Welcome to Wested Meadow for our 1st KCPL fixture of the season v Otford United which is always a test for us especially at the start of the season. We would like to wish them a pleasant stay at the Meadow and a safe journey home.

We lost a few players from last year but that was always going to be the case and brought in some new ones which will hopefully improve the squad. Our preseason went as well as expected with some good results v high League teams and some draws  and hopefully we can bring that into the first few game's with only casualty being a recurrence of Reece's ankle injury.

We are at home again Tuesday evening with kickoff time being 6 30 pm v Kings Hill and then a couple of away game's and returning to the Meadow on the 31st.

I'd like to thank everyone who helped out around the ground during the close season but more needs to be done over the next few months to finish off a few projects.

On a sad note we had 2 people pass away last month former Committee and groundsman Lenny Perfect succumbed to cancer aged 87 he was a boy when the team reformed in 1946 and sorted the ground for many years digging grass for the banks before turfs were invented and he used blood from the village butcher for fertilizer but judging by his slick back hair maybe he drank it.

Also passed was Chris Hackett Senior father of our manager and supporter of the club for many seasons and we will be having a minutes silence before the game with the referee and opponents agreement.

We are still hoping to raise some money to repair the stand roof and will introduce the 100 Club during the coming weeks

I hope you enjoy the game today and return again

COME ON YOU CROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Steve

A great win on Saturday against a young tough Lordswood Reserve side at the Meadow by 2 goals to one. 0-0 at half time but Crocks conceded after 10 mins of the 2nd half to a well taken goal but a good close range effort by Michael Fenn drew us level and a great finish from James Howard gave us the win. The only downer was Recce had a recurrence of his ankle injury which made him miss the last 6 games of last season. 

Last Saturday saw us draw 4-4 with Rochester City after being 3-1 up at half time we played all the players in last chance saloon but as the score shows some have not been good enough and we have moved them on to allow them to find a club which will give them more playing time.

Last Wednesday saw us beat local rivals Sutton Athletic 2 1 in a game where I thought we were the better team on the day but once again got the result coming from behind. We had a final friendly at the Meadow on Wednesday night unfortunately losing 5-2.

The season starts on 17th August home to Otford 2 45pm ko followed by Tues evening at home v Kings Hill ko 6 30.

There will be an admission charge of £3 for these games to help cover the officials costs but we will have some vouchers circulating soon with money off deals from entry and drinks at the bar.

We are hoping for a better season this time around with pre-season having gone as well as it possibly could so come along and support your local club.

Steve Cullen

Chairman

We have now played 3 pre-season fixtures against some good opponents, firstly v Forest Hill Park a league above us but lost out to a last minute winner going down 2 - 1 after big fat Joe gave us the lead up until 10 mins to go when a mistake lead to their equaliser.

In the second game v Welling Town Reserves who were a mixture of young super fit youngsters and a few older heads. 

But an excellent display saw goals from Craig Hewett pen, James Howard and a great free kick from Mike dodgey socks gave us a 3 - 1 win

Our game on Saturday was against Lydd Town again from a higher division proved to be a great test for us and having lost our last 7 games against them we battled really well and ground out a 1 - 0 win with Reece Cullen finishing a great team move to shoot from 25 yards in to the bottom corner.

So 2 wins and a late defeat has been a good start to our pre-season campaign with games v Rochester City on Wed 17th and Sutton Athletic on the 23rd both kicking off at 7 pm. The ground is open from 6pm.

We are still looking for help on the weekends of match days and any ideas you might have to raise monies for the club and as always the clubhouse is available for hire for any parties our gatherings you might have.

Call Steve on 07702 886966 if you want to have a chat about anything.

Regards

Steve

Pre season training has started well with good numbers turning up, some old and some new which is a good mixture to start.

Saturday saw us play a possible v probables game with again good numbers but as always players just bolt out the door afterwards and once again not contributing anything to the running of the club.

Saturday we start our pre season friendlies v SCEFL Div 1 side FOREST HILL PARK kick off is 3pm and there will be a £3 entry fee to help pay for the officials, the tea bar and licenced bar will be open during and after the match followed by Tuesday 9th v Welling Town Reserves kick off 7pm

If you are interested in our 100 club please call Steve on 07702 886966 for details and still looking for players and help on match days

Steve

Saturday saw the start of pre season at the Meadow and was pleased with the 1st turnout with several new players mixing with many from last year and hopefully Chris and Steve can whip them into shape in time for our 1st friendly on the 6th July v Forest Hill Park from the SCEFL.

We are holding several training trials at the club for the next few weeks on Saturdays at 10 30am and for now Wednesdays at 7 30pm so come along and give it a go everyone welcome.

