FOLKESTONE 1st.XV Home Walk Over v SHEPPEY 1st.XV

Saturday 21st April 2018 London 3SE.

End of Season Comment from Alan Schofield.

An epitaph for the season: “Animadvertistine ubicumque stes, fumum recta in faciem ferri?”

It is unprecedented that a team winning 41% of their matches should be relegated and having beaten three of the top six teams in the division. But this demotion faces Folkestone as they concluded the season with a walkover over their fellow relegation sufferers.
Interestingly Folkestone would have finished sixth in the league table last season with the same number of points as they finished this season.
However, the quirk of fate is upon the team – and for the first time since 1986, the Club with, probably the best facilities in the County, will playing at junior local level next season.
It has been the most difficult of seasons for player’s availability – due to a host of reasons. Up to nine changes of players and positions have followed week after week.
But the deciding factor in all of this was the highly tendentious series of decisions made against Folkestone in their match against Bromley last November when they had won the game before it was decreed they should lose. The four points that were denied them in the most astonishing way, proved to be crucial.
Nevertheless, the team spirit has always remained high and they will face next season using the opportunity to rebuild from the emerging Junior section that has been the main source of players for many seasons. And we ask Will Turner and Adam Bloomfield to step up and take a bow, and the extended applause, for their dedication and loyalty to the Club over very many years as both players have indicated their retirement.
If there is any consolation to be had from this unfortunate season, it is that next season the time spent travelling to far distant places as Pulborough and Lewes will not be missed. But given the same player pool, and an injury free run there is every reason to hope that promotion will come quickly.
May I conclude the season by offering my sincere thanks to Alex Ruddock who, in addition to the host of other voluntary duties, spends a lot of complicated time in correcting and editing these match reports before putting them into the public eye.