Saturday 9th November 2024
Bearsted v Erith & Belvedere
Isuzu FA Vase 2nd Round Proper
Kick off 3.00pm
Otham Sports Club, Honey Lane, Otham, Kent, ME15 8RG

The road to Wembley makes a pit stop in Maidstone tomorrow as we take on Bearsted in the 2nd Round Proper of the Isuzu FA Vase

Here are all the details for tomorrow's game.

Admission Prices
£10- Adults
£6 - Concessions
£3 - 11-15 y/o
Free- Under 11's

Match Officials
Referee: Henry Steele
Assistant Referees: Matthew Williams & Billy Stevens

The Opposition
Club Name: Beasrsted
Ground: Otham Sports Club, Honey Lane, Otham, Kent, ME15 8RG
Distance from Park View Road (Round Trip): 61.2 miles
Colours: Yellow
Manager: Kevin Stevens
Last Season: 7th

History
Bearsted Football Club played its first competitive match, a 0-2 defeat v Bower F.C., in 1895. The Club played on Bearsted Green for in excess of 100 years. After the First World War the club reached the final of the Maidstone Hospital Cup on 3 occasions, winning once. The late 1920’s and the early 1930’s saw further success with the Club winning Division 2 on 3 occasions. After the Second World War the Club was reformed by Bill Giles and Dick Filmer.
In the mid 1970s Bearsted emerged as one of the leading clubs in the mid Kent area. In 1979/80 the first team won the Maidstone League Premier Division title for the first of 3 consecutive seasons. The Club and were also runners up on 3 occasions. In 1982 Bearsted F.C. was elected as a member of the Kent County League. During it’s time in the League the Club won almost every league and cup competition including the prestigious Inter Regional Cup. The Club was runner up in the Premier Division in 1999/2000 and won the Premier Division title in 2000/2001 and 2001/2002.
Although Bearsted were runners up in the Premier Division in the 1986/87 season the Club was denied a place in the Senior Division and was, in effect, relegated because of its inadequate facilities on Bearsted Green. That was the first indication that the Club needed to relocate to continue to progress.
Winning the Premier League again in 1987/88 increased the claim for a place in the Senior Division, which was achieved the following season, giving the Club intermediate status. In its first season in the Senior Division the Club finished as league champions and cup winners. Disappointment followed in 1991/92 when the Kent County Football League was reorganised to form a Premier Division. Once again, because of its inadequate facilities the Club was relegated to the First Division.
After several failed attempts to buy land and develop new facilities the Club reached agreement to play Kent Youth League and first team matches at Honey Lane, Otham, which was then the Oakwood F.C. ground.
Since 1998 the first team and subsequently other teams within the Club have played at Honey Lane. Bearsted F.C. was awarded Senior status shortly after relocating to Otham. In season 1999/2000 the Club reached the semi final of the Kent Senior Cup, losing 0-1 to the eventual winners Deal Town. The Club was also runner up in the Premier Division in 1999/2000 and won the Premier Division title in 2000/2001 and 2001/2002.
In 2006/2007 the Club again reached the final of the Kent Senior Cup but was again beaten 1 – 0, by Whitstable Town.
In season 2002/2003 Ian Hamer and John Brook,2 former players and subsequently joint managers of Bearsted first team were appointed to manage the Kent County League representative team in the EUFE Regions Cup completion which was held in Estonia. The team, which was the sole representative of the English F.A., included 5 players from Bearsted Football Club.
Since 1978, the Club has a thriving junior section with teams from Under 7 to Under 18s.
The Club has continued to expand by adding a Development school for children for aspiring players from the age of 5 to 8. Currently teams from the Club play in the Invicta Primary League,Express Cabs Maidstone & District League,the Maidstone Minor League and the Kent Youth League.
The Club achieved Charter Standard in 2006. In October 2006, at Old Trafford, prior to the England -v- Macedonia game, the Chairman, Duncan Andrews and Youth Development Officer, Colin Whitfield, were presented with the National Charter Standard Award by Sir Trevor Brooking.
Since 2006 the Club has made major improvements to the facilities at Honey Lane, Otham including new underground drainage, provision of floodlights to the 1st team pitch, covered seating and standing areas and further areas of concrete hardstanding.
The Club was one of the inaugural members of the Kent Invicta League in the 2011/2012 season. Following the appointment of Kevin Stevens as first team manager progress was made both on and off the pitch. The Club was runner up in the league and the losing League cup finalist in the 2014/2015 season. As a result of winning the league in season 2015/2016 the Club was promoted to the Premier Division of the Southern Counties East Football League with effect from the start of the 2016/17 season.1
In the inaugural season in the Southern Counties East Premier Division Bearsted finished in a very creditable 12th place.
In August 2017 the Club played in the F.A. Cup for the first occasion in it’s 122 year history.
In the 2018/19 season Bearsted recorded it’s historic first win in the F.A. Cup v Chichester City. The Club also reached the last 32 in the F.A. Vase, eventually losing to Abbey Rangers
In April 2024 Bearsted F C welcomed back Alessia Russo, the Arsenal F C and England centre forward, and Alessia’s family to Alessia’s grassroots club. Alessia generously gave time to the Bearsted girls’ teams, including skills advice, and the numerous media outlets who were present, as part of her support to Bearsted F.C.’s intentions to undertake major improvements to the club’s facilities during the next few years.
The Club finished in 7th position in the SCEFL Premier division in season 2023/24 and has ambitions to surpass that achievement this season.

Head to Head
Played: 9
Deres: 5
Draws: 21
Bears: 3
Dears Goals: 17
Bears Goals: 21

Last Meeting
26/10/2024 - SCEFL Premier Division
Deres 3 - Melconian 15', Chalker 58', Falade 78'
Bearsted 0

Elsewhere in the League
All Kick Offs are 3.00pm unless stated

Saturday
Isuzu FA Vase 2nd Round Proper
Clapton Community v Thetford Town
Faversham Town v Billingshurst
Rochester United v Fleet Town
Spelthorne Sports v Holmesdale
Tunbridge Wells v Hassocks
VCD Athletic v Arundel
Whitstable Town v Lydd Town

SCEFL Premier Division
Fisher v Rusthall
Kennington v Larkfield & New Hythe
Punjab United v Stansfeld
Snodland Town v Glebe

SCEFL Division 1
Forest Hill Park v Soul Tower Hamlets
Meridian VP v Sheppey Sports
Staplehurst Monarchs v FC Elmstead
Welling Town v Tooting Bec

London Senior Trophy
SC Thamesmead v Bridon Ropes