We have not been happy in the Kent League for a considerable time now, says Peter Palmer

Monday 16th December 2013

BECKENHAM TOWN secretary Peter Palmer says the club will be happy to join the Combined Counties League next season.

Beckenham Town joined the Kent League (now the Southern Counties East Football League) back in 1982 after joining from the London Spartan League.

It’s been a 31-year membership that’s had many administrative ups and downs, but there has been a growing feeling within the club’s hierarchy that it’s time for the change.

“We have not been happy in the Kent League for a considerable time now and the general feeling is that the club would benefit from a change of environment,” said Mr Palmer in a club statement issued on www.beckenhamtownfc.co.uk.

“It would be nice if the change could be achieved by way of promotion to the Ryman League, however that’s not going to happen at present and the alternative is a switch to the Combined Counties League.”

Mr Palmer added: “Geographically it makes sense. We almost straddle the Kent/Surrey border and we already compete (by invitation) in the Surrey Senior Cup.

“We need to play more matches. For the second consecutive season we are on course to play less than 50 games and it’s simply not enough.

“We have been badly hit by a drop in attendances at Eden Park Avenue this season and that is also part of our consideration.

“We understand that we need to make application to join the Combined Counties League by the end of the year so there is not a lot of time.

“Hopefully, the club can look forward to next season in a new league.”

Beckenham Town, meanwhile, are eleventh-place (of seventeen teams) in the Southern Counties East Football League table, with four wins and three draws from 15 league games. The club are 21 points adrift of league leaders Ashford United.

Visit Beckenham Town’s website: www.beckenhamtownfc.co.uk