All footballers dream of playing at Wembley, few get to do so and even fewer climb those steps as winners – but Whitstable Town did just that in a year they’ll never forget.
Another Wembley winner, Alessia Russo, helped prove England’s Lionesses didn’t need home advantage at the Euros while Rosie Galligan flew the flag for Kent and became a rugby world champion.
In boxing, Sam Noakes showed he really is a force to be reckoned with, taking Abdullah Mason all the way and winning plenty of admirers – if not the WBO lightweight championship – and tributes for the unique contribution Ernie Batten made to Sheppey United were paid after his death in March.
Relive those moments, as well as the highs and lows for Gillingham FC and Kent Cricket – and many more besides – in our sports review of 2025.
January
“I’ve said this many times but we cannot stay in League 2. Our fanbase and owners expect, no demand, higher.”
That was the New Year’s Eve message from Gillingham owner Brad Galinson and, with 2025 less than a week old, he was looking for his third new manager in two years after sacking Mark Bonner.
The former Cambridge boss had made an impressive start to his tenure at Priestfield, and the side topped the League 2 table in August and September. However, it was downhill from then onwards, and a poor run of form over Christmas left the Gills 14th – 10 points off the play-offs – with Galinson turning to former Accrington manager John Coleman and his long-time assistant Jimmy Bell.
In a statement released through the League Managers Association, Bonner said: “I would like to thank [owners] Brad and Shannon Galinson and the senior management team for the opportunity to manage Gillingham Football Club.
“After a summer of hard work and setting the foundations to build a culture of success, we enjoyed an outstanding start to the season. Since then, results and performances have been disappointing, and we have been unable to find the level and consistency we all wanted.
“As many of the players are now fit and available, I expect a consistent team to emerge and have a strong second half of the season. I hope the new management team will continue the work of creating a team and culture that will bring about the success that the club deserves.”
January was a bad month for Gillingham alumni, too, with Steve Lovell sacked as Herne Bay boss while fellow Isthmian South East manager Danny Kedwell vacated the Ashford United hotseat.
Kedwell told how he arranged a meeting to discuss plans for 2025/26 with co-owner Lloyd Hume at the Village Hotel in Maidstone – only to end up losing his job.
“I took my book along that I’d been working on all night, on players I wanted to keep and get on contract for next year, and it turned out to be the opposite,” said Kedwell.
“To be honest, it’s not making sense to me. It can’t be that I haven’t hit my targets because you can see the injuries I’ve had all season, and the suspensions, I’ve not had a full squad all year.
“I can only think it’s a rash decision, not thinking it through, especially when I only had a meeting with the owners three weeks ago about building for next year if we don’t get in the play-offs, and I was straight with the players about that. I’m a very honest man.
“If the performances weren’t there and I was getting nothing out of the players, or my whole squad was there and I’m still not getting anything out of them, I’d be saying, yes, I deserve the sack.”
Whitstable moved closer to Wembley after their penalty shoot-out victory at Walsham Le Willows in the FA Vase fourth round proper.
Following a goalless first half in Suffolk, ex-Gillingham striker Ronald Sithole put Jamie Coyle’s Southern Counties East League Premier Division side in front, only for the hosts to level in the 87th minute.
But it was Whitstable who progressed to the last 16 – for only the second time in their history – as they won 3-2 on penalties.
Kent duo Sam Billings and Wes Agar missed out on Big Bash glory Down Under when their Sydney Thunder side lost the final to Hobart Hurricanes by seven wickets, denying Billings back-to-back wins in the BBL after success with Brisbane Heat in 2024.
Tonbridge AC’s James Kingston won the Kent Cross-Country Championships for the third year in a row at Brands Hatch and clubmate Cole Gibbens completed his own treble at the Canterbury 10-Mile Road Race.
February
Isthmian South East Sittingbourne claimed the greatest result in their history when they stunned higher-league opponents Southend to reach the FA Trophy quarter-finals.
Three levels separated the sides but nobody told Anthony Church, who scored the only goal of the game at Roots Hall in the sixth minute of injury time.
“I’m just incredibly proud,” said boss Ryan Maxwell after his team pulled off by far the most significant of their six wins over higher-league opposition during their record-breaking Trophy run.
“I’m proud of the players, proud of everybody. I’m happy for everybody, I love everyone at the club. It’s like an extension of my family. We’re so close here, we’re unbelievably close, and I just wanted us to do it for other people.
“I think that gives us more drive and fight when you’re doing something for someone else, you have more drive about you than just doing it for you.”
Two goals in eight minutes early in the second half from Jayden Boulton and Mikey Dalton were enough to send Whitstable through to the FA Vase quarter-finals against Combined Counties League Fleet Town. The visitors pulled one back with 17 minutes left for a nervy finish, but Jamie Coyle’s side hung on.
Dover’s Jake Dixon impressed in his first test for MotoGP Moto2 team Elf Marc VDS Racing.
Dixon joined new team-mate Filip Salac in Portugal to put the 2025 Boscoscuro chassis through its paces, posting the second-fastest time of 1min41.281sec on day two, beating Manu Gonzalez’ lap record by almost 0.3sec.
“It feels great to finally get out on track with the Elf Marc VDS Racing Team and this was a very important two days for us,” Dixon said.
“It’s my first time riding the Boscoscuro chassis after a few years with Kalex and there are definitely a lot of positives but also some points we need to work on.
“I’m not really sure what I expected from the bike, but I have to say the Boscoscuro really exceeded my expectations, so I’m really happy about that.”
Trainer Karen Jewell enjoyed one of the most memorable wins of her career as veteran horse Uallrightharry defied the odds at Fontwell.
Jewell, based at Eyehorn Farm in Borden, saw the 33/1 outsider romp to victory by six lengths.
At 13, Uallrightharry was considered retirement age but Jewell kept him running after conversations with owner Sally Stanier. And he showed he’s young at heart with his success in the 3m3½f handicap chase.
