# 1989–90 Kent Football League

The 1989–90 Kent Football League season (known as the Winstonlead Kent League for sponsorship reasons) was the twenty-fourth in the history of the Kent Football League, a football competition featuring teams based in and around the county of Kent in England.
The League structure comprised two divisions: Division One and Division Two with the latter known as the Reserves Section (reserves teams were not permitted in Division One). Additionally there were two league cup competitions: the Challenge Cup for the Division One clubs and another for the teams in Division Two.

## Division One

The league featured twenty clubs, nineteen of which competed in the previous season together with one additional club:
* Tonbridge, relegated from the Southern League
The league was won by Faversham Town, for the fourth time in their history (after an eleven season gap since their previous title).
At the end of the season both bottom clubs, Metropolitan Police (Hayes) and Ramsgate, were re-elected to continue their membership of the division.

### League table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Season End Notes |
| 1 | Faversham Town | 38 | 28 | 4 | 6 | 101 | 30 | +71 | 88 | |
| 2 | Sittingbourne | 38 | 27 | 5 | 6 | 85 | 37 | +48 | 86 | |
| 3 | Tonbridge AFC | 38 | 26 | 6 | 6 | 87 | 42 | +45 | 84 | |
| 4 | Deal Town | 38 | 21 | 11 | 6 | 88 | 48 | +40 | 74 | |
| 5 | Alma Swanley | 38 | 22 | 8 | 8 | 80 | 41 | +39 | 74 | |
| 6 | Greenwich Borough | 38 | 20 | 6 | 12 | 66 | 55 | +11 | 65 | |
| 7 | Tunbridge Wells | 38 | 17 | 9 | 12 | 85 | 66 | +19 | 60 | |
| 8 | Whitstable Town | 38 | 17 | 5 | 16 | 51 | 57 | −6 | 56 | |
| 9 | Slade Green | 38 | 14 | 8 | 16 | 54 | 61 | −7 | 50 | |
| 10 | Darenth Heathside | 38 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 61 | 64 | −3 | 48 | |
| 11 | Kent Police | 38 | 13 | 9 | 16 | 60 | 84 | −24 | 48 | |
| 12 | Beckenham Town | 38 | 12 | 10 | 16 | 54 | 60 | −6 | 46 | |
| 13 | Thames Polytechnic | 38 | 11 | 11 | 16 | 49 | 61 | −12 | 44 | |
| 14 | Herne Bay | 38 | 12 | 7 | 19 | 64 | 62 | +2 | 43 | |
| 15 | Crockenhill | 38 | 12 | 6 | 20 | 56 | 75 | −19 | 39 | |
| 16 | Chatham Town | 38 | 9 | 8 | 21 | 38 | 84 | −46 | 35 | |
| 17 | Danson | 38 | 8 | 9 | 21 | 42 | 58 | −16 | 33 | |
| 18 | Cray Wanderers | 38 | 7 | 11 | 20 | 48 | 74 | −26 | 32 | |
| 19 | Metropolitan Police (Hayes) | 38 | 8 | 4 | 26 | 38 | 87 | −49 | 28 | Re-elected |
| 20 | Ramsgate | 38 | 6 | 7 | 25 | 39 | 100 | −61 | 25 | Re-elected |
* ↑ Greenwich Borough were deducted one point and one goal
* ↑ Greenwich Borough were deducted one point
* ↑ Crockenhill were deducted three points and four goals - the deducted goals have been reinstated in the table
* ↑ Crockenhill were deducted three points.
* ↑ Metropolitan Police (Hayes) were deducted two goals - the deducted goals have been reinstated in the table

### Challenge Cup

The 1989–90 Kent Football League Challenge Cup was won by league newcomers (who had been relegated into the division) Tonbridge AFC.
The competition, contested by all twenty clubs in Division One, comprised five single match tie rounds (with the first round featuring four ties) culminating in the final which was played on a neutral ground (at Chatham Town F.C. this season).

