Kent Senior Cup

For the rugby union competition, see Kent Cup.

Football tournament

Kent Senior CupFounded| 1889

|

Region|  Kent
Number of teams| 24 (2023–24)
Current champions| Maidstone United
Most successful club(s)| Maidstone United
(19 times)
Website| 2023–24 Fixtures / Results

The Kent Senior Cup is an English football knock-out competition played between senior clubs in the county of Kent. It is administered by the Kent County Football Association (KCFA).

## History

[edit]

Now known as the Kent Senior Cup it was originally named, until the 1897–98 season, as the Kent Cup with the first competition played during the 1888–89 season. The cup itself, engraved as the "Kent County Football Association Challenge Cup",[1] cost £33 and is made of 62 ounces of silver and surmounted by the rampant horse of Kent.[2] (2018 Photograph[3]). The Kent Cup competition was preceded as the KCFA's County knock-out tournament by the Kent County Badge: this was first competed for in 1886 and won for each of its three seasons by Chatham – who were also the first winners of the Kent Cup.

Following the founding of the Kent League in 1894 for the three seasons from 1894–95 until 1896–97 the Kent Cup was awarded to the champions of the League. The knock-out competition for the cup resumed from the 1897–98 season when it was renamed the Kent Senior Cup,[4] with Gravesend United the winners. For the 1919–1920 season only a trophy presented as a gift to the KCFA named as the Victory Cup[5] replaced the Kent Senior Cup trophy. The competition was suspended for four seasons between 1914 and 1918 owing to the World War I and there have been two other seasons in which the Kent Senior Cup has not been competed for: in 1940–1941 owing to World War II; and 2020–2021 owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.[6]

Initially the final of the competition was played at a venue pre-selected by the KCFA: for the first six seasons this was at Chatham, then after taking place at New Brompton, Ashford, Tunbridge Wells and returning to Chatham for one season the final was held at Faversham for the next six years. For a long spell between 1908 until 1950 the venue for the final was the Athletic Ground, Maidstone (except 1942 at Belvedere). Thereafter the final was held mostly at the Priestfield Stadium, Gillingham until 1965 after which for the next eight seasons it was contested (as it had been in the 1961–62 season) over two legs held at each of the finalists ground with the aggregate score determining the winner. The venue for the final then reverted to Maidstone then to Gillingham for fourteen seasons. Then following playing the final at Sittingbourne and for the first time outside Kent at Millwall, since 1998 (with several exceptions) the winner of a coin toss between the final protagonists decided which would have the choice to host the final match. The semi–finals were played on neutral grounds until the mid-1950s.

From 1902 until 1961 the final took place on Easter Monday and into the 1950s would attract in excess of ten thousand spectators – 13,119 were at the 1951–1952 final between Kent League club Dover and Southern League club Dartford.[7] Between 1983 until 2002 the final was held on the early May bank holiday however since then the final has struggled for a set date owing to end of season promotion and relegation play-off matches and in the 2007–2008 season was even deferred until the 2008–2009 pre–season.[8]

For five seasons from 1980–1981 until 1985–1986 the Kent Senior Cup competition was sponsored by the Chatham Reliance Building Society. The Swedish office business machine company Facit was then the sponsor for the next eleven seasons until 1996–1997. Bose were the sponsor in the early 2000s after which between 2003–04 and 2006–07 the cup was sponsored and named after Kent football patron John Ullmann. Between 2010–11 and 2013–14 portablefoodlights.com sponsored the cup, then for the 2014–15 season Kent Reliance Building society revived their sponsorship from thirty years previously[9] and this continued through to the 2017–18 season. In 2022 the KCFA announced that all Kent County Cups, including the Senior Cup, would be sponsored by the ferry operator DFDS.[10]

The 2013–14 Kent Senior Cup competition marked the 125th anniversary since its inception in the 1888–89 season;[11] to celebrate the landmark the final took place at Priestfield Stadium, home of Gillingham FC. The match was won by Ebbsfleet United who beat Dover Athletic 4–0[12] – the winning club being a descendant of Northfleet United who in the 1920s achieved an enduring record of five consecutive season Kent Senior Cup wins.

Past winners of the Kent Senior Cup include Royal Arsenal (now Arsenal) in 1889–90, and Gillingham in 1945–46 and 1947–48; the two sides went on to become members of the Premier League and Football League respectively. Both Charlton Athletic and Maidstone United won the cup whilst members of the Football league and Gillingham have continued to compete. The Football League clubs field a development team rather than their full league side in the competition.

