MFC PROG 2526-18 AYL (CMYK) by tracecreative

Margate

MATCHDAYSPONSOR

minster football club

CLUBOFFICIALS

Chairman

Colin Holden

Secretary

Steve Farbrace

1stTeamManager

Ian Wallace

1stTeamAssistantManager

Liam Morris

ReserveTeamManager

Elliot Austin

3rdTeam(1911)Manager

Colin Holden

WomensTeamManager

Steph Meeks

WomensTeamCoaches

Andy Long

Paige Godden

VeteransTeamManager

Steve Farbrace

U18KYLYouthTeamManager

Russell Wilson

U16FDYFLYouthTeamManager

Nelson Were

U16EKYFLYouthTeamManager

James Wells

U15FDYFLYouthTeamManager

James Wells

MEMBERS

OF:

FRONTCOVERPHOTOCREDIT:

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

Faversham & District Youth Football League

“Cadan’s a young photographer from Thanet who knows how to catch the magic in a match. Football’s his first passion, but point his camera anywhere and you’ll still get something special.”

Together we can end hate in football Poor behaviour in football is increasing. Prejudice is on the rise. All forms of discrimination – including racist, sexist and homophobic abuse – is ruining our game. We’re targeting discriminatory abuse in all its forms with a range of

Tell us when it happens, and we’ll tackle it. Together we can put an end to discrimination in the grassroots game.

from the chair

Today we welcome Aaron and his Aylesford squad to Thanet as we start to head into the real business end of the season. Aylesford make the trip as one of the Kent County League’s most rapidly improving sides. After a difficult spell in Division Two, the club rebuilt and began climbing the leagues. Their 2023–24 campaign was the turning point with a league title and then they backed it up immediately with another championship in 2024–25, earning a second straight promotion and a place in the Premier Division. It’s been a remarkable rise in a short space of time. Now established at the top level of the county pyramid, Aylesford continue to test themselves against the strongest sides each week and today provides another measure of their progress. It looks like we are set for a tight battle today.

Overseeing that battle we have Will in the middle – no stranger to Hartsdown Park –and his assistants Gareth and Matthew. Some officials who have had a busy season too and we wish them well.

Personally, I am having another match away from the action and this week it’s more to do with something outside of football where I am “officiating” at the British Ski & Snowboard Championships in Austria. This is something I have been involved with for over 20 years and I see many crossovers with the football club and how we want to run things – I have used some experience from the ethos of freestyle sports where there is a will to win but also an emphasis on enjoyment over and above results (you may have seen this at the recent Olympics).

Youngsters enjoying their sport regardless of results is a difficult achievement, but we will strive for this as a club – we like to win of course but it’s not the ultimate end game.

Having said that – let’s cheer on the Minster lads today !

Thankyouasalwaysforyoursupport-Ihopingtogetto agameoneday!!

from the boss

Good afternoon and welcome to Hartsdown Park for this afternoon's fixture against Aylesford FC. Aylesford currently sit 4th in the division with a record of nineteen wins, four draws and nine losses from their thirty-two games. We know we will be in for a highly competitive game today, our last meeting with Aylesford saw us play out a 33 draw and they have had an excellent season following promotion last year.

Our last home game saw us defeat Tenterden Town 2-1 in a game that tested our resilience, particularly in the second half. We took the lead midway through the first half, Charlie Sharp working the ball into Jake Munday whose strike from outside of the box proved too accurate and too quick for the opposition keeper. Tenterden were able to exert plenty of pressure after the interval with a number of long throws and set pieces testing us defensively. A fine cross from Zack Jobe midway through the period found Munday at the near post to convert a fine volley and give us a twogoal cushion. A late goal from Tenterden ensured a nervy but well managed final few minutes. An important win as we headed into a week of three away games.

The first of these took place away to Falconwood who are having an excellent season and are in the title race. We started the game very well, creating chances and pressing the opposition into errors. One such press led to Charlie Sharp winning the ball back, exchanging passes with Jake Munday before chipping the keeper who was off his line, an excellent finish. Pleasingly from this point we did not sit back and continue to create chances both before and after half time. Good defending and a disallowed goal prevented us from adding to the lead and having to defend well for the final few minutes but ultimately, we saw out another narrow victory, an excellent performance and a well-deserved away win.

1st

Falconwood away was followed four days later by Tenterden away. An away fixture on a Wednesday night at Lydd Town would challenge any club but the group responded superbly to this challenge, particularly in a barnstorming first half. A good team move saw the ball arrive at the back post for Todd Jordan to convert for 1-0, this was followed 20 minutes later by a back post header from Tom Coyne, 2-0 in 26 minutes. By the 29th minute Todd Jordan had been fouled in the area, following an excellent run, resulting in a red card and a penalty converted by Jake Munday to make it 3-0. Shortly before half time Tom Coyne headed a corner back to Charlie Sharp to smash home a volley and make it 4-0 at the break, one of the best halves we have seen from us this season. The ten men of Tenterden fought well in the second half and found a goal back but the result never felt in doubt.

Three days later we travelled to Kent United who play at Glebe FC. A rather chaotic first half saw us trail 3-1 at half time after Ollie Harris had initially made the score 1-1. The second half saw us dominate much of the game, but we were unable to find a way back in with Kent United scoring two late goals. A 5-1 reverse at the end of a busy week, difficult to take but take it we must, some days this is what happens in football. Our third defeat of the season in the league and the first loss in sixteen is one that we will need to react strongly to today. I am very confident that we will do so in terms of performance and if we do, there is every chance the result we want will follow.

At this point in the season, it is very important that we isolate each game, one game at a time, one performance at a time. We speak regularly about fighting for that winning feeling in the changing room, one game at a time. With six games left in the season that is never more pertinent. Six more chances to walk in the changing room and celebrate a win, that is the only focus each week, everything else will take care of itself.

We hope to see you again next week for our fixture against Metrogas before we host Falconwood and Kent United in the last two home games of the season.

Thankyouaseverforyoursupport, 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.

the centre

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“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 the4-1victoryoverTenterdenrecently.

first team

1911 team

womens team

SouthEastCountiesWomensFootballLeague KENTDIVISION

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Radnor

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

d and dedicated team, ing services across Kent to bespoke cision, craftsmanship

ts the Old Boys, leads by ment and work ethic

Operating across the UK and EU, Holbrook Contracting has also expanded into the events industry, providing high quality builds for conferences, exhibitions and major sporting events. Known for their attention to detail and hands on approach, they take pride in delivering projects on time and to the highest standard. Proud supporters of the club and the local community.