Home   Kent   Sport   Article

Breaking sports news from Gillingham, Charlton Athletic and Kent Cricket on Thursday, April 24

Refresh this page regularly for live sports updates during the day. Leave comments below or get in touch with us via Twitter and Facebook.

16.00 - CLOSE

That's your lot, folks. I'm about to hit the road to Canvey Island to see if Concord and Ebbsfleet can get through 90 minutes with the floodlights going off. Report and reaction will be right here on kentonline.co.uk, as will Friday's edition of Sportsday. Join us from 08.00.

15.45 - FOOTBALL

Sittingbourne had just three points from seven games when Matt Wyatt and Nick Davis took over as joint-managers in September but victory in their final game of the season on Saturday would secure a top-half finish in Ryman League Division 1 South.

And Wyatt believes they haven't been given the credit they deserve.

15.35 - CRICKET

Paul Farbrace Picture: Barry Goodwin
Paul Farbrace Picture: Barry Goodwin

More now on the news that former Kent coach and wicketkeeper Paul Farbrace has been appointed England’s new assistant coach after quitting his role with Sri Lanka. Richard Harvey reports.

15.20 - FOOTBALL

The build-up to Concord Rangers v Ebbsfleet United starts here.

15.10 - BREAKING

News coming out of Hartsdown Park...

Cliff Egan has resigned as a Director of Margate Football Club in order to focus on his Lottery business. Cliff will now focus solely on his duties overseeing the Goalden Gate SuperDraw Lottery. Margate Football Club would like to thank Cliff for all the work and effort he has put into the Club to date.

15.00 - FOOTBALL

Faversham Town are well adrift of the play-off places in Ryman League Division 1 South going into the final weekend of the season. Having led his side to the play-off final in 2012-13, Lilywhites boss Ray Turner told Alex Hoad it's been a frustrating campaign this time around.

14.45 - FOOTBALL

Southern Counties East side Cray Valley have appointed Paul Gross as their new manager.

14.20 - FOOTBALL

Sam Denly Picture: Tony Flashman
Sam Denly Picture: Tony Flashman

Some more Ryman League chat now, this time from Herne Bay. Sam Denly's approaching the end of his first season in management and he told Andrew Gidley about some of the challenges he's faced over the last few months.

Bay are 17th in Ryman League Division 1 South going into the final round of games.

13.45 - FOOTBALL

Whitstable Town are now safe from relegation and will definitely play Ryman League Division 1 South football again next season. Oystermen boss Nicky Southall is preparing to give some of his young players a game against Eastbourne Town on the final day of the season.

13.30 - CRICKET

13.15 - FOOTBALL

Alan Julian collects his player-of-the-year trophy from Dartford Supporters Association chairman Ken Humphrey
Alan Julian collects his player-of-the-year trophy from Dartford Supporters Association chairman Ken Humphrey

Alan Julian picked up Dartford's player-of-the-year trophy on Monday but he wasn't exactly jumping for joy. The Darts had just been relegated from Skrill Premier and the former Gills keeper told me the award felt rather hollow in the circumstances.

LUNCHBREAK

Welcome along if you've just joined us after a busy morning at work. Here are some of the sporting stories making headlines in Kent today.

Dartford want Tony Burman to stay on as manager despite their relegation from Skrill Premier

Kent assistant coach Matt Walker says the players need to be more ruthless

Steve Brown insists there is no bad blood between him and Concord manager Danny Cowley ahead of Ebbsfleet's replayed game on Canvey Island tonight

Canterbury RFC coach Andy Pratt is targeting a best-ever third-placed finish in National 2 South

Chris Kinnear hasn't given up hope of Dover sneaking into the Skrill play-offs

11.50 - CRICKET

Kent assistant coach Matt Walker. Picture: Barry Goodwin
Kent assistant coach Matt Walker. Picture: Barry Goodwin

Kent's record in the County Championship so far reads: drawn one, lost one. Assistant coach Matt Walker says the club are seeking to create a new culture after they drew 11 games last season - more than any other county.

11.15 - FOOTBALL

There were late goals everywhere you looked in the Southern Counties East League last night.

