1997–98 Kent Football League

April 2024 April 2024 The 1997–98 Kent Football League season (known as the Winstonlead Kent League for sponsorship reasons) was the 32nd in the history of the Kent Football League, a football competition in England. The League structure comprised two divisions: Division One and Division Two with the latter known as the Reserves Section (reserves teams were not permitted in Division One). Additionally there were two league cup competitions: the Challenge Cup for the Division One clubs and another for the teams in the Division Two. Following this season the two divisions, Division One and Two were renamed the Premier Division and Division One respectively.. Division One Kent Football League Division One 1997–98 Herne Bay Folkestone Invicta 462 1587 1996–97 1998–99 The league featured 22 clubs, 21 of which competed in the previous season together with one additional club: VCD Athletic,https://www.fchd.info/VCD-ATH.HTM VCD Athletic at FCHD 29 September 2020 FCHD joined from the Kent County League – the first club promoted to the Kent League via the football pyramid system.26 June 1997 77 Old club pays the ultimate penalty Dover Express Dover Also, Furness changed their name to Swanley Furness,https://www.fchd.info/SWANLEYF.HTM Swanley Furness at FCHD 29 September 2020 FCHD and Woolwich Town changed their name to Erith Town.http://erithtownyouth.co.uk/about-erith-town/ Erith Town FC – A Brief History 29 September 2020 Erith Town Youth F.C. 28 September 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200928142022/http://erithtownyouth.co.uk/about-erith-town/ dead The division was won by Herne Bay for the second season in succession,http://kentleague.com/Archives/top-first%20div%20winners.php First Division past winners / runners-up kentleague.com 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130417042108/http://kentleague.com/Archives/top-first%20div%20winners.php 17 April 2013 29 March 2024 and for the fourth time during the 1990s.https://www.hernebayfootballclub.co.uk/a/club-history-27939.html Herne Bay F.C. – New history 29 September 2020 Herne Bay F.C.https://www.fchd.info/HERNEBAY.HTM Herne Bay at FCHD 29 September 2020 FCHD Runners-up Folkestone Invicta took promotion to the Southern League.https://www.folkestoneinvictafc.co.uk/97-98 Folkestone Invicta 1997–98 29 September 2020 Folkestone Invicta F.C. 22 October 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201022211631/http://folkestoneinvictafc.co.uk/97-98 dead Corinthian finished bottom of the table for the second season running, and resigned at the end of the season24 June 1998 Soccer: Corinthian Football Club... Gravesend Messenger Aylesford 63 after seven years in the Kent Football League. The club withdrew from senior football for several years in order to concentrate on its youth teams.https://dbauckham.exposure.co/the-last-corinthian The Last Corinthian David Bauckham 26 October 2016 29 September 2020 Centre Circle Publishing Swanley Furness also resigned from the league despite finishing fourth in the table, dropping down to Division Two due to the club's lack of floodlights which were a requirement from the following season.22 January 1998 Warning for clubs without lights Canterbury Times Canterbury 74 League table main WDL Season End Notes HER Herne Bay FOL Folkestone Invicta SHE Sheppey United SWA Swanley Furness GRE Greenwich Borough CRA Cray Wanderers BEC Beckenham Town WHI Whitstable Town VCD VCD Athletic LOR Lordswood TUN Tunbridge Wells THA Thamesmead Town RAM Ramsgate HYT Hythe United FAV Faversham Town SLA Slade Green DEA Deal Town CHA Chatham Town ERI Erith Town CAN Canterbury City CRO Crockenhill COR Corinthian 20 11 11 70 50 17 14 11 88 62 34 5 3 105 29 14 9 19 80 85 12 12 18 56 66 12 6 24 48 86 17 6 19 73 76 21 7 14 67 54 12 13 17 58 67 15 9 18 69 70 15 5 22 75 103 18 9 15 70 64 19 11 