Kent County Football Association
Area sporting organization with 19th century origins From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Kent County Football Association, now known as Kent FA, is the governing body of football in the county of Kent, England. It was formed in 1881 and has governed the game of football, under the aegis of The Football Association (FA), since that date. The Kent FA controls, manages, regulates and promotes the game and its development at all levels within the County. The association operates 25 County Cups for its affiliated clubs at different age groups (from youth to veteran) and levels for both men and women.
| Abbreviation | Kent FA |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1881 |
| Registration no. | 04088537 |
| Legal status | Private limited company (limited by guarantee) |
| Purpose | Football association |
| Headquarters | Invicta House Cobdown Park London Road Ditton |
| Location | |
| Coordinates | 51.301297°N 0.455345°E |
| Barry Bright | |
| Denise Richmond | |
| Darryl Haden | |
| Affiliations | The Football Association |
| Revenue | £1.45m GBP (2024) |
| Staff | 38 (2024) |
| Website | www |
History
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Perspective
An attempt was made in 1875 to form a football association in Kent but it was not until 1881 that the Kent County Football Association (KCFA) was formed by friends Mr G.W. Prall (who became the treasurer) and Mr M.P. Betts (the secretary).[1] Three years later at a meeting held in 1884 the association was revitalised with Lord Harris appointed as President and Mr F.W. Sewell and Prall taking the honorary positions of secretary and treasurer respectively.[2] Sewell resigned the following year and was replaced as secretary by Mr E. Charrington. In addition to ensuring the FA's and its own rules concerning players, clubs and matches were adhered to the KCFA also was involved in selecting and arranging inter-county matches for the Kent County team.[3] From the 1885–86 season the association instigated the County Badge knock-out competition (the badge comprised a scarlet armlet with a silver Kentish horse on it).[4] At a meeting of the association in late 1887, with Betts restored as secretary, both the rules for a Challenge Cup competition (known as the Kent Cup) to replace the Badge competition were agreed as were the bye-laws of the association: these included defining the administrative and management structure which included a committee comprising the association's officers (president, vice presidents, treasurer and secretary) together with twenty members chosen equally from four divisional (regional) committees with everyone to be elected at one of the two annual general meetings of the association, to which each member club could sent two representatives; these early bye-laws also stated that the association badge was to be a white horse on a blue shield.[5] Two years later in 1889 another cup competition, the Junior Trophy, for junior status clubs was begun.[6] Secretary Betts did not attend the association's general meeting in 1889 and in the ensuing vote of officers Mr A.G.O. Kennedy was elected as his replacement.[7] Three years later in September 1892 owing to ill-health Kennedy resigned as secretary and Mr P. Leckie was elected to the post.[8]
At the half-yearly meeting of the KCFA in March 1894 two important topics were discussed: firstly a proposal to allow professionalism was rejected and secondly the structure for the newly formed Kent League (which was to operate under the control of the association) was approved[9] with the Kent Cup trophy awarded to the league champions (with the challenge cup competition itself cancelled). Later the same year it was reported that the association's membership comprised at least 130 clubs.[10] In January 1895 the association voted once again on the subject of professionalism and in a reverse of their decision nine months previously, voted by a significant majority of 68 votes to 14 to accept the principle.[11] Two months later the organisation expanded its competitions to include one for boys aged under seventeen.[12] Later in 1895 at a lively general meeting secretary Leckie failed to provide a firm financial statement – estimating the association to be up to £100 in debt – and subsequently he was not re-elected, with Mr J. Albert overwhelmingly voted to the role; at the same meeting Prall, treasurer for the past fourteen years, resigned and Mr J. Grant was elected unopposed to the post[13] and Mr W. Savage was elected as the first permanent chairman of the association.[14]