I received a call from a lady last week telling me her Dad played for the Crocks in the 50s and would we have any thing that mentions him.

I was glad to check our old photos and team books and on Saturday was pleased to show Sue and her partner a team photo and details of his appearances and goals during our 1958/59 season, he played 22 games scoring 14 goals, she kept the photo and as always pleased to help old players where possible

During that season on the 24th January we beat Luton Town 4 0 in the Senior Amateur Cup and stayed a Cray, Orpington,Swanley team v TV All Stars losing 8 0 scorers for the All stars Tommy Steele X 3 Alfie Bass X 3 Bernie Winters X 2 and Tommy Docherty X 2 unfortunately only people my age will know who they are

This season we are hoping the reintroduce our 100 club with the proceeds going towards the Stand roof appeal where we are trying to raise £2500, it's only £5 a month with half going to prizes and half to the roof appeal if you want more details please see me match days or contact me on 07702 886966 and I'd love to sort it out for you, the more people in it the bigger and more prizes we can give out, the draw is at the club last weekend of the month

Check our website further for more details of our friendly fixtures and we are still looking for match day volunteers

Steve 

Chairman

We have tried to arrange a mixture of hard and testing friendlies with new teams we haven't played for a while and the Lordswood Res game may yet be played away depending on their 1st teams involvement in Cups.

We are playing most games at Home which will enable the club to get some much needed funds into the club whose last home game was back in early March.

Pre season starts at the Meadow on Saturday 15th June 10 30am and Chris and Steve are looking to a much better season after the last rebuilding one where we hope a lot of the squad will return with a few new players.

The U18s are having a training get together on Sunday 23rd June at the ground 10 30am and if you know anyone who is 16,17 please come along to the trials.

This season we have entered the Hospital Charities Cup for teams level 6 & 7 it's a midweek Cup and if we are drawn at Home we will infact have to play away but will hopefully give the players a good fixture under lights.

The League starts on Saturday 17th August with a midweek game probably scheduled for us as well.

A big thank you to the 3 people who turned up to the works party days, everyone says they are going to be there but as always don't bother to turn up, they think it just paints itself and cleans up just by waving a magic wand about, must be the same wand that sorts all the club stuff out and pays the bills.

We are hoping to hold a few money raising functions at the club this season, please come along and support us and if you have any ideas how to raise money please let me know.

We will be trying to raise money for the repairs to the roof again this year please donate any funds in the bottle on the bar in the clubhouse.

We have 2 new teams at the Meadow this season playing when the teams are away, on Saturdays we have Green Street Green Rovers who play in the Sevenoaks League and kick off at 2pm and on Sundays FC Royals from the Woolwich and District League kicking off at 10 30 am

I'm really looking forward to an interesting season this year and keep you posted on the website of any developments during the year

Regards

Steve Cullen

Club Chairman

I wasn't sure how the season would pan out this year after appointing Chris Hackett as Manager his ,1st role as a Manager so was a bit of a gamble but he knew the Crockenhill ethic and most Managers at the interviews just wanted to know how much the budget was but Chris knows there is no budget and up for our 3 year plan to build a good side, and we have some good young and old players taking us into the 2nd year.

Results were sometimes hard to take as 50% of the games we were much the better side but we have now found out you can have the better players but you still need the effort and desire to see the game through.

Results were better near the end of the season and a great hat trick by James Howard v Metrogas gave us the breathing space over the other side's but unfortunately they accused us of playing 2 ringers and I've spent the past month getting a case together to prove our case as losing 3 points would probably sent us down, but after a meeting on Tuesday and letting rip at the Committee they agreed we had done nothing wrong and the result stood

We took £700 through the turnstile this season a big thank you to everyone who contributed but having played 19 home games our Referees bill was £1900 so we had to find £1200 to cover their costs that's without the £1600 for your training £400 for pitch marking costs £200 for worming treatment and general Water, Petrol for mower, match day food, Electric which all has to be covered which is why we need you to support the raffles and functions that the club will be holding next season

We spent £1000 on roofing repairs of which £120 was raised by donations and the rest covered by me and another reason why the players subs are so important to the club and something I will be cracking down on in the new season it's not much to pay but every little helps

I noticed this year the most successful side's all stayed for a drink and chat after the game and generated a good team spirit and not 1 player bolted out the door after the game and sure it would help us and increase our bar takings of course

I would just like to thank a few people for their help in running the club which is gratfully appreciated Dave on the gate, Pete with the kit, Alan with the best programme and website and Sue with the canteen Saturday and Sunday and in getting the village more involved with the club and also Jade for her bar work and keeping me in check when my rough side comes out.

COME ON YOU CROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!

STEVE