“The normal retirement age for a National Hunt horse is 12-13,” said Jewell, who sometimes trains Uallrightharry on Camber Sands beach. “It’s pretty unheard of that a 13-year-old wins a marathon race like that, and in the way he did it.
“It’s not often older horses retain their enthusiasm and their will to win, as well as staying sound. It’s a big achievement for an older horse to have enthusiasm like that. He loves his job, he loves his work.
“He absolutely knew he’d won. He’s been like a spring lamb back at the yard. Psychologically, the horses really know they’ve won. They’re very intelligent animals and that’s why, at this age, it’s a real achievement for him to enjoy himself and still be winning.”
Will Holling scored a hat-trick as Tonbridge Juddians’ remarkable season continued with a 46-23 thrashing of Kent rivals Canterbury at Merton Lane – their 17th win in 18 National League 2 East games.
Medway, meanwhile, enjoyed a perfect month as their title chase gathered momentum in Regional 2 South East – a 26-12 success over Thurrock making it three wins from three.
Matt Walker landed his first permanent role in cricket since his departure from Kent in September 2024.
Walker, head coach at Canterbury for eight years, signed a one-year contract as County Championship Division 1 side Warwickshire’s batting coach.
March
Non-league football was in mourning after the death of Sheppey United manager Ernie Batten.
Batten, 67, had only recently stepped down from matchday duties at Holm Park for health reasons and had played an immeasurable role in the club’s rebirth since 2010 – including aiding with funds for their £500,000 3G surface in 2021.
A prolific striker at Hastings United and Chelmsford City, Batten also played for Gravesend & Northfleet and Sheppey in the Southern League. He took over as manager after the departure of Kevin Hake ahead of the 2015/16 season and a second-place finish led them to promotion from the Kent Invicta League into the Southern Counties East Premier Division.
Sheppey took a few seasons to settle at the new level, then Covid hit football hard, before the Ites roared to the Southern Counties East Premier Division title ahead of Chatham Town in a 2021/22 season that’s unlikely to be matched in terms of success.
Batten’s side also won the Kent Senior Trophy twice, winning the delayed Covid-season final and then retaining the trophy. They also won the Challenge Cup that year.
In 2023/24, Batten took them to the FA Cup first round, where they took the lead against League 2 Walsall before losing 4-1.
A club statement said: “[Ernie] took the Ites to places Island football fans could only dream of: Two promotions, six cup finals, four domestic trophies, and one incredible FA Cup run, resulting in Sheppey – for the first time in our 130-odd year history – reaching FA Cup round one, national acclaim and a worldwide TV audience.
“You made our dreams come true, Ernie. Your legacy lives forever. Goodnight, gaffer.”
It was all change at Gillingham once again with the appointment of Gareth Ainsworth, owner Brad Galinson’s fifth manager in just over two years.
John Coleman had been holding the fort after the January sacking of Mark Bonner, but two wins in 14 League 2 matches was never good enough for a long-term deal.
Coleman’s exit wasn’t the only managerial departure in March. Andy Drury left his role as Folkestone boss with the side mid-table in Isthmian Premier and Jay Saunders announced he was leaving Tonbridge at the end of the season.
Ebbsfleet’s Josh Wright stayed in post, despite his side’s relegation from the National League with another month of the season still to run.
There were mixed results on the road to Wembley for Whitstable and Sittingbourne.
Whitstable won their FA Vase semi-final first leg at home to Hartpury University 2-0 with a record 2,905 crowd cheering goals from Nathan Jeche and Finn O’Mara, but Sittingbourne lost their FA Trophy quarter-final 3-0 to Aldershot.
Dover’s Jake Dixon made a fantastic start to the MotoGP Moto2 campaign with two wins from the first three races.
After a seventh-placed finish for new team Elf Marc VDS Racing at the opening round in Malaysia, Dixon won in both Argentina and the USA to lead the championship for the first time in his career.
“I never thought I’d have two consecutive wins in Moto2 – one in the dry, one in the wet,” Dixon said.
“It’s great to do it in completely different conditions. I thought it would take more time for us to be competitive this year and, to be honest, we are still learning and I can get more comfortable on the bike.
“There’s still more to come and we’re aiming to fight for the top five at every track we go to.”
With the County Championship campaign fast approaching, there was a blow for Kent with the news that Joe Denly had fractured his arm in the nets. Recruitment-wise, the club announced the arrival of all-rounder Corey Flintoff – son of England legend Freddie.
April
A thrilling display of running rugby was the perfect way for Tonbridge Juddians to secure the National League 2 East title with a 69-19 win over Oxford Harlequins.
Judds, the class of the field all season, had a five-year plan to return to National League 1 after relegation in 2022 so they arrived ahead of schedule.
“We had a plan in place to get us back to National 1 within five years of dropping down after [the] 2021/22 season,” chairman Darren Grasby revealed.
“The work put in by the players, coaches and support staff has been amazing. And the support from supporters and sponsors has enabled us to achieve our goal. Next season we will go again and with Jordan Turner-Hall directing things we are in a very good place.”
Director of rugby Turner-Hall was equally effusive. “We showed a great deal of intensity today and put Oxford under pressure – both in attack and defence,” he said.
“[It was] great to see homegrown talent combining so well with others sharing the same pace and power.
“We still have a game to go and our minds are very much on finishing well at Dorking. We can have a bit of a rest then before our plans for National 1 start to take shape and I’m super excited to see TJs at the next level next season.”
There were celebrations, too, at Medway, after a 45-36 victory over Old Tiffinians clinched the Regional 2 South East crown.
The win was Medway’s 17th of the season – enough to pip Beckenham to the championship by just two points.
Whitstable Town booked a place at Wembley for the first time in their history.
