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1980–81 Kent Football League

{{Short description|Association football league season}}

{{EngvarB|date=June 2024}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2024}}

The 1980–81 Kent Football League season was the fifteenth in the history of the Kent Football League, a football competition featuring teams based in and around the county of Kent in England.

The League structure comprised two divisions: Division One and Division Two with the latter known as the Reserves Section (reserves teams were not permitted in Division One). Additionally there were two league cup competitions: the Challenge Cup for the Division One clubs and another for the teams in Division Two.

Division One

File:Cray Wanderers FC Kent League champions 1981.jpg celebrate winning the title]]

{{Infobox football league season

|competition= Kent Football League Division One

|season= 1980–81

|winners= Cray Wanderers

|promoted=

|relegated=

|matches= 272

|total goals= 826

|prevseason= 1979–80

|nextseason= 1981–82

}}

The division featured the seventeen clubs which had competed in the previous season.

The division was won by Cray Wanderers.{{cite web|url=http://kentleague.com/Archives/top-first%20div%20winners.php |title=First Division past winners / runners-up |website=kentleague.com |date=2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130417042108/http://kentleague.com/Archives/top-first%20div%20winners.php |archive-date=17 April 2013 |access-date=29 March 2024}}

At the end of the season Dartford Glentworth left the league.{{cite web |url=https://fchd.info/DARTFORG.HTM |title=Dartford Glentworth |website=Football Club History Database |access-date=15 May 2024 }}

=League table=

{{#invoke:sports table|main|style=WDL

|res_col_header=Season End Notes

|winpoints=2

|team1=CRA|name_CRA=Cray Wanderers

|team2=CHA|name_CHA=Chatham Town

|team3=CRO|name_CRO=Crockenhill

|team4=ERI|name_ERI=Erith & Belvedere

|team5=SIT|name_SIT=Sittingbourne

|team6=HYT|name_HYT=Hythe Town

|team7=SHE|name_SHE=Sheppey United

|team8=FAV|name_FAV=Faversham Town

|team9=TUN|name_TUN=Tunbridge Wells

|team10=DHE|name_DHE=Darenth Heathside

|team11=DEA|name_DEA=Deal Town

|team12=DAR|name_DAR=Dartford Glentworth

|team13=SLA|name_SLA=Slade Green Athletic

|team14=WHI|name_WHI=Whitstable Town

|team15=KEN|name_KEN=Kent Police

|team16=HER|name_HER=Herne Bay

|team17=RAM|name_RAM=Ramsgate

|win_CRA=24|draw_CRA=5|loss_CRA=3|gf_CRA=92|ga_CRA=27

|win_HER=4|draw_HER=6|loss_HER=22|gf_HER=23|ga_HER=67

|win_RAM=2|draw_RAM=3|loss_RAM=27|gf_RAM=26|ga_RAM=121

|win_TUN=10|draw_TUN=9|loss_TUN=13|gf_TUN=33|ga_TUN=49

|win_SLA=10|draw_SLA=5|loss_SLA=17|gf_SLA=39|ga_SLA=51|adjust_points_SLA=-2

|win_SIT=18|draw_SIT=5|loss_SIT=9|gf_SIT=74|ga_SIT=29

|win_DHE=9|draw_DHE=10|loss_DHE=13|gf_DHE=45|ga_DHE=52

|win_HYT=18|draw_HYT=5|loss_HYT=9|gf_HYT=70|ga_HYT=45

|win_WHI=7|draw_WHI=7|loss_WHI=18|gf_WHI=33|ga_WHI=58

|win_FAV=12|draw_FAV=11|loss_FAV=9|gf_FAV=36|ga_FAV=28

|win_DEA=10|draw_DEA=7|loss_DEA=15|gf_DEA=46|ga_DEA=49

|win_SHE=16|draw_SHE=9|loss_SHE=7|gf_SHE=45|ga_SHE=33

|win_ERI=19|draw_ERI=5|loss_ERI=8|gf_ERI=57|ga_ERI=30

|win_CRO=20|draw_CRO=5|loss_CRO=7|gf_CRO=63|ga_CRO=37

|win_KEN=5|draw_KEN=9|loss_KEN=18|gf_KEN=43|ga_KEN=67

|win_CHA=22|draw_CHA=6|loss_CHA=4|gf_CHA=61|ga_CHA=23

|win_DAR=11|draw_DAR=3|loss_DAR=18|gf_DAR=40|ga_DAR=60

|hth_SLA=Slade Green Athletic were deducted two points.