The new secretary Albert served for eleven years until 1906, events during his tenure included: in March 1897 the reinstatement of the Challenge Cup competition, retitled the Kent Senior Cup with its original trophy restored – consequently the Kent League Division Two champions shield trophy was henceforth awarded to the Division One champions;[15] prior to the start of the Kent League season in August 1898 the KCFA ceded the management of the competition to the clubs involved;[16] in May 1901, per an FA initiative, referees were brought under the rule of the association;[17] in June 1905 a Minor challenge competition for amateur clubs was instigated,[18] for which the 'Croneen Shield' was provided for the winners.[19]
In October 1905, secretary Albert, who had reported four months previously that 252 clubs and 133 referees were affiliated to the KCFA,[20] tendered his resignation citing the volume of work as the factor. Additionally at the same meeting an age limit of twenty or less was placed on players competing for the Junior Cup.[21] As a consequence of the reason for Albert's resignation the post of secretary was changed from an honorary position to a full-time paid role with a proposed salary of £80 per annum with the added proviso that the new incumbent was to be resident in Chatham (where the KCFA offices were located)[22]
At the 1906 annual meeting, at which his replacement Mr Frank Lockwood was introduced, secretary Albert in his final report advised that 41 cups and leagues were under the control of the association and that affiliations had risen to 290 clubs and 220 referees. Also at the meeting it was decided to rename the Minor Cup to the Kent Amateur Cup to better reflect its status.[23] In 1908 there was a growing schism between the amateur and professional ranks of the game and Lord Harris the hitherto President of the KCFA was deemed to have rendered his re-election an impossibility when he accepted a similar position with the Kent Amateur Football Association; consequently a new KCFA President, Colonel F. Griffith, was voted to the role in his place.[24] In 1909 after eleven seasons under control of its member clubs the management of the Kent League reverted to the KCFA (under a designated committee); also the association's cup competitions were expanded to include a mid-week cup competition and four new cups were presented to the association by the new president Colonel Griffith – these to be presented to the winners of each of the four regional junior divisions (per the KCFA sub-divisions of the county) with each winner going on to contest the Junior Cup.[25] The following year, in a significant move for the welfare of its individual members, the KCFA Benevolent Fund was founded.[26] A further two cups were added to the association's portfolio in 1911: the Kent Senior Shield, an invitational knock-out competition for between eight and twelve teams with a trophy donated by MP for Gravesend, Sir Gilbert Parker for the winners;[27] and, following the abolition of the now under twenty-one age limit for the Junior Cup, a new Minor Cup for younger players was sanctioned.[28] In September 1913 the association was rocked by the death aged 48, following an operation for appendicitis, of its secretary Frank Lockwood; he was replaced on a temporary basis by Mr Fred Collins.[29] Several weeks later in late October 1913 Mr J. Rigden was appointed secretary.[30]
At the June 1914 Annual General Meeting it was reported that after long negotiations there had been a rapprochement with the Kent Amateur Football Association and it was no longer in opposition to the KCFA and had accepted seats on its council.[31] Three months later, owing to the outbreak of World War I, the association suspended all the competitions under its control;[32] it was subsequently reported that at this time there had been 50 leagues and 502 clubs affiliated to the KCFA.[33] The association restored its competitions in 1919 and at their meeting in 1920 the secretary, now Captain Rigden, advised that 43 leagues and 404 clubs were affiliated.[33] Within a year the affiliations had risen above the pre-war levels to 57 leagues and competitions and 588 clubs.[34]
Captain Rigden resigned the secretaryship in September 1926;[35] the position was advertised at a salary of £250[36] and in due course Stanley Brown was elected to the post. Shortly afterwards the association relocated their offices within Chatham to Military Road.[37] In 1932 the association added a further cup with the introduction of the Group B Junior Cup, with the existing Junior Cup designated as Group A; the new competition was to allow for the differing playing strengths and achievements of the clubs at Junior level with strict rules in place to allocate and keep separate the clubs and players of each group.[38] The concept was extended further the following year with a Group C Junior Cup added.[39] In 1935 in response to an FA initiative the KCFA put into operation a coaching scheme for boys in the county's secondary schools.[40] At the association's annual meeting of 1935 secretary Stanley Brown reported there were 1,410 affiliations comprising 96 leagues and competitions, 761 clubs and 553 referees.[41] Following the outbreak of World War II the KCFA announced in September 1939 that limited football would continue, mainly where possible for junior and minor status matches, with the Kent League suspended (albeit a regional wartime league was played in the 1939–1940 season).[42]
