Category Archives: Latest News

Tom Head on the defence during Sunday's game

Reminder for Monday night: Executive meeting at 6.30pm and General Management Meeting at 7.30pm

Message from Tony: can we start at 6.30pm Tuesday please and aim to finish in time to watch the England game for those interested. 

Matt Hadlum defends

Please remember there is no training on Thursdays now the nights are drawing in. Training will continue on Tuesdays for this week and next only before we make alternative arrangements.  

Belated wedding congratulations to Andy D. Andy, I actually have a photo but can’t seem to download it from my phone. Blame Mailey! 

Rocky in action against Highfield

Another less than convincing day for the club with the firsts labouring to a 2-0 victory over plucky Highfield at the Swan Ground thanks to goals from Matt Collins and Lee Milton and the Reserves below par for much of the match away to Galacticos where they were well beaten 5-1. Emmanuel Awuni scored the Green consolation. Go to Match Reports 2010-2011 for each managers reflection on their weekend games.

Other results from the top two divisions: Bethersden beat Kennington 7-2 and Market overcame Churchills 4-2 in the Premier. There were two local derbies in the first division which saw Red Heathens win 3-2 at Egerton and Troggs gain a 4-2 success away to Brewmaster Reserves. Two home wins for Aldington [1-0 against Market Reserves] and Ashford Dynamo [3-1 over Mersham].

The club sends best wishes to Sara Smith who has a birthday today

GOLF DAY – KENNINGTON & BROMLEY GREEN – 10 September Etchinghill – £35

Players representing ‘The Green’ – Trevor Strand , Tony Gawler, Dave Smith, Liam Smith, Stan Donald, Lee Milton, Joe Milton, Marc Collins, Glenn Mackett
Still a couple of places remaining – final number by Wednesday. Call or Txt Trev if you want to play.
Meet 8am for bacon rolls and coffee – 18 holes and then lunch of ham egg and chips.
Advance notice: Race Night at the ground on 4 December after games when all teams are back. Further details soon. Organiser: Mark ‘Spud’ Smith.

Do have a read of upmarket magazine Inside Kent this month which features The Green. Complimentary copies are available down the ground and we are on page 17. You  can also view the feature by clicking on the Inside Kent link on the right.

More from the weekend action and full details of today’s Green games as they arrive

Paul Barron: trademark free kick won the points

Bathed in sunshine, the two County League sides had their opening competitive matches on Saturday with a mixed outcome. The Reserves were not always convincing but a superb Paul Barron free kick in the second half was enough to gather the all important three points against Platt United Reserves at the Swan Ground. Meanwhile in Sittingbourne, a Ryan Norman score was not sufficient for the firsts who were made to pay dearly for a series of wasted opportunities. Despite enjoying a greater share of the possession for much of the match, the Green lacked potency and came away on the wrong end of a 2-1 scoreline.

Ryan Norman: one goal but should have had more

James Sloan: rounded off a great week with two goals

In the days early kick off, SBE provided ‘different’ opposition for the Saturday Thirds who won a bitty game 7-2. Top class performances from so many lads makes picking a side for next week’s league opener an almost impossible task! With Lee McRobert orchestrating matters, the boys are now comfortable almost anywhere on the pitch with the goals coming at regular intervals from Aaron Neil, Emmanuel Awuni, James Sloan (2), Pedro Missing and Ewan Stanley (2). 

Full reports from the managers – click on Match Reports 2010-2011

Good luck to the Green teams tomorrow: firsts at home to Highfield and the Reserves at Sandyacres against Galacticos. Both fixtures kick off at 10.30am.

Not a good day for our neighbours Kennington who were thrashed 8-1 away to APM while New Romney came away empty handed from a single goal defeat at Bredhurst Juniors. For all the County League scores, click on the County League news link on the right.

At Reachfields, Hythe Town had to come from 2-0 down after just 18 minutes against fellow Kent League title aspirants Herne Bay to earn a share of the spoils from a 2-2 draw. Brendon Cass and former Green man Dave Cook ensured Scott Porter’s side a point.

The long pre-season has been great fun with well-supported training and we have enjoyed some really competitive matches but today it starts for real. Our firsts know that a trip to Sittingbourne is never easy and over many years the contests between the Green and Milton have been keenly fought. It is unlikely to be any different this afternoon with no quarter asked or given. The Saturday Reserves entertain a Platt United second string that are as yet an unknown quantity but nothing less than maximum points will satisfy the Green management team. The Thirds complete a fascinating set of friendlies before next week’s league start when SBE come to the Swan Ground for a 12.30pm kick off. Good luck to all the sides and hopefully we can get away to a winning start. DH

