Issuu

minster football club

CLUBOFFICIALS

Chairman

Colin Holden

Secretary

Steve Farbrace

1stTeamManager

Ian Wallace

1stTeamAssistantManager

Liam Morris

ReserveTeamManager

Elliot Austin

ReserveTeamCoach

Darryl Farley

3rdTeam(1911)Manager

Colin Holden

WomensTeamManager

Steph Meeks

WomensTeamAssistantManager

Andy Long

VeteransTeamManager

Steve Farbrace

U18KYLYouthTeamManager

Russell Wilson

U16FDYFLYouthTeamManager

Nelson Were

U16EKYFLYouthTeamManager

James Wells

MEMBERS

OF:

Kent & County Football League

Canterbury & District Football League

South East Counties Womens Football League

Len Martin Thanet & District Football League

Kent Youth League

East Kent Youth Football League

U15FDYFLYouthTeamManager Together

Faversham & District Youth Football League

from the chair

Today we complete another set of back-to-back home ties as we host Tenterden Town FC at here at Hartsdown Park. Starting next Saturday, we have three away games in the space of 8 days with a visit to Falconwood, followed by a midweek reversal of this fixture and then a trip to Kent United on the Saturday after. Busy times as we start the home run on what has already been an incredible season for us. We welcome Tevis and the Tenterden squad to Thanet today – they will have endured a journey that we know well across Kent that seemingly goes on forever! I’ve probably mentioned this before, but Tenterden were the team that pipped us to the Division 1 C&E title in 2022 on goal difference as we were both promoted to the Premier Division and have both stabilised ourselves in the topflight since then. They are also currently on a good run of form and will be a tough test today.

Welcome also to our referee James Bonney who has also had back-to-back appearances here as he was running the line last week for our win over New Romney. He will be ably supported by Aiden and David.

My multi-tasking duties as 3 team manager kept me away last week and this week I have been promoted to reserve team assistant manager! So another first team home game missed but I am enjoying seeing at close hand how the other teams are shaping up. We have endured a season of much change for these other two teams – this can be reflected by the league table positions. But the change has been for the good as we have introduced many new young players that provide a lot of encouragement for the future. We have also seen reserve players

from the previous season being promoted to the first team - which is exactly how it should be. Another exciting prospect is how we are now seeing our youth team players transitioning to adults’ football. We will certainly lose a few of them in the coming year as they venture away to universities and we hope that their football journey continues. In the meantime, the players who remain have a great environment to continue their football at Minster FC.

Enjoythegamethisafternoon–Iwillbecuttingup orangesdownTheRec(showingmyagenow).

from the boss

Good afternoon and welcome to Hartsdown Park for this afternoon's game against Tenterden Town FC. Tenterden arrive today on a seven-game unbeaten run, dating back to mid-December. With just twenty-one games played so far this season they have up to nine games in hand on some of the teams around them in the league, which is quite extraordinary given that calendar wise we are only eight weekends away from the end of the season. Tenterden will certainly have a busy run fixture list between now and May, with two of those games against us today and the return game taking place on 25th March at Lydd’s ground. Tenterden's tally of eleven wins, four draws and six defeats see them sit 11th in the division at this point but those games in hand will see them move up the division, I am sure. Tenterden are a familiar opponent, and we know that they will be a tough prospect today, we will endeavour to carry our good form into the game to secure the three points we want as we head into our final ten games of the season.

Last week we were able to maintain our unbeaten run and secure three more points from a stubborn New Romney side. Whilst the feelings in the game were often those of frustration, upon reflection we should have been pleased with much of the quality of our play and excellent defending throughout. Some frustration would come from our failure to put the game to rest despite creating many excellent openings but sometimes that is the way football goes, and it is important, as we did, to ensure that you find a way to win the game. The decisive moment came towards the end of the first half, a Todd Jordan corner evading all until Matt Weatherley (we think!) was able to bundle the ball home from close range for his third goal of the season. The second half would see us control possession and territory, creating a number of good openings, without being able to trouble the scoreboard further. New Romney, fighting for survival, took hope from this and we would have to defend securely and confidently in the closing moments as they threw bodies forwards in the hope of an equaliser. A good team performance ultimately bought the three points we deserved however and a second 1-0 victory in a row following our victory over Metrogas the previous week.

1st

Team Manager IanWallace

Following today's game, we face a nine-game run in with all to play for in the race for the league title, an exciting proposition that we will embrace with the mentality of, one game at a time, to coin the old adage. Next week we face three away games in the space of seven days against Falconwood, Tenterden and Kent United before returning home for fixtures against Metrogas and Aylesford. Four games to play before our next programme and I am sure I will be writing about performances full of effort and endeavour as we pursue the very simple goal of achieving the winning feeling, one game at a time, one performance at a time. Ultimately, it is that winning feeling as a group that we are striving for each week, a feeling underpinned by the knowledge that we have contributed to something bigger than ourselves. This mentality and approach have served us well this season, we have and should enjoy the wins, whenever they come, knowing that we have helped the group to achieve that feeling. We will keep doing that until the end of the season and see where it takes us, one game at a time, one performance at a time, that is the process.

