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The final League constitution for the 2009-2010 season was agreed at the Ashford Sunday Football League Annual General Meeting on Wednesday night, and it was confirmed that two more clubs have decided to resign and fold. Long serving members Locomotive Inn (formally Ashford Rail) and Wye Monarchs Reserves (formally Kings Head) have both decided not to renew their membership with the League and have been replaced with three new teams- Marsh Athletic, Stour Valley and Kennington Reserves.

In the other changes from the original proposed constitution, Egerton have been promoted to Division One at the expense of Charing Sunday who move in the opposite direction down to Division Two. Brabourne Anchor nominated themselves for promotion to Division Three to replace Locomotive Inn after Ashford Spartans, who finished one position above Brabourne in the final Division Four league table, decided to stay in the bottom division.

Agreed League Constitution for 2009-2010

Premier Division- Bethersden FC, Bliby FC, Brewmaster FC, Bromley Green FC, Highfield United FC, Kennington FC, Market Hotel FC, Mersham Sports FC, Troggs FC.

Division One- Aldington Sports FC, Ashford Dynamo FC, Bocca Juniors FC, Churchill Royals FC, Egerton & Pluckley United FC, Galacticos FC, Hamstreet FC, Lydd Town FC, Market Hotel Reserves, Red Heathens FC.

Division Two- Appledore FC, Brewmaster Reserves, Bromley Green Reserves, Charing Sunday FC, Fox Sunday FC, Grasshoppers FC, Shadoxhurst FC, The Albion FC, The Crusader FC, Wye Monarchs FC.

Division Three- Aldington Sports Reserves, Ashford Cavaliers FC, Ashford Eagles FC, Ashford Victoria FC, Bliby Reserves, Brabourne Anchor FC, Burton Grove FC, Newchurch FC, Park Farm Rangers FC, William Harvey Inn FC.

Division Four- Ashford Spartans FC, Charing Sunday Reserves, Givaudan FC, Highfield United Reserves, Kennington Reserves, Man of Kent FC, Marsh Athletic FC, Mersham Sports Reserves, Prince Albert FC, Stour Valley FC, Troggs Reserves.

Shadoxhurst captain John Gibbs was named as the Player of the Year in Division Three for the 2008-09 season on Friday evening at the Ashford Sunday League Presentation Dinner at Sandyacres Sports & Social Club. Gibbs helped Shadoxhurst to win a second successive promotion to Division Two and was presented with his award by League President Geoff Stanborough after collecting the most man of the match awards throughout the previous season.

The divisional Secretary of the Year prize went to Locomotive Inn manager Dudley Bryant, while Park Farm Rangers manager Gary Byrne netted the Division Four award. Man of Kent defender Ben Bean scooped the Division Four Player of the Year trophy.

Player of the Year Winners...

Premier Division- Paul Taylor (Ashford Cavaliers)

Division One- Benjani Dzikiti (Ashford Dynamo)

Division Two- Gary Spencer (Wye Monarchs)

Division Three- John Gibbs (Shadoxhurst)

Division Four- Ben Bean (Man of Kent)

Secretary of the Year Winners...

Premier Division- Tim Archer (Troggs)

Division One- Craig Ross (Bocca Juniors)

Division Two- Stuart MacKenzie (The Albion)

Division Three- Dudley Bryant (Locomotive Inn)

Division Four- Gary Byrne (Park Farm Rangers)

League Championship Winners...

Premier Division- Market Hotel FC

Division One- Highfield United FC

Division Two- Galacticos FC

Division Three- Brewmaster Reserves

Division Four- Ashford Cavaliers Reserves

Cup Competition Winners...

Premier Division League Cup- Bethersden FC

Division One League Cup- Lydd Town FC

Division Two League Cup- Churchill Royals FC

Division Three League Cup- Newchurch FC

Division Four League Cup- Ashford Cavaliers Reserves

Bodkin Cup- Kennington FC

Sheber Trophy- Bromley Green Reserves

Charity Trophy- Bliby FC

Eric Hatcher Memorial Trophy Winners...

Fox Sunday FC

Special Merit Award...

Ernie Warren (Sandyacres Sports Club)

The new league constitution was proposed for the 2009-10 season by the Ashford & District Sunday Football League at tonight's Annual League Presentation Dinner, and includes two new sides amongst its 51 members teams. The New Romney based Marsh Athletic FC and a new reserve team from Kennington FC have been provisionally elected to join Division Four next season, replacing the since dispanded Ruckinge United and Premier Division side Ashford Cavaliers whi have resigned from the league this summer following their relegation from the top flight.

In Division Three, Ashford Eagles relegation from Division Two has now been confirmed but The Crusader have been handed a life line despite finishing just above Eagles in the final table due to Cavaliers' decision to withdraw. Coming up from Division Four will be Ashford Cavaliers Reserves (now to be known as just Ashford Cavaliers), Park Farm Rangers and Bliby Reserves who replace the outgoing Givaudan and Troggs Reserves who go in the opposite direction after relegation to the bottom division.