## Cup Final Matches

[edit]

KENT SENIOR CUP: THE CUP FINAL MATCHES
(includes Kent County Badge finals and seasons’ semi-finalists)

Season  | Winner | Score  | Runner-up  | Notes | Date | Venue |  | Beaten semi-finalists
(by: Winner / Runner-up)
| KENT COUNTY BADGE FINALS
1885–86 | Chatham United | 3–1  | South Eastern
Rangers |  | 10 Apr 1886 | Ashford
(Victoria Grnd) |  |  (bye) /
Chatham Victoria
1886–87 | Chatham United | 8–0  | Chatham Victoria  |  | 26 Mar 1887 | Chatham
(The Lines) |  |  (bye) /
Chatham Standard
1887–88 | Chatham | 0–0  | South Eastern
Rangers |  | 17 Mar 1888 | Bromley |  | Gravesend /
Folkestone
6–1  | Replay | 31 Mar 1888 | Ashford (Vic)
| KENT SENIOR CUP FINALS (KENT CUP 1889–1897)
1888–89 | Chatham | 3–1  | South Eastern
Rangers |  | 6 Apr 1889 | Chatham |  | Gravesend /
Folkestone
1889–90 | Royal Arsenal | 3–0  | Thanet
Wanderers  |  | 22 Mar 1890 | Chatham |  | Chatham /
South Eastern Rangers
1890–91 | Lincoln
Regiment | 2–1  | South Eastern
Rangers |  | 11 Apr 1891 | Chatham |  | Chatham /
Royal Arsenal
1891–92 | Highland Light
Infantry | 11–0  | Gravesend |  | 12 Mar 1892 | Chatham |  | Chatham /
Ashford United
1892–93 | Ashford United | 2–0  | Chatham |  | 8 Apr 1893 | Chatham |  | West Kent Regiment
/ Sheppey United
1893–94 | Royal Ordnance
Factories | 4–2  | Dartford |  | 7 Apr 1894 | Chatham |  | Folkestone /
New Brompton
1894–95 | Chatham |  Cup awarded to the Kent League champions
1895–96 | Northfleet
1896–97 | Woolwich Arsenal
Reserves
1897–98 | Gravesend
United | 3–1  | Dartford |  | 2 Apr 1898 | New Brompton |  | Sheppey United /
Chatham
1898–99 | Maidstone United | 1–0  | Folkestone |  | 25 Mar 1899 | Ashford |  | Royal Engineers Utd
/ Dartford
1899–
1900 | Gravesend
United | 1–1  | Maidstone United |  | 14 Apr 1900 | Tunbridge Wells |  | Dartford /
Folkestone
4–1  | Replay | 30 Apr 1900 | Chatham
1900–01 | Maidstone United | 3–0  | Cray Wanderers |  | 13 Apr 1901 | Chatham |  | Sheppey United /
Chatham Amateurs
1901–02 | Sittingbourne | 2–2  | Ashford United |  | 31 Mar 1902 | Faversham |  | Swanscombe /
Sheppey United
4–1  | Replay | 12 Apr 1902 | Ramsgate
1902–03 | Maidstone United | 2–1  | Ashford United |  | 13 Apr 1903 | Faversham |  | Sittingbourne /
Eltham
1903–04 | Eltham | 4–1  | Sittingbourne |  | 4 Apr 1904 | Faversham |  | Cray Wanderers /
Dover
1904–05 | Chatham | 3–1  | Sittingbourne |  | 24 Apr 1905 | Faversham |  | Dover /
Eltham
1905–06 | Eltham | 1–0  | Bromley |  | 16 Apr 1906 | Faversham |  | Southern United /
Sittingbourne
1906–07 | Maidstone United | 1–0  | Sittingbourne |  | 1 Apr 1907 | Faversham |  | Eltham /
Sheppey United
1907–08 | Tunbridge Wells
Rangers | 1–0  | Sittingbourne |  | 20 Apr 1908 | Maidstone |  | Sheppey United /
Maidstone United
1908–09 | Maidstone United | 4–2  | Northfleet United |  | 12 Apr 1909 | Maidstone |  | Tunbridge Wells Rngrs
/ Sittingbourne
1909–10 | Northfleet United | 2–0  | Chatham |  | 28 Mar 1910 | Maidstone |  | Dartford /
Maidstone United
1910–11 | Chatham | 2–1  | Sittingbourne |  | 17 Apr 1911 | Maidstone |  | Sheppey United /
Gravesend United
1911–12 | Catford Southend | 3–0  | Chatham |  | 8 Apr 1912 | Maidstone |  | Bromley /
Sittingbourne
1912–13 | Northfleet United | 2–1  | Gravesend
United |  | 24 Mar 1913 | Maidstone |  | Tunbridge Wells Rngrs
