From Gillingham's FA Cup giant slaying to an historically poor performance from Kent Cricket, 2019 has been a particularly rich year for sport. Here we look back at 12 months of competition from all four corners of the county.

January

Having led Maidstone to the Football League 30 years ago, John Still completed an emotional return to the club.

Maidstone legend Still came out of retirement at the age of 69 as he aimed – ultimately unsuccessfully – to save the Stones from relegation from the National League. Still had won the Conference title with Maidstone in 1989.

Bill Williams, Maidstone’s chief executive, was thrilled to appoint Still as the club’s third permanent manager of their 2018/19 season.

“I am absolutely delighted John has agreed to join us,” Williams said. “He’s one of the best managers to ever grace the non-league game and his record speaks for itself.

“For those who followed the Stones in the 80s, John’s place in our club’s history is assured, and now, a new generation of our supporters will get to see the enthusiasm, passion and skill this man has for the game.”

In the same month, shocking scenes saw Ebbsfleet goalkeeper Nathan Ashmore get kicked by a supporter at Chesterfield.

A controversial ending saw the hosts come from 3-0 behind to grab a 3-3 draw, but the headlines came when several Chesterfield fans went on to the pitch after the home team scored their third.

Gillingham produced an FA Cup third-round shock at Priestfield, beating then-Premier League Cardiff 1-0. Elliott List struck late on.

There was a proud moment for Canterbury-born Kent cricketer Joe Denly, who made his Test debut for England against West Indies. Denly scored six and 17.

In athletics, Invicta East Kent’s Eritrean Abel Tsegay won the Canterbury 10-mile road race for the fifth straight year.

February

Ebbsfleet United’s first-team squad broke their silence on financial issues at the club – and they revealed they had only been paid on time once in the past 12 months.

A statement released by the whole squad revealed they had not received their wages on time in January, also disclosing pension payments had not been met and they – unknowingly – played matches earlier in the season without the right medical insurance being in place.

“Subject to the continued misleading statements of recent months giving the impression that the football club is financially secure, we can confirm, as players, we have only been paid on time once in the last 12 months,” the statement read.

“We are still outstanding our January’s salary that is now seven days late and running into the next calendar month. We, as players, are incredibly disappointed with the club’s continuation of releasing press statements that give an incorrect impression of the state of the football club.

“The football club were unable to make the players’ medical insurance premium, which they are contractually obliged to do. The football club consciously withheld this information from the players, resulting in the players playing three matches in the National League without cover.

“This would have been catastrophic for any players that would have been unfortunate enough to suffer a serious injury. This could have resulted in the end of a player’s career.

“The players were made aware by their pension company that the football club had not made any contribution to their Government Work Place Pension since June 2018.”

Dover’s players missed the opportunity to meet Manchester United and England legend David Beckham – because they were busy looking for a toilet.

Whites were the opponents for Beckham’s first appearance at Salford’s Moor Lane home since he had become a co-owner of the club. Beckham asked if he could visit the away dressing room – and Dover were only too pleased to welcome him.

Some Whites players, though, were cursing their luck after missing the chance to meet the former Three Lions captain.

“Beckham said hello and asked if it was all right if he came in,” said Dover kitman Richard Harvey.

“He was a really nice guy. He shook every player’s hand, although a few missed it because they’d gone looking for a toilet where there was only one in the changing room!”

There was a return to football for ex-Maidstone boss Jay Saunders, who took over as manager of Bostik Premier Margate.

Hartley Country Cricket Club pulled out of the Kent Cricket League Premier Division – less than three months before the start of the campaign.

They won promotion back to the top tier in 2018 but their first-team and second-team played down in Division 5 during the summer.

March

FA Vase fever swept the county, with Canterbury City facing Cray Valley in the semi-final.

But it was the Millers who came out on top to book a day out at Wembley.

Ryan Flack scored the only goal for Cray in the first leg at the Badgers Ground, and the Millers doubled their aggregate lead in the second leg when Gavin Tomlin fired home with 19 minutes left.

Gary Sayer equalised for City on the day with a minute to go, but the Millers held on to progress.

It was an eventful month for Gillingham and Max Ehmer in particular.

Ehmer travelled for the game at Fleetwood but his partner gave birth to daughter Thea while he was on the journey north.

Boss Steve Lovell gave him permission to leave the squad and return home, but he refused and instead helped Gills earn a point the next day.

Understandably, Ehmer was pretty keen to get home after the match.

“Gutted not to get all three points but, more importantly, over the moon with the birth of my daughter yesterday,” he said on Twitter. “Time to go home and meet her.”

Gills’ financial accounts, meanwhile, showed they had made a profit for a second successive year.