Full Constitution for 2009-10...

Premier Division...

Bethersden FC, Bliby FC, Brewmasters FC, Bromley Green FC, Highfield United FC, Kennington FC, Market Hotel FC, Mersham Sports FC, Troggs FC.

Division One...

Aldington Sports FC, Ashford Dynamo FC, Bocca Juniors FC, Charing Sunday FC, Churchill Royals FC, Galacticos FC, Hamstreet FC, Lydd Town FC, Market Hotel Reserves, Red Heathens FC.

Division Two...

Appledore FC, Brewmaster Reserves, Bromley Green Reserves, Crusader FC, Egerton & Pluckley United FC, Fox Sunday FC, Grasshoppers FC, Shadoxhurst FC, The Albion FC, Wye Monarchs FC.

Division Three...

Aldington Sports Reserves, Ashford Cavaliers FC, Ashford Eagles FC, Ashford Victoria FC, Bliby Reserves, Burton Grove FC, Locomotive Inn FC, Newchurch FC, Park Farm Rangers FC, William Harvey Inn FC.

Division Four...

Ashford Spartans FC, Brabourne Anchor FC, Charing Sunday Reserves, Givaudan FC, Highfield United Reserves, Kennington Reserves, Man of Kent FC, Marsh Athletic FC, Mersham Sports Reserves, Prince Albert FC, Troggs Reserves, Wye Monarchs Reserves.

Brewmaster Reserves wrapped up the Division Three title and promotion on Sunday in their rearranged league fixture with William Harvey Inn, but were made to work hard for their double prize in a tough game on Charing Heath. Harvey found themselves 2-0 ahead inside of twenty minutes at the neutral venue and showed that they hadn't just turned up to part of the celebrations, but goals from Simon Bourne and Danny Trapp pulled the scores back level at 2-2 at the break.

Midfielder Lee Keeler then gave the Brews a 3-2 lead before Bourne and Trapp netted once more each to wrap up a comfortable 5-2 win and put them top of the table ahead of Shadoxhurst on goal difference, meaning that Aldington missed out on promotion by a single point.

Brewmaster Reserves have been given a late life line in their attempt to win the Division Three title and gain promotion to the second division, after the Ashford Sunday League ordered that last weekend's defeat to William Harvey Inn must be replayed at a neutral venue to determine the final crucial positions in the table.

Brewmaster lost 2-1 to the pub side on the final day of the season in their must-win double header after previously winning 4-0 earlier that morning, but it has since been revealed that William Harvey were found guilty of fielding an ineligible player in the second fixture, therefore making the final result void.

After much deliberation, the League Council decided that the second of the two fixtures played last Sunday must be played again, and a win for the High Halden based side will bring both the League Championship trophy and Division Two football next season. The replayed fixture will take place this Sunday.

How the final game of the season affects the final table...

• If BREWMASTER RESERVES WIN, then BREWMASTER RESERVES are crowned champions and are promoted to Division Two along with runners up SHADOXHURST.
• If BREWMASTER RESERVES DRAW or LOSE, then SHADOXHURST will be crowned champions and are promted to Division Two along with runners-up ALDINGTON SPORTS RESERVES, leaving Brewmaster's in third place and missing out on promotion.

Brewmaster Reserves' quest for the league title lies in the hands of the Ashford & District Sunday Football League Council after a controversial last weekend of the season. Brewmaster faced a double-header at the much improved William Harvey Inn knowing that two wins would clinch both promotion and the league championship. Any dropped points in either game would mean that they could only finish third and miss out on both prizes, allowing Aldington Sports Reserves to grab second place and Shadoxhurst would snatch the title.

Brewmaster recorded a comfortable 4-0 victory in the first match, Simon Bourne and Danny Trapp both netting doubles, but Brewmaster took their eye off the ball in the second fixture and blew a 1-0 lead through another Simon Bourne strike before going on to lose 2-1. That result meant that they would finish third and miss out on promotion to Division Two next season.

But amazingly it was rumoured that William Harvey had fielded at least two ineligible players in both fixtures, one of which scored both the goals in the second fixture costing Brewmaster the title, an accusation that had several consequences for three different teams in the all important promotion and championship places.

Although nothing has yet been proved or confirmed, there will surely be an investigation as so much was riding on the result of the game, and Shadoxhurst must now agonisingly wait to find out if they have won the title or not.

Shadoxhurst left it very late to secure back to back promotions as they were pegged back twice by Burton Grove before eventually running out 3-2 winners at The Ridge. Youngster Josh Smith gave league leaders Shadoxhurst an early 1-0 lead, but Grove equalsed when James Ross was brought down in the area and the home side were awarded a penalty, Dean Metcalfe slotting home to level the scores from the spot.