Thankyouforyoursupportaseverandwehopetoseeyou again at our four remaining home games this season! Enjoythegame!

our main sponsors

Founded by lifelong friends Lawrence Rose and Elliot Payne, ARTO is already a global leader in life sciences talent solutions, dedicated to helping Biotechnology, Pharmaceutical, and MedTech companies secure the people they need to drive innovation and growth.

With a focus on providing bespoke, high-impact talent strategies across Europe and America, they partner with leading organisations to meet their staffing needs through an efficient, flexible, and insight-driven approach.

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 registered player for the Minster Old Boys (Vets) side.

Tradefit4U are a family run company with a name synonymous with local football. Father and son duo Tony and Jayme Wisker

are both very well known in Thanet Football – Tony often having battled with Minster FC on the pitch during the 80s and 90s. Jayme played for some of the all-conquering Thanet Sunday League sides in his time and along with his brothers Danny (former Margate, Whitstable & Herne Bay) and Kyle (US Scholarships and Whitstable) it is clear that football has always run deep in the Wisker family.

Tradefit4U work alongside some of the best manufactures of UPVC, aluminium, composite and timber products to supply and fit guttering, windows, doors and conservatories.

Working in both the domestic and commercial sectors and based in Manston, Tradefit4U are well positioned to serve Thanet and the South East of England.

our club partners

Youngs Timber & Builders Merchants is a Kent‑based family‑run builders’ merchant operating from branches in Biddenden, Folkestone, and Dymchurch.

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 Xero expert) and SteveKreeger (UX strategist

and storyteller), the team crafts tailored solutions for small businesses in the UK. Their services cover ‘Better Accounting’ - tax, forecasting, digital finance systems - 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 partner that makes running a business feel effortless and inspired.

Twenty4Seven Education is a fast growing UK education recruitment agency with offices in London, Manchester, Canterbury and beyond. Founded by experienced education professionals, the agency

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 genuinely invested in helping educators thrive.

THISSEASONWEARETEAMING UPWITHTFMWHOWILLHOST THEDIGITALVERSIONSOF THESEPROGRAMMESONLINE

“Thank you to Russel and the Thanet Football Magazine team for your ongoing support—not just for our club, but for the entire local football community.”

ColinHolden Minster FC Chairman

NelsonWere-ourU16YouthTeamManagerand clubphotographerwasagainonthesidelinesfor the1-0victoryoverNewRomneylastweek.

first team

1911 team

welcome to minster fc

You will have seen from the club crest that we are over 100 years old with only World 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 our history and the generations of players that have represented our club.

Throughout these years there have been successful teams – most notably in the 1960s – that have played the game in the right spirit and have set the foundations for future generations to continue. A difficult time in the early 1980s saw the club – with only a single team at the time - almost fail to finish a season in the Thanet League due to lack of players and support.

My father Ralph (also known locally as Colin) stepped in to gather as many eligible youngsters – including myself – to register and play those final matches to keep the club alive. The results didn’t matter – there was a much larger motive to keep the continuity of the club. For us 16/17 year old lads at the time we were finally playing for Minster – a team we had watched from the sidelines for many years. The following seasons saw the club continue to build from the very bottom upwards.

Our club has now grown very quickly in these last 11-12 years as we have built on the 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 years we have seen our club develop a pathway for young players within the area to progress with their football. Our veterans team continue to enjoy their football in the local len Martin Thanet & District League. We are also really happy to now have four youth teams represent Minster from U15 to U18 age groups and our previous youth teams have provided players into our adults squads. This season also sees the club develop a women's football team for the first time since the 1960s when Minster were one of the original female teams in the area.

Whilst we have had good fortune on the pitch these last few years backed by a huge amount of effort away from match days, we continue to be a club that see long term friendships and a sense of community spirit as being the real “winning.”

Avillageteamthatwillcontinuetousefootballtobuild competitivespiritalongsidefriendships thatwilllastalifetime.

ColinHolden Chairman

sponsors & community

Willowbank Education provides nature based learning across several outdoor sites, offering forest school programmes, angling education, and hands‑on experiences designed to build confidence, wellbeing, and personal growth. Founded in 2021 by Pat under Willowbank CIC and later joined by educator Elizabeth, the organisation focuses on meaningful, high‑quality outdoor learning rooted in expertise and a passion for the natural world. Their sites include Nethergong’s wetland setting, Bee Free on the Farm’s 24 acre environment, and additional locations across Kent and Sussex. Willowbank hosts regular events, activities, and community opportunities, supported by partnerships with educational and environmental organisations. Their mission centres on transformative learning, connection to nature, and creating inspiring experiences for childrenandyoungpeople.