Although still July, competitive senior football commenced with the start of the Southern Counties East Football League season.

Included in that league are teams from Bexley and Bromley and they had a mixed bag of results. Last season, Erith Town had a lot of cup success and were in touch of a second place finish until too many games towards the end of the season took its toll and they finished fourth.

This season, they will be playing at a different ground as they have moved out of Erith Leisure Centre to go to Bayliss Avenue in Thamesmead. They have also made changes to their squad but have suffered a serious blow with their marquee signing, Louie Clarke, sustaining an injury that will probably keep him out for the season. Adam Woodward’s team commenced their campaign at Whitstable Town and went down to a Josh Oliver brace.

Holmesdale have brought in former Erith and Belvedere manager Tony Beckingham and his assistant Andy Constable after they were sacked surprisingly last season. They visited Lydd Town and were kept at bay until scoring three times in eleven minutes from the sixty-sixth minute. Sam Bayford broke the deadlock and Richard Jimoh added a second two minutes later. Tom Osei’s goal made sure of the points.

Last season, Stansfeld were in the promotion mix for two thirds of the campaign before falling away. They travelled to ambitious newcomers Snodland and went down two-nil with one of the goals scored by much travelled former Charlton Athletic youngster Ben Davisson.

Another club to have moved this summer are Welling Town. Since leaving Thamesmead, they have played at Kent Football United’s Dartford ground and Chatham Town. They are now back in Bexley borough, playing at Phoenix Sports’ ground. They started by hosting Rusthall and Kevin Oakes’ side claimed a point in a goal-less draw.

VCD Athletic’s return to the league following relegation did not start well. They hosted bookies favourites Faversham Town and crashed three-nil giving new joint managers, Danny Joy and Ross Baker some idea of the task ahead. Connor Essam, who spent the last three seasons at National League South club Dartford, was amongst the goalscorers while the Vickers failed to convert a penalty.

The SCEFL Charity Shield was contested at Larkfield and New Hythe and was won by Glebe from Chislehurst, courtesy of an early Malachi Morris goal.