/ Chatham
1913–14 | Maidstone United | 1–0  | Northfleet United |  | 13 Apr 1914 | Maidstone |  | Folkestone /
Chatham
1914–18 |  Competition suspended for 4 seasons owing to World War I
1918–19 | Chatham | 3–0  | Maidstone United | Victory Cup | 21 Apr 1919 | Maidstone |  | Royal Marines (Deal) /
Royal Ordnance (W'wich)
1919–20 | Maidstone United | 2–1  | Northfleet United |  | 5 Apr 1920 | Maidstone |  | Sheppey United /
Sittingbourne
1920–21 | Northfleet United | 1–0  | Ramsgate |  | 28 Mar 1921 | Maidstone |  | Sittingbourne /
Chatham
1921–22 | Maidstone United | 1–0  | Folkestone |  | 17 Apr 1922 | Maidstone |  | Margate Town /
Dartford
1922–23 | Maidstone United | 3–2  | Sittingbourne |  | 2 Apr 1923 | Maidstone |  | Ashford Railway Wks
Folkestone
1923–24 | Northfleet United | 1–0  | Dartford |  | 21 Apr 1924 | Maidstone |  | Sittingbourne /
Sheppey United
1924–25 | Northfleet United | 8–2  | Sittingbourne |  | 13 Apr 1925 | Maidstone |  | Grays Thurrock Utd
/ Folkestone
1925–26 | Northfleet United | 1–0  | Folkestone |  | 5 Apr 1926 | Maidstone |  | Chatham /
Dartford
1926–27 | Northfleet United | 1–0  | Sheppey United |  | 18 Apr 1927 | Maidstone |  | Chatham /
RN Depot
1927–28 | Northfleet United | 3–1  | Sittingbourne |  | 9 Apr 1928 | Maidstone |  | RN Depot /
Cray Wanderers
1928–29 | Sittingbourne | 1–1  | Sheppey United |  | 1 Apr 1929 | Maidstone |  | Chatham /
Folkestone
1–0  | Replay | 3 Apr 1929 | Gillingham
1929–30 | Sittingbourne | 3–0  | Margate |  | 21 Apr 1930 | Maidstone |  | Northfleet United /
Folkestone
1930–31 | Dartford | 2–2  | Folkestone |  | 6 Apr 1931 | Maidstone |  | Ashford Town /
Tunbridge Wells Rngrs
5–2  | Replay | 8 Apr 1931 | Maidstone
1931–32 | Dartford | 2–0  | Sheppey United |  | 28 Mar 1932 | Maidstone |  | Chatham /
Tunbridge Wells Rngrs
1932–33 | Dartford | 0–0  | Tunbridge Wells
Rangers |  | 17 Apr 1933 | Maidstone |  | Margate /
Folkestone
2–0  | Replay | 19 Apr 1933 | Northfleet
1933–34 | Folkestone | 3–0  | Margate |  | 2 Apr 1934 | Maidstone |  | Northfleet United /
Ramsgate Press Wndrs
1934–35 | Dartford | 3–2  | Folkestone |  | 22 Apr 1935 | Maidstone |  | Tunbridge Wells Rngrs
/ Northfleet United
1935–36 | Margate | 2–1  | Tunbridge Wells
Rangers |  | 13 Apr 1936 | Maidstone |  | Northfleet United /
Sittingbourne
1936–37 | Margate | 3–2  | Tunbridge Wells
Rangers |  | 29 Mar 1937 | Maidstone |  | Northfleet United /
Folkestone
1937–38 | Northfleet United | 2–1  | Dover |  | 18 Apr 1938 | Maidstone |  | Margate /
Bexley Heath & Welling
1938–39 | Tunbridge Wells
Rangers | 4–0  | Gillingham |  | 10 Apr 1939 | Maidstone |  | Erith & Belvedere /
Northfleet United
1939–40 | Shorts Sports | 6–1  | Dartford |  | 25 Mar 1940 | Maidstone |  | Canterbury Waverley /
Aylesford Paper Mills
1940–41 |  Competition suspended owing to World War II
1941–42 | Erith & Belvedere | 2–1  | Shorts Sports  |  | 25 May 1942 | Belvedere |  | Bromley /
Gravesend United
1942–43 | Royal Artillery
Depot (Woolwich) | 1–0  | Shorts Sports  |  | 27 Apr 1943 | Maidstone |  | Gravesend United /
Lloyds
1943–44 | Royal Artillery
Depot (Woolwich) | 5–3  | Gravesend
United |  | 10 Apr 1944 | Maidstone |  | Bromley /
Folkestone
1944–45 | Royal Artillery
Depot (Woolwich) | 5–1  | Lloyds  |  | 2 Apr 1945 | Maidstone |  | 12th ITC (Canterbury)