A goalless draw in their FA Vase semi-final second leg at Hartpury University ensured a 2-0 win on aggregate – and a clash with AFC Whyteleafe on May 11.
Whitstable player-boss Jamie Coyle admitted the chance to play at Wembley was a dream come true.
“I think any kid that is born and loves football, the pinnacle is you want to play at your national stadium,” said Coyle.
“Obviously, I’ve represented my country in the seniors and won World Cups with that side but to take a team that you’ve assembled with the management team and walk out there, it’s a dream come true.
“And it’s not just me. It’s not just about me. It’s about everyone at this football club. They deserve it and I’m looking forward to it.
“I don’t think it’s quite sunk in for this young group at the moment of what they’ve achieved.
“But I’ve said the same thing as I said in the quarter-finals, no one remembers the team that loses in the final. So we’ve got to make sure that we give a real good account of ourselves and we’ll see what happens on the day.”
However, April was a month of mixed emotions for Town, whose dreams of an Isthmian League return ended for another season when they lost on penalties to Fisher in their Southern Counties East League Premier Division play-off semi-final.
Ramsgate made up for their play-off heartache a year earlier with Isthmian South East title glory. A 4-0 win at Hythe secured the silverware, Rams finishing on 109 points.
It was third time lucky for Faversham. Denied promotion in the previous two seasons, their 6-0 Easter Monday win over Lordswood sealed Southern Counties East League glory in style before a home crowd of 1,138.
Gillingham manager Gareth Ainsworth was delighted his team secured their League 2 status with his first victory in charge after Bradley Dack came off the bench to score a stoppage-time winner against MK Dons.
Four straight draws under Ainsworth had all-but-ensured Gills were not going to get dragged into a relegation scrap, although the three points meant they were now mathematically safe.
“People probably raised their eyebrows and said he’s leaving League 1 and coming to a relegation battle in League 2,” said Ainsworth of his move from Shrewsbury to Priestfield.
“We were never in the actual battle, but it’s nice to be safe now. I’m hoping to give a few more players an opportunity to show what I’ve got because I need a window. I need a pre-season.”
Kent made a good start to their County Championship campaign with back-to-back wins and a draw in Division 2.
Adam Hollioake’s side opened with a 145-run success at Northamptonshire and then enjoyed an eight-wicket victory at home to Middlesex, Ben Compton scoring 124 not out. Compton kept up his good early-season form with 178 against Gloucestershire.
In speedway, newly-formed Kent Eagles overcame the challenge of Leicester Fox Cubs to record a 47-41 victory in their opening National Development Trophy fixture at Iwade’s Old Gun site, while, also on two wheels, Lydd’s Bradley Ray was given a reprieve when it looked as if his return to the British Superbikes Championship was over before it began.
Ray, the 2022 champion before a two-year spell in World Superbikes, had agreed to rejoin OMG Racing for whom he won the title three years ago. However, OMG announced they were pulling out of the series due to commercial reasons, leaving Ray without a ride – before Raceways Yamaha stepped in.
British Touring Car champion Jake Hill began the defence of his title at Donington Park but the Platts Heath driver could only muster two fourth places and a 10th for Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport.
May
Ronald Sithole went down in Whitstable folklore after scoring the winning goal to clinch the FA Vase at Wembley.
Whitstable – backed by more than 7,000 fans – conceded first against AFC Whyteleafe but levelled early in the second half through Harvey Smith and an entertaining match went to extra-time where Sithole hit the winner.
The Oystermen became the first Kent side since Deal Town to win the Vase – that historic moment coming 25 years earlier when Tommy Sampson’s men beat Chippenham Town.
For player-boss Jamie Coyle it was a perfect end to a 25-year playing career, and the realisation of a lifelong dream.
He said: “It can’t get any better than growing up playing football in your local park and dreaming of playing at your national stadium.
“I keep using the ‘proud’ word, but what the boys have delivered for us and the football club, it’s most definitely a time to go out on a high.
“It’s a dream come true. I’ve had a number of friends there that grew up in the council estate that I was at in South London, in Catford, playing at seven, eight-years-old.
“We’ve all said the dream was always to play at your national stadium and for it to be my final year as well and to win it for the club, it’s still a little bit surreal.”
Dover won promotion back to National League South – at Dartford’s expense.
The two met in the Isthmian Premier play-off final at Princes Park, but the home faithful, who had seen Darts miss out on the title and automatic promotion in the final week of the campaign, were left disappointed again with Whites winning 2-0 thanks to Ruben Soares-Junior and Alfie Matthews.
Maidstone United’ s big day ended in defeat. Stones were looking to return to the National League – the top flight of non-league football – after a two-year absence, but Boreham Wood had other ideas, Charles Clayden scoring the only goal for the hosts shortly after half-time.
Isthmian South East runners-up Sittingbourne failed to join champions Ramsgate in the Premier Division after losing their play-off final 3-2 on spot-kicks to Burgess Hill.
Gillingham won 1-0 on the final day of the League 2 season at promoted Port Vale to end their campaign on a high.
Aaron Rowe got the only goal – his first for the club – and the result left Gillingham 17th on 58 points but they remained unbeaten under new boss Gareth Ainsworth.
The start of the T20 Blast brought some much-needed respite for Kent after four successive losses in the County Championship.
One of those, a two-wicket defeat to Middlesex at Lord’s, still proved memorable for skipper Daniel Bell-Drummond after hitting his second-highest score in the red-ball game – 223.
After compiling just 66 runs in his previous seven innings, Bell-Drummond came good when Kent needed it after being skittled out for 129 on day one of their County Championship Division 2 match in the capital.
Bell-Drummond revealed he’d looked at footage of his career-best 300 not out against Northants two years ago ahead of the game.
With a week off in the schedule, Bell-Drummond took advantage to have a timely reset.
“I had five days back in London just seeing friends and family and then I still had another five training sessions,” said Bell-Drummond.
