Sheppey United

Sheppey United is a semi-professional football club based on the island of the same name on the north coast of Kent on the Thames estuary. The club has a long and interesting history, going back to their formation in 1890.

Two local sides, Invicta and Victoria had previously joined forces to play as Sheerness in the Kent Merit Badge competition, the forerunner to the Kent Senior Cup, and competed admirably, thus pre-empting a meeting at the Britannia Hotel where United were born.

Sheppey United Cricket Club had a ground on Botany Road, where United joined them. Their nickname of ‘The Ites’ was quickly adopted after a local paper used the term Sheppeyites to describe them in a match report.

Success came quickly with good cup runs and impressive performances against Football League sides, leading to acceptance into Division Two of the Southern League in 1895-96 where they missed out on promotion after losing a play-off test match against Clapton. 

The club also entered a side into the Kent League, while promotion was won the following season in the Southern League when Royal Ordnance Factories were beaten in the test match. Their status in Division One was retained in similar fashion against Royal Engineers Training Battallion and then Thames Ironworks.

However, United went down in 1899-00 when Watford defeated them in the play-off game. The club left the Southern League to join the Kent League permanently in 1901, where the team ended as runners-up in 1903-04 and the following campaign.

Sheppey were crowned as champions in 1905-06 and 1906-07 at a time when the club flourished after been released of the burden of having to travel large distances, before a period of bottom half finishes kicked in.

The club also reached the final of the Kent Senior Cup on four occasions, but all were lost against Maidstone United, Northfleet United, Sittingbourne, and then Dartford. Ted Harper was the goal-scoring star of the period, as the team went out in the 6th Qualifying Round of the FA Cup, the further they’d ever progressed, against Thorneycrofts, of Southampton.

A brief spell back in the English Section of the Southern League from 1927-28 until 1931-32 yielded little return before they were relegated, with third place in 1946-47 and 1951-52 in the Kent League, their best returns when back in regional football.

United became founder members of Aetolian League in 1959-60 which merged with the London League to become the Greater London League. The Ites spent one season in that competition before moving to the Metropolitan League in 1965-66.

The Metropolitan–London League was the next change of scenery in 1971–72 as the club returned to semi-professional status as the Botany Road venue was improved before a return to the Kent League followed just one season into the new competition. 

Sheppey enjoyed a terrific run as they were league champions in 1973-74, 1974-75, and 1978-79 as well as ending as runners-up in 1983-84. 1985-86 saw the club battle through four qualifying rounds in the FA Trophy before going out to Dagenham in the first round proper.

After several attempts the club was re-admitted into the Southern League in 1984-85 in Division One South where they remained until 1989-90 when they were relegated back to the Kent League, where a fourth title in that competition was won in 1994-95.

However, by now the club began to struggle after vacating Botany Rpoad after 102 years owing to financial problems. They continued sharing at other nearby venues, but support inevitably dwindled despite attempts to build a new home on the island.

 

In March 2001 the club resigned from the Kent League as their playing record was expunged, with United continuing with only youth sides for several years. The senior side returned in 2002-03, playing in the Kent County League Division Two East and winning promotion at the first attempt.

Many of the youth players progressed through the system as the club became viable. A change of name to AFC Sheppey in 2007 followed, before reverting to the original title in 2010 after two seasons as Sheppey and Sheerness United FC following a merger with Sheerness East FC.

East’s place in the Kent County League Premier Division was taken with the thriving new concern moving into their new ground, Holm Park in 2013 after a brief setback as the club again resigned from a league in mid-season. 

Work to upgrade their new home got underway, as Sheppey United became members of the Kent Invicta League in 2014-15, where they ended as runners up in their second season. The competition merged to join the Southern Counties East League, where the Ites were placed in the Premier Division.

A strong community ethos was built upon which included the formation of a charitable foundation and many age group sides representing the club. With Ernie Batten, a joint owner of the club, installed as manager the side continued to progress.

The ground continued to be developed which included a new 3G pitch and stands, with the 2021-22 season bringing unparalleled success as the Kent Senior Trophy was retained, to be joined by the league title and the League Challenge Cup. 

United were promoted to the Isthmian League to play in the South East Division where under player-boss Jack Midson they ended up in seventh after Batten had become Director of Football. Midson departed in July 2023, with coach Ross Wiles taking over in an interim capacity.

Sheppey United FC will play in the Isthmian League South East Division in the 2023-24 season.

My visit

Sheppey United 4 Tunbridge Wells 0 (Friday 15^th October 2021) Kent Senior Trophy (att: 488)

With time off work I thought I'd make my first ever visit to the Isle of Sheppey, catching up with a Gillingham-based mate and fellow Scarborough fan, Simon Keane, who used to do every home and away game from there for fifteen years or so.

I don’t know why, but Sheppey always held a fascination for me, a little like Canvey Island. Ironically, both places are quite similar. We met up and took the train onward from Sittingbourne to Sheerness, for a walk along the front and then beer and tea at The Belle and Lion Wetherspoons establishment.

There were no buses going to the ground and taxis were at least a thirty-minute wait, so we decided to take the forty-minute walk. How nice it was to be following crowds down the street to what was a relatively small match.

Kick off had to be put back until 8pm, such were the queues outside. Programmes had long since sold out when we eventually got inside. The disastrous running of Gillingham FC had helped Sheppey no end in attracting fans at a time when they were also on the up. A case of perfect timing.

Once inside we found an impressive set up at a club on the upward trajectory. A new artificial pitch and lots of new tarmac and facilities made Holm Park an impressive venue. There were further queues all night for beer and food, which were dealt with efficiently by friendly staff.

The home side played the neater football but put in a bit of an England performance from last Tuesday. The three forwards were talented but guilty of overelaborating at times. The visitors hit the corner of post and bar with a cross and forced the ‘Ites’ keeper into a good save before the break. 

Soon into the second half, a fine move ending in a one two saw skipper Billy Bennett smash home. Sheppey continued to pile of pressure. Sadly, we had to leave midway through the second half as the late kick off meant we'd have missed out train if we lingered longer.

It proved to be a successful experiment for the hosts. I was continually surprised more non-league clubs don't try an occasional Friday night. It’s a great social start to the weekend, which still allows those that want to cheer on their ‘big’ teams.

We walked back with a few minutes to spare before our train, even having time to grab some refreshments for the train back. I was ready for a good sleep when I eventually arrived home well past midnight.