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The 9th Team
Page
Message From The Skipper
- Ken Chivers
Joined Addlestone F.C.
in Surrey Senior (now Combined Counties) straight
from school in 1957 and helped them to runners
up in the league in 1959.
Joined Woking F.C. the following
season in Isthmian League, just after they had
won the FA Amateur Cup but when I took a job in
Malmesbury in 1961 I was unable to train with them
so played for Chobham F.C. for two seasons before
moving to live in Melksham Town where I played
for them in Western League.
When I moved to work and live
in Tetbury I eventually joined Tetbury Town in
N Glos Senior League and helped them to the top
league.
In 1972 returned to Surrey area
and passed my exams as a referee and for a number
of years refereed regularly up to Combined Counties
and enjoyed refereeing in Finals including the
Surrey Youth Cup Final at Selhurst Park. On Sundays
I linked up with old schoolmate and ex Woking F.C.
goalkeeper Brian Farris and we played for Old Wokingians
Veterans where we reached the Old Boys Cup Final
twice but lost both although I scored in both finals.
In 1980 I took the opportunity
to return to playing when Old Wokingians invited
me to introduce a number of teenagers into the
club by forming a ninth eleven and teaching the
ways of AFA football. It was so successful that
by the end of the season two of the lads were in
the first team and in 1982 I had the thrill of
taking some of them onto win the AFA Minor Cup
Final, the first AFA Cup that Old Wokingians had
ever won.
I was also heavily involved in
Youth Football and Refereeing and became Treasurer
of Weylands Youth League for a number of years
and I am now honoured to be Honorary Vice President
of Woking Referees Society. This involvement led
me to take FA Preliminary Coaching Course and this
led me to Kew Association FC through Cyril Bartlett
where I undertook training firstly and then captained
fifth eleven although I have played in almost every
team at Kew even for maybe only a brief game.
I have also had the honour to
Manage the first and second teams of the club winning
promotion from Division Three before handing over
to Phil Evans who brilliantly took them on to Division
One. I had just began to sit in on Management Committee
meetings when I became aware of the problems relating
to the licence and helped set up a working group
to be prepared for any problems when the licence
was due for renewal in 1996.
Worked first with Danny Tobin,
then Phil Salacinski and finally with Stan Koper.
In 1995 Stan and I visited many sites, a knowledge
which I eventually used when invited by Bobby Campbell
to assist Chelsea in finding a training ground
(but I would add, not Cobham). When Ham came on
the market Stan and I felt it was right and supported
by the club members we set out to convince Colin
Sinclair we were the club to develop this ground,
and to do that I became Treasurer of Sport Richmond
so I was always aware of movement and thinking
in the Council.
As you now all know that was
the easy bit and the hard bit was obtaining planning
permission and then finance but we have achieved
it and we can look forward to a strong future.
I have always believed the future of any club is
in its youth and for that reason I have encouraged
the club in that direction. When I managed the
second eleven I was lucky enough to help develop
players such as Richard Hodgson, Alan Shea, Paul
and Mark Green and Lee Bolton and formed a friendship
with Bob Widdrington which has remained to this
day.
I also love the game so I am
happy to play at the lowest level if I can assist
somebody to do better and enjoy the game as I do.
I have been lucky enough to play on grounds such
as Southampton, Cheltenham and the old Plough Lane
ground in this country whilst I have been permitted
to grace Utrecht, Mechelen, Lierse and FC Porto
grounds briefly in Europe.
I have never had any great targets
to achieve in the way of awards or medals but have
this determination, as you are all aware, of seeing
this club in its new clubhouse before I give up.
I have many happy memories and have met many people
whose company I have enjoyed and hopefully can
still call them friends.
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