12 72 54 14 12 16 62 68 -5 15 4 23 76 97 21 11 10 83 42 8 6 28 45 96 27 10 5 110 63 6 2 34 31 133 31 4 7 127 42 22 9 11 86 50 2 5 35 36 130 green1 Promoted to the Southern League Southern Division P red2 Resigned from the league R blue2 Resigned to Division Two RD Faversham Town were deducted five points.https://www.nonleaguematters.co.uk/nlmnet/Regs1SthB/KL92.html Kent League 1992–2011 29 September 2020 Non-League Matters 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored. complete FCHD Challenge Cup The 1997–98 Kent Football League Challenge Cup was won by Greenwich Borough.https://www.scefl.com/league-cup-winners-since-1923 League Cup Winners since 1923 SCEFL 29 March 2024 The competition was contested by the 22 teams from the Division One over five rounds: the first three were a single match knock-out followed by the semis-finals on an aggregate basis (home and away matches) and the final match played on a neutral ground (at Folkestone Invicta F.C.30 April 1998 Football Fixtures: Saturday: Winstonlead Kent League: Division 1 Cup Final Herne Bay Times Canterbury 63 this season). Quarter-finals, Semi-finals and Final n 2 y 3 score 1 Quarter-finals Herne Bay 5 Erith Town 2 Tunbridge Wells 3gf1 After extra time, score at 90 minutes 3–3 Sheppey United 7gf1 Greenwich Borough 2 VCD Athletic 1 Cray Wanderers 1 Swanley Furness 0 Semi-finals Herne Bay 5 1 RD2-score1-agg Sheppey United 0 1 RD2-score2-agg Greenwich Borough 6 1 RD2-score3-agg Cray Wanderers 0 1 RD2-score4-agg Final Herne Bay 0 Greenwich Borough 1 <onlyinclude> Sources: Quarter-finals: 2 February 1998 35 Weekend Results: Winstonlead Kent League: Division 1 Cup Quarter-Finals https://britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0005099/19980202/357/0035 subscription 19 April 2024 British Newspaper Archive Kent Today Semi-finals: 23 March 1998 35 Weekend Results: Kent League, Division 1 Cup Semi-Final 1st Leg https://britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0005099/19980323/368/0035 subscription 19 April 2024 British Newspaper Archive Kent Today; 30 March 1998 35 Weekend Results: Winstonlead Division 1 Cup Semi-Final 2nd Leg https://britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0005099/19980330/397/0035 subscription 19 April 2024 British Newspaper Archive Kent Today Final: 5 May 1998 32 Weekend Round-up: Winstonlead Kent League: Division 1 Cup final https://britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0005099/19980505/253/0032 subscription 19 April 2024 British Newspaper Archive Kent Today Second Round Herne Bay 3 – 0 Ramsgate Erith Town 3 – 1 Corinthian Thamesmead Town 1 – 2 (aet) Tunbridge Wells (Score at 90 minutes: 1–1) Lordswood 1 – 2 Sheppey United Hythe United 3 – 5 (aet) Greenwich Borough (score at 90 minutes: 2–2) Chatham Town 0 – 1 VCD Athletic (played at VCD Athletic F.C.)) Cray Wanderers 5 – 0 Slade Green Swanley Furness 1 – 0 Whitstable Town First Round Deal Town 1 – 2 Erith Town Thamesmead Town 2 – 1 (aet) Canterbury City (score at 90 minutes: 1–1) Faversham Town 0 – 3 Tunbridge Wells Beckenham Town 1 – 3 Lordswood Sheppey United 4 – 1 Crockenhill Swanley Furness 3 – 2 Folkestone Invicta Byes for the other 10 teams Sources: Second Round: 10 November 1997 35 Weekend Results: Winstonlead Kent League: Division 1 Cup, second round https://britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0005099/19971110/602/0035 subscription 19 April 2024 British Newspaper Archive Kent Today; 17 November 1997 35 Weekend Results: Winstonlead Kent League: Division 1 Cup, 2nd round https://britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0005099/19971117/363/0035 subscription 19 April 2024 British Newspaper Archive Kent Today First Round: 18 September 1997 47 Soccer Details: Last night's results: Winstonlead Kent League: Division 1 Cup, first round