In early 1942 the KCFA re-opened its offices and restarted the Kent Senior Cup competition[43] and the Kent League was revived in 1944. The association decided in 1947 to purchase a freehold property in Chatham to establish a permanent headquarters[44] and subsequently 69 Maidstone Road, Chatham was acquired. At the KCFA general meeting in 1951 secretary Brown reported that membership figures had reached record highs of 112 leagues and competitions, 981 clubs and 708 referees.[45] The following year a further KCFA cup competition, the Intermediate Cup, for reserve sides of senior status clubs was announced.[46]
In December 1958, sixty-five years since its formation by the association and fifty years since it had returned to control by the KCFA, it was decided to disband the Kent League as many of the member clubs had resigned in order to defect to the Southern League.[47] There followed several seasons of stagnation in affiliations until the early 1960s when a surge occurred owing to a directive from the FA that clubs playing on Sundays must be affiliated to a registered organisation;[48] in 1966 it was reported the membership comprised 165 leagues and competitions and more than one thousand clubs.[49] During 1964 Stanley Brown announced that after thirty-eight years as secretary he was to retire.[50]. He was replaced by Richard Speake, an appointment for the first occasion of a county outsider.[51]
In the early 1970s there were two significant changes to the participants of the game determined by the FA: firstly in 1970 the FA recognised women's teams which the KCFA had already agreed would be accepted for affiliation,[52] and secondly in 1974 amateur status was abolished and as a consequence the Kent Amateur Cup competition was discontinued with a new competition known as the Kent Senior Trophy introduced (for senior status clubs that were playing at a level below that eligible for the FA Trophy).[53] In 1978, after fourteen years as secretary, Speake retired and was replaced by Keith Masters.[54] An additional cup competition commenced in 1985, known as the Intermediate Challenge Shield it was created for intermediate status clubs who were now ineligible for the KCFA Junior Cup competitions.[55]
In October 2000 there was a change in the status of the association when it registered as a limited company and became the 'Kent County Football Association Limited', a private company limited by guarantee without share capital, registration number 04088537.[56] Following the incorporation the association's secretary adopted the title Chief Executive Officer (CEO). In 2009 after 62 years of being headquartered in Chatham the association relocated to premises developed for them at Cobdown, Ditton, near Aylesford.[57] Shortly after the move CEO Masters retired in 2010 and was succeeded from January 2011 by Paul Dolan[58] who was instrumental in rebranding the organisation away from the KCFA to the Kent FA. He subsequently left in 2018 to join the Football Association and was replaced as CEO by Darryl Haden.[59] In 2020 the Kent FA appointed a female to the position of chair of the organisation for the first time. with Denise Smith taking the role.[60]
In 2024 the Kent FA introduced a revised governance structure establishing the Board of Directors as the ultimate decision making body with both the Council and Youth Council becoming consultative bodies with seven Football Delivery Working Groups established to support them across key strategic areas.[61]
Organisation
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Perspective
The core missions of the Kent FA are stated as being to Safeguard, Govern, Protect and Develop football across Kent. It seeks to help shape and support the administration of clubs and leagues and influence the development of players, coaches, match officials, and volunteers and the overall culture of the game.
Following a 2024 revamp of the organisational governance structure the Kent FA Board of Directors, with a composition of one-third elected from Kent FA Council and two-thirds independent, are the ultimate decision-making body of the organisation. Both the Kent FA Council and Youth Council act as consultative bodies to the board. The Kent FA Council comprises representatives from: all Kent FA-sanctioned leagues, various levels of the National League System, different tiers of the women's football pyramid, Kent Schools FA, higher education, the Kent FA Youth Council, Kent FA registered referees and players actively participating in football across Kent. All the council members are elected for a three year term, with a maximum service period of nine years.