Rob Lawrence's 90th-minute goal earned Canterbury City a 2-1 win over Corinthian, although an equally late strike from Richard Pearce for Cray Valley was in vain as they went down 2-1 at home to Lordswood.

Holmesdale beat Greenwich Borough 2-1 at Princes Park, John Paul Collier netting the winner three minutes from time, while an 83rd-minute goal from Ricky Freeman clinched a 2-1 win for Phoenix Sports away to Rochester United.

The league season finishes on Saturday.

10.55 - RUGBY UNION

Canterbury's promotion hopes may have all but vanished but the club can still finish third in National 2 South, which would be their highest ever league position.

And head coach Andy Pratt reckons that represents a good season, whatever else happens.

10.30 - CRICKET

10.25 - FOOTBALL

Chris Kinnear
Chris Kinnear

We've heard from Ebbsfleet United already this morning, so let's check in with the other Kent club trying to make the Skrill South play-offs.

Dover have got to win their last game of the season and hope other results go their way, but Chris Kinnear is still hoping against hope for a top-five finish.

09.55 - CRICKET

Former Kent coach and wicketkeeper Paul Farbrace has been appointed England’s new assistant coach after quitting his Sri Lanka role just three months into a two-year contract.

Farbrace, 46, who led Sri Lanka to the World Twenty20 title in Bangladesh earlier this month, will work under new head coach Peter Moores.

He said: "It’s fantastic to be given the opportunity to work with your own country’s national team and this was an offer that I could not turn down – much as I have enjoyed working with the Sri Lankan players and sharing in their recent success. I am particularly relishing the chance to work more closely with Peter (Moores) as we undertook the Level Four Coaching programme together and have known each other since we were both young wicketkeepers on the county circuit together.

"It will also be great to renew acquaintances with Alastair Cook and other senior players whom I worked with earlier in my coaching career with England’s age-group teams."

England’s international summer begins with a one-day international against Scotland on May 9 before Farbrace comes up against his former Sri Lanka side in a Twenty20, five ODIs, and two Tests.

09.40 - FOOTBALL

Tony Burman Picture: Andy Payton
Tony Burman Picture: Andy Payton

Dartford may have been relegated from Skrill Premier this week but chairman Dave Skinner has said he wants Tony Burman to continue as manager next season.

Here's my exclusive interview with the Princes Park chief.

09.05 - CRICKET

Want to catch up on the final day of Kent's County Championship game against Leicestershire?

Look no further.

08.40 - FOOTBALL

Steve Brown Picture: Andy Payton
Steve Brown Picture: Andy Payton

Now's probably a good time to hear from Ebbsfleet boss Steve Brown, who takes his side to Concord tonight just nine days after the first meeting between the teams was abandoned because of floodlight failure at the Aspect Arena.

Lots has been said in the interim period and the Fleet were unhappy about having to replay the game in full - they were 2-0 up when the lights went out - but Brown insists there is no bad blood between him and Concord manager Danny Cowley.

It should be a very interesting evening...

08.15 - FOOTBALL

First, to last night's football, and a result in Skrill South which will have gone down well with both Ebbsfleet United and Dover Athletic.

Havant & Waterlooville lost 3-1 at home to relegation battlers Maidenhead United, meaning the Hawks are still level on points with Ebbsfleet in the race for a play-off spot. But the Fleet have a game in hand and they know a win at Concord Rangers tonight would effectively wrap up fourth place and a probable play-off semi-final against Bromley. And if Steve Brown's side don't finish the job tonight, they've got a home game against bottom side Dorchester to come on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the Havant result gives sixth-placed Dover a glimmer of hope, even if they remain outsiders going into the final day of the season. Chris Kinnear's side need to win at Hayes & Yeading - who themselves are fighting to stay up - and hope the Hawks drop points away to relegated Tonbridge Angels in what will be Tommy Warrilow's last game in charge, if they're to finish in the top five.

Is that clear? Good.

08.00 - WELCOME

Good morning and thanks for joining me. It promises to be another busy day on the sports desk and I'll bring you the pick of the stories throughout the day, so stick around.

Close This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies.Learn More