/ Gillingham
1945–46 | Gillingham | 5–1  | 12th ITC
(Canterbury)  |  | 22 Apr 1946 | Maidstone |  | Gravesend United /
Erith & Belvedere
1946–47 | Dartford | 3–2  | Bromley |  | 7 Apr 1947 | Maidstone |  | Gillingham /
Folkestone Town
1947–48 | Gillingham | 1–0  | Gravesend &
Northfleet |  | 29 Mar 1948 | Maidstone |  | Sheppey United /
Bromley
1948–49 | Gravesend &
Northfleet | 2–2  | Gillingham | After extra
time (aet) | 18 Apr 1949 | Maidstone |  | Dartford /
Folkestone Town
1–1  | Replay (aet) | 14 May 1949 | Gillingham
2–0  | 2nd Replay | 31 Aug 1949 | Gillingham
1949–50 | Bromley | 1–1  | Gillingham |  | 10 Apr 1950 | Maidstone |  | Dover /
Folkestone Town
5–3  | Replay | 19 Apr 1950 | Gillingham
1950–51 | Snowdown
Colliery Welfare | 0–0  | Bromley |  | 26 Mar 1951 | Gillingham |  | Sittingbourne /
Dartford
2–1  | Replay (aet) | 19 May 1951 | Gillingham
1951–52 | Dover | 2–0  | Dartford |  | 14 Apr 1952 | Gillingham |  | Bromley /
Sittingbourne
1952–53 | Gravesend &
Northfleet | 2–1  | Dartford |  | 6 Apr 1953 | Gillingham |  | Folkestone Town /
Bromley
1953–54 | Canterbury City | 1–0  | Tunbridge Wells
United |  | 19 Apr 1954 | Gillingham |  | Dover /
Gravesend & Northfleet
1954–55 | Tunbridge Wells
United | 2–1  | Dartford |  | 11 Apr 1955 | Gillingham |  | Tonbridge /
Dover
1955–56 | Snowdown
Colliery Welfare | 1–1  | Dartford |  | 2 Apr 1956 | Gillingham |  | Ramsgate Athletic /
Canterbury City
2–0  | Replay | 18 Apr 1956 | Gillingham
1956–57 | Folkestone Town | 2–0  | Tonbridge |  | 22 Apr 1957 | Gillingham |  | Canterbury City /
Tunbridge Wells Utd
1957–58 | Sittingbourne | 1–0  | Ramsgate
Athletic |  | 07 Apr 1958 | Gillingham |  | Dartford /
Margate
1958–59 | Ashford Town | 2–1  | Tonbridge |  | 30 Mar 1959 | Gillingham |  | Dover /
Snowdown Coll. Welf.
1959–60 | Dover | 0–0  | Margate |  | 18 Apr 1960 | Maidstone |  | Bromley /
Dartford
1–0  | Replay (aet) | 28 Apr 1960 | Folkestone
1960–61 | Bexleyheath
& Welling | 3–0  | Sittingbourne |  | 3 Apr 1961 | Maidstone |  | Cray Wanderers /
Dover
1961–62 | Dover | 1–1  | Ashford Town | 1st Leg | 23 Apr 1962 | Dover |  | Ramsgate Athletic /
Margate
1–1  | 2nd Leg (aet) | 12 May 1962 | Ashford
2–2 | Aggregate score (after both legs)
4–1  | Play-off | 20 Aug 1962 | Folkestone
1962–63 | Ashford Town | 1–0  | Margate |  | 11 May 1963 | Gillingham |  | Tonbridge /
Dartford
1963–64 | Ramsgate
Athletic | 3–1  | Maidstone United |  | 25 Apr 1964 | Gillingham |  | Bexley United /
Folkestone Town
1964–65 | Tonbridge | 3–0  | Bexley United |  | 19 Apr 1965 | Gillingham |  | Ramsgate Athletic /
Dover
1965–66 | Maidstone United | 1–1  | Ramsgate
Athletic | 1st Leg | 26 Apr 1966 | Ramsgate |  | Margate /
Dover
3–1  | 2nd Leg | 10 May 1966 | Maidstone
4–2 | Aggregate score (after both legs)
1966–67 | Dover | 5–0  | Margate | 1st Leg | 3 Apr 1967 | Margate |  | Dartford /
Ramsgate Athletic
1–0  | 2nd Leg | 6 Apr 1967 | Dover
6–0 | Aggregate score (after both legs)
1967–68 | Dover | 1–2  | Bexley United | 1st Leg | 24 Apr 1968 | Bexley |  | Tonbridge/
Gravesend & Northfleet
3–0  | 2nd Leg (aet) | 8 May 1968 | Dover
4–2 | Aggregate score (after both legs)
1968–69 | Folkestone | 4–0  | Margate | 1st Leg | 30 Apr 1969 | Folkestone |  | Herne Bay /
Bexley United
