from the chair
Our first evening match of the season and it’s a home tie under the lights at HartsdownPark.Theclockshavegoneback,thenightsaredrawinginandwehead intowinter–probablytheMinsterFCbobblehatsmightgetarunoutsoon!
We welcome the Hawkinge squad to Thanet this evening This should be a close encounter as both teams have been equally matched this season, although Saturday’sresultsseeHawkingemakealittlegroundonus Webothhavegamesin handontheteamsaboveus–althoughyouwillseeinotherpagesthatFalconwood arethein-formteamatthemoment.
Welcomealsotoourmatchofficialsthisevening,SimonourrefereewithJamesand Alanrunningthelines.
Lookingatthematchesplayedforallofour9teamsweareapproximatelyonethird ofthewaythroughthisseason–sohereisamini-update:
Across all of our teams, we have a mixture of results so far this season. Our new women’s team – known as The Hinds - are currently the pick of the bunch with 5 wins from 5 in the debut season in the SECWFL Whilst we tend to place enjoyment and participation ahead of results for our youth teams, it is perhaps our oldest squad - the U18s – who are picking up more points than others as they head into their first U18 season in the Kent Youth League. We have also seen some of their players representing our adults teams on a Saturday – so the progression is good andthefutureislookingbright.OurOldBoysteam–formestillannoyinglyyoungat the over 35 age group – have progressed in the Kent Veterans cup with a 1 Round win against Whitstable Town and more recently this past weekend beating CanterburyEaglesVetswithafine4-0homewin.OurReservesarefacingadifficult seasonsofarwherewehaveseensomeolderplayersdepartoverthesummerand agoodcollectionofyoungplayerscomingintothesquad.Itisalmostanewstartfor managerElliot“Beardo”Austinwhoalsoseessomeoftheyoungstersfillingintothe firstteamsquadonoccasionsaswehavehadvariousinjurysetbacks.TheReserves certainly have huge potential and I predict they soon start getting the results that their performances have warranted Our 3 adults team – the 1911s – are even younger but have one or two experienced players in there to help them progress in the Canterbury League where they remain in the Premier Division for this season. Leagueresultshavebeenhardtocomebybutalloftheirdefeatstodate st rd havebeenbyasinglegoal.TwowinsoutoftwointheLeagueCupgroups stagesshowusthattheystillhaveagoodseasontolookforwardto.
Asimilarclubupdate7yearsagowouldhavebeenalotshorterwithonly oneadultsteamandtheveteransteamformetorambleonabout! It’sagreatachievementfromallinvolvedwiththeclub–andit’snot necessarilytheresultsthatmatter.
challenged
from the boss
group
maintain high standards and protect the cleansheetwhichtheydulydidinthesecond half CharlieSharpscoredhissecondofthe gamefiveminutesafterhalftimetomakeit 4-0. Jake Munday added two more clinical finishestohistallytosecureahat-trickand thesegoalswereaddedtobyToddJordan andOllieHarrisdispatchingex ll fi i h to ensure an empathic and scoreline along with progres roundacupthatwewon2sea
This win was followed by a visit to Snodland Town FC Reserves and a far different encounter. Snodland is always a difficult place to go to and any positive result will always be hard earned. Ultimately we would leave with a frustrated feeling after a performance that held many positives, not least the application and effort of the team which was evident in abundance We dominated much of the first half going down the considerable slope and opened the scoring early through an excellent Jake Munday finish following good pressing by Scott Banks Despite our control we headedinat1-1followinganexcellentlong-rangestrikefromSnodland.Muchofour frustrationwouldcomefromthefactthatwefoundourselves3-1upwith25minutes to play following an excellent Todd Jordan finish after beating the Snodland centre back and a close-range strike from John Argyrides. We were unable to see the game out from this position of strength following an unfortunate own goal and a penaltygivenagainstus.Ultimatelythegamecouldthenhavegoneourwayaswe finished strongly creating some good openings. A good performance against a toughopponent,apointthatfeltfrustratinginthemomentbutthatcouldturnoutto beagoodonecomethefinalreckoningsoftheseason.
So our attention now turns to Hawkinge this evening. An evening fixture against this opponentbringsbackmemoriesofoneofthebestdisplaysoftheclubinmytimeas managerasweovercameHawkinge2-0onaFridaynight,inthepouringrain,inthe semi-finals of the KICS two seasons ago. An excellent team performance saw two Todd Jordan goals take us to the final and to becoming eventual cup final winners againstHallsAFC.Wewillhopeforasimilarhigh-qualityperformanceandoutcome thiseveninginthepursuitofanother3pointstoaddtoourtallyagainstateamthat wefullyexpecttobenearthetopofthedivisionattheendoftheseason.
our main sponsors
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
our club partners
Youngs Timber & Builders Merchants is a Kentbased familyrun 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
Twenty4SevenEducation isafastgrowing UK education recruitment agency with offices in London, Manchester, Canterbury and beyond Founded by experienced educationprofessionals,theagency
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. 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.
THISSEASONWEARETEAMINGUPWITHTFMWHO WILLHOSTTHEDIGITALVERSIONSOFTHESE PROGRAMMESONLINE
team
1911 team
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.
Whilstwehavehadgoodfortuneonthepitchtheselastfewyearsbacked byahugeamountofeffortawayfrommatchdays,wecontinuetobea clubthatseelongtermfriendshipsandasenseofcommunityspiritas beingthereal“winning.”
Avillageteamthatwillcontinuetousefootballtobuild competitivespiritalongsidefriendships thatwilllastalifetime.
sponsors & community
Management
Management
AndrewCrush
MarcRichards
Colours