“It felt the week off was that long and I just tried to look at old footage, really, of when I’ve been at my best. I was in England all winter and sometimes you can get a bit bowling-machine friendly and not be game-ready.
“I had a great pre-season but I just looked back at old footage and tried to go back to that a little bit, which felt a lot more comfortable.
“I looked at the 300 not out, more for technical things as I don’t get confidence like that.
“What’s been has been but it’s been more technical. I’ve opened up my stance slightly, I was getting a bit too side-on. That was the main thing, and allowing my swing to come through and access the ball a bit better.”
Bradley Ray’s winning return to the British Superbikes Championship was overshadowed by tragedy at Oulton Park.
Lydd rider Ray made the perfect start to his BSB comeback after two years in World Superbikes with victory in the opening race of the season. The Raceways Yamaha rider was then third in race two before disaster struck in the supporting British Supersport series.
Riders Owen Jenner, from East Sussex, and Shane Richardson, from New Zealand, were killed after a first-lap accident involving 11 bikes. The race and the remainder of the meeting were cancelled.
Moses Itauma delivered another top performance to see off American Mike Balogun at the Hydro Arena in Glasgow.
The Chatham heavyweight claimed a TKO win after his opponent was downed once in the first round and twice in the second – referee John Latham waving the contest off following that third knockdown.
Itauma’s victory came 46 seconds into the second round and took his record to 12-0 in the pro ranks while also topping the WBO rankings.
June
Kent proved they are the dominant force in county rugby after a 39-32 victory over Yorkshire gave them a third successive Bill Beaumont County Championship title at Twickenham.
After a 96-year gap between titles ended in 2023, Kent now have six to their name and, unlike the 2024 match between the sides, where Yorkshire missed a last-ditch penalty to win, there was no element of luck in the performance.
Wins over Hampshire and Cornwall sealed another trip to Headquarters, where Luke Boon, Mac Duaibe and MIkel Davies got the tries.
“It was emotional, it meant a lot to the boys,” said a delighted head coach and second-row Tom Stradwick, who was playing his final competitive game after 35 appearances for Kent.
“Even for the ones who’ve been here before, it was special. It’ll be memories that’ll stay with us forever.
“People don’t get to write their own endings, but for me, to finish my playing career playing at Twickenham with a bunch of very good mates and standing on the top step with a trophy above your head, it doesn’t get better.”
Ebbsfleet’s rebuild after relegation from the National League continued with the signing of former Gillingham skipper Max Ehmer.
The 33-year-old played 439 times for the Gills and is the sixth-highest appearance-maker in their history. But he dropped down to National League South with Ebbsfleet, having played alongside his new boss Josh Wright at Priestfield.
“It does feel exciting and I’m looking forward to experiencing new things and making sure I play well,” said Ehmer.
“Ebbsfleet aren’t in the league we want to be in and with what’s going on around the place with the plans here, and with Josh Wright as manager, it’s all something I want to be part of.
“The players brought in are all strong additions and we’re here to get promoted, that’s the end game.”
Over at Priestfield, some proven Premier League quality was in order with the signing of Sam Vokes.
The former Wolves and Burnley striker, 35, was reunited with his former Wycombe Wanderers manager Gareth Ainsworth after becoming a free agent. He agreed a one-year deal.
Stoke City once paid a reported £7million for Vokes, who spent two-and-a-half seasons with the Potters before joining Ainsworth at Wycombe in 2021.
He said: “It’s great, it’s exciting and I’m looking forward to pre-season getting under way. I spoke to the manager a few times over the summer, we know each other well.
“Being right and ready to go on that first game is what it’s all about now.”
Kent had a mixed month in the Vitality Blast, winning three but losing the same number of games, with one no-result against Middlesex at Lord’s.
Their return to four-day action ended in a draw against Lancashire at Blackpool – Ben Compton once again shining with another century – 135 – while Grant Stewart almost matched him with 130.
Lydd’s Bradley Ray made it back-to-back trebles after dominating the weekend’s British Superbikes Championship action at Snetterton.
Fresh from three victories at Donington Park, it was now seven wins from the opening eight races for Ray and new team Raceways Yamaha.
“It’s been an incredible weekend, and heading into Snetterton I didn’t expect to have been as strong as we were,” Ray admitted.
“I felt good from Friday’s free practice sessions, and thought we’d have an edge over the rest of the field. Kyle [Ryde] kept me honest in that last race, but we managed to respond with more pace, which fills me with confidence as we head towards Knockhill.”
Jake Hill’s BTCC title defence was proving a tough ask, and to add to his woes his race engineer, Craig Porley, was hospitalised after suddenly falling ill – although he was well enough to leave hospital on the Sunday – before the latest round at Oulton Park.
Hill mustered a best finish of fifth and the West Surrey Racing-prepared Laser Tools with MB Motorsport BMW pilot was 90 points off the lead going into the mid-season summer break.
In golf, former Premier League star Jimmy Bullard arrived at Rochester & Cobham Park for Open Regional Qualifying.
Scheduled to play the Medway course in 2024, Bullard pulled out late on but, a year later, he carded a three-over par 74 – six shots off the winner Max Jordan.
July
England’s Lionesses roared for a second successive Euros triumph – and Maidstone’s Alessia Russo was pivotal to their success.
Trailing 1-0 in the final to Spain, Russo headed home a second-half equaliser to earn penalties and a 3-1 shoot-out win in Switzerland.
England had already lived dangerously during the tournament, with an opening-game defeat to France and the lottery of penalties in their quarter-final with Sweden. Lightning struck again in the Basel finale – but Russo joked it was all part of the plan.
“We just wanted to keep you lot entertained,” she said.
“That’s tournament football, you have to win in so many different ways and we have done that.
“Whether it be 90 minutes, extra-time, penalties, we’ve got the belief that we can go all the way and we’ve got the belief that we’ve got the players to do that.