0–2  | 2nd Leg | 8 May 1969 | Margate
4–2 | Aggregate score (after both legs)
1969–70 | Dartford | 1–0  | Margate | 1st Leg | 4 May 1970 | Margate |  | Erith & Belvedere /
Folkestone
4–1  | 2nd Leg | 9 May 1970 | Dartford
5–1 | Aggregate score (after both legs)
1970–71 | Dover | 1–0  | Dartford | 1st Leg | 19 Apr 1971 | Dover |  | Ashford Town /
Sheppey United
2–2  | 2nd Leg | 28 Apr 1971 | Dartford
3–2 | Aggregate score (after both legs)
1971–72 | Dover | 2–0  | Dartford | 1st Leg | 5 Apr 1972 | Dover |  | Canterbury City /
Sheppey United
1–2  | 2nd Leg | 13 Apr 1972 | Dartford
3–2 | Aggregate score (after both legs)
1972–73 | Dartford | 6–2  | Folkestone | 1st Leg | 26 Mar 1973 | Dartford |  | Canterbury City /
Maidstone United
4–2  | 2nd Leg | 4 Apr 1973 | Folkestone
10–4 | Aggregate score (after both legs)
1973–74 | Margate | 2–0  | Maidstone United |  | 13 Apr 1974 | Maidstone |  | Canterbury City /
Bexley United
1974–75 | Tonbridge | 2–1  | Maidstone United |  | 5 Apr 1975 | Maidstone |  | Dartford /
Ashford Town
1975–76 | Maidstone United | 1–0  | Canterbury City | After extra
time (aet) | 30 Apr 1976 | Maidstone |  | Margate /
Bexley United
1976–77 | Bromley | 1–0  | Gravesend &
Northfleet |  | 30 Apr 1977 | Maidstone |  | Ashford Town /
Dartford
1977–78 | Folkestone and
Shepway | 1–0  | Maidstone United |  | 15 Apr 1978 |  |  | Sheppey United/
Gravesend & Northfleet
1978–79 | Maidstone United | 2–1  | Dartford | After extra
time (aet) | 16 Apr 1979 |  |  | Gravesend & Northfleet
/ Sheppey United
1979–80 | Maidstone United | 1–0  | Dartford |  | 7 Apr 1980 | Maidstone |  | Bromley /
Dover
1980–81 | Gravesend &
Northfleet | 2–0  | Ashford Town |  | 20 Apr 1981 | Maidstone |  | Maidstone United /
Dover
1981–82 | Maidstone United | 3–0  | Ashford Town |  | 12 Apr 1982 | Gillingham |  | Tonbridge Angels /
Gravesend & Northfleet
1982–83 | Folkestone | 4–0  | Dover |  | 2 May 1983 | Gillingham |  | Bromley /
Maidstone United
1983–84 | Fisher Athletic | 1–0  | Maidstone United |  | 7 May 1984 | Gillingham |  | Folkestone /
Ashford Town
1984–85  | Folkestone | 4–2  | Welling United |  | 6 May 1985 | Gillingham |  | Thanet United /
Fisher Athletic
1985–86 | Welling United | 2–0  | Dover Athletic |  | 5 May 1986 | Gillingham |  | Gravesend & Northfleet
/ Dartford
1986–87 | Dartford | 2–0  | Maidstone United |  | 4 May 1987 | Gillingham |  | Ashford Town /
Fisher Athletic
1987–88 | Dartford | 1–0  | Maidstone United |  | 3 May 1988 | Gillingham |  | Welling United /
Bromley
1988–89 | Maidstone United | 1–0  | Welling United | After extra
time (aet) | 1 May 1989 | Gillingham |  | Dartford /
Gravesend & Northfleet
1989–90 | Maidstone United | 1–0  | Gillingham |  | 7 May 1990 | Gillingham |  | Dover Athletic /
Dartford
1990–91 | Dover Athletic | 1–0  | Gravesend &
Northfleet |  | 6 May 1991 | Gillingham |  | Gillingham /
Maidstone United
1991–92 | Bromley | 3–1  | Hythe Town | After extra
time (aet) | 4 May 1992 | Gillingham |  | Dartford /
Ashford Town
1992–93 | Ashford Town | 3–2  | Bromley |  | 3 May 1993 | Gillingham |  | Gravesend & Northfleet
Welling United
1993–94 | Margate | 2–1  | Dover Athletic |  | 2 May 1994 | Gillingham |  | Charlton Athletic /
Welling United
1994–95 | Charlton Athletic | 4–2  | Gillingham | After extra