https://britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0005099/19970918/399/0047 subscription 19 April 2024 British Newspaper Archive Kent Today; 22 September 1997 39 Weekend Results: Winstonlead Kent League: Division 1 Cup, first round https://britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0005099/19970922/360/0039 subscription 19 April 2024 British Newspaper Archive Kent Today Reserves Section The letter "R" following team names indicates a club’s reserves team. The 1997–98 Division Two featured reserves teams (which were not permitted in Division One) from Kent and the adjacent area based clubs whose first team played in Division One and other higher ranked leagues. There was a League Cup competition for the teams in the section. Division Two Kent Football League Division Two 1997–98 Sittingbourne R 342 1260 1996–97 1998–99 The season commenced with the 20 clubs who had competed in the division the previous season, however Faversham Town R withdrew in October and their playing record was expunged.22 October 1997 48 Club in hot water with youth league Faversham Times Faversham Prior to the season Furness R changed their name to Swanley Furness R. The division was won by Sittingbourne R.http://kentleague.com/Archives/Reserves%20First%20Div%20winners.php Reserves First Division winners / runners-up kentleague.com 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130418065959/http://kentleague.com/Archives/Reserves%20First%20Div%20winners.php 18 April 2013 26 April 2024 At the end of the season two clubs left the division: Tonbridge R resigned from the league and transferred to the Suburban League;19 June 1998 84 Tonbridge leave league Kent Messenger Aylesford and Corinthian R who withdrew from senior football to concentrate on its youth teams. League table main WDL Season End Notes SIT Sittingbourne R TON Tonbridge R THA Thamesmead Town R DAN Swanley Furness R FOL Folkestone Invicta R DAR Dartford R DOV Dover Athletic R LOR Lordswood R HER Herne Bay R MAR Margate R HAS Hastings Town R CHA Chatham Town R RAM Ramsgate R WHI Whitstable Town R HYT Hythe United R COR Corinthian R BEC Beckenham Town R CRC Crockenhill R DEA Deal Town R FAV Faversham Town R 7 6 23 40 86 10 10 16 47 61 9 5 22 47 74 7 5 24 38 98 20 5 11 79 45 21 7 8 75 49 -6 5 3 28 43 110 19 6 11 85 49 20 5 11 69 57 14 7 15 85 69 17 7 12 75 57 11 2 23 62 103 17 8 11 71 51 16 7 13 60 59 11 4 21 60 94 25 7 4 105 35 22 6 8 67 40 24 9 3 93 34 10 5 21 59 89 Dartford R were deducted six points black1 Resigned, record expunged EXP #CCCCFF Transferred to the Suburban League T red2 Resigned RES 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored. complete 21 May 1998 71 Winstonlead Kent League: Final Table 1997-98: Division 2 https://britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0005421/19980521/555/0071 subscription 19 April 2024 British Newspaper Archive Kentish Gazette Division Two Cup The 1997–98 Kent Football League Division Two Cup was won by Thamesmead Town R. http://kentleague.com/Archives/League%20cups/Reserves%20Cup%20ex%20winners.php Reserves Division(s) League Cup kentleague.com 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130418091817/http://kentleague.com/Archives/League%20cups/Reserves%20Cup%20ex%20winners.php 18 April 2013 29 March 2024 The competition was drawn for the initial twenty teams from Division Two (prior to the resignation of Faversham Town R) and comprised five rounds: the first three were a single match knock-out followed by the semis-finals on an aggregate basis (home and away matches) and a single match final on a neutral ground (at Whitstable Town F.C.6 April 1998 Sporting Week Ahead: Saturday: Soccer: Winstonlead Kent League: Division 2 Cup final Kent Today Aylesford 35 this season). Quarter-finals, Semi-finals and Final n 2 y 3 score 1 Quarter-finals Herne Bay R 6 Hythe United R 2 Folkestone Invicta R 1 Dartford R 0 Thamesmead