It was a game that we absolutely had to win. If we’d won, with Holcombe 4s and Canterbury 5s playing each other next week, promotion in 2nd place was looking very likely.

The scene was set. Holcombe 5th XI away. Surely we couldn’t lose it… surely?

The week started like any other this season. Having fielded 16 of Folkestone’s finest in the 4–1 battering of Gore Court last weekend, it was inevitable that by Tuesday, only 12 were available. Stressful, to say the least.

Lorcan injured. Will Ball and Arthur Ireland at school games. Wardy, another family birthday thingy.

A well-deserved 3s debut for young starlet Joel Davison incoming. The boy did well, and will be back with us next week.

By Wednesday, Lorcan had reluctantly agreed to play. Then, a minor miracle on Friday evening at 9pm, the school games were cancelled due to the meningitis outbreak. It seems suddenly everyone is wary of anyone who’s been near Canterbury in the last two weeks (more on this later).

So off we went to Holcombe. Basking in beautiful sunshine as it beat down on Kent. The nicest spring day of the year so far. Nothing could go wrong. Nothing was going to break our stride. Nothing.

The game before overran, and the Holcombe umpire was clearly in a hurry, so there was virtually no warm-up on the pitch. Straight into it and straight away, we weren’t at it. No composure, no zip. So of course we went 1–0 down early doors, a straight-struck penalty corner sailing over the top of 22-inch-wide goalkeeper Boots. It was higher than 18-inches, but no panic—we’ve been here most weeks and still found a way to win.

Then a moment that set the scene. Tom Stone, 17 years old and probably the nicest young man to ever pull on the blue and white, picked up his first ever green card. Slightly mistimed tackle. Welcome to Holcombe.

We survived the two-minute bin, but still didn’t get going. Lethargic, flat, hard to explain or understand.

The umpire seemed keen to flash his shiney new cards. A green followed for a Holcombe striker. We had lots and lots of penalty corners, but couldn’t convert.

Then a position we hadn’t been in for a while. Pushing for an equaliser… and suddenly caught out. An aerial from the back surprised Sutton and Ireland, and the Holcombe forward finished well.

2–0. Half time.

Words were had. Nothing nasty—constructive, but also a warning of apathy. Belief was still there.

“Lads… it’s only Tottenham.” comes to mind.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t. It was us that had gone all Spursy.

We started the second half on the front foot. Ten good minutes of man-to-man pressure and punch. Then Sam Ireland was shown a yellow. Five minutes in the bin.

Folkestone reeled.
Holcombe scored again on the counter. 3–0. To the delight of the Holcombe 4s, who had gathered to cheer on their comrades.

It continued to unravel. Another breakaway. No tracking, no marking. Captain Phil PK King, understandably frustrated, let a few words go, aimed at his own team and was shown a yellow. A card for the language might have been fair enough, but dissent? Not sure on that.

Two minutes later, Sam Ireland rejoined him in the bin, picking up his second yellow for a mistimed tackle. Again, not that bad, certainly not a yellow card offence.

Nine men.

Another penalty corner conceded.

4–0.

Game, heads and hearts, gone.

Final ten minutes. Time for the hail mary.

Defender off, attacker on.
Goalkeeper off, attacker on. All or nothing. Nothing to lose, everything to gain.

Holcombe scored.

5–0.

From the restart, out of pure frustration, PK and Ball took the ball straight down the middle, dribble time, a foul, dribble some more, into the Holcombe D, and PK knocked home a consolation. Celebrated with embarrassing enthusiasm, but there is nothing wrong with a bit of passion.

5–1. Full time. Blown it. Bed wet.

Man of the Match: Will Ball, the only consistent attacking threat all game.
Doughnut of the Day: Sam Ireland, two more yellows for the tally and now suspended for the final game against Sevenoaks.

So that’s it. The promotion chase is over.

Or is it?

That meningitis outbreak, clearly serious and concerning for those affected, it really is terrible. But, it also meant the Canterbury fixture never took place. Blackheath understandably didn’t want to take the risk. So, technically, Folkestone could still go up.

But the margin is narrow, and in reality… we know. Canterbury will likely win their remaining games, and the top two will take care of itself. Well played Canterbury and Holcombe, dudes, we nearly had you.

It’s a bitter pill to swallow.

We’ve put a lot into this season, blood, heart, joints and bones. To fall short at the last hurdle hurts.

But step back.

This team has gone toe-to-toe in the highest division a Folkestone 3rd team has ever played in—and very nearly got promoted again.

Three promotions on the bounce would have been remarkable.

Third place?

That’s something to be incredibly proud of.

For context, the division above features sides like Ashford 1s and other proper 1st and 2nd teams every week. Our own 2s were there just two seasons ago.

And now look at us. Look how far we have come.

A transformative couple of years. A team that plays proper hockey, sometimes even beautiful hockey.
A team that cares, works hard, and backs each other. A team with shirts and ties, packed with the stars of the past, and young stars of the future.

A team to be proud of.

Well done, boys and thank you.

Now let's smash Sevenoaks.