Page 23 - Raynes Park Vale vs Beckenham Town 18-04-22
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Elected to the London-Metropolitan   Cup Final in 1985 (Greenwich Bor-  Senior Trophy Final only to have two
 League in 1973, they finished run-  ough 2-3 aet) and 1993 (Ramsgate).   goals disallowed as they went down
 ners-up in the Reserve/Intermediate   They also finished as runners-up to   1-0 to Chatham Town after extratime
 Division in 1974/75 earning Senior   Maidstone United in the Kent League  on Maidstone United’s 3G pitch in
 status that summer. In 1975 they were   Premier Division in 2005-06.  front of a crowd 1128.
 placed in Senior Division Two of the   The league was subsequently re-  With the clear aim of gaining pro-
 new London Spartan League (fol-  named the Southern Counties East   motion, long serving manager Jason
 lowing the off season merger of the   Football League in 2013. In 2014   Huntley and his coaching staff
 London Metropolitan League with the   - following three unsuccessful final   oversaw a huge squad overhaul in
 Spartan League).  appearances in 1982 (when they lost   the summer of 2019 and by March
 After finishing runners-up behind   3-1 to Fisher Athletic at Bromley’s   2020, Becks were league leaders and
 Fisher Athletic in 1977/78, they were   Hayes Lane ground), 2005 (0-1 vs   looking a good bet for one of the
 promoted to the Premier Division.   Thamesmead Town at The Belmont,   TWO promotion spots in a fascinat-
 They would compete there for the   Whitstable) and 2008 (0-2 vs Thame-  ing four-way title race. Then Covid
 next four seasons and achieved their   smead Town at Welling United’s Park   struck. And the season was subse-
 highest position of 6th during that   View Road) - the club finally lifted   quently declared null and void. The
 first 1978/79 season. Becks also  the Kent Senior Trophy with a 4-0   huge disapointment carried over
 reached back to back Spartan League   win over Ashford United. 22 days   into the 2020/21 where Becks had a
 Cup Finals in 1978 and 1979 but lost   later they beat Corinthian 2-0 to   sluggish start before climbing to 5th
 to Welling United and then Farnham   also lift that season’s League Cup. In   before the league was suspended as
 Town respectively.  August, they then secured the 2014   the nation went back into a national
 BREAKING NEW GROUND  Roy Vinter Shield after a 3-0 victory   lockdown with that season also sub-
 In July 1980 Becks moved from   over the previous season’s league   sequently abandoned.
 Stanhope Grove to their current   champions Whyteleafe.  The summer of 2021 saw the FA’s
 home Eden Park Avenue, which they   in 1998. In 2003 Beckenham Town   MORE RECENTLY  restructuring move Becks sideways
 obtained from the London Borough   FC were awarded  £100,000 by the   After finishing mid-table for six   into the Combined Counties Premier
 of Bromley, initially on a twenty-five   Football Foundation for ground   straight years, Beckenham strug-  Division South. Squadwise Huntley
 year lease. With one eye on the fu-  improvements which enabled their   gled in 2016-17 when they finished   retained the bulk of the players and
 ture, they formed a limited company   venue to become enclosed with hard   18th - only avoiding relegation to   added returning goalkeeper Nick
 at the same time. On August 16th   standing all around the perimeter   the SCEFL FirstDivision (Step 6) by a   Blue, new skipper and former Brom-
 1980, Whyteleafe were the first visi-  and for their award-winning pitch   single point on the final day of the   ley, Dulwich Hamlet and Billericay
 tors in what would be their penulti-  along with an improved drainage   season. But that mediocre form has   fan favourite Danny Waldren as well
 mate season in the London Spartan   system to be laid in 2004. The first   been turned on it’s head in recent   as former Thamesmead Town and
 League. But in November that year   off cial fixture at the new-look venue   seasons. They finished fourth in   Ashford Utd midfielder Tom O’Con-
 manager Dave Fitzgerald resigned   was a Kent League match against   2017-18 - thanks in part to the goals   nor. The club also welcomed back
 having been with the club for six   Ramsgate on August 28th 2004.  of the division’s leading scorer Rich-  former players Nick Curran, Danny
 years. In 1982 the club transferred   SUCCESS AT LAST  ard Atkins. And that was followed   Fitzsimons and Damien Ramsamy as
 to Division One of the Kent League.   On the pitch there had been two los-  by a fifth place finish in 2018-19   well as signing some exciting young-
 This became the Premier Division  ing appearances in the Kent League   and another appearance in the Kent   er prospects.
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