The structure is completed by Seven Football Delivery Working Groups which support the executive staff and cover the key strategic areas of: the male pathway, the female pathway, the disability pathway, referees, competitions, facilities, and investment. These groups are not restricted to Kent FA Council members but seek to include people directly involved with the game in Kent and aim to ensure that the Kent FA reflects the needs of the football community and where appropriate they may be modified to react to any changes. They are linked to the 2024–2028 Kent FA Strategy of Play-Protect-Promote which is relatable to the key performance indicators set by and agreed with the FA.[61]
In 2025 the Kent FA had nine board members including five who were independent non-executive directors. It employs over twenty members of staff in managerial and lead roles to both run the organisation and administer and support all aspects of football in Kent.[62]
In its 'Kent FA Strategy 2024–2028' document the Kent FA reported its activities covered 25 Kent cup competitions, 32 sanctioned leagues, 757 clubs (comprising 4,302 teams), 69,339 players and 1,764 match officials.[63]
Key officer appointments
| President | Chairman / Chair | Secretary / Chief Executive Officer | Treasurer / Finance Officer / Financial Director | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | Mr M.P. Betts 1881–1884 | Mr G.W. Prall 1881–1895 | ||
| Lord Harris 1884––1908 | Mr F.W. Sewell 1884–1885 | ||||
| Mr E. Charrington 1885-1886 | |||||
| Mr M.P. Betts 1886–1889 | |||||
| Mr A.G.O. Kennedy 1889–1892 | |||||
| Mr P. Leckie 1892–1895 | |||||
| Mr W. Savage 1895–1895 | Mr J. Albert 1895–1906 | Mr J. Grant 1895–1906 | |||
| Mr T. King Warhurst 1895–1899 | |||||
| Mr W. Savage 1899–1901 | |||||
| Horace Porter 1902–1931 | |||||
| Frank Lockwood 1906–1913 | Joseph Lingham 1906–1912 | ||||
| Colonel F. Griffith 1908–1917 | |||||
| Sam Sargeant 1912–1920 | |||||
| Fred Collins 1913 | |||||
| Mr J. Rigden 1913–1926 | |||||
| Frank Fehr 1920–1930 | Capn. A. Lewis 1920–1925 | ||||
| Mr H.R. Geddes 1925–1954 | |||||
| Stanley Brown 1926–1964 | |||||
| Joseph Lingham 1930–1943 | |||||
| Mr W.N. Rule 1931–1949 | |||||
| Frank Fehr 1944–1948 | |||||
| Mr W.N. Rule 1948–1949 | |||||
| Brig. H.R. Mackeson 1949–1964 | Mr R.W. Rule 1949–1964 | ||||
| Percy Turner 1954–1973 | |||||
| Mr R.W. Rule 1964 | Eddie Butcher 1964–1976 | Richard Speake 1964–1978 | |||
| Michael Gliksten 1965–1976 | |||||
| Don Rawlins 1973–1979 | |||||
| Eddie Butcher 1976–1985 | Joe Blackburn 1976–1983 | ||||
| Keith Masters 1978–2010 | |||||
| Herbert Capps 1979–1992 | |||||
| Barry Bright 1983–2017 | |||||
| Ernie Bennett 1985–2002 | |||||
| John Bellamy 1992–2002 | |||||
| Norman Chatfield 2002–2009 | Peter Enright 2002–2013 | ||||
| Colin Boswell 2009–2020 | |||||
| Paul Dolan 2011–2018 | |||||
| Malcolm McLean 2013–2019 | |||||
| Paul Smith 2017–2020 | |||||
| Darryl Haden 2018–current | |||||
| Lee Dyson 2019–current | |||||
| Barry Bright 2020–current | Denise Smith 2020–current | ||||
Affiliated leagues
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Senior leagues† NLS regional feeder league Adult Male Saturday leaguesMen's Sunday leagues |
Women and girls leagues
Veterans leagues
Youth leaguesOther leagues
|
Source: "County Leagues". Kent County FA. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
Disbanded or amalgamated leagues
Previously affiliated leagues that have been disbanded or amalgamated include:
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|
Kent County Cups
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Kent Senior and Intermediate competitions
- Kent Senior Cup: A competition dating from 1887 (when it was known as the Kent Cup) which accepts clubs affiliated to the Kent FA playing at Step 4 and above of the National League System (including Football League Clubs). Additionally the current holder of the Kent Senior Trophy is invited to participate.[64]
- Kent Senior Trophy: Originating in 1974 this is for Kent FA affiliated teams at Steps 5 and 6 of the National League System, from the Southern Counties East and Southern Amateur Leagues.[65]
