We would love to get into the Kent Invicta League, says APM Contrast boss Kris Browning

APM CONTRAST manager Kris Browning says he hopes his club are accepted into the Kent Invicta League next season.

The club, who hire Bearsted’s Honey Lane ground in Otham, completed their Haart of Kent County League Premier Division campaign on Saturday when Hildenborough Athletic visit.

The Paperboys climbed into third-place following their 5-0 home win over Erith 147 Sports last night, with Caine Smith scoring all five goals.

“We entertain Hildenborough this Saturday, who are a good club and team, also they won the league last year,” said Browning.

“Even though we have secured third place in the league – our highest finish for 25 years – I would still like to finish on a high.”

Metrogas clinched the league title following their 3-0 win over second-placed Sheppey & Sheerness United last weekend.

But Sheppey & Sheerness United will be promoted into the Kent Invicta League next season as the Ites have the necessary ground grading criteria to progress.

Browning insists his club – who also applied for promotion -  should also go up too.

“As we have finished in third place we do hope that the Kent County League would encourage the Kent Invicta League to take two teams,” said Browning.

“I feel like Sheppey and ourselves could improve the Invicta League and both teams would hold their own.

“I do understand that only one goes up and have known that from day one.  But then Ashford United went up in third-place last season as the Kent League was short on teams and step five and six leagues should have 20-22 teams in it, so there is a short fall there.

“We have moved ground from Cobham, Ditton to Otham to give ourselves the opportunity to gain promotion and push the club forward so we are very serious and ambitious.

“I felt we had a good chance of winning the league back in March but then within a week we lost five players as their old manager (Jason Lillis) went back there and the lads got offered a bit of money and off they went – but these things happen at our level, especially as we charge subs!

“I brought through some youngsters from the reserve set-up to fill in the gaps and they’ve done well for us and I can’t thank our reserve manager Shaun Holland enough. He has done a great job for the club.

“Regardless if we go up, the club is on the right path.  We have now got youth teams from under 8s to a new under 18 team starting.

“I have also obtained the services of James Cole (ex Romford and Kent Football Untied coach) to help with the coaching set-up and have kept my other assistants Dennis Overton and Graham Martin.

“If I can hang on to the squad I have at the moment and add four or five I feel we can improve again.

“The Kent County League is a good, hard and honest league but we would love to get into the Invicta!”

Meanwhile, The Football Association published details of the constitutions of next season’s leagues from step 1 and step 4.

Whyteleafe’s promotion to Ryman League Division One South was confirmed, while last season’s Southern Counties East Football League runners-up Ashford United do not win promotion and stay where they are.

The make-up of next season’s Southern Counties East Football League and Kent Invicta League will be confirmed by The Football Association soon.

APM Contrast  v  Hildenborough Athletic
Haart of Kent County League Premier Division
Saturday 17^th May 2014
Kick Off 2:45pm
At Honey Lane, Otham, Maidstone, Kent ME15 8RG

Article published 20:00 – 15/05/2014