All five Green senior sides are in action this weekend with attractive opposition and in four of the games there are league points at stake. The Saturday firsts (preview below) will be keen to get off to a good start away to Milton while the Saturday Reserves entertain Platt United’s second string. Trevor has added Jamie Hurst to his squad as a sub but is quite happy for him to play in the 12.30 kick off against SBE. The squad for the Platt Reserves league game  (kick off 2.45pm; meet 1.45pm) is: James Howard, Tom Welham, James Cross, Kevan Strand, Paul Barron, Rob Clark, Ryan Fitzgerald, Terry Perk, Reece Hagger, Ashley Webster, Kevin Quinn, Tom Poyner, Aaron Neil, Jamie Hurst

The provisional thirds line-up for the 12.30pm kick off: Andrew Possee; Martyn Dalby, Michael Possee, Michael Dryland, Tyrone Calveley, Peter Missing, Aaron Neil, Shqipron Ahmetaj, Chris Pearson, Ewan Stanley, Lee McRobert, Kieran Hawkins, James Sloan, Emmanuel Awuni, Jamie Hurst, Adam Jeffery, Matt Jarvis, Eddie Fitzgerald. Dale Stringer is working and Nicky Bacon injured. Players to meet 11.15am at our ground.

On Sunday the seconds are at Sandyacres where they face much-fancied Galacticos in their Division One league opener [10.30am]. With Mark Bennett unavailable, Gillingham-based keeper Nigel Underdown makes his debut and  Ian Mace has announced the following squad: N.Underdown, M.Thomas, S.Curry, R.Milton, T. Lockett, R.Hagger, R.Fitzgerald, T.Poyner, D.Hagger, L.Bloxham, A.Webster, T.Calveley, Mani. Players to meet our ground at 9am please.

RPM / SPINNING SESSION
News from Trevor Strand
I have arranged a RPM / Spinning cycling session on Thursday 9th September at Fitness First gym at 8.15pm. The session is 45 minutes long and will cost £3. Its open to 1st team and Res ( as the kids dont need it yet) up to a maximum of 18 people on a first come first served basis. I will be doing the session with you. We must have a minimum of 12. The session will be taken by a qualified instructor. You will need a drink and towel with you and arrive at 8pm for a 8.15 start. Showers in the gym can be used after the session.
It is a great fitness workout and will improve individual fitness and recovery time immensely and unlike 5 aside you wont get booked / sent off or injured. For those interested text or call me to book your place as i need to confirm with the instructor by Tuesday. Please bring £3 with you on the night as the instructor will be paid on the night. Trev

Green Reserves come from behind to win

An entertaining friendly tonight at the Swan Ground saw the Sunday Reserves overcome Highfield United 3-2 after the visitors had held a 2-1 lead. Ian Mace has a real selection headache with late call-ups to youngsters James Sloan and Mani working a treat while Aaron and Tyrone continue to provide real competition to the older heads. Tommy Lockett seems to behave when he has the responsibility of looking after the lads and he was again

Tommy Lockett: has matured with responsibilities for the lads coming through

imperious at the back. After Highfield keeper Regan had foiled Aaron Neil with a great save, the Green went ahead with a goal superbly manufactured by Mani and converted by Jason Thomas. Despite going behind early in the second half, the Green continued to rotate and give everybody a run and ended up nicking the result with brilliantly taken goals from man of the match contender Aaron Neil and Charlie Clark. So many good performances against the Premier side who now face Steve Mailey’s charges on Sunday in the league opener at the Swan Ground (10.30am). The Reserves will need to be at their best to overcome Galacticos. Full report from the manager to follow. How disappointing that a match ball was ‘lost’ at the end and nobody knows where it is!

Thursday night update: Kenny Hallett is out injured tonight and his replacement is 17-year-old James Sloan who has made great strides with the Saturday Thirds. Kick off 6.15pm.

Next action at the Swan Ground is on Thursday evening [6.15pm] when the Sunday Reserves meet Highfield in another pre-season friendly.

Ian Mace looks forward to Thursday night and the visit of local side Highfield United to the Swan Ground (6.15pm). Talking on the eve of the match, Mace said: “This will be the biggest test for the Green Sunday Reserves so far as they face Premier side Highfield on Thursday night. The final squad for the start of the season against Galacticos will be announced on the website Friday”. Squad for Thursday: Craig Mannering; Ricky Milton, Michael Thomas, Shaun Curry, Tommy Lockett, Tom Poyner, Tyrone Calveley, Ryan Fitzgerald, Reece Hagger, Daryl Hagger, Jason Thomas, Aaron Neil, Kenny Hallett, Stuart Margetson, Charlie Clark

Manager’s Preview of Milton-v-The Green

Dave Smith: aiming for promotion

On Saturday we start our league campaign away to Milton, who were relegated from the Premier Division last season. Milton like ourselves had been in the top flight for a number of years but had flirted with relegation on several occasions before their drop. So again like ourselves they will be determined to make the return back to the Premier as soon as they can and I feel they will be one of our major challengers this season.