“It was incredible but, hopefully, people enjoyed it.”
The win was the first time an England team have won back-to-back major championships, and Russo admitted the achievement was surreal.
“It feels a bit mad,” she said. “The emotions of a game, of a final, the highs and lows that you experience throughout the game and the resilience you have to come back and win on penalties.
”I don’t think it’s sunk in yet but it’s just incredible and we will celebrate as a team. To be European champions once and then to do it back-to-back is just crazy.”
Meanwhile, Southern Counties East League Premier Division side Larkfield & New Hythe appointed a female first-team coach after manager Micky Phillips stepped down.
Fraser Walker and Tony Reid succeeded Phillips as joint-managers, while Sian Marie was named first-team coach in the new set-up.
Marie said: “It’s a pleasure and an honour to be invited back into men’s football and be trusted to coach the players, even better to be part of a progressive club that wants success.
“I’m really looking forward to what we can achieve – there’s a great group of players and the staff have been so welcoming.”
Margate had a new frontman for their opening friendly of the summer – Libertines lead singer Pete Doherty.
As part of the Libertines’ sponsoring of Margate’s new shirts, Doherty started the match against Tonbridge Angels with player-manager Ben Greenhalgh missing the game.
Striker Ibrahim Olutade and midfielder Brandon Davey were also unavailable.
Donning the No.10 shirt – and a brown hat – Doherty played about five minutes as a crowd of 608 watched on at Hartsdown Park before the 46-year-old was subbed so he could carry out a soundcheck at nearby Dreamland ahead of a concert the same day.
Emma Raducanu’s bid to make it into the second week of Wimbledon ended in the third round with a 7-6, 6-4 loss to Aryna Sabalenka.
Orpington’s Raducanu was bidding to equal her best SW19 campaigns of 2021 and 2024, when she reached round four on both occasions, but although she fell short against the former champion, she took the positives from her defeat.
“I’d felt like I was gulfs away from the very top players,” she said. “But having a match like that, where I had chances in both sets, it does give me more belief.
“Previously, when I was playing these top-five players, the loss was pretty convincing.
“I’m always quite critical – I didn’t execute all the time – but I think I returned really well, considering she’s got one of the best serves in the game.
“I think when I look back at my career, I’m really going to remember that match, because you play for those moments.”
After a miserable run in the County Championship, which saw no Division 2 wins in May and June, Kent lifted the gloom by reaching the T20 Blast quarter-finals.
Tawanda Muyeye and Harry Finch inspired a seven-wicket win against Essex in Canterbury, sharing a 114-run stand with Muyeye top scoring on 80 and Finch offering 64. And with South group winners Surrey edging past Sussex Sharks, it was enough to ensure the 2021 winners reached the last eight again.
In a further boost for the club, Muyeye signed a new deal until the end of the 2027 season, although fast bowler Nathan Gilchrist’s departure at the end of the summer was announced having agreed a three-year contract with Warwickshire.
August
Chatham heavyweight Moses Itauma claimed his biggest win yet after a stunning stoppage against Dillian Whyte.
Itauma, 20, won with a first-round knockout to claim the Commonwealth title in Riyadh.
Whyte, at 37, was not the fighter he once was, but three years ago he lasted six rounds against Tyson Fury in a fight for the world title. He’d also been in the ring with Anthony Joshua and Joseph Parker.
Three titles were on the line in the 10-round contest. The WBO inter-continental heavyweight title and WBA international belt as well as the vacant Commonwealth championship title.
“I will fight anyone they put in front of me,” declared Itauma, with the crowd calling for Oleksandr Usyk.
Gillingham hit the ground running for the third season in a row in League 2.
Wins over Walsall, Chesterfield, Crewe and Oldham gave Gareth Ainsworth’s side top spot when the month was out – and extended his unbeaten tenure in league matches since his arrival in late March to 15.
The Gills hit the summit after substitute Sam Vokes’ second-half strike secured a 1-0 success against the Latics. The game was played in heavy rain and the hosts missed a couple of good openings. But, as Ainsworth pointed out, the Gills were clinical when it mattered.
“We found a way and that’s a sign of a good side,” he said.
“We probably got away with a couple of chances from Oldham. They’ve got to stick them in the goal – they missed from a yard and then they [hit] the side netting a couple of times.
“But when we were asked to, we hit the target and Sam’s scored a lot of goals in his career – all he needs is one chance.”
New-look Ebbsfleet produced a classy away performance to win their opening-day National League South clash at title favourites Dagenham.
Goals in either half from Kwesi Appiah and Tom Dallison gave the Fleet a 2-0 win – the perfect start in a battle of two teams relegated from non-league’s top table last season.
Off the field, Ebbsfleet agreed a deal for new majority owners to take charge of the club.
Less than three weeks earlier, the Fleet announced the board were exploring potential new investment and they announced terms had been agreed between KEH Sports and a consortium of new private investors for the majority acquisition of Ebbsfleet United FC.
Leading the new ownership group was Dublin-based businessman John O’Leary as the largest shareholder and head of the consortium which comprised a number of investors – the largest two based in Ireland and India.
O’Leary said: “As a lifelong football supporter since playing youth football with my local side in Dublin, I have long held an ambition to be involved in club ownership.
“It’s extremely exciting to have agreed a deal in principle to lead a consortium as custodians of Ebbsfleet United into the future.”
Dartford manager Ady Pennock insisted his team “were not a dirty side” after four red cards in three Isthmian Premier away matches.
Sam Smith and Sam Okoye saw red in a 4-4 draw at Ramsgate, adding to dismissals for Ben Frempah at Dulwich and Michael Olarewaju at St Albans.
“We’re not a dirty team,” said Pennock. “There wasn’t a bad foul all game on Monday and that’s both sets of teams.
“At St Albans there was not one bad tackle, Dulwich away not a bad tackle. We’re not a dirty side, we don’t elbow teams or two-foot teams. It’s just the officiating has been very poor.”
