was the right decision for Charlie and that’s the main thing. The club can get on with it, Charlie can get on with it. Whatever he wants to do, that’s up to him.
“The boys’ have got nothing but love for Charlie. He’s done very well with what he’s done. He’s very, very much and still a huge supporter of the club.”
The club are pleased to announce the appointment of vastly experienced Mr Keith Masters as their new club secretary with immediate effect.
A club statement said: “Keith was up until recently the chief executive of the Kent County Football Association and brings with him a wealth of knowledge in footballing administration.”
Mr Masters retired after 32 years as secretary and chief executive of the Kent County Football Association.
When Mr Masters took over as secretary on 1 July 1978, the Kent County FA was nothing more than a disciplinary and regulatory body staffed by two part-time ladies.
Over the past 32 years he has led the Association to become a Limited Company, which now employs 19 full time staff.
Mr Masters has never considered his role at the KCFA as 'a job'. For him it has been a way of life.
He said: “ It has been a privilege to lead the Kent FA over the past 32 years. The ‘highs’ of the job have been many, the ‘lows’ few.”
Visit Tonbridge Angels’ website: www.tonbridgeangels.co.uk
Canvey Island v Tonbridge Angels
Ryman Premier League
Saturday 19th March 2011
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Park Lane, Canvey Island, Essex SS8 7PX
Red Dragon I.T. Ltd