time (aet) | 8 May 1995 | Gillingham |  | Tonbridge Angels /
Fisher
1995–96 | Ashford Town | 3–0  | Charlton Athletic |  | 6 May 1996 | Sittingbourne |  | Gillingham /
Fisher
1996–97 | Bromley | 4–1  | Dover Athletic |  | 5 May 1997 | Millwall |  | Gillingham /
Fisher Athletic
1997–98 | Margate | 1–0  | Gravesend &
Northfleet |  | 4 May 1998 | Northfleet |  | Gillingham /
Dover Athletic
1998–99 | Welling United | 1–0  | Folkestone
Invicta |  | 3 May 1999 | Folkestone |  | Margate /
Fisher Athletic
1999–
2000 | Gravesend &
Northfleet | 3–0  | Folkestone
Invicta |  | 1 May 2000 | Northfleet |  | Dartford /
Dover Athletic
2000–01 | Gravesend &
Northfleet | 4–0  | Dover Athletic |  | 7 May 2001 | Dover |  | Folkestone Invicta /
Bromley
2001–02 | Gravesend &
Northfleet | 5–0  | Margate |  | 6 May 2002 | Margate |  | Fisher Athletic /
Ashford Town
2002–03 | Margate | 2–1  | Welling United | After extra
time (aet) | 30 Apr 2003 | Welling |  | Erith & Belvedere /
Bromley
2003–04 | Margate | 2–1  | Folkestone
Invicta |  | 28 Apr 2004 | Folkestone |  | Dover Athletic /
Bromley
2004–05 | Margate | 2–1  | Dover Athletic |  | 2 May 2005 | Folkestone |  | Folkestone Invicta /
Gravesend & Northfleet
2005–06 | Bromley | 3–2  | Gravesend &
Northfleet | After extra
time (aet) | 27 Apr 2006 | Bromley |  | Ramsgate /
Margate
2006–07 | Bromley | 3–1  | Tonbridge Angels |  | 24 Apr 2007 | Bromley |  | Ashford Town /
Maidstone United
2007–08 | Ebbsfleet United | 4–0  | Cray Wanderers |  | 26 Jul 2008 | Bromley |  | Margate /
Bromley
2008–09 | Welling United | 6–1  | Whitstable Town |  | 16 Apr 2009 | Welling |  | Ramsgate /
Bromley
2009–10 | Sittingbourne | 3–1  | Folkestone
Invicta |  | 4 May 2010 | Folkestone |  | Cray Wanderers /
Welling United
2010–11 | Dartford | 4–1  | Bromley |  | 2 May 2011 | Dartford |  | Ramsgate /
Cray Wanderers
2011–12 | Hythe Town | 1–0  | Dartford |  | 24 Apr 2012 | Dartford |  | Dover Athletic /
Charlton Athletic
2012–13 | Charlton Athletic | 7–1  | Tonbridge Angels |  | 1 May 2013 | Tonbridge |  | Thamesmead /
Ebbsfleet United
2013–14 | Ebbsfleet United | 4–0  | Dover Athletic |  | 5 May 2014 | Gillingham |  | Whitstable Town /
Bromley
2014–15 | Charlton Athletic | 1–0  | Gillingham |  | 30 Apr 2015 | Gillingham |  | Ramsgate /
Margate
2015–16 | Dartford | 3–1  | Charlton Athletic |  | 26 Apr 2016 | Dartford |  | Greenwich Borough
/ Ebbsfleet United
2016–17 | Dover Athletic | 2–0  | Welling United |  | 1 May 2017 | Maidstone |  | Folkestone Invicta /
Charlton Athletic
2017–18 | Maidstone United | 0–0  | Folkestone
Invicta |  | 24 Apr 2018 | Maidstone |  | Bromley /
Charlton Athletic
4–2 | Penalty shots
2018–19 | Maidstone United | 1–1  | Bromley |  | 16 Apr 2019 | Bromley |  | Gillingham /
Tonbridge Angels
3–2 | Penalty shots
2019–20 | Dartford | 6–1  | Whitstable Town | Final
Delayed | 24 Nov 2021 | Dartford |  | Phoenix Sports /
Gillingham
2020–21 |  Competition suspended owing to the COVID-19 pandemic
2021–22 | Dartford | 6–2  | Folkestone
Invicta |  | 17 May 2022 | Chatham |  | Welling United /
Hythe Town
2022–23 | Margate | 1–1  | Chatham Town |  | 3 May 2023 | Gillingham |  | Ramsgate /
Welling United
5–4 | Penalty shots
2023–24 | Maidstone United | 4–0  | Ebbsfleet United |  | 17 Apr 2024 | Bromley |  | Dartford /
Chatham Town