Former Kent skipper Sam Northeast announced his return to the club after eight years away.
Kent beat off stiff competition for the Ashford-born batsman’s signature on a two-year contract, with the option for a third.
Northeast had been in talks with Glamorgan over extending his four-year stay in Wales and was also wanted by several other counties but – now a father – his family home always remained in Kent despite having played his cricket elsewhere since 2017.
“I’m delighted to be returning home to Kent next season,” he said.
“I believe I still have a great deal to contribute across all formats and, while I’ve enjoyed my time away, I know that coming back to Canterbury is the right decision at this stage of my career.”
Northeast’s deal was the one piece of good news following a disappointing Metro Bank One-Day Cup campaign which featured just two wins in eight games.
September
Anything Alessia Russo can do, Rosie Galligan can, too.
After more Euros glory for Russo and England’s Lionesses in July, West Malling’s Galligan was part of the Red Roses team to win the Rugby World Cup with a devastating display in a 33-13 win over Canada at Twickenham.
The Saracens lock came on as a 70th-minute replacement and cried tears of joy on the hallowed turf after a victory made even sweeter after England’s agonising defeat to New Zealand in the 2022 final.
“For us, you have to be good people to be good players,” Galligan told World Rugby.
“If you’re not helping each other then how can you go towards something together? That is something we have cemented over the last few years and I wouldn’t want to win the World Cup with anyone else.
“It’s been phenomenal, this has been the day we’ve been waiting for since that World Cup defeat in 2022, and to be able to put everything to use that we’ve done over the last three years and come away as world champions is pretty special.”
Gillingham created club history with a new unbeaten record.
A 3-1 win at Newport made it 21 league games unbeaten, with their last defeat ironically at the same ground – by the same scoreline – six months earlier.
Gareth Ainsworth’s men had to do it the hard way, though, after going one down inside a minute before goalkeeper Glenn Morris then saved a penalty.
An action-packed first half continued when Bradley Dack levelled, Jonny Smith scored a stunner and Dack netted again from the spot to keep Gills top of the standings.
The Gills players and staff had photos in front of the 601 travelling fans, while Ainsworth struggled to convey his thoughts.
“I don’t know how to put the first half into words,” admitted the Gills boss.
“I’m emotional after 21, I never lie, I’m an emotional guy. I live on emotion on the touchline and I had a little choke-up moment when the final whistle went, because I thought that is so special for this group of players, to break the record.”
“They’ll go down in history, these players,” continued Ainsworth, who took charge in 18 of those games in the league without loss.
“They’ve bust 132 years, maybe, of Gillingham history, 21 games unbeaten. This is ridiculous territory. I can’t thank them enough for their efforts.”
Off the field, it was announced that Ainsworth would undergo a heart procedure after a routine League Managers Association health check.
“I’ve got to have heart surgery,” Ainsworth said. “It sounds dramatic, but it’s a routine thing they do.
“I’m going to be missing for probably three or four games, all I can say is ‘Get behind Dobbo (Richard Dobson, assistant manager) and the team’.”
It was all change at Longmead as Tonbridge Angels sacked manager Craig Nelson – despite his best spell in the job since replacing Jay Saunders.
Nelson went seven games without a win after taking charge but there were mitigating circumstances, as he learned a new level after joining from Isthmian Premier Lewes.
But despite Angels winning 1-0 at much-fancied Worthing to move up to 15th in National League South, a result that extended their unbeaten run to four games in all competitions, including back-to-back away wins in the league and FA Cup progress, Nelson left the club to be replaced by Millwall legend Alan Dunne.
In cricket, head coach Adam Hollioake refused to use injuries as an excuse for a dreadful red-ball season after Derbyshire thrashed Kent by an innings and 229 runs in their final County Championship game of the summer.
“We did get off to a good start,” said Hollioake. “Injuries haven’t helped.
“Keith Dudgeon went down after one game and I think the injuries really compounded after three games.
“We had won two, drawn one and then, during that period where Nathan Gilchrist got a concussion, Jas Singh did his ankle and without Keith Dudgeon – who I have mentioned already – that really put a strain on our fast-bowling attack.
“We were sort of constantly overloading our bowlers. But they’re excuses.
“I know it’s unlucky – but we’re a professional cricket team – we have got to deal with that and we haven’t done that very well so we’re just going to have to do better. That’s me included as a coach.”
In motorsport, British Touring Car champion Jake Hill announced his departure from the series for 2026 to switch to international competition.
The Platts Heath racer had endured a tough title defence, winning just three races, but admitted he’d already ticked one ambition off his bucket list by winning the 2024 crown.
“It has been the hardest decision of my career,” Hill said.
“The team and championship have been my home for so many years, and I hope that announcing this news now will enable me to have a fitting farewell at my home track of Brands Hatch, surrounded by the fantastic BTCC fans.
“Winning that drivers’ championship was a real bucket list moment for me, and I am so proud to have achieved that. When I started working with MB Motorsport, the dream was twofold – to become the BTCC champion and to become a professional racing driver, internationally.
“There’s no one prouder than me to say that we have now ticked both those boxes by working together so well over all these years.”
October
Three years after ending his professional career Kent legend Darren Stevens was announced as the club’s bowling consultant for the 2026 season.
Former fans’ favourite Stevens, 49, rejoined to support bowling coach Sam Faulkner and head coach Adam Hollioake as Kent began plans to improve on a disappointing 2025.
“‘Stevo’ coming back to Kent to join our bowling coaching provision will, undoubtedly, be popular with our members and supporters,” director of cricket Simon Cook said.
“His experience and coaching skills will be invaluable to our first-team bowlers as we head into a new season under Adam Hollioake.”
While a familiar face returned, vice-skipper Jack Leaning departed St Lawrence with a year remaining on his contract.