|col_P=red2|text_P=Resigned

|result12=P

|col_REE=orange1|text_REE=Re-elected

|result16=REE

|result17=REE

|class_rules=1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.

|update=complete

|source={{cite web |url=https://www.nonleaguematters.co.uk/nlmnet/Regs1SthB/KL72.html |title=Kent League 1966–92: 1980–81 |publisher=Non League Matters |access-date=22 May 2024}} {{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablese/engkenthist.html |title=England – Kent League: Final Table Kent League (Division 1) '80–'81 |publisher=The Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation |access-date=22 May 2024}}

}}

=Challenge Cup=

The 1980–81 Kent Football League Challenge Cup was won by Sittingbourne{{Cite web |url=https://www.scefl.com/league-cup-winners-since-1923 |date=February 2022 |title=Archives: League Cup Winners |website=SCEFL: Southern Counties East Football League|access-date=31 January 2024}} (whose reserves team won their Divisional cup too).

The competition, contested by all seventeen clubs in the Division One, comprised five single match tie rounds (with the first round featuring one tie) culminating in the final which was played on a neutral ground (at Sheppey United F.C.{{cite news|date=1 May 1981 |title=County Soccer Details: Saturday: Fixtures: Kent League Division 1 Cup Final |work=Kentish Express |page=23 |place=Ashford}} this season).

==Quarter-finals, Semi-finals and Final==

{{8TeamBracket

| seeds = n

| Rounds=3

| boldwinner=y

| legs=2

| hideomittedscores=1

| RD1=Quarter-finals

| RD1-team1=Hythe Town

| RD1-score1-1= 1

| RD1-team2=Darenth Heathside

| RD1-score2-1= 2

| RD1-team3=Whitstable Town

| RD1-score3-1= 5

| RD1-team4=Faversham Town

| RD1-score4-1=1

| RD1-team5=Erith & Belvedere

| RD1-score5-1= 4

| RD1-team6=Crockenhill

| RD1-score6-1= 2

| RD1-team7=Deal Town

| RD1-score7-1=1

| RD1-team8=Sittingbourne

| RD1-score8-1=2

| RD2=Semi-finals

| RD2-team1=Darenth Heathside

| RD2-score1-1= 1

| RD2-team2=Whitstable Town

| RD2-score2-1= 0

| RD2-team3=Erith & Belvedere

| RD2-score3-1= 0

| RD2-team4=Sittingbourne

| RD2-score4-1= 2

| RD3=Final

| RD3-team1=Darenth Heathside

| RD3-score1-1= 1

| RD3-team2=Sittingbourne

| RD3-score2-1= 2

}}{{notelist}}

==Second Round==

==First Round==

  • Darenth Heathside 5 – 2 Cray Wanderers
  • Byes for the other fifteen clubs

Sources:

  • Final: {{cite news |date=8 May 1981 |page=31 |title=County Soccer Details: Results: Saturday: Kent League, Division 1, Cup Final |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0003535/19810508/280/0031 |url-access=subscription |access-date=15 May 2024 |via=British Newspaper Archive |newspaper=Kentish Express}}
  • Semi-finals: {{cite news |date=6 March 1981 |page=31 |title=County Soccer Details: Results: Saturday: Kent League Cup semi-finals |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003535/19810306/283/0031

|url-access=subscription |access-date=15 May 2024 |via=British Newspaper Archive |newspaper=Kentish Express}}

  • Quarter-finals: {{cite news |date=16 December 1980 |page=30 |title=Results: Kent League Cup |url=https://britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002514/19801216/295/0030

|url-access=subscription |access-date=15 May 2024 |via=British Newspaper Archive |newspaper=Thanet Times}};