## Record by Club

[edit]

(As of matches played 17 April 2024}

There have been 32 clubs (including follow-on clubs) who have won the Kent Senior Cup; a further seven clubs have competed in the final without winning; and an additional 14 clubs reached the semi-final stage but didn't progress to the final match.

KENT SENIOR CUP FINALS: RECORD BY CLUB
(excludes the County Badge and occasions the cup was awarded to the Kent League champions) | Rank
( † )  | Club ( ‡ )  | Latest
win | Winner | Runner-
up | Finalist | Beaten
Semi-
finalist | Semi-
finalist

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1  | Maidstone United:
(1897–1992) & (1992 >) | 2023–24 | 19 | 9 | 28 | 7 | 35
2  | Dartford | 2021–22 | 13 | 13 | 26 | 19 | 45
3  | Dover / Dover Athletic | 2016–17 | 9 | 8 | 17 | 16 | 33
4  | Margate / Margate Town /
Thanet United | 2022–23 | 9 | 8 | 17 | 12 | 29
5  | Northfleet United | 1937–38 | 9 | 3 | 12 | 6 | 18
6  | Ebbsfleet United /
Gravesend & Northfleet | 2013–14 | 8 | 6 | 14 | 11 | 25
7  | Folkestone / Folkestone and Shepway /
Folkestone Town / Folkestone Invicta | 1984–85 | 6 | 12 | 18 | 21 | 39
8  | Bromley | 2006–07 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 17 | 29
9  | Sittingbourne | 2009–10 | 5 | 9 | 14 | 10 | 24
10  | Ashford United / Ashford Town /
Ashford Railway Works | 1995–96 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 11 | 21
11  | Chatham Town / Chatham /
Chatham Amateurs | 1918–19 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 13 | 21
12  | Welling United | 2008–09 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 6 | 13
13  | Tunbridge Wells Rangers /
Tunbridge Wells United | 1954–55 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 6 | 13
14  | Charlton Athletic | 2014–15 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 9
15  | Royal Artillery Depot Woolwich  | 1944–45 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3
16  | Gillingham / New Brompton | 1947–48 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 17
17  | Tonbridge / Tonbridge Angels | 1974–75 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 12
18  | Gravesend / Gravesend United | 1899–
1900  | 2 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 10
19  | Eltham  | 1905–06 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5
20  | Snowdown Colliery Welfare | 1955–56 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3
21  | Ramsgate / Ramsgate Athletic | 1963–64 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 9 | 13
22  | Bexleyheath & Welling /
Bexley United | 1960–61 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 8
23  | Shorts Sports  | 1939–40 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 3
24  | Canterbury Waverley /
Canterbury City | 1953–54 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 8
25  | Hythe Town | 2011–12 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3
26  | Fisher Athletic / Fisher | 1983–84 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 8
27  | Erith & Belvedere | 1941–42 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 5
28  | Royal Arsenal | 1889–90 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2
29  | Catford Southend  | 1911–12 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1
30  | Royal Ordnance Factory  | 1893–94 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1
31  | Highland Light Infantry  | 1891–92 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1
32  | Lincoln Regiment  | 1890–91 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1
33  | Sheppey United | – | 0 | 3 | 3 | 14 | 17
34  | Cray Wanderers | – | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 7
35  | Whitstable Town | – | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3
36  | South Eastern Rangers | – | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3
37  | 12th ITC (Canterbury)  | – | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2
38  | Lloyds  | – | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2
39  | Thanet Wanderers  | – | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1
40  | Royal Naval Depot (Chatham)  | – | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2
41  | Phoenix Sports | – | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1
42  | Greenwich Borough | – | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1
43  | Thamesmead | – | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1
44  | Herne Bay | – | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1
45  | Aylesford PM  | – | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1
46  | Ramsgate Press United  | – | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1
47  | Grays Thurrock United | – | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1
48  | Royal Marines (Deal)  | – | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1
49  | Royal Ordnance (Woolwich)  | – | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1
50  | Southern United  | – | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1
51  | Swanscombe  | – | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1
52  | Royal Engineers United  | – | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1
53  | West Kent Regiment  | – | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1
Notes  | †: "Rank" calculated by wins, then runner-up, then semi-finals, then latest year (of the deciding factor).
‡: "Club" allows for follow-on of disbanded clubs (as indicated) and excludes significant
club amalgamations.