The accounts for the year ending May 31, 2018 showed Gills made a pre-tax profit of £111,612 – an increase on the £2,084 profit posted for the previous 12 months.

There was joy at Lord’s as Canterbury Cricket Club won the 2019 ECB National Indoor Club Championship. They beat Grasshoppers, from Shropshire, by 16 runs in the final.

April

Jay Saunders broke his silence about the day he lost his job as Maidstone manager.

Saunders left the Stones by mutual consent just seven games into the 2018/19 season.

He told the KM Football Podcast: “This season, I felt I needed to step away from the academy and concentrate on doing the first-team – be out watching players – but on the day I lost my job, I was on a minibus driving course so I could drive the academy lads on a Wednesday to games.

“I got a call from Bill Williams (the club’s chief executive), saying there was going to be a meeting and could I possibly get there and it was ridiculous, really. That kind of summed up where I was at the club.

“I could have been out watching an under-23 game, maybe looking at players, but I was renewing my minibus licence, which is quite comical.

“I went down to the office, sat in there with Terry Casey (co-owner) and Bill and it was put to me they weren’t happy with a few things – as I wasn’t happy with a few things.

“We went through it and that was the end of it, really. They felt performances hadn’t been good enough and they needed to act to keep themselves safe, which hasn’t worked out.

“I went straight into Maidstone town centre and bought a beer! It was a bit strange.”

Maidstone were still relegated from the National League after a 2-0 defeat to Salford, but there was better news for Dover, with Andy Hessenthaler keeping them up.

It was also a month to forget for Steve Lovell, who was sacked as Gillingham boss.

A club statement read: “After a discussion between the chairman and manager this afternoon, the club can confirm that Steve Lovell has been relieved of his duties with immediate effect.

“The club would like to thank Steve for his efforts with the team over the past 18 months and wish him well for the future.”

Another managerial change saw Ben Smith sacked as manager of Canterbury. The club announced his dismissal on social media, alluding to comments made in a Kentish Gazette interview as the reason.

Smith had referred to K Sports as ‘a decent pub side’, as well as considering how promotion for Cray Valley may boost City’s chances of going up in the 2019/2020 campaign.

Smith was informed of the decision by chairman Tim Clark, who said that there had been complaints from unnamed Southern Counties East teams.

Holcombe finished second to Club de Campo de Madrid as the Kent club hosted the EuroHockey Club Trophy.

Goudhurst’s Jake Hill enjoyed his best weekend in the British Touring Car Championship in the opening three rounds at Brands Hatch. He scored a second and a fourth place.

May

Gillingham chairman Paul Scally named former Leeds and Rotherham boss Steve Evans as the club’s new manager.

Mr Scally said: “I fully expect him to bring us success, both on and off the field.”

Tonbridge Angels won promotion to National League South after a thrilling super play-off final win.

Angels won 3-2 at Met Police after extra-time, having already beaten Merstham 2-0 in the Bostik Premier play-off final.

Ebbsfleet’s remaining six contracted players were told they could leave Stonebridge Road on a free transfer, while former Hythe boss Clive Cook took charge at Southern Counties East Premier Division Canterbury.

Canterbury won their promotion play-off 19-10 against Chester as they climbed to rugby’s third tier, National League 1, for the first time.

In the ring, Josh Kennedy insisted he will learn from his mistakes after losing to Jason Cunningham in his British title eliminator in Doncaster.

The Folkestone super-bantamweight was on the wrong end of a unanimous points decision as he suffered the second defeat of his professional career.

He said: “I’m looking at the positives out of this fight and I’ve just done 10 rounds with a former two-weight Commonwealth champion.

“I wasn’t disgraced, he was just faster than me on the night.”

June

There was tragic news as former Gillingham manager Justin Edinburgh died at the age of 49.

Edinburgh, who had just guided Leyton Orient back to the Football League, suffered a cardiac arrest.

He was appointed Gills boss in February 2015 after leaving League 2 Newport but was sacked in January 2017.

“Everyone at the club is absolutely devastated by this news,” said chairman Paul Scally. “Our thoughts and condolences go to Justin’s friends and family at this very sad time.”

Teenage golfer Harry Fagg took the headlines at Canterbury Golf Club.

The 14-year-old became the youngest-ever winner of a men’s competition at Canterbury when he scored a gross 76 (net 67) to win the Kent County Playing Fields Medal from a field of 81.

Kent recorded their lowest first-class score in 37 years at Canterbury. They were bowled out by Somerset in the Specsavers County Championship Division 1 for only 59 in their second innings.

On the track, former Formula 1 world champion Jacques Villeneuve raced at Brands Hatch for the first time.

The Canadian was the star driver in the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series, which made its annual trip to Kent for the circuit’s popular American SpeedFest event. Villeneuve scored a best finish of eighth.

