As we have now completed our pre-season and preparing for our first game of the 2024/25 season we thought this would be a good time to update you ahead of what is a very exciting season. After promotion and a brilliant campaign last year the whole squad are looking forward to playing Isthmian football and hope to provide many more great days for our supporters. We will need the whole club to unite if we are to continue our success and every person who is involved in the club in anyway will play a crucial role as we look to continue to progress this great club. I hope you find this update useful and we look forward to seeing you at the Charles Ground this season.

Squad Update
As people will know we added three players to our squad from last year. Jack Paxman and Elliot Moore both returned and we also signed experienced defender Josh Vincent. We managed to retain all of last year’s squad that we wanted to so had a brilliant base to start from and the three new lads have settled in really well. Since the start of pre-season Joe Reeves has decided to take a break from playing to support his family after the birth of his daughter and Henry Newcombe has moved onto pastures new. Joe will still be supporting behind the scenes but we will not see him on the pitch. We would like to thank them both for their efforts for the club and wish them the best for the future. During pre-season we have also seen a number of our young players feature heavily. Zak Hammond, Owen Wilkinson, Kye Davidson and Morgan Page have all signed first team forms and will be involved with the squad this year as well as being key players for the U23’s. WE have agreed a dual registration with Canterbury for Kaeden Jeffreys so will be tracking his progress over the season as he gains experience of men’s football. We are very pleased with the squad we have and all of the boys look forward to representing the club this season.

Pre-Season
Pre-season has gone very well and we have managed to win all 8 of our games including a good victory away at Folkestone. Although results don’t mean anything at this stage we would much prefer to be winning than losing. The player’s fitness levels have been good and we have had a wide variety of challenges in the games we have played. As mentioned before a number of youngsters have featured prominently and we haven’t picked up any long term injuries which is a real bonus. We have been delighted with the crowds that have turned out and we hope you have enjoyed the games.

Hopes for the Season
As I have been asked a few times on different podcasts and interviews this week to share our targets we have always been clear that we will not be setting any targets at this stage. It will be the first time the club has played Step 4 football for about half a century and we will be taking things game by game. We have lots of Step 4 experience and an ambitious group so players and staff. We believe we will be competitive in every game an are looking forward to the challenge. The promoted sides last year all struggled showing the size of the step up but we are not daunted by that and will be aiming to win as many games as possible. We are looking forward to the Kent Derbies and once we have settled into the league we will then set some targets for the rest of the season. We have always enjoyed excellent Cup Runs so as ever will be doing our best in all of the Cup Competitions we enter to give our fans some enjoyable days out.  

Development Team
We are delighted that we now have the U23 development team up and running and they had a very good start in their first game last week. We have a very talented group of young players and this gives them the perfect opportunity to develop by playing on a regular basis. The U23’s and U18s will train together to provide a clear pathway and ensure all of young talent are pushed. Rob, John and Danny are already doing a really good job with this group and they will have full support from the First Team Management. This team will also enable us to get minutes into First Team players who need them throughout the season. Home games will be on a Thursday night so please try and get down and support the boys when you can.

Board and Volunteers
As a group we would like to thank the board for their tireless work over the summer to keep pushing this club on off the pitch. Their work is tireless and often unseen but is fully appreciated by everyone in the dressing room. There have been further improvement to the ground, new sponsorship deals agreed and fantastic new kits sorted. All of the board are volunteers and do an amazing job for our football club so please thank them when you see them.

The same thanks also goes to the volunteers. There are too many to name but as a group of players we would like to thanks every single one if you. The people are what make non-league football so special and those who give up their time freely to support the club ensure we can continue to grow. We will do our best to make you proud of reward your efforts during the season.

Our Supporters
Finally a massive thank you to you, the supporters. Without you the club is nothing. We want to thank you in advance for your magnificent support this season, it means so much to everyone. Please try and encourage your family and friends to come along and lets keep trying to improve our crowds even further. We will have to stick together when we have sticky patches but we know you will do that and you can be assured as a group we will give everything. Lets make sure we respect our opponents and behave in a way that represents the club well but ensure that your support is full of passion and noise. We hope you enjoy the season and as a squad are always available in the bar after games for anyone to have a chat or for anything else you need. Thank you all.

Let’s hope 2024/25 is a successful one, stick with us, get behind us and let’s enjoy the ride.

Come on you Hoops!

Kingy