We feel the time is right to step down, says Sevenoaks Town chairman Tony Smart

AFTER fifteen-years of dedicated service to Sevenoaks Town, Tony and Sue Smart have decided to stand down as chairman and secretary respectively with effect from 31 May 2013.

Together with their fellow board and the Sevenoaks Town Juniors (STJFC) management committee the decision has been taken to run both the Senior and Junior Sections under one organisational umbrella with separate committees responsible for running and funding each section, as is the case now.

The highly-successful current Ryman Youth League under 18s, co-managed by Sevenoaks Town Juniors chairman Paul Lansdale and Micky Hazard (ex Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea player and football development advisor at STJFC for the last three seasons) will form the core of a squad entered into the Kent Hurlimann Football League for next season.

John James will continue to manage Sevenoaks FC, who secured the Haart of Kent County League Division Two East title and won the Les Leckie Cup this season.

A club statement said: “The club would like to thank Simon Jones and Anthony Ferguson for stepping in at short notice last summer to manage the first team this season.

“After 130 years of senior football in Sevenoaks the commitment to continue this long tradition is undoubted whilst waiting to provide natural progression for those players from the juniors who have the ability and desire to play for Sevenoaks once their junior careers cease at aged 18.

“The whole club would like to thank Tony and Sue, other board and committee members for their stewardship of Sevenoaks Town FC for such a long period of time and overseeing the transformation of the Greatness Park football facilities 10 years ago.

“Sevenoaks Town Juniors provides football for 500 local children, boys and girls from ages 18 down to five. It runs 36 teams which includes two all-girls teams and a Power wheelchair team in conjunction with Valence School.

“We run teams across five different leagues as well as the highly popular Saturday morning Skills School and the school holiday Soccer Camps.

“Sevenoaks Town Juniors Football Club is a FA Charter Standard Community Club.  Sevenoaks Town Football Club is a FA Charter Standard Club.”

Outgoing chairman Tony Smart issued a statement on the club’s official website www.sevenoakstownfc.org tonight.

“Sue and I have been involved with Sevenoaks Town FC for nearly 15 years now, starting when both our sons played for the club back in the late 90’s and we have enjoyed many a season since then, becoming more and more involved with the day to day running of the club as each season passed.

“However, with ever increasing family commitments and our desire to spend more time with our children and grandchildren and have a little time for ourselves, we feel the time is right and have taken the decision to step down from our positions as chairman and treasurer/fixture secretary effective May 31^st 2013.

“We have thoroughly enjoyed our time with the club and would like to thank everyone involved at Sevenoaks Town, both past and present for all their help over the years and wish them all well in the future.

“We would also like to thank all those within the Kent League, the Kent Football Association and the Kent County Football League, who over the years have also always been most supportive.”

Visit Sevenoaks Town’s website: www.sevenoakstownfc.org