The scores didn't stay level for long however as Shadoxhurst striker Damien Morse restored the Shad's advantage before Dean Spurrell made it 2-2 and levelled for a second time lobbing Shadoxhurst's stand-in goalkeeper Andy Hone. But former Ashford Victoria forward Stuart Prior popped up with the winning goal ten minutes from time to guarantee Shadoxhurst at least second place.

The only team that can spoil Shadoxhurst's title party is Brewmaster Reserves, who won both games in their double-header with bottom side Givaudan, also at The Ridge. Dale Davis and Simon Bourne were both on target as the Brews beat the works side 2-0 in the first game, before going one better in the second fixture, running out 3-1 winners. The six points gained on Sunday move the beaten Sheber Trophy finalists up into fourth place in the Division Three table, and must win all their four remaining games to stand any chance of being crowned champions and promotion.

If Brewmaster fail to win all their last four fixtures, then Aldington Reserves will join Shadoxhurst in Division Two next season after they enjoyed a 6-3 win at Locomotive Inn. The win leaves Andy WIlliams men on 41 points from 18 games, and they will wait nervously watching the coming weeks results closely hoping all of their hard work this season will be rewarded with a top-two finish.

In Division Four, Ashford Cavaliers Reserves won promotion last weekend thanks to a 5-1 win over pub side Man of Kent, Doug Robson netting four times along the way. Park Farm Rangers look certain to join them in going up after they beat Wye Monarchs Reserves 7-1, but Bliby Reserves still have a slim chance of gate crashing second place after they themselves beat Rangers 2-1 on Bank Holiday Monday.

Market Hotel wrapped up the Premier Division title thanks to a 3-1 win over struggling Aldington Sports, but Ashford Cavaliers first string were relegated after crashing to a 7-1 defeat to Kennington.

Hamstreet's promotion hopes suffered a set back in Division One after they were beaten 3-2 at Lydd Town, while third placed Mersham Sports, argueably the in-form team in the division, beat Charing Sunday 3-1. Percy Prior's Ashford Dynamo side secured their Division One status for next season with a 1-0 win over Market Hotel's second string.

Galacticos were crowned Division Two champions after coming back from going behind to beat Grasshoppers 6-1, and will be joined by either Egerton or Churchills in Division One next season, although Churchill's chances took a knock as the pub side lost 3-1 to fourth place Appledore last weekend.

Ashford Victoria did new league leaders Shadoxhurst a massive favour on Sunday by holding the previous pace setters Aldington Reserves to an entertaining 3-3 draw, while the Shad's came from going a goal behind to win 3-1 at William Harvey Inn. The three points earned by Shadoxhurst makes the villagers massive title favourites, and they only need to beat Burton Grove on 10th May to secure a second successive championship and promotion.

Harvey grabbed an early lead through James Batchelor, but first-half strikes from Stuart Prior and a double from Damien Morse helped Shadoxhurst to another vital win as they move one point clear of second placed Aldington, who face Locomotive Inn in their last fixture next month. Aldington must hope Shadoxhurst drop points at Burton Grove, who themselves are not mathematically safe from relegation, and have to beat Locomotive to stand any chance of lifting the league championship trophy.

The other game to take place on Sunday, the bottom two sides were in action. Works side Givaudan recorded their first league win of the season to keep their slim hopes of avoiding relegation to Division Four alive with a 4-2 away win at Troggs Reserves. Troggs fate was already confirmed two-weeks ago and they will definately be playing in the bottom tier next season, and Givaudan could join them if they fail to win at home to Burton Grove on Sunday.

In the midweek evening fixture on Thursday night, Brewmaster Reserves got revenge on League Cup winners Newchurch with a hard fought 4-0 win over the Marshmen at Hopes Grove. Brewmaster's took advantage of Newchurch's under-strength side and moved within 14 points of second placed Aldington with six games still to play, and they must win all of them to stand any real chance of promotion this season. Their remaining fixtures include double-headers against both Givaudan and William Harvey, as well as home games against Ashford Victoria and Locomotive Inn.

Ashford Victoria forward Darryl George has been ruled out for the rest of the season after suffering medial ligament damage to his left knee in Friday’s 1-1 draw with Aldington Sports Reserves. George had been in great form of late scoring twice in the 4-0 win over Givaudan last weekend to take his seasons tally to 14 goals, but will sit out the remainder of the campaign hoping to be fit for the start of next season.

George was caught by a late tackle midway through the first-half at Aldington and appeared to twist his knee, and will sorely missed by Victoria for their remaining five league fixtures starting next weekend at home to title chasing Shadoxhurst. The 21-year-old now heads a lengthy list of absentees for Sunday’s must win game as the Vics try to keep pace with the leading pack in an attempt to keep their promotion dreams alive. Victoria will already be without Mark Wallis and Jack Bundock due to work commitments, and possibly joining George on the injury list could be goalkeeper Ryan Mills and defender Mark Rutland.