Town R Swanley Furness R Lordswood R 1 Sittingbourne R 2 Semi-finals Herne Bay R 5 1 RD2-score1-agg Folkestone Invicta R 1 1 RD2-score2-agg Thamesmead Town R 1 1SF1 After extra time, score at 90 mins: 0–0 RD2-score3-agg Sittingbourne R 1 0SF1 RD2-score4-agg Final Herne Bay R 1RF1 After extra time, score at 90 mins: 0–0 4pRFP Penalty shoot-out Thamesmead Town R 1RF1 5pRFP <onlyinclude> Sources: Quarter-finals: 26 January 1998 34 Kent Winstonlead League: Division 2 Cup, Quarter Final https://britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0005099/19980126/342/0034 subscription 19 April 2024 British Newspaper Archive Kent Today; 28 January 1998 39 Soccer Details: Last Night's Results: Winstonlead Kent League: Division 2 Cup, quarter-final https://britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0005099/19980128/304/0039 subscription 19 April 2024 British Newspaper Archive Kent Today; 5 February 1998 66 Senior Soccer: Results: Saturday: Winstonlead Kent League: Division 2 Cup, quarter-final https://britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0005421/19980205/583/0066 subscription 19 April 2024 British Newspaper Archive Kentish Gazette Semi-finals: 16 March 1998 35 Weekend Results: Winstonlead Kent League: Division 2 Cup Semi-Final 1st Leg https://britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0005099/19980316/376/0035 subscription 19 April 2024 British Newspaper Archive Kent Today; 23 March 1998 35 Weekend Results: Winstonlead Kent League: Division 2 Cup Semi-Final 2nd Leg https://britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0005099/19980323/368/0035 subscription 19 April 2024 British Newspaper Archive Kent Today Final: 16 April 1998 62 Cup lost on penalties https://britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0004887/19980416/062/0062 subscription 19 April 2024 British Newspaper Archive Herne Bay Times Second Round Herne Bay R 2 – 1 Dover Athletic R Beckenham Town R 2 – 4 Hythe United R Ramsgate R 2 – 5 Folkestone Invicta R Thamesmead Town R 2 – 0 Crockenhill R Swanley Furness R 6 – 3 (aet) Tonbridge R Lordswood R 0 – 1 Chatham Town R Corinthian R 1 – 4 Sittingbourne R Bye for Dartford R owing to resignation of Faversham Town R First Round Ramsgate R 3 – 0 Whitstable Town R Folkestone Invicta R 2 – 1 Hastings Town R Lordswood R 2 – 0 (aet) Deal Town R Chatham Town R 2 – 2 Margate R (extra time not played) REPLAY: Margate R 0 – 1 (aet) Chatham Town R Byes for the other 12 teams (the draw originally included Faversham Town R) Sources: Second Round:10 November 1997 35 Weekend Results: Winstonlead Kent League: Division 2 Cup, second Round https://britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0005099/19971110/602/0035 subscription 19 April 2024 British Newspaper Archive Kent Today; 17 November 1997 35 Weekend Results: Winstonlead Kent League: Division 2 Cup, 2nd round https://britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0005099/19971117/363/0035 subscription 19 April 2024 British Newspaper Archive Kent Today; 1 December 1997 35 Weekend Results: Winstonlead Kent League: Division 2 Cup https://britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0005099/19971201/344/0035 subscription 19 April 2024 British Newspaper Archive Kent Today First Round: 22 September 1997 39 Weekend Results: Winstonlead Kent League: Division 2 Cup https://britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0005099/19970922/360/0039 subscription 19 April 2024 British Newspaper Archive Kent Today; 1 October 1997 35 Soccer Details: Last Night's Results: Winstonlead Kent League: Division 2 Cup, first round replay https://britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0005099/19971001/278/0035 subscription 19 April 2024 British Newspaper Archive Kent Today References External links 1997-98 Category:1997–98 in English men's football leagues