Sheppey United

Sheppey United F.C. is a football club based on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent. The club are members of the Southern Counties East League Premier Division and play at Holm Park. The club is affiliated to the Kent County Football Association and is an FA Charter Standard club.

History

Origin of football on the Isle of Sheppey

As in most parts of the UK, football began to make an appearance on the Isle of Sheppey in the middle of the 19th Century with local records showing teams active on the island from the 1860s onwards. Three clubs rose to prominence in this time – Sheppey Rovers, Invicta and Victoria. By the 1880s Sheppey Rovers had ceased playing with their players joining either Invicta or Victoria. In time for the 1888 Kent Merit Badge competition (the immediate precursor to today's Kent Senior Cup) the Invicta and Victoria made the decision to enter a joint side named "Sheerness" in order to challenge the two pre-eminent sides in the competition, Arsenal and Chatham Town. In both the 1889 Kent Merit Badge and 1890 Kent Senior Cup competitions Sheerness were drawn with Chatham in the first round and lost both times. Given that Chatham were a crack side at this time Sheerness' performances were considered admirable.

Formation of Sheppey United

After the performance of the 'United' Sheerness team both Invicta and Victoria saw the benefits of forming a joint side and a meeting was called for 25 August 1890 at the Britannia Hotel, Sheerness to introduce the new "Sheppey United Football Club". The club would play at the Botany Road ground of Sheppey United Cricket Club and play in blue and white. The club changed to its current kit of red and white striped shirts, black shorts and black socks in 1892. Apart from playing with white shirts and socks in the 1960s and 1970s and playing in red shorts and socks while known as AFC Sheppey, the club has retained these kit colours to this day.

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