Our team of the season!

It’s time for Kentonline’s teamof-the-year.

The non-league season may have been expunged but that’s not a reason to stop us recognising some top talent that made for memorable moments during the 2019/20 campaign. After much debate, we’ve come up with our final XI – plus substitutes. You can vote for your favourite player in our team at www.kentonline.co.uk. It’s a change in formation from last year’s traditional 4-4-2 as we’ve reverted to a “box” midfield.

Deal Town’s James Tomkin is named as our star goalkeeper and will be remembered for his heroics back in January. Tonkin (below) saved three penalties before hitting the winner in their FA Vase quarterfinal shoot-out. After 22 spotkicks, Deal beat Binfield 7-6 on penalties to send the Hoops through to the last 16 after playing out a 3-3 draw.

It’s great to see Folkestone Invicta’s longest serving player Josh Vincent at rightback following another terrific season, helping Neil Cugley’s side battle at the top end of the Isthmian Premier Division table. Vincent scored a few goals too, seven in total, including a brace in a 5-1 win over Hythe Town, one to claim a point at Wingate & Finchley and a late winner to claim maximum points against Bishop’s Stortford.

Captaining the side is towering central defender Callum Mcgeehan, who has helped Hollands & Blair claim a place back among the leading sides in Southern Counties East. Mcgeehan’s defensive duties and leadership skills for Blair were complemented by scoring 10 goals in his 38 appearances, a stunning ratio for a defender. He got a hat-trick in one game and claimed a few assists too. Mcgeehan is partnered at the back by Tonbridge Angels’ longserving centre-half Sonny Miles.

It was a tough season for Steve Mckimm’s side, fighting at the bottom end of National League South, but they were picking up form before the campaign was halted prematurely. Mr Tonbridge proved well at home on their return to National South and has played a big part in their great run since Christmas.

Former Spurs man Connor Ogilvie has surprised everyone with his performances at leftback this season, including Gillingham manager Steve Evans, who signed him as a centre-half.

Ogilvie didn’t look comfortable at left-back previously, and Evans admitted he wasn’t impressed with past performances either, but he’s blossomed in that role during the current campaign and many are tipping him to be named Gills’ player-of-the-year. Versatile Josh Wisson started out this season playing centre-half before moving into midfield. Competition for places at Ashford has forced everyone to raise their game and he has done just that. He gets a defensive midfield role in our team but playing further forward has also allowed him to become a key ingredient of Tommy Warrilow’s everimproving side. Maidstone United’s box-tobox midfield man Saidou Khan has been tipped for the Football League by their outgoing head of football John Still. He can glide past opponents and turn defence into attack in a flash. Khan (below) scored an FA Cup wonder goal against Blackpool, winning Stones’ goalof-the-season by a landslide.

A terrific season for Jack Evans is rewarded with a place in our team. He has controlled the Chatham team from the middle of the park and often showing that Football League upbringing which saw him start out playing for Gillingham. Evans combines trickery and hard work and would walk into any Southern Counties East team and many Isthmian League managers wouldn’t mind him either. Playing behind the strikers at Maidstone Road, he ended the season with over 20 goals to his name. Corinthian’s Oscar Housego scored 14 goals and 16 assists from central midfield. At 21, he is an integral part of the side that were challenging for the Southern Counties East title.

Few could have predicted the impact of Elliott Romain at Princes Park when Dartford boss Steve King signed him from Eastbourne in October. He quickly established himself as the talisman in a revitalised Darts outfit, scoring 15 goals and setting up many others for fellow forward Darren Mcqueen. Romain (below) helped move the Darts from relegation contenders to playoff certainties.

It was no surprise to see Joe Taylor scoring the winner in Cray Wanderers’ last game before the shutdown. He partners Romain up top. Taylor’s goals helped push the team up to second in the Isthmian Premier Division and who knows, they might even have gone onto win it. He ended the campaign with 26 goals in the league, 32 in total. Last but not least, our manager-of-the-year is Michael Golding (Corinthian).

Had the Southern Counties East had their way then Corithian would have finished the season as champions, winning on points per game, but their efforts have been for nothing. Golding’s side managed to chase silverware on several fronts, including making it to the FA vase semi-finals and the final of the Kent Senior Trophy. They never got the chance to see if they could complete an amazing treble.