#### Quarter-finals, Semi-finals and Final

| Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Final | Final | Final | Final |
| Sittingbourne | Sittingbourne | Sittingbourne | 0 | | | | | | | | |
| Tonbridge AFC | Tonbridge AFC | Tonbridge AFC | 1 | | | | | | | | |
| Tonbridge AFC | Tonbridge AFC | Tonbridge AFC | 1 | Tonbridge AFC | Tonbridge AFC | 0 | 1 | | | | |
| | | | | Deal Town | Deal Town | 0 | 0 | | | | |
| Greenwich Borough | Greenwich Borough | Greenwich Borough | 1 | Deal Town | Deal Town | 0 | 0 | | | | |
| Deal Town | Deal Town | Deal Town | 2 | | | | | | | | |
| Deal Town | Deal Town | Deal Town | 2 | | | | | Tonbridge AFC | Tonbridge AFC | Tonbridge AFC | 1 |
| | | | | | | | | Whitstable Town | Whitstable Town | Whitstable Town | 0 |
| Tunbridge Wells | 2 | 1 | 3p | | | | | | | | | Whitstable Town | Whitstable Town | Whitstable Town | 0 |
| Whitstable Town | 2 | 1 | 5p | | | | | | | | |
| Whitstable Town | 2 | 1 | 5p | Whitstable Town | Whitstable Town | Whitstable Town | 1 | | | | |
| | | | | Faversham Town | Faversham Town | Faversham Town | 0 | | | | |
| Faversham Town | Faversham Town | Faversham Town | 3 | Faversham Town | Faversham Town | Faversham Town | 0 | | | | |
| Ramsgate | Ramsgate | Ramsgate | 1 | | | | | | | | |
* 1 2 After extra time
* 1 2 Replay
* 1 2 After extra time, score at 90 minutes: 2–2
* 1 2 Replay: after extra time, score at 90 minutes: 0–0
* 1 2 Penalty shoot-out

#### Second Round

* Herne Bay 0 – 1 Sittingbourne
* Beckenham Town 0 – 1 Tonbridge AFC
* Metropolitan Police (Hayes) 3– 3 (aet) Greenwich Borough
* Replay 1: Greenwich Borough 0 – 0 (aet) Metropolitan Police (Hayes)
* Replay 2: Greenwich Borough 1 – 0 Metropolitan Police (Hayes)
* Deal Town 4 – 1 Danson
* Tunbridge Wells 2 – 1 Darenth Heathside
* Alma Swanley 0 – 1 Whitstable Town
* Faversham Town 4 – 0 Crockenhill
* Chatham Town 2 – 4 (aet) Ramsgate (score at 90 minutes: 2–2)

#### First Round

* Kent Police 2 – 3 (aet) Beckenham Town
* Slade Green 1 – 2 Greenwich Borough
* Whitstable Town 4 – 1 Thames Polytechnic
* Cray Wanderers 0 – 1 Faversham Town
* Byes for the other twelve clubs
Sources:
* Final: "All The latest, fixtures and tables: Results: Saturday: Winstonlead Kent League Cup Final". Kentish Gazette. 4 May 1990. p. 79. Retrieved 18 June 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
* Semi-finals: "All The Latest Details: Results: Saturday: Winstonlead Kent League: Division 1 Cup, semi-finals". Kentish Gazette. 30 March 1990. p. 86. Retrieved 18 June 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.; "All The Latest Details: Results: Wednesday: Winstonlead Kent League: Division 1 Cup, semi-final replay". Kentish Gazette. 30 March 1990. p. 86. Retrieved 18 June 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
* Quarter-finals: "All The Latest Details: Results: Tuesday: Winstonlead Kent League: Division 1 Cup, quarter-final". Kentish Gazette. 9 February 1990. p. 87. Retrieved 18 June 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.; "All The Latest Details: Results: Saturday: Winstonlead Kent League: Division 1 Cup, quarter-finals". Kentish Gazette. 23 February 1990. p. 79. Retrieved 18 June 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.; "All The Latest Details: Results: Saturday: Winstonlead Kent League: Division 1 Cup, quarter-final". Kentish Gazette. 9 March 1990. p. 79. Retrieved 18 June 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.; "All The Latest Details: Results: Tuesday: Winstonlead Kent League: Division 1 Cup, quarter-final". Kentish Gazette. 9 March 1990. p. 79. Retrieved 18 June 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.; "All The Latest Details: Results: Tuesday: Winstonlead Kent League: Division 1 Cup, quarter-final replay". Kentish Gazette. 9 March 1990. p. 79. Retrieved 18 June 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
* Second Round: "All the latest details: Results: Saturday: Winstonlead Kent League: Division 1 Cup, second round". Kentish Gazette. 1 December 1989. p. 87. Retrieved 18 June 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.; "Results: Saturday: Winstonlead Kent League: Division 1 Cup, second round". Kentish Gazette. 8 December 1989. p. 79. Retrieved 18 June 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.; "All the latest details: Results: Saturday: Winstonlead Kent League: Division 1 Cup, second round". Kentish Gazette. 12 January 1990. p. 79. Retrieved 18 June 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.; "All the latest details: Results: Saturday: Winstonlead Kent League: Division 1 Cup, second round". Kentish Gazette. 19 January 1990. p. 77. Retrieved 18 June 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.; "All The Latest Details: Results: Wednesday: Winstonlead Kent League: Division 1 Cup, second round replay". Kentish Gazette. 26 January 1990. p. 95. Retrieved 18 June 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.; "All The Latest Details: Results: Wednesday: Winstonlead Kent League: Division 1 Cup – second round, second replay". Kentish Gazette. 16 February 1990. p. 79. Retrieved 18 June 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
* First Round: "Senior soccer details: Results: Saturday: Winstonlead Kent League Cup 1st rd". Kent Messenger. 29 September 1989. p. 78. Retrieved 18 June 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.; "Scores, fixtures and tables: Results: Saturday: Winstonlead Kent League: Division 1 Cup, first round". Kentish Gazette. 6 October 1989. p. 87. Retrieved 18 June 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.