  • Second Round: {{cite news |date=26 September 1980 |page=34 |title=Erith Net a Long Shot and Slam the Door |url=https://britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003666/19800926/034/0034 |url-access=subscription |access-date=15 May 2024 |via=British Newspaper Archive |newspaper=Kent & Sussex Courier}}; {{cite news |date=26 September 1980 |page=27 |title=County Soccer Details: Results: Saturday: Kent League, Division 1 Cup, Round 1 (sic) |url=https://britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0003535/19800926/225/0027 |url-access=subscription |access-date=15 May 2024 |via=British Newspaper Archive |newspaper=Kentish Express}}; {{cite news |date=17 October 1980 |page=27 |title=County Soccer Details: Results: Tuesday: Kent League Cup 2nd rd replay |url=https://britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0003535/19801017/242/0027 |url-access=subscription |access-date=15 May 2024 |via=British Newspaper Archive |newspaper=Kentish Express}}; {{cite news |date=4 November 1980 |page=31 |title=Results: Kent League Cup |url=https://britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002514/19801104/292/0031 |url-access=subscription |access-date=15 May 2024 |via=British Newspaper Archive |newspaper=Thanet Times}}
  • First Round: {{cite news |date=29 August 1980 |page=27 |title=County Soccer Details: Results: Saturday: Kent League Division 1: League Cup |url=https://britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0003535/19800829/247/0027

|url-access=subscription |access-date=15 May 2024 |via=British Newspaper Archive |newspaper=Kentish Express}}

Reserves Section

The letter "R" following team names indicates a club's reserves team.

Division Two featured mostly reserves teams (which were not permitted in Division One) from clubs from Kent and the adjacent area whose first team played in Division One and other higher ranked leagues. There was a League Cup competition for the teams in the section.

=Division Two=

{{Infobox football league season

|competition= Kent Football League Division Two

|season= 1980–81

|winners=Welling United R

|promoted=

|relegated=

|matches=

|total goals=

|prevseason= 1979–80

|nextseason= 1981–82

}}

The league featured nineteen clubs including one non-reserve team (Snowdown Colliery Welfare). Fourteen of the teams had competed in the previous season and they were joined by five additional, all reserves, teams:{{cite news|date=4 July 1980 |first=Gordon |last=Carpenter |title=Bert is named Kent League's vice-chairman |work=Kent Messenger |page=28 |place=Larkfield, Maidstone}}

Newly joined club Welling United R were the division winners.{{cite web|url=http://kentleague.com/Archives/Reserves%20First%20Div%20winners.php |title=Reserves First Division winners / runners-up |website=kentleague.com |date=2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130418065959/http://kentleague.com/Archives/Reserves%20First%20Div%20winners.php |archive-date=18 April 2013 |access-date=26 April 2024}}

At the end of the season Faversham Town R and Dartford Glentworth R resigned from the league.

(The table below is not the final table, maximum potential matches per team = 36)

