Good afternoon, here we go again! Welcome to Minster Football Club and our adoptedhomeforatleastthenexttwoseasonshereatHartsdownPark,homeof MargateFootballClub.Wehopethatweareabletoprovideasmuchentertainment forlocalfootballfansasourlandlordswhoplaytheirfootballintheIsthmianSouth EastDivision.Wewouldliketowishthemthebestofluckfortheirseasonandwe hopethatwecanprovideagoodcultureandgoodfootballforthosefansthat choosetojoinuswhenMargateareplayingaway.Weareverymuchalocalteam fulloflocalplayersandourhopeisthatthiselementattractsfriends,families,loyal regularsandnewcomersinequalmeasure.PlayinghereatHartsdownParkisabig step for us as we seek to ensure that our playing environment, facilities and structurematchourambitionsaswewillendeavourtoearntherighttoplayin higherdivisionsincomingseasons ThisseasonmarksmyeleventhatMinsterasa playerandcoach,thelongestIhaveeverspentataclub.Iamproudofwhatweare growingandhavealreadybuiltintermsofthesizeandinfluenceoftheclub,from oneteam11yearsagotonowhaving3seniorsides,aVetsteam,aWomensteam and4youthteams,allrunbyvolunteerswiththeaimofprovidinganenvironment whereplayersatalllevelsofabilitycanfindaplacetodevelopasfootballersand moreimportantly,aspeople.LastseasonsawtheFirstteamfinishsecondinthe leagueandloseoutintheleaguecupfinal,bothoftheseexperiences,Iknowwill providefueltothemotivationofthegroupatthestartofthisseason.
Founded by lifelong friends Lawrence Rose and ElliotPayne,ARTOisalreadyagloballeaderinlife sciences talent solutions, dedicated to helping Biotechnology, Pharmaceutical, and MedTech companiessecurethepeopletheyneedtodrive innovationandgrowth
With a focus on providing bespoke, high-impact talent strategies across Europe and America, they partner with leading organisations to meet their staffing needsthroughanefficient,flexible,andinsight-drivenapproach.
Elliot is no stranger to the football club having played for them as part of his introduction into adult football. He would go onto play in the KCFL for East Kent College Bears under our 1 Team assistant manager, Liam Morris. Elliot is also a registeredplayerfortheMinsterOldBoys(Vets)side st
Tradefit4U are a family run company with a name synonymous with local football. FatherandsonduoTonyandJaymeWisker
arebothverywellknowninThanetFootball–Tonyoftenhavingbattledwith MinsterFConthepitchduringthe80sand90s.Jaymeplayedforsomeofthe all-conquering Thanet Sunday League sides in his time and along with his brothers Danny (former Margate, Whitstable & Herne Bay) and Kyle (US ScholarshipsandWhitstable)itisclearthatfootballhasalwaysrundeepinthe Wiskerfamily.
Youngs Timber & Builders Merchants is a Kent‑based family‑run builders’ merchant operating from branches in Biddenden, Folkestone,andDymchurch.
Founded in Kent, the business is led by a tight knit team passionate about supporting tradespeople and DIY enthusiasts alike. They stock high‑quality timber, building and plumbing supplies, fencing, decorating materials, landscaping products, cladding, roofing, doors, gates and workwear. With in house cutting and machining services, expert advice, free local delivery and a friendly, knowledgeable team, Youngs delivers professional reliability at local prices.
Shapes is a dynamic Canterbury-based firm combining digital accounting and creative marketing under one roof. Founded in 2023 by JimLeeves (chartered accountant and Xeroexpert)andSteveKreeger(UXstrategist
and storyteller), the team crafts tailored solutions for small businesses in the UK. Theirservicescover‘BetterAccounting’-tax,forecasting,digitalfinancesystems - and creative ‘Shapes Marketing’, offering branding, websites, graphic design, video, and digital strategy. With values of simplicity, integrity, transparency, energy, and space, they aim to bring freedom, relief, and delight to clients. Shapes feels friendly, values-driven, and imaginatively practical - a local partnerthatmakesrunningabusinessfeeleffortlessandinspired.
Twenty4SevenEducation isafastgrowing UK education recruitment agency with offices in London, Manchester, Canterbury and beyond. Founded by experienced educationprofessionals,theagency
prioritises honesty, transparency and individualised care for both schools and candidates. They place teachers, teaching assistants, SEN specialists and support staff in permanent, fixed term and supply roles across primary, secondary and special schools. Their Teaching Assistant Academy offers a two week training course for newcomers With a friendly, responsive team and strong candidate feedback, Twenty4Seven feels supportive, professional and genuinelyinvestedinhelpingeducatorsthrive.
“Thank you to
ColinHolden MinsterFC Chairman
page stats
team
1911 team
BetteshangerWelfareFC
CinquePortsFC
DealTownRangersFC
FavershamAthleticFC
MinsterFC1911
UniversityOfKentFC
WinghamFC
WoodnesboroughAthleticFC
Baypoint FC Reserves
Betteshanger Welfare FC Res
Chilham FC Reserves
Rising Stars FC
Sandwich Town FC
University of Kent Monument FC
welcome to minster fc
Youwillhaveseenfromtheclubcrestthatweareover100yearsoldwithonlyWorld Wars getting in the way of continued existence – a matter not taken lightly as club players and staff fought for their country during these difficult times. If you get a chance take a look at the club photos at our pavilion main hall that reminds us of ourhistoryandthegenerationsofplayersthathaverepresentedourclub.
Throughouttheseyearstherehavebeensuccessful teams – most notably in the 1960s – that have playedthegameintherightspiritandhavesetthe foundations for future generations to continue. A difficult time in the early 1980s saw the club – with onlyasingleteamatthetime-almostfailtofinish a season in the Thanet League due to lack of playersandsupport.
My father Ralph (also known locally as Colin) stepped in to gather as many eligible youngsters–includingmyself–toregisterand playthosefinalmatchestokeeptheclubalive. The results didn’t matter – there was a much largermotivetokeepthecontinuityoftheclub.
For us 16/17 year old lads at the time we were finally playing for Minster – a team we had watchedfromthesidelinesformanyyears.The following seasons saw the club continue to buildfromtheverybottomupwards.
Ourclubhasnowgrownveryquicklyintheselast11-12yearsaswehavebuiltonthe success of a very young team – managed by Ian Wallace - that have progressed through the Canterbury & District League and further into the Kent County Football League to the Premier Division where we have consolidated our standing in this division. Two further adult teams were added in 2019/2020 and during these last 5 yearswehaveseenourclubdevelopapathwayforyoungplayerswithintheareato progresswiththeirfootball.Ourveteransteamcontinuetoenjoytheirfootballinthe locallenMartinThanet&DistrictLeague.Wearealsoreallyhappytonowhavefour youth teams represent Minster from U15 to U18 age groups and our previous youth teamshaveprovidedplayersintoouradultssquads Thisseasonalsosees theclubdevelopawomen'sfootballteamforthefirsttimesincethe1960s whenMinsterwereoneoftheoriginalfemaleteamsinthearea.
We are delighted at some of the players that have joined the club over the pre-season as we look to enjoy our football and succeed right now, along with ensuring that we develop a pathway for local young players to transition successfully into senior men's football.
IanWallace
ACOLLECTIONOFPRE-SEASONPHOTOGRAPHS
sponsors & community
Mark Padfield is a traditionally trained Master Thatcher who has spent many years learning this skilledcraft.Heservedhisapprenticeshipunderthe watchful eyes of a 6th generation thatcher and 31 years later he still feels the same passion for the tradeashedidwhenhefirststarted