## Reserves Section

The letter "R" following team names indicates a club's reserves team.
Division Two featured reserves teams (which were not permitted in Division One) from clubs from Kent and the adjacent area whose first team played in Division One and other higher ranked leagues. There was a League Cup competition for the teams in the section.

### Division Two

The league featured seventeen reserves teams, fifteen of which had competed in the division the previous season together with two additional clubs:
* Canterbury City R, returning after a three season absence
* Fisher Athletic R, returning after a one season absence
Thanet United R changed their name back to Margate R and they won the division, their first Kent League divisional title win since winning the inaugural re-formed Kent League in the 1967–68 season.
After the end of the season Folkestone R went into liquidation and left the league, Greenwich Borough R withdrew and both bottom clubs, Ramsgate R and Herne Bay R, were re-elected to continue their membership of the division.

#### League table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Season End Notes |
| 1 | Margate R | 32 | 23 | 3 | 6 | 72 | 34 | +38 | 72 | |
| 2 | Hastings Town R | 32 | 21 | 3 | 8 | 73 | 41 | +32 | 66 | |
| 3 | Canterbury City R | 32 | 20 | 5 | 7 | 74 | 46 | +28 | 62 | |
| 4 | Dover Athletic R | 32 | 18 | 7 | 7 | 84 | 40 | +44 | 61 | |
| 5 | Sittingbourne R | 32 | 18 | 3 | 11 | 65 | 35 | +30 | 57 | |
| 6 | Fisher Athletic R | 32 | 18 | 6 | 8 | 79 | 39 | +40 | 56 | |
| 7 | Folkestone R | 32 | 16 | 7 | 9 | 55 | 47 | +8 | 55 | Resigned |
| 8 | Ashford Town R | 32 | 13 | 7 | 12 | 40 | 43 | −3 | 46 | |
| 9 | Greenwich Borough R | 32 | 14 | 4 | 14 | 60 | 64 | −4 | 46 | Resigned |
| 10 | Beckenham Town R | 32 | 12 | 5 | 15 | 51 | 47 | +4 | 41 | |
| 11 | Thames Polytechnic R | 32 | 10 | 8 | 14 | 41 | 50 | −9 | 38 | |
| 12 | Whitstable Town R | 32 | 9 | 6 | 17 | 40 | 62 | −22 | 30 | |
| 13 | Cray Wanderers R | 32 | 8 | 6 | 18 | 34 | 66 | −32 | 30 | |
| 14 | Faversham Town R | 32 | 8 | 4 | 20 | 39 | 90 | −51 | 28 | |
| 15 | Sheppey United R | 32 | 8 | 5 | 19 | 35 | 63 | −28 | 26 | |
| 16 | Ramsgate R | 32 | 7 | 3 | 22 | 43 | 79 | −36 | 24 | Re-elected |
| 17 | Herne Bay R | 32 | 5 | 6 | 21 | 30 | 69 | −39 | 21 | Re-elected |
* ↑ Canterbury City R were deducted three points and one goal - the deducted goal has been reinstated in the table
* ↑ Canterbury City R were deducted three points
* ↑ Fisher Athletic R were deducted four points and five goals - the deducted goals have been reinstated in the table
* ↑ Fisher Athletic R were deducted four points
* ↑ Beckenham Town R were deducted two goals - the deducted goals have been reinstated in the table
* ↑ Whitstable Town R were deducted three points and one goal - the deducted goal has been reinstated in the table
* ↑ Whitstable Town R were deducted three points
* ↑ Sheppey United R were deducted three points and one goal - the deducted goal has been reinstated in the table
* ↑ Sheppey United R were deducted three points