{{#invoke:sports table|main|style=WDL

|res_col_header=Season End Notes

|winpoints=2

|team1=WEL|name_WEL=Welling United R

|team2=MAI|name_MAI=Maidstone United R

|team3=DAR|name_DAR=Dartford R

|team4=CHA|name_CHA=Chatham Town R

|team5=EAB|name_EAB=Erith & Belvedere R

|team6=FAV|name_FAV=Faversham Town R

|team7=FOL|name_FOL=Folkestone R

|team8=DHE|name_DHE=Darenth Heathside R

|team9=SIT|name_SIT=Sittingbourne R

|team10=DEA|name_DEA=Deal Town R

|team11=DOV|name_DOV=Dover R

|team12=SHE|name_SHE=Sheppey United R

|team13=ASH|name_ASH=Ashford Town R

|team14=HYT|name_HYT=Hythe Town R

|team15=DGL|name_DGL=Dartford Glentworth R

|team16=WHI|name_WHI=Whitstable Town R

|team17=HAS|name_HAS=Hastings United R

|team18=HER|name_HER=Herne Bay R

|team19=SCW|name_SCW=Snowdown Colliery Welfare

|win_ASH=13|draw_ASH=5|loss_ASH=18|gf_ASH=50|ga_ASH=76

|win_CHA=21|draw_CHA=4|loss_CHA=7|gf_CHA=83|ga_CHA=29

|win_DAR=22|draw_DAR=3|loss_DAR=8|gf_DAR=69|ga_DAR=34

|win_DEA=12|draw_DEA=10|loss_DEA=13|gf_DEA=60|ga_DEA=70

|win_DGL=8|draw_DGL=9|loss_DGL=17|gf_DGL=51|ga_DGL=63

|win_DHE=15|draw_DHE=7|loss_DHE=13|gf_DHE=49|ga_DHE=52

|win_DOV=10|draw_DOV=11|loss_DOV=14|gf_DOV=52|ga_DOV=60

|win_EAB=19|draw_EAB=6|loss_EAB=8|gf_EAB=63|ga_EAB=26

|win_FAV=19|draw_FAV=1|loss_FAV=16|gf_FAV=70|ga_FAV=66

|win_FOL=14|draw_FOL=9|loss_FOL=13|gf_FOL=63|ga_FOL=62

|win_HAS=9|draw_HAS=5|loss_HAS=22|gf_HAS =36|ga_HAS=74

|win_HER=7|draw_HER=4|loss_HER=25|gf_HER=43|ga_HER=110

|win_HYT=11|draw_HYT=6|loss_HYT=18|gf_HYT=49|ga_HYT=75

|win_MAI=26|draw_MAI=3|loss_MAI=5|gf_MAI=113|ga_MAI=30

|win_SCW=6|draw_SCW=3|loss_SCW=27|gf_SCW=38|ga_SCW=112

|win_SHE=12|draw_SHE=7|loss_SHE=17|gf_SHE=55|ga_SHE=68

|win_SIT=11|draw_SIT=13|loss_SIT=11|gf_SIT=45|ga_SIT=41

|win_WEL=30|draw_WEL=2|loss_WEL=3|gf_WEL=116|ga_WEL=26

|win_WHI=10|draw_WHI=4|loss_WHI=20|gf_WHI=41|ga_WHI=72

|col_RES=red2|text_RES=Resigned

|result6=RES

|result15=RES

|col_REE=orange1|text_REE=Re-elected

|result18=REE

|result19=REE

|class_rules=1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.

|update=5 May 1980

|source={{cite news |date=8 May 1981 |page=31 |title=County Soccer Details: Kent League: Division 2 |url=https://britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003535/19810508/269/0031 |url-access=subscription |access-date=15 May 2024 |via=British Newspaper Archive |newspaper=Kentish Express}}

}}

=Division Two Cup=

The 1980–81 Kent Football League Division Two Cup was won by Sittingbourne R (whose first team won the Challenge Cup) with Chatham Town R runners-up.{{cite web|url= http://kentleague.com/Archives/League%20cups/Reserves%20Cup%20ex%20winners.php |title=Reserves Division(s) League Cup |website=kentleague.com |date=2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130418091817/http://kentleague.com/Archives/League%20cups/Reserves%20Cup%20ex%20winners.php |archive-date=18 April 2013 |access-date=29 March 2024}}

The competition was contested by all nineteen clubs in the division and comprised five single match tie rounds (with the first round featuring three ties) culminating in the final.

==Quarter-finals, Semi-finals and Final==

{{8TeamBracket

| seeds = n

| Rounds=3

| boldwinner=y

| legs=2

| hideomittedscores=1

| RD1=Quarter-finals

| RD1-team1=Faversham Town R

| RD1-score1-1= 6

| RD1-team2=Deal Town R

| RD1-score2-1= 0

| RD1-team3=Sittingbourne R

| RD1-score3-1= 3

| RD1-team4=Sheppey United R

| RD1-score4-1=2

| RD1-team5=Hythe Town R

| RD1-score5-1= 4

| RD1-team6=Whitstable Town R

| RD1-score6-1= 2

| RD1-team7=Chatham Town R

| RD1-score7-1=1

| RD1-team8=Darenth Heathside R

| RD1-score8-1=0

| RD2=Semi-finals

| RD2-team1=Faversham Town R

| RD2-score1-1= 2

| RD2-team2=Sittingbourne R

| RD2-score2-1= 4

| RD2-team3=Hythe Town R

| RD2-score3-1= 0

| RD2-team4=Chatham Town R

| RD2-score4-1= 4

| RD3=Final

| RD3-team1=Sittingbourne R

| RD3-score1-1=

| RD3-team2=Chatham Town R

| RD3-score2-1=

}}{{notelist}}

==Second Round==

==First Round==

Sources:

  • Final: {{cite web|url= http://kentleague.com/Archives/League%20cups/Reserves%20Cup%20ex%20winners.php |title=Reserves Division(s) League Cup |website=kentleague.com |date=2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130418091817/http://kentleague.com/Archives/League%20cups/Reserves%20Cup%20ex%20winners.php |archive-date=18 April 2013 |access-date=29 March 2024}}
  • Semi-finals: {{cite news |date=13 March 1981 |page=23 |title=County Soccer Details: Results: Saturday: Kent League: Division 2: League Cup semi-final |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003535/19810313/229/0023 |url-access=subscription |access-date=15 May 2024 |via=British Newspaper Archive |newspaper=Kentish Express}}; {{cite news |date=27 March 1981 |page=30 |title=County Soccer Details: Results: Saturday: Kent League: Division 2: League Cup semi-final |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0003535/19810327/309/0030 |url-access=subscription |access-date=15 May 2024 |via=British Newspaper Archive |newspaper=Kentish Express}}
  • Quarter-finals: {{cite news |date=19 December 1980 |page=23 |title=County Soccer Details: Results: Saturday: Kent League: Division 2: League Cup 3rd rnd |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003535/19801219/202/0023 |url-access=subscription |access-date=15 May 2024 |via=British Newspaper Archive |newspaper=Kentish Express}}; {{cite news |date=2 January 1981 |page=23 |title=County Soccer Details: Results: Boxing Day: Kent League: League Cup 3rd rnd |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003535/19810102/163/0023 |url-access=subscription |access-date=15 May 2024 |via=British Newspaper Archive |newspaper=Kentish Express}}
  • Second Round: {{cite news |date=19 September 1980 |page=34 |title=Senior soccer details: Fixtures: Saturday: Kent League: League 2 Cup 2nd rnd |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0005423/19800919/321/0034 |url-access=subscription |access-date=15 May 2024 |via=British Newspaper Archive |newspaper=Kent Messenger}}; {{cite news |date=26 September 1980 |page=13 |title=Craig can stick with same 12 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003312/19800926/162/0013 |url-access=subscription |access-date=15 May 2024 |via=British Newspaper Archive |newspaper=Whitstable Times}}; {{cite news |date=3 October 1980 |page=31 |title=County Soccer Details: Results: Kent League Division 2 Cup rd 2 |url=https://britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003535/19801003/265/0033 |url-access=subscription |access-date=15 May 2024 |via=British Newspaper Archive |newspaper=Kentish Express}}; {{cite news |date=3 October 1980 |page=31 |title=County Soccer Details: Results: Monday: Kent League Cup replay |url=https://britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003535/19801003/265/0033 |url-access=subscription |access-date=15 May 2024 |via=British Newspaper Archive |newspaper=Kentish Express}}; {{cite news |date=10 October 1980 |page=43 |title=Senior soccer details: Results: Tuesday: Kent League: League Cup 2nd rnd |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0005423/19801010/430/0043 |url-access=subscription |access-date=15 May 2024 |via=British Newspaper Archive |newspaper=Kent Messenger}}; {{cite news |date=17 October 1980 |page=31 |title=County Soccer Details: Results: Tuesday: Kent League Division 2 Cup |url=https://britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0003535/19801017/242/0027 |url-access=subscription |access-date=15 May 2024 |via=British Newspaper Archive |newspaper=Kentish Express}}; {{cite news |date=28 November 1980 |page=31 |title=County Soccer Details: Results: Saturday: Kent League Division 2 Cup, 2nd rnd replay |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003535/19801128/322/0031 |url-access=subscription |access-date=15 May 2024 |via=British Newspaper Archive |newspaper=Kentish Express}}
  • First Round: {{cite news |date=29 August 1980 |page=34 |title=Senior soccer details: Results: Saturday: Kent League: Division 2 League Cup |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0005423/19800829/368/0034 |url-access=subscription |access-date=15 May 2024 |via=British Newspaper Archive |newspaper=Kent Messenger}}; {{cite news |date=5 September 1980 |page=34 |title=Senior soccer details: Results: Saturday: Kent League: League Cup, 1st rnd |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0005423/19800905/346/0034 |url-access=subscription |access-date=15 May 2024 |via=British Newspaper Archive |newspaper=Kent Messenger}}; {{cite news |date=12 September 1980 |page=42 |title=Senior soccer details: Results: Wednesday: Kent League Division 2: League Cup replay |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0005423/19800912/434/0042 |url-access=subscription |access-date=15 May 2024 |via=British Newspaper Archive |newspaper=Kent Messenger}}

References

{{Reflist}}

{{Kent League}}

{{1980–81 in English football}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kent Football League 1980-81}}

1980–81

Category:1980–81 in English football leagues