Kentish Express Ashford & District
A sporting year that we won’t forget in a hurry!
JANUARY
Gillingham started 2020 in the national spotlight with a televised FA Cup third-round tie against Premier League West Ham.
The Gills gave a good account of themselves in front of a sellout crowd of 10,913 at Priestfield but second-half goals from Pablo Zabaleta and Pablo Fornals settled the tie.
With Gills unbeaten in the league since the end of November and dreaming of gatecrashing the League 1 play-offs, manager Steve Evans signed big striker John Akinde from Lincoln for an undisclosed fee.
At Maidstone, Justin Amaluzor, Iffy Allen and Ibrahim Olutade were axed and given a public dressing-down by head of football John Still after arriving late for a Kent Senior Cup tie against Dartford.
“I bet they’re never late for their plane when they go on holiday,” said Still.
Ebbsfleet’s National League survival hopes suffered a blow when it emerged they were under a transfer embargo over an unpaid bill. Fleet had signed ex-Stevenage midfielder Michael Timlin but couldn’t play him.
Chatham goalkeeper Dan Ellis made headlines after unwittingly playing on with a broken leg in an FA Vase tie against Corinthian.
Kent’s Grant Stewart extended his deal at the county, who also announced that Matt Henry will play the first seven County Championship matches of the 2020 season.
FEBRUARY
Chatham winger Ryan Palmer came up with an original reason to miss a game - he was going to Peppa Pig World.
It was a new one on boss Scott Lindsey, who said: “I’ve never had a player come up with an excuse like that. Fair play to him. He never told any lies.”
Hollands & Blair boss Simon Halsey was hit with a four-game stadium ban after being charged with foul and abusive language.
After watching through a fence, he said: “I won’t try and sneak in, there’s no moustache and glasses! I wouldn’t do that and risk another ban.”
Tonbridge were having major problems with their Longmead pitch, with a damaged drainage pipe leading to a host of postponements as heavy rain hit the county.
Exploratory cameras identified the problem, with boss Steve McKimm saying: “It’s going to cost a bit to put it right but we’re working hard to get it sorted.”
Gillingham took their fine form into February, with comeback wins over Doncaster and Blackpool highlighting their top-six credentials.
Their unbeaten run reached 15 games before a 2-1 home defeat by AFC Wimbledon at the end of the month - the last team to beat them. Ex-Gills midfielder Callum Reilly scored the winner.
Charlie Brisley ran the show at the Ashford & District 10k.
The Invicta East Kent athlete beat Adrian Mussett to victory, with Harrison Tremain completing the top three. Folkestone Running Club’s Nikki Goodwin took the honours in the ladies’ race.
MARCH
Sport came to a standstill in March as the severity of the Covid-19 pandemic became clear.
Gillingham’s final match of the curtailed 2019-20 campaign proved to be a battling 2-2 draw at Sunderland with two-goal Mikael Mandron scoring an injury-time equaliser.
The Football League was initially suspended until April 3, with the announcement coming a day before the scheduled home game against Fleetwood.
There was sadness at Gills as the death of associate director Yvonne Pauley was announced, while long-serving kitman Malcom Steadman left the club.
John Still announced he would be standing down as Maidstone head of football to spend more time with wife Barbara, as she awaited a kidney transplant.
Head coach Hakan Hayrettin stepped up as the National League attempted to play on through Covid but lost his first game 3-0 at Eastbourne before the action was halted two days later.
Chris Lynch quit as Sittingbourne manager after 10 defeats in 11 games but his ambition was undiminished, with the former Aston Villa target claiming he was bettersuited to the pro game.
In cricket, Kent posted a financial loss for the first time in three years, with a post-tax deficit of more than £200,000.
APRIL
Bosses at Royal St George’s in Sandwich announced the cancellation of the 2020 Open Championship.
Due to be held in July, the decision was confirmed as Covid19 swept the UK. However, in a boost for the Kent course, it was announced the 2021 tournament would be held there instead.
Herne Bay striker Zak Ansah was well-placed to cope with lockdown, having built a 3G football pitch in his back garden.
“I am out there every day in my garden, especially with the weather being so good at the moment,” said Ansah.
Kent football mourned the loss of ex-Maidstone, Cray, Margate, Chatham and Ramsgate player Paul Foley. The former defender, who was just 48, had been living with a brain tumour for years, and tributes poured in following his death.
The FA moved to null and void the Isthmian League and Southern Counties East seasons, while Gillingham played the waiting game over a potential restart date in the Football League.
