A Memorable Season for Grammar Team

In every way the past season has been a memorable one for Dover Grammar School football team who won the Under-19 Kent Schools' League for the first time with the strongest and best balanced side to have represented the school for many years.

The league title was clinched with an emphatic 4-1 win over Maidstone Grammar School and in their ten games played they won nine and lost only one, with 33 goals for and four against.

This clearly showed the excellent defence of the team and the outstanding contribution made by goalkeeper John Monger.

In addition Jamie Sadler in the centre of the defence, Andrew Kenchington and Steve Blake in midfield, and Matthew Mann and Ramon San Eneterio as strikers, have all played a big part in the success.

Three players representing Kent, Matthew Mann, the first team captain who was the first Dover player to play for the Kent Schools' A team, Ramon San Eneterio who plays for the B team, and Jason Oliver as the first under-16 player to play for the under-19 side.

The team has trained hard with over 20 boys in action at lunchtimes on Mondays, while the six-a-side league has helped raise the overall standard of the players.

There has also been good cover when injuries have hit the main squad in Andrew Johnson, John Murphy, Mark Castle and Mark Gabriel.

The only two defeats of the season were to Simon Langton at home in the league and Rainham Mark, after extra time in the County Cup.

Since then they have beaten county finalists Oakwood Park, and another fine victory was against a strong Old Pharosians by 4-2 to win the Kremer Cup.

Full playing record: Played 15, won 13, lost 2, goals for 54, goals against 8.

Colours re-awarded: Mann, San Emeterio, Steve Blake, Monger and Sadler. Awarded: Kenchington, Jock McBride, Kevin Hall, Jason Oliver, David Ratcliffe, Andrew Podmore.

Representative ties to Murphy and Johnson.

View team photo.