After six seasons with the club, Leaning joined Sussex on a three-year deal following a mutual agreement to release him 12 months early. Out of favour under Hollioake in the red-ball format in 2025, he didn’t play in any of their County Championship Division 2 games in the last three months of the summer.
The right-handed batting all-rounder moved to Canterbury from Yorkshire ahead of the 2020 season and scored 5,842 runs in 176 all-format appearances for Kent. He was awarded Kent men’s cap No.221 in 2021.
“Playing for Kent and, in particular, becoming a capped player has been a real honour for me,” said Leaning.
“I’ve enjoyed my time in Canterbury, making many friends inside and outside of the dressing room.
“I’d like to thank [director of cricket] Simon Cook for assisting in this move and I wish the players, staff and members the best of luck for next season and beyond.”
Dover’s Jake Dixon claimed his third and final win of the Moto2 season for Elf Marc VDS Racing in an incident-packed meeting at Malaysia.
The action was delayed by more than three hours after a serious collision on the formation lap before the start of the proceeding Moto3 race involving Switzerland’s Noah Dettwiler and Spain’s world champion Jose Antonio Rueda.
Meanwhile, Bradley Ray’s bid for a second British Superbikes title ended in disappointment in the final round of the season at Brands Hatch.
Ray dominated the first half of the campaign for Raceways Yamaha, but former team-mate Karl Ryde reeled him in and the Lydd racer finished 20 points off the pace.
“It’s obviously not the ending to the year we were hoping for but, looking back, I’m really proud of what we’ve achieved,” Ray said
“Just two weeks before the season started, I didn’t even have a ride – so to be standing here now as the runner-up in the championship is something I’m genuinely proud of.
“This has been one of the most enjoyable seasons of my career; as a team, we’ve accomplished so much together and I can’t thank them enough for their hard work and belief all year long. This weekend was strong, but in the end, Kyle’s consistency over the season made the difference.
“Huge congratulations to him on a great year. We’ll take everything we’ve learned, regroup, and come back stronger in 2026.”
Chatham Town manager-chairman Kevin Hake rated reaching the FA Cup first round above the club’s recent promotions.
Isthmian Premier Chats won 3-1 at National League South Tonbridge to book a tie at Buxton – a first match at the first-round proper stage in 97 years.
Chatham have enjoyed successive promotions in recent seasons, but the FA Cup run trumped that.
“It’s a completely different feeling,” said Hake. “The club’s not been here for 100 years.
“I think of all those players, including myself, who weren’t successful in getting to the first round, and all the managers.
“There’s supporters who’ve supported the club for 40, 50, 60 years and to be able to give them that is amazing. That’s more important than any promotion.”
After ending September a point off top spot, Gillingham dropped to eighth in League 2 just four weeks later. They picked up one point from a possible 12 with Richard Dobson standing in for boss Gareth Ainsworth after the manager’s successful heart operation.
Ebbsfleet United were placed under a transfer embargo by the National League.
The Fleet announced at the end of August that they had agreed a deal for new owners to take charge at Stonebridge Road. However, the National League were yet to approve the takeover and the delay meant neither the outgoing owner nor the potential owner had made the latest payment due to HMRC.
Ebbsfleet chief executive Damian Irvine said: “Updates on the proposed transfer of ownership remain a frustrating item on the agenda.
“Last month the current and proposed new directors advised the league that due to the excessive delays by the league in ratifying the takeover, the club’s HMRC liabilities for the last month would be settled on completion of the transaction.
“Rather than accept this explanation for the long delay, the league this week placed the club in a transfer embargo until HMRC dues are settled.
“The approach by the league is extremely disappointing and counter-productive; however, it will be addressed and the embargo lifted imminently.”
November
Maidstone boxer Sam Noakes played his part in one of the fights of the year in Saudi Arabia.
With two perfect win records on the line, 28-year-old Noakes and America’s much-fancied Abdullah Mason, 21, took each other all the way in a gruelling 12 rounds with the vacant WBO lightweight championship at stake.
And although Noakes lost on points in Riyadh, he proved he belonged among the division’s elites.
“I haven’t seen one bad comment about the fight,” said Noakes, tipped to win a world title by promoter Frank Warren.
“It was close but, fighting for a world title, it was going to be. You’re talking blood and hard work. I’m a bit gutted I didn’t win but we go again.”
Noakes suffered a bad cut above the left eye following an accidental clash of heads in the third round, but was cleared to continue and there were calls from commentators and fans for a rematch, such was the quality of the fight.
“I’d always give it another go,” said Noakes. “I genuinely believe if it hadn’t been for that cut it might have been a different situation.
“I think the plan of attack is probably to try and get another world title ourselves and then maybe meet for a unification.
“It would be good if we could get that sorted but there’s plenty of fights out there.”
November saw a number of managerial changes for our non-league sides, most notably the departure of Ryan Maxwell from Isthmian South East Sittingbourne in favour of Isthmian Premier Welling United.
Maxwell achieved legendary status at Woodstock, leading the club away from the Isthmian South East relegation zone to mid-table safety before finishing third in his first full season, falling in the play-off semi-finals.
The Northern lrishman announced his resignation, to work closer to home, but had a change of heart, returning days later and overseeing an extraordinary 2024/25 campaign where the Brickies reached the FA Trophy quarter-finals for the first time and just missed out on promotion.
They finished runners-up to Ramsgate with 101 points, scoring 117 goals, but lost the play-off final on penalties to Burgess Hill.
“It was an unbelievably hard decision to leave the club that I’ve been falling in love with since day dot, and everybody connected to the club,” said Maxwell, who was succeeded by last season’s assistant manager, Reece Prestedge.
“I had another opportunity to work closer to home and this time I had to take it, but it’s not a decision I’ve taken lightly. I really did wrestle with it.