Manager Steve Evans passed the time by hosting Zoom chats with supporters.
“It’s an opportunity to speak, to ask questions and to cover anything that is topical. I also want to know what the fans have been up to in isolation,” he said.
MAY
The second week of May was a big one for sporting enthusiasts as many outdoor venues reopened after the first lockdown.
The government gave the green light for sports such as golf, tennis and fishing to resume with social distance restrictions in place.
New guidelines stated that while sports courts could re-open, activities should take place alone, with members of your household, or with one other person from outside your household, while practising social distancing.
Bewl Water also announced that they would be opening up again for walking, cycling, fishing and members’ water sports.
Not all sports were halted under previous restrictions. The Faversham Darts League was one of those to move onto a virtual platform, playing remotely and raising plenty of money for charity at the same time, work that was recognised by the mayor of Faversham.
There was sad news too. Colin Boswell, the founder of the Kent Youth League and the county FA president, died following a short battle with cancer.
Former Kent captain Rob Key had a short stay in hospital after saying he’d had a mini stroke.
JUNE
Grassroots football training was given the green light to resume in June, a welcome boost to the sport after being in lockdown at non-elite level.
Since then budding players had been left honing skills in their gardens, outdoor spaces with a
with virtual fitness and skills training conducted online with their clubs or coaches.
National League Ebbsfleet, meanwhile, unveiled their new manager and it took many by surprise. They chose highlyrated young German manager Dennis Kutrieb as the man to replace departed boss Kevin Watson after what they said had been an “exhaustive and thorough process”.
The long-running saga in the Football League over whether the bottom two divisions would play on again finally came to a conclusion, with the competition halted and places decided on a points per game average, leaving Gillingham sitting in 10th position.
The League 1 vote was overwhelmingly in favour of curtailing the season.
National League Dover said goodbye to some their best players. Seven players were on the list of those leaving including captain and player-of-the-year Kevin Lokko and leading scorer for 2019/20 Inih Effiong.
JULY
The big debate in National League South was finally settled in favour of the teams, including Dartford, who wanted to take part in an end of season playoff campaign.
Dartford managed to keep their squad together and after being given elite level status by the governing powers, games took place behind closed doors. It was a decision that would eventually mean relegation for Ebbsfleet.
Fleet dropped to third bottom, and into the relegation zone, after the league table was decided on an unweighted points-per-game (PPG) formula. The FA announcement came days after Fleet’s announcement that they would not be making a legal challenge over their expected relegation.
Dartford, meanwhile, beat Slough in their play- off elimination match and then Havant in the semi-finals, booking their place in the final against Weymouth.
League 1 Gillingham finally had a restart date for the 2020/21 season, which they were waiting on before handing out any new contracts. Captain Max Ehmer wasn’t hanging around, however, as he signed for Bristol Rovers.
Ebbsfleet moved quickly to put their new squad together, with a flurry of signings, including former Gillingham captain Lee Martin.
There was disappointment for local cricketers at the Kent Cricket League decided to cancel the 2020 season but many clubs formed themselves into regional competitions instead.
AUGUST
Kent enjoyed notable success on the county and the international stage during a memorable August.
They were competing in a truncated season which included the Bob Willis Trophy. With no fans allowed at the St Lawrence Ground, live streamed matches were the way forward.
There was a record-breaking partnership at Canterbury as Kent crushed Sussex in the Bob Willis Trophy.
The evergreen Darren Stevens claimed a five-fer to help seal the victory by an innings and 25 runs but it was the recordbreaking display from Jordan Cox and Jack Leaning that the match was remembered for.
In what was Kent’s first home game of their 150th anniversary year, the pair batted through a heatwave to compile an unbroken 423- run secondwicket stand, a new club record for any wicket, beating the 382 between Joe Denly and Sean Dickson against Northants at Beckenham in 2017.
It proved to be a great summer for Kent opener Zak Crawley.
He scored 267 against Pakistan in the third Test at Southampton, becoming the third youngest player to score a Test double century for England and his score was the second highest Test innings by an England number three.
At the start of the month, Dartford’s play-off challenge had fallen at the final hurdle, losing to Weymouth on penalties.
Dover chairman Jim Parmenter assured fans the club would start the season after early warnings over their dire financial situation.
Isthmian League side Folkestone Invicta continued their run of producing Football League quality players, as Ira Jackson Jnr signed for Grimsby Town.
Gillingham had lost another of their squad from the previous campaign as striker Mikael Mandron opted for a move to League 1 rivals Crewe. The Gills had, however, managed to sign big front-man Vadaine Oliver from the clutches of recently promoted Northampton.