Our pre season has gone very well, 1 defeat, 1 draw and 2 wins plus some high quality training has in my view seen the squad be as well prepared as they possibly could be. Tony Gawler has come in as my number 2 and his training has been a massive boost not only to my side but the club in general and as the season goes on we will again prove to be one of the fittest sides in the league. All of last year’s squad are still with us and we have added depth with signings, Dan Barham, Marc Collins and Steve Harris all from Kennington. This now gives us added strength and the option of playing different formations and I am very confident that this season we can go one step further than last year and gain the promotion that the whole club craves. I am certainly looking forward to the challenge again as the feeling that we just let things slip last season is still with me, this is my third season with the club and I need to deliver what is required, I am ambitious and have a desire to succeed and take this club to not only the next level but further up the league pyramid. The first squad will show some changes as there are some suspensions that are to be served that are carried on from last season but we will not be the only club in this position so that is why it is important we have a big squad full of players that are capable of coming in and doing the job required.

Squad: C.Smith, A.Mercer, M.Hadlum, T.Head, M.Howells, R.Greenfield, P.Allan, P.Law, M.Doyle, R.Norman, M.Collins, L.Milton, R.Hayles, D.Barham.

Players to meet at the club at 12.45 and are to wear club tops, trousers or smart jeans and shoes

Meanwhile, Trevor Strand has chosen his squad ahead of the Platt Reserves opening league game on 4.9.2010 (kick off 2.45pm) with the following players to meet at the ground at 1.45pm: James Howard, Tom Welham, James Cross, Kevan Strand, Paul Barron, Rob Clark, Ryan Fitzgerald, Terry Perk, Reece Hagger, Ashley Webster, Kevin Quinn, Tom Poyner, Ken Hallett, Aaron Neil

Preview of the Sat Thirds, who have a 12.30 kick off against SBE, will follow on Friday

Latest results from Tuesday:

Green Saturday Reserves 1 Aldington 3; Green Saturday Thirds 4 Levin Athletic Club 0; in the FA Cup a first half goal by Keelan Mooney saw Tunbridge Wells triumph in their replay away to Dulwich Hamlet. For summaries of the Green matches – click on Match Reports 2010-11.

Trevor Strand and the Saturday Reserves face Aldington this evening while the Thirds welcome new side Levin Athletic [both games aiming to kick off at 6.15pm]

Levin have announced the following squad:

Jamie Watson, Nathan Tilly, Ben Blackford, Ben Mackenzie, Dan Anderson, Sam Bell, Chris Anderson, Jimmy Smith, Zack Jones, Ole Redding, Lee Gosbee, Jake Vincer, Jamie Edwards, Ben Christian
 
Levin Athletic FC, a newly formed club established March 2010, has successfully applied to play in the Ashford and District League Division 3. They have had a mixed pre-season with a win, draw and defeat; tonight’s game being their final friendly in preparation for Sunday’s opening league encounter.

The Green squad will again rotate for tonight to keep all interested.

Lee McRobert in his Dover days

The Saturday Thirds squad is now complete following the signing of former Green Under 16 captain Lee McRobert who is set to play a part on Tuesday against Levin Club Athletic. McRobert, who scored 44 times in his 120 senior appearances for the Green before embarking on a distinguished career that included spells at Ashford, Sittingbourne, Millwall and Dover, completes the trio of quality outfield players that will nurture the latest crop of talented youngsters. In addition Dale Stringer, who has helped out following the injury to Shawn Dadd, will continue to be a valued member of the squad and his immediate remit will be to support new young keeper Andrew Possee. For McRobert, it is a return to his roots where as a boy he skippered the youth side and took part in our 60th anniversary celebrations before going to Ashford Town. In 1993, Sittingbourne paid £20,000 for his services before he moved to League club Millwall. By 2000 Lee had returned to the Kent circuit with high flyers Dover Athletic and had seasons at Hastings and Ashford again before retiring from serious football. Dave Homewood said upon McRobert’s homecoming: “He will be a great source of encouragement and knowledge for the youngsters and it will be a pleasure to manage Macca again after all these years. He is keen to come here and do a job. Lee knows he won’t get any special treatment from me and will start on the bench tomorrow!”

Players should report at 5pm tomorrow night for a 6.15pm kick off. We have reached the stage where it is difficult to give everyone enough football and those in reserve/on standby are asked to train with Tony which will be more productive than standing watching. If anyone cannot make it, can you please let me know today (Monday) by text, email or facebook. DH

For Trevor’s game with Aldington, please scroll down for the squad. Again it is hoped to kick off at 6.15pm.

Millwall 1995-6 with Macca third from right front row. Also features Kerry Dixon and Mick McCarthy.