- Kent Intermediate Cup: Instigated in 1952 now for the reserves, U23, U21 and U19 teams who play in the Southern Counties East League, Kent County League or equivalent level and whose First Team competes in the Kent Senior Cup or Senior Trophy.[66]
- Kent Intermediate Challenge Shield: Dating from 1985 this is currently contested between teams from the Premier Division and Division One level of the Kent County Football League. Additionally the current holder of the Kent Junior Cup 'A' are entered into the competition. Teams affiliated to London FA and Surrey FA can apply to enter.[67]
Winners (since 2002–03)
Sources:
"Kent County Football Association Ltd – Official Handbook 2010–11: p.168" (PDF). Kent County FA. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 20 June 2011.
"List of Previous Kent Cup Winners" (PDF). Kent County FA. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
"County Cups 2014/15". Kent County FA. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
"County Cups 2015/16". Kent County FA. Archived from the original on 8 April 2016. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
"Results April & May 2017". Kentish Football. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
"Kent Senior Cup Results". Kent County FA. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
"Kent Senior Trophy Results". Kent County FA. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
"Kent Intermediate Cup Results". Kent County FA. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
"Kent Intermediate Challenge Shield Results". Kent County FA. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
Kent County Junior Cups
The Junior Cup competitions are open to clubs affiliated to the Kent FA that participate in a recognised grassroots league. Originally a single Junior Cup was competed for in 1889 with a 'B' cup introduced in 1932 and a 'C' version the following season. The junior status teams are divided at the discretion of the divisional committees into either the 'A', 'B' or 'C' divisions on the basis of their playing strengths and achievements, subject to: the current holder of the Junior 'A' Cup is automatically placed in the Kent Intermediate Challenge Shield competition; the current holders of the Junior 'B' and 'C' cups are placed respectively in the 'A' and 'B' competitions; the Reserve teams of clubs playing in the Kent Intermediate Challenge Shield together with clubs competing at the Division Two level of the Kent County League will be placed in the 'A' section; clubs at Division Three level of the Kent County League are placed per the committees decision.[68] The Cup is also open to clubs in neighbouring Counties to apply to enter.
Winners (since 2002–03)
| Season | Kent Junior Cup 'A' | Kent Junior Cup 'B' | Kent Junior Cup 'C' |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002–03 | 180 | Newington | River Sports |
| 2003–04 | Hollands & Blair | Emerald Star | Parkhurst Rangers |
| 2004–05 | New Ash Green | Phoenix Sports | The George |
| 2005–06 | The Rose | Beaverwood | Ravens |
| 2006–07 | Tonbridge Invicta | Sutton Athletic | Yalding |
| 2007–08 | Canterbury City | Cannon 24 | Charlton Community |
| 2008–09 | Gillingham Green | Charlton Athletic Community | Folkestone Lantern |
| 2009–10 | Swale United | Insulators | Ashford International S & S |
| 2010–11 | Hollands & Blair Reserves | Stockbury Athletic | Woodnesborough |
| 2011–12 | |||
| 2012–13 | Faversham Harlequin | ||
| 2013–14 | East Kent College | ||
| 2014–15 | Welling Park | AEI Sports | Willesborough Athletic |
| 2015–16 | Burgess Hodgson | Social Team | Kingsdale |
| 2016–17 | Willesborough Athletic | Red Arrow | Red Velvet |
| 2017–18 | Welling Town | Minster | High Halstow |
| 2018–19 | Red Velvet | Red Velvet A | Gillingham Green |
| 2019–20 | Greenways Aces | The Bull | Selhurst SA |
| Finals carried over to 2021 and 2022 | |||
| 2020–21 | Competition suspended owing to COVID 19 pandemic. | ||
| 2021–22 | Medway City | Selhurst SA | Grand Sports Club |
| 2022–23 | Littlebourne | Kemsing United | Bocca Juniors |
| 2023–24 | Aylesford | Tunbridge Wells Foresters | Streatham |
| 2024–25 | |||
Sources:
"Kent County Football Association Ltd – Official Handbook 2010–11: p.168" (PDF). Kent County FA. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 20 June 2011.