July

By the time most cricketers have reached the age of 43, they have long since retired from the professional game.

But Kent all-rounder Darren Stevens is unlike most cricketers, with the veteran joining Derbyshire on loan after being informed he wouldn’t be involved in the the T20 Vitality Blast for the second year running.

“I spoke to Paul Downton (director of cricket) and they (Kent) made it very clear that I won’t be playing in the Twenty20,” Stevens explained.

“Last year, I had an injury and it kept me out of the first couple of T20 games and, when I came back the youngsters were doing okay and they just said ‘we’re going to give the youngsters a bit of a go’.

“I understand it and get it, I’m just gutted because it’s my favourite format and I’ve always thrived on big occasions and really enjoyed it over the years.”

He added: “I’ve won five trophies in T20, so I’ve got a lot of experience there, but I get the big picture. They got to the quarter-final last season.

“I asked the question last year and they wouldn’t let me go because we had a couple of four-day games in between the T20s.

“This year, I just said ‘you can’t expect me not to be playing any cricket and then perform at the drop of the hat’.

“So I said ‘let me go on loan, I’ll go play cricket somewhere hopefully and then if you need to bring me back I’ll have been playing cricket somewhere rather sitting on my backside at home.”

Kent fans are delighted the club have re-signed Afghanistan all-rounder Mohammad Nabi for next season’s T20 Blast – and it’s little wonder why after the impact he made in 2019.

Nabi scored 147 runs and took eight wickets in nine outings for the Spitfires. The highlight of his 2019 stint was an unbeaten 43 off just 12 balls to lead Kent to 55-1 at The Oval and their fourth successive win in the T20 Blast.

Nabi hit two fours and five sixes on the night, clearing the boundary to seal victory in style after the game had been reduced to sevens overs per side due to a rain stoppage.

There was a Gillingham return for Simon Royce, too.

Royce, now 48, was a popular keeper during his playing days at Priestfield between 2007 and 2010.

And having helped the Gills to promotion in League 2 as part of the play-off winning team at Wembley, Royce eventually left to pursue a career in coaching, starting at Brentford.

But now, more than a decade later, he’s back to coach the goalkeepers at Gillingham.

August

August proved to be a month to forget for Kent.

The club recorded their lowest total in 67 years as they collapsed to a meagre 40 all out at home to Essex.

Kent had been hoping to build on a 112-run first-innings lead, only to collapse and then fail to defend their total, losing by three wickets.

A loss to Essex after a tail-end collapse at Chelmsford in the same month also saw Kent knocked of the T20 tournament, leaving their five-game winning streak at the start of the competition unrewarded, while former South African fast bowler Allan Donald’s departure as assistant coach at the end of the summer was announced.

A couple of stars for the future to look out for certainly appear to be Joe Vandepeer and Karol Itauma.

Vandepeer, of Canterbury Bowling Club, lifted the Sutton Winson Trophy as he was crowned national under-18 singles champion at Victoria Park, Royal Leamington Spa.

Aged 17, he beat Leicestershire’s Kat Bowman 7-0, 8-2 in the final, having overcome Oxfordshire’s Joseph Justin on a tie break in his semi-final showdown.

Meanwhile, aged 18, Medway’s Youth Olympics gold medallist boxer Karol Itauma took a giant step towards representing Great Britain at major international events.

He was invited to become a member of the GB Boxing Podium Potential squad, as he continues to work towards fighting at the Commonwealth and Olympic Games.

September

While earning a National League victory at Hartlepool, Dover’s players were subjected to racial abuse in what Whites boss Andy Hessenthaler described as a “sad day for football”.

The game was halted for several minutes after Dover striker Inih Effiong scored a 36th-minute penalty to put his team ahead. Whites players celebrated in front of the home fans, where racist remarks were aimed at Dover players by some fans.

Hessenthaler asked his players if they wanted to come off, and Dover midfielder Jai Reason said: “I’ve never been involved in a game like that, so proud to be part of this team (with) how we all dealt with the racism and monkey chants today from the home supporters.”

Across the county, the managerial merry-go-round got into full swing, too.

Sam Denly resigned as manager of Hythe and was replaced by ex-Maidstone defender Steve Watt, Nick Davis left Ramsgate and Adam Flanagan and Jamie Coyle quit their roles as joint-managers of Dartford.

Days after Darren Stevens hit a career-best 237 against Yorkshire, Kent reversed their decision to release the all-rounder. The 43-year-old enjoyed a stunning end to the season and, amid clamour from the supporters, signed a new one-year deal.

The month also saw successes for Canterbury rallycrosser Tristan Ovenden and Goudhurst’s Jake Hill. Ovenden claimed his fifth title by wrapping up the Motorsport UK Supernational Rallycross Championship crown at Pembrey, Wales, with Hill taking his first win after the final encounter at Knockhill, Scotland.

