Denise Richmond has become the first woman to be elected to chair the Kent County Football Association.

She has been appointed to replace Philip Smith and will be the only female chair among 50 county Football Associations in England.

She said: “I am honoured and very proud to have been elected as Chair of the Kent FA. It’s a strong, well run and forward-looking football body.

“I will endeavour to continue the good work that my predecessors have done and ensure that the association and football grows and develops even though we are in, and facing, challenging times.

“I look forward to working with my fellow directors, along with our volunteers and members, to evolve and deliver a new normal. I would like to thank everyone in advance for their support as we make progress”

Predecessor Smith had been chair for the past three years.

Ms Richmond has been a long-serving chair of the Southern Counties East Football League, and formerly the Kent League.

The Kent FA say that her many roles in football have given Denise extensive experience of working alongside officers and elected representatives at the FA and Kent FA, as well as leading the Southern Counties East Football League to be part of the National League System.

Denise joins the Kent FA as Chair following a difficult period for grassroots football with COVID-19 suspending all competitive footballing activity for four months in March.

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