Mills also suffered a knock to the knee and is a concern for the next fixture while Rutland suffered a calf strain and was substituted on Friday just minutes after George’s injury. That leaves Victoria down to the bare bones and they could be forced to recall Benn Phillips and Nasser Sulaiman to the squad after the pair were left out of the squad for the two previous games by manager Ryan Mills.

“We are down to our last eleven fit players at the moment, so we will have to do something before next weekend” said Mills. “I’m hoping to be fit to play against Shadoxhurst but I will have to recall young Benn (Phillips) to the squad as a precaution, while Mark Rutland is a bit touch and go whether he’ll recover in time”.

“We’ve got a couple of stand-by players already signed on in case of these situations, and maybe one of either Nasser Sulaiman or Michael Mills will get a call up to the bench, but we will see how it goes over the next few days” added Mills.

Next weeks opposition Shadoxhurst were dealt a cruel blow to their own title ambitions this morning too as they went down 3-2 to rivals Aldington Sports Reserves at the George Reynolds Playing Fields. Aldington found themselves 3-0 up at the break thanks to a Chris Linkins double, one of which was converted from the penalty spot. But The Shads rallied hard in the second period to set up a tense finish as first Stuart Prior made it 3-1 from the spot before youngster Kirk Howard blasted home for 3-2, but the home side held out for the final few minutes to record a hard fought victory and move up to the top of the table level on points with Shadoxhurst.

Newchurch then themselves kept their slim title hopes alive down on the Marsh with a brilliant 3-2 win over Brewmaster Reserves in the days other league fixture, and also moved onto 33 points with Aldington and Shadoxhurst at the top of a three-way tie at the top of the table. In a dress rehearsal for next weeks League Cup final, Newchurch gained some valuable confidence and set up an interesting last few weeks to the season which sees no less than five sides still within a real shout of promotion.

In the first of the two Sheber Trophy semi finals, Division Three side Burton Grove fell at the last hurdle and missed out on a place in the final after going down 5-1 to First Division side and tournament favourites Bromley Green Reserves at The Swan Centre. Bromley Green raced into a four goal lead through Darryl Hagger, Charlie Clarke, Ashley Webster and a stunning Mat Wedge effort before Burton Grove’s James Ross pulled a goal back for the visitors. Forward Webster then again popped up to score his second and Bromley Green’s fifth of the game to compete the scoring and set up a final date with either Locomotive Inn, Bliby Reserves or Brewmaster Reserves.

With Aldington Reserves planned league fixture with fellow promotion and title chasers Brewmaster Reserves called off last weekend, the final places at the top of the Division Three table come the end of the season are still looking hard to predict. But over the next three months no less than twelve matches will take place between the league’s big five sides and Victoria manager Ryan Mills believe that all of these matches will have huge consequences on the divisions final standings come May.

Shadoxhurst currently lead the table but still face tough away trips to both Aldington and Ashford Victoria while Brewmaster Reserves still have two meetings with both Victoria and Newchurch as well as a visit to Aldington.

“All these games will be massive fixtures in determining where the title and promotion places will go at the end of the season, and will be labelled as six-pointers in terms of importance” said Mills. “We’ve done very well so far beating both Newchurch and Shadoxhurst early on in the season but have slipped up against the sides lower down the table”.

“There are a lot of games left to play between the sides challenging for the top spots and teams are certain to drop points one way or another, be it by beating each other or by drawing and sharing the points on offer. The table would actually look better if it showed the potential points left on offer rather that the points the teams have already banked, but at the end of the day I’d rather have the points in the bag rather than games in hand”.

“Our two meetings with both Aldington and Brewmaster coming up will be massive fixtures and it will be important that we win these sort of games if we want to mount a serious assault on the league championship. The title is actually still in our own hands, and although it might sound far fetched, but if we win every game between now and the end of the season we would win the league outright however well any of the other sides do in the other matches elsewhere” added Mills.

vs. Ashford Victoria (home and away)

vs. Brewmaster Reserves (home)

vs. Newchurch (home and away)

vs. Shadoxhurst (home)

vs. Aldington Sports (home and away)

vs. Brewmaster Reserves (home and away)

vs. Newchurch (home)

vs. Shadoxhurst (home)

vs. Aldington Sports (away)

vs. Ashford Victoria (home and away)

vs. New church (home and away)

vs. Aldington Sports (home and away)

vs. Ashford Victoria (away)

vs. Brewmaster Reserves (home and away)

vs. Aldington Sports (away)

vs. Ashford Victoria (away)

...How the league table would look only counting matches between the sides featured...