"County Cups 2014/15". Kent County FA. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
"County Cups 2015/16". Kent County FA. Archived from the original on 8 April 2016. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
"Results April & May 2017". Kentish Football. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
"Kent Junior Cup A Results". Kent County FA. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
"Kent Junior Cup B Results". Kent County FA. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
"Kent Junior Cup C Results". Kent County FA. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
Kent Women's and Veterans Cups
- Kent Women's Cup: The competition is open to all Kent FA affiliated teams that compete in the Professional Academy Game League, Tiers 6 and above in the Women's League Pyramid.[69]
- Kent Women's Plate: Features all Kent FA affiliated teams that compete at Tier 7 and below in the Women's League Pyramid.[70]
- Kent Veterans' Cup: The competition is open to all Kent FA affiliated Veterans teams, additionally teams affiliated in London can apply to enter.[71]
Winners (since 2002–03)
| Season | Kent Women's Cup | Kent Women's Plate | Kent Veterans Cup |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002–03 | Charlton Athletic | ||
| 2003–04 | Charlton Athletic | ||
| 2004–05 | Millwall Lionesses | ||
| 2005–06 | Charlton Athletic | ||
| 2006–07 | Millwall Lionesses | ||
| 2007–08 | Millwall Lionesses | ||
| 2008–09 | Charlton Athletic | ||
| 2009–10 | Gillingham | ||
| 2010–11 | Charlton Athletic | ||
| 2011–12 | Gillingham | Long Lane | |
| 2012–13 | Gillingham | Herne Bay | |
| 2013–14 | Gillingham | Herne Bay | |
| 2014–15 | Gillingham | Bromley | Tankerton |
| 2015–16 | London Corinthian | Swale | Crayford One Bell |
| 2016–17 | Gillingham | Maidstone United | Crayford One Bell |
| 2017–18 | Kent Football | Bromley | Crayford One Bell |
| 2018–19 | Gillingham | Maidstone United | Crayford One Bell |
| 2019–20 | Dartford | Glebe | Crayford One Bell |
| Finals carried over to 2021 and 2022 | |||
| 2020–21 | Competition suspended owing to COVID 19 pandemic. | ||
| 2021–22 | Chatham Town | Herne Bay | Metrogas |
| 2022–23 | Chatham Town | Sittingbourne | Glebe |
| 2023–24 | Dartford | Tunbridge Wells Foresters | The Charcoal |
| 2024–25 | Tonbridge Angels | Metrogas | |
Sources:
"Kent County Football Association Ltd – Official Handbook 2010–11: p.168" (PDF). Kent County FA. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 20 June 2011.
"List of Previous Kent Cup Winners" (PDF). Kent County FA. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
"County Cups 2014/15". Kent County FA. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
"County Cups 2015/16". Kent County FA. Archived from the original on 8 April 2016. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
"Results April & May 2017". Kentish Football. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
"Kent Women's Cup Results". Kent County FA. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
"Kent Women's Plate Results". Kent County FA. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
"Kent Veterans' Cup Results". Kent County FA. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
Kent Sunday, Girls Youth and Boys Youth cups
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|
Source: "Kent County Cups". Kent County FA. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
Affiliated member clubs
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Perspective
Among the clubs that are (or were) affiliated to the Kent County FA are:
+Renamed in 2007 from Gravesend & Northfleet to Ebbsfleet United
++Merged in 1946 to form Gravesend & Northfleet
References
External links
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