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Kent FC Looks Back on a Glorious Season

The 2011/12 season has certainly been one to remember for Kent FC.

All three teams have performed admirably, securing silverware which has meant that this is what we believe to be the most successful season in the history of the club.

The second team finished a respectable 3rd in their BUCS league and also managed to reach the semi-final of their Saturday cup.

The third team replicated the second as they also managed a third place BUCS finish and a Saturday cup semi-final, but their best result was a thrilling penalty shootout win over bitter rivals Christchurch in their Varsity game.

The first team also defeated our uncouth neighbours 2-1 in their Varsity fixture, a significant result not only as this was the first time that Kent 1st XI had won varsity in five years, but also as this was the result which secured an overall Kent Varsity victory.

The Kent FC first team huddle before their 2-1 Varsity win against Christchurch.

That team made history by achieving the BUCS double, finishing top of division 2B (thus securing promotion to 1A) and also winning the South Eastern Conference Cup, brushing aside Sussex 1st XI 3-1 in the final.

And in BUCS competitions it was unbeaten, having played a total of 16 games, winning 13 and drawing 3.

In their Saturday division the 1st XI reached two further cup finals, the Kent Air Ambulance Intermediate Challenge Shield and the Bill Manklow Inter-Regional Challenge Cup. In the former Kent were harshly defeated in a penalty shoot-out by an opposition two leagues their senior, and the second cup final would also end in defeat, Kent succumbing to Metrogas 2-1.

Despite the disappointment of the Saturday cup final defeats, the first team can look back with pride on a remarkable season, and with college elect match still to come there is one last chance for further success.

These achievements did not go unnoticed.

I was honoured to win the Kent County Football League manager of the month for both April and December – an accomplishment never before realized by a Kent FC captain.

As a club we were awarded the prestigious Club of the Year award at Colours Ball, despite facing stiff competition from Netball – a UKC club that has also had a phenomenal season, with its first team recently reaching the BUCS Premier division.

And considering the perilous position of the club only a few years ago (the University considered cutting our funding) and the negative light in which football was viewed by both the University and other sports clubs, this is a commendable achievement and credit must go to all the Kent FC club members who took part this year and especially to chairman Matt Harris for his excellent stewardship of the club.

Kent FC chairman Matt Harris in action for the club.

Matt’s work was also rewarded this year when he was elected to be Kent Union’s Sports VP for next year, so congratulations to him.

2011/12 has been a long and difficult season for the club both on and off the field, but in both areas the players and committee have performed over and above all expectations to witness the most successful season in the history of the club.

By Kent FC first team captain Danny Smith.

For all Kent FC reports, news and player stats, visit their website at www.kentfc.co.uk or follow them on facebook or twitter: http://www.facebook.com/KentFC and @KentFC

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