### Division Two Cup

The 1989–90 Kent Football League Division Two Cup was won by Canterbury City R, their first Kent League trophy.
The competition, contested by all seventeen clubs in the division, comprised five single match tie rounds (with the first round featuring one tie) culminating in the final played on a neutral ground (at Ramsgate F.C. this season).

#### Quarter-finals, Semi-finals and Final

| Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Final | Final | Final |
| Canterbury City R | Canterbury City R | 2 | | | | | | |
| Margate R | Margate R | 0 | | | | | | |
| Margate R | Margate R | 0 | Canterbury City R | Canterbury City R | 1 | | | |
| | | | Ashford Town R | Ashford Town R | 0 | | | |
| Winner of Thames Polytechnic R v Sheppey United R tie | Winner of Thames Polytechnic R v Sheppey United R tie | Winner of Thames Polytechnic R v Sheppey United R tie | Ashford Town R | Ashford Town R | 0 | | | |
| Ashford Town R | Ashford Town R | Ashford Town R | | | | | | |
| Ashford Town R | Ashford Town R | Ashford Town R | | | | Canterbury City R | Canterbury City R | 2 |
| | | | | | | Dover Athletic R | Dover Athletic R | 1 |
| Dover Athletic R | Dover Athletic R | 4 | | | | | | | Dover Athletic R | Dover Athletic R | 1 |
| Hastings Town R | Hastings Town R | 1 | | | | | | |
| Hastings Town R | Hastings Town R | 1 | Dover Athletic R | Dover Athletic R | 3 | | | |
| | | | Folkestone R | Folkestone R | 2 | | | |
| Folkestone R | Folkestone R | Folkestone R | Folkestone R | Folkestone R | 2 | | | |
| Beckenham Town R | Beckenham Town R | Beckenham Town R | | | | | | |
* 1 2 After extra time, score at 90 minutes: 0–0
* 1 2 After extra time, score at 90 minutes: 2–2

#### Second Round

* Herne Bay R 0 – 4 Canterbury City R
* Margate R 3 – 0 (aet) Fisher Athletic R (score at 90 minutes: 0–0)
* Sheppey United R 2 – 2 (aet) Thames Polytechnic R
* Replay: Thames Polytechnic R v Sheppey United R
* Ashford Town R 3 – 0 Sittingbourne R
* Whitstable Town R 0 – 3 Dover Athletic R
* Greenwich Borough R 1 – 3 Hastings Town R
* Ramsgate R 2 – 5 Folkestone R
* Cray Wanderers R 2 – 3 Beckenham Town R

#### First Round

* Folkestone R 2 – 0 Faversham Town R
* Byes for the other fifteen clubs
Sources:
* Final: "All The latest, fixtures and tables: Results: Bank Holiday Monday: Winstonlead Kent League: Division 2 Cup final". Kentish Gazette. 11 May 1990. p. 87. Retrieved 18 June 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
* Semi-finals: "All The Latest Details: Results: Wednesday: Winstonlead Kent League: Division 2 Cup, semi-final". Kentish Gazette. 6 April 1990. p. 85. Retrieved 18 June 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.; "All The latest, fixtures and tables: Results: Saturday: Winstonlead Kent League: Division 2 Cup, semi-final". Kentish Gazette. 27 April 1990. p. 79. Retrieved 18 June 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
* Quarter-finals: "All The Latest Details: Results: Wednesday: Winstonlead Kent League: Division 2 Cup, quarter-final". Kentish Gazette. 