October

After less than a year in charge at Stonebridge Road, Ebbsfleet sacked manager Garry Hill.

Hill replaced Daryl McMahon in November 2018 but the Fleet sat bottom of the National League after 16 games as the club took the decision to dismiss Hill.

Fleet managing director Dave Archer said: “I worked very closely with Garry over the past year and I know he put his heart and soul into the job he was tasked with.

“I have come to regard him as a close friend and I wish him all the very best for the future.”

The month also saw Faversham joint-managers Phil Miles and Danny Chapman sacked after less than a year in charge.

Miles revealed he had been informed of the decision by chairman Paul Bennett over the phone after a board meeting in which the majority of members voted in favour of their dismissal.

In a statement on the club website, chairman Bennett: “We’d like to thank Phil and Danny for the effort they have put into trying to rebuild a team following the difficulties experienced last season.

“They came in at a difficult time and I acknowledge that it has not been an easy task.

“I don’t wish to go into details but the directors were unhappy with the direction that the club was going in, both on and off the pitch, and it was felt best to address that now while there is time to rectify it this season. We wish Phil and Danny all the best for the future.”

Also in Isthmian South East, former Gillingham striker Jason Lillis took on a head of coaching development role at Ramsgate.

Any match at Barrow was always going require a fair old commute for Dover’s players. And Whites’ National League encounter in south Cumbria fell by the way side due to transport issues which caused problems for a number of football fixtures.

The incident, between Milton Keynes Central and Watford Gap, caused major delays to services heading north out of Euston, causing the postponement.

A number of Kent stars were involved in the first-ever “The Hundred” competition draft.

Captain Sam Billings, Alex Blake, Joe Denly and Zak Crawley were among those picked up in the draft, while Kent women captain Tammy Beaumont was unveiled as the marquee player for the London Spirit on the evening.

Deal darts ace Ross Smith produced a shock, as he beat world number one Michael van Gerwen.

November

Dover and Maidstone produced some FA Cup magic to book their respective second-round spots after beating higher-league opponents.

Dan Wishart’s first-half goal proved enough to hand Stones a surprise 1-0 success over National League Torquay, while Andy Hessenthaler got the better of former England centre-back Sol Campbell.

Hessenthaler’s Whites team also won 1-0 against their League 1 opponents, with Leyton Orient debutant Ruel Sotiriou netting the only goal.

Faversham appointed James Collins as their new manager, while Ebbsfleet caretaker Kevin Watson was given the job on a permanent boss.

Kent Kings were promoted into speedway’s second tier for the first time in their history – reward for the Central Park club who made the National League play-offs in each of the past three seasons, also winning National Trophy and National Pairs titles.

They’ll now take on clubs from all over the UK, including Poole Pirates and Scottish teams Berwick, Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Kent co-promoter Len Silver said: “It is fantastic news for all involved with the club that we are moving up into the higher league.

“Our principal aim is to entertain our superb body of loyal fans, attract still more people to follow Kent Speedway and to build for the future.”

For the first time since 2010, the winter rallycross series also returned to Lydden Hill, extending the Dover circuit’s racing season.

The first round of the revived series was won by Supernational dominator Tristan Ovenden, who faced, arguably, his biggest challenge of the year from Ashford’s Fred Ling.

December

Kent opener Zak Crawley followed in the footsteps of team-mate Joe Denly as he made his England Test debut.

The 21-year-old featured in the drawn second Test match against New Zealand in Hamilton alongside Denly, although both missed out with the bat.

Crawley made only one on his debut while Denly was removed for four.

Back on English soil, Kent revealed they will launch their 150th anniversary year with a thanksgiving service at Canterbury Cathedral.

The programme for the year will also include a celebratory dinner in the Long Room at Lord’s and an end-of-season awards night to be held in a marquee at the The Spitfire Ground, St. Lawrence.

There was relief for Canterbury Rugby Club who secured their historic first win in National League 1 as they beat Cinderford 19-17, ending a run of 13 successive defeats after promotion.

Gillingham’s reward for beating Doncaster in the FA Cup was a third round home tie with Premier League opposition for the second season.

West Ham will travel to Priestfield for a televised clash on Sunday, January 5.

A players’ meeting had dramatic results as Canterbury City boss Clive Cook, his management team and the entire playing staff quit the Southern Counties East club.

Cook claimed the squad had not been paid for four weeks and although the monies owed were received before the meeting, Cook said he feared for the club’s future.

He said: “Unless a football person comes in and takes over that club and runs it like a football club should be run, then Canterbury City will be no more.”

Read more: All the latest sports news in Kent