“I’ve made friends for life, I’ve received about 50 direct messages from the fans thanking me for my time at the club, and you don’t realise until you’ve left just how much of an impact you’ve made on people’s lives.
“It’s been eye-opening to see how much of an effect you can have as a manager at a football club.”
Meanwhile Ben Smith, boss of last season’s title winners Rams, resigned after a 5-0 loss at Aveley extended their winless run to seven games in all competitions.
That defeat proved the final straw for Smith, who labelled the performance “disgraceful” in his post-match interview, although he remained at the club in a new role on the committee. Former player Lee Martin was named as his replacement.
Not many managers can sack themselves, but Ashford boss – and club co-owner – Lloyd Hume effectively did just that.
Hume had been combining the roles since Danny Kedwell’s departure in January but results had been disappointing this term.
The Nuts and Bolts moved out of the Isthmian South East relegation zone on goal difference in Hume’s final game in charge, a 1-1 draw at home to Sheppey, but he decided to step away from the dugout with assistant manager Craig Stone placed in caretaker charge.
The youngest manager in the Southern Counties East League, Ira Jackson, left Hythe Town after an even worse run than Smith.
The former Folkestone and Grimsby Town forward made a bright start as seven points from the opening three games saw the Cannons top the table.
But 11 defeats in the next 12 league matches dropped them into the bottom two and they were knocked out of the FA Vase on penalties against Burnham. Darren Beale was named his successor.
It was the end of an era for table tennis star Ross Wilson. Winner of medals at the London, Rio and Tokyo Paralympics, the Minster player decided to retire from the sport after a long spell out with injury.
He reached a career high of world No.2 in men’s class 8. In April 2018 he won gold in the men’s class 6-10 singles at the Commonwealth Games in Australia and later that year became men’s class 8 world champion after beating the double Paralympic champion from China in the final.
Explaining his reasons, Wilson said: “Last year I had my labrum repaired because I’d torn it and then they reshaped my hip.
“Pre-surgery my bone was getting bruised which can result in a fracture and I’ve also got cartilage damage which was a bit too far gone to repair, but the doctor said if they shaved the bone down so it was not bone-on-bone contact the hip should recover and I’d be good to go.
“So, I did seven months of rehab and worked really hard and then when I came back, they found my hip was fractured anyway so I was going to be out again for a long time.
“It would probably take me about a year to get back to any sort of decent level, and I just thought, ‘I don’t want to do it again’. It’s just not there for me now and it’s not something I really want anymore.”
Biddenden’s Matt Knoesen made history when he became the first player to win the junior singles, men’s open singles and men’s open doubles at the LTA National Wheelchair Tennis Championships – all in the same year.
After receiving the LTA’s prestigious end-of-year award recognising him as Britain’s No.1 under-18 junior for 2025, Knoesen, 12, captured the junior singles title, defeated a strong field of senior athletes to win the men’s open singles and then partnered Asif Abbasi to secure the men’s open doubles title in Gloucestershire.
Kent Tennis’ Vanessa Webb was recognised by the Association of British Tennis Officials for outstanding officiating at their 25th anniversary awards.
Seven categories were honoured at the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club, where Webb, from Broadstairs, was the only Kent official to make any of the shortlists. She joined two other nominees in the running for Court Supervisor of the Year among 1,085 supervisors across England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales and made the top three.
In speedway, Kent Eagles missed out on second place in the National Development Trophy after their twice-postponed fixture at Leicester Fox Cubs ended in a 50-34 defeat.
Eagles needed to finish within six of their hosts but the Cubs took the two league and the aggregate bonus points, sealing a 91-81 scoreline over their meetings this year.
“You have to play the cards that you are dealt and tonight, for a variety of reasons, they didn’t fall too kindly for us,” said Eagles team manager David Graveling.
“Though there is an element of disappointment that we didn’t quite finish the job, we remain proud of what we have achieved this season and we thank all the riders who have sported our colours and played a part in a memorable first campaign for us.”
Zak Crawley’s start to England’s latest Ashes tour could not have been worse after the Kent opener was out for a duck in both innings of the first Test in Perth. England lost the match by eight wickets.
December
Medway Rugby Club announced they had awarded contracts to members of their women’s 1st team for the first time.
In a pilot programme, the club said Eirlys Westbrook, Stephanie Rukin and Laura Charter will receive match fees after signing contracts until the end of the 2025/26 season as the club, top in NC1 South East (South), strengthen their commitment to the women’s game.
“This is more than a milestone; it’s a vision for the future,” club chair Tracy Bullock said.
“By investing in our women’s programme, we’re not just supporting today’s players – we’re laying the foundation for generations to come.
“With the largest women and girls’ section in England, Medway RFC is proud to lead the way in creating an environment where enjoyment comes first, talent thrives, ambition is rewarded and equality is the norm.
“We believe this step will inspire others across the rugby community.”
Sittingbourne’s Isthmian South East win over Hassocks was a family affair after father-and-son duo Derek and Zayshaun Asamoah scored the goals in a 2-1 success that sent the Brickies into the play-off places.
Trailing 1-0, Derek equalised and Zayshaun scored the winner to move the Brickies up to fifth spot. It was a fifth successive victory for new manager Reece Prestedge, who had overseen a rise from 12th in his first two weeks in charge after replacing Ryan Maxwell.
In snooker, Ditton’s Barry Hawkins failed to hit the heights of 12 months earlier at the UK Championships. Hawkins, runner-up to Judd Trump last year, was beaten 6-2 at the quarter-final stage by another world champion in Mark Selby.
And at Alexandra Palace there was first-round disappointment for Deal’s Ross Smith at the World Darts Championship.
Smith missed six match darts as he crashed out against world No.114 Andreas Harrysson. The world No.12 had been cruising to victory on night two as he led 2-1 on sets with match darts in hand.
But the 50-year-old debutant clawed his way back before he pressed on to win the deciding set by three legs to one.