## Winning / Losing Sequences

[edit]

(As of matches played 17 April 2024}

Consecutive Final wins:

* 5: Northfleet United 1924 to 1928.
* 3: Dartford, 1931 to 1933; Royal Artillery Depot (Woolwich) 1943 to 1945; Gravesend & Northfleet 2000 to 2002; Margate 2003 to 2005.

Consecutive Final losses:

* 2: Nine clubs have lost two finals consecutively on 16 occasions: Dartford (5, including losing in two separate 5 season periods two consecutive finals twice); Ashford United / Ashford Town (2); Maidstone United (2); Sittingbourne (2, both in a 5-season period); Folkestone Invicta (1); Gillingham (1); Margate (1); Shorts Sports (1); Tunbridge Wells Rngrs (1).

Run of winning the Final match (not consecutive):

* 7: Northfleet United between 1921 and 1938; Dover between 1952 and 1972.
* 5: Maidstone United. Twice: between 1901 and 1914 & between 1989 and 2024 (current run)

Run of losing the Final match (not consecutive):

* 8: Sittingbourne between 1904 and 1928.
* 6: Folkestone Invicta between 1999 and 2022 (current run).
* 5: Gillingham between 1949 and 2015 (current run); Margate between 1960 and 1970; Dover Athletic between 1994 and 2014.

Run of winning a Semi-final match (not consecutive):

* 11: Northfleet United between 1909 and 1928.
* 7: Maidstone United between 1914 and 1966.
* 6: Dartford between 1931 and 1947; Maidstone United between 1974 and 1980.

Run of losing a Semi-final match (not consecutive):

* 9: Sheppey United between 1893 and 1924.
* 7: Fisher Athletic / Fisher between 1985 and 2002 (current run).
* 6: Folkestone / Folkestone Town between 1937 and 1953; Ramsgate / Ramsgate Athletic between 1967 and 2023 (current run).

## External links

[edit]

* Kent FA, >Kent Senior Cup portal
* Official 2023–2024 results web page
* Official 2022–2023 results web page
* Official 2021–2022 results web page
* Official 2019–2020 results web page
* Official 2018–2019 results web page
* Kent Football League Archive: Kent Senior Cup History
* Kent Online: Kent Senior Cup (search)
* Kentish Football: Kent Senior Cup (search)

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "The Kent Senior Cup". The Football Association. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
2. ^ "The Kent Cup Final". Kentish Express: P2. 13 April 1889.
3. ^ "Maidstone United manager Jay Saunders with the Kent Senior Cup Picture: Andy Payton". kentonline.co.uk, KM Group. 25 April 2018. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
4. ^ "Kent County Football Association". Sporting Life: P6. 22 February 1897.
5. ^ "Football: Kent Victory Cup Final". Kent Messenger & Gravesend Telegraph: P2. 26 April 1919.
6. ^ "Statement on 19/20 and 20/21 County Cup Programmes". Kent FA. 20 August 2020. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
7. ^ "Kent Senior Cup". Kentish Express: P3. 18 April 1952.
8. ^ "Ryman League Play-off News: Kent Senior Cup Final put back to pre-season". kentishfootball.co.uk. 29 April 2008. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
9. ^ "Historic Kent Senior Cup sponsorship announced". Kent FA. 9 September 2014. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
10. ^ "DFDS and Kent FA join in partnership for the Kent County Cups". Kent FA. 17 June 2022. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
11. ^ "125 years of the Kent Senior Cup". Kent FA. 2 May 2014. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
12. ^ "Ebbsfleet United Win 125th Kent Senior Cup Final". Kent FA. 6 May 2014. Retrieved 16 January 2023.

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