SEPTEMBER
Brandon Hanlan finally left Gillingham to end a summerlong saga after failing to agree a new contract, following Max Ehmer in joining League 1 rivals Bristol Rovers.
Gills got their league season under way with a 2-0 loss at home to Hull.
Director of football Steve Lovell left Ebbsfleet. Former Gills manager Lovell joined Fleet at the start of the year, initially working alongside then boss Kevin Watson.
Andy Hessenthaler feared for the future of football after the latest setback in their return to action. The Dover manager was speaking after the government paused plans to bring spectators back into stadiums at the start of October.
“I don’t know how long this is going to go on for,” he said. “We’ve got to protect the vulnerable and certain people but football has to get up and running otherwise I don’t know if there is any light at the end of the tunnel.”
Popular midfielder Lee Noble left Dartford after 12 years of service at Princes Park.
Southern Counties East Corinthian missed out on a trip to Wembley after losing their delayed FA Vase semi-final on penalties.
Corinthian lost 4-3 on spotkicks to Hebburn Town at Gay Dawn Farm following a 2-2 draw in extra-time.
Kent’s Zak Crawley continued his golden summer with another hundred at the Ageas Bowl.
Crawley hit 108 not out to guide Kent Spitfires to an emphatic win over Hampshire, less than a month after he scored a magnificent 267 for England against Pakistan at the same ground.
OCTOBER
Kent missed out on a place at T20 Finals Day after losing their quarter-final tie at Surrey by 56 runs. Skipper Sam Billings was given a level one warning after throwing the ball down in disgust when Surrey opener Jason Roy survived a run out appeal.
Ditton snooker player Barry Hawkins admitted too many pints and not enough potting had held his career back.
“I’ve just been trying to behave myself a little bit better off the table,” the 41-year-old said.
“Less drinking and more snooker! I’ve been trying to practise hard and behave myself a little bit more and keep fit.”
Uncontrollable behaviour from managers, parents and spectators was threatening the future well-being of the Kent Youth League.
The league’s chief executive Ken Brooke issued a forthright warning to clubs that they must improve their behaviour.
Gillingham’s long-serving secretary Gwen Poynter left the club after 26 years while their latest financial accounts showed a loss of over half a million pounds - before the impact of Covid-19.
NOVEMBER
Tonbridge Angels played in the FA Cup first round for the first time in 48 years but were thrashed 7-0 at home by League 2 Bradford, a game played behind closed doors due to Covid.
Coach Darren Hare left Dover to take up a role outside of the game while former Gills keeper Jim Stannard revealed he is working as a goalkeeping coach at Maidstone for free.
Non-league football was halted below the National League at the start of a second national lockdown due to Covid while Welling and Ebbsfleet were among a number of teams who had their matches postponed due to Covid outbreaks within their squads.
Super Mario Campion made a triumphant return to motorbike racing after almost 40 years.
The 63- year- old grandad amazed everyone - not least himself - by finishing third at the Lord of Lydden race.
Bearsted golfer Matt Ford finished 14th at the season’s Grand Final in Mallorca to land a top five finish on the truncated 2020 Challenge Tour.
Tributes were paid to former Kent cricketer Graham Cowdrey (pictured above) and scorer Jack Foley, former KM Sports Editor Simon Haydon and Hollands & Blair stalwart Laurence Plummer, a friend to so many in football circles, after they passed away.
DECEMBER
Lydden Hill bosses said they would hold night racing again after hailing their first floodlit event a great success.
Twenty-five lighting towers were put up around the onemile circuit to allow round two of the British Rallycross Championship 5 Nations Trophy to run under the cover of darkness (pictured below).
Gills boss Steve Evans had to watch their defeat at Doncaster from the stands. Evans was serving a one-match touchline ban after being shown four yellow cards this season.
Herne Bay manager Ben Smith said it was the wrong decision to play a friendly match with Welling Town and he has since been battling the effects of Covid-19.
Ebbsfleet sign former Charlton right-back Chris Solly, although he never kicked a ball for the club in 2020, while Dover added former Birmingham and West Brom defender Liam Ridgewell to their coaching staff.
Margate pull out of their FA Trophy tie with Burgess Hill. Gate said they were putting the health and safety of their players first, and there were ‘financial implications’ if the game went ahead behind closed doors.
Kent’s Daniel Bell-Drummond, Ollie Robinson and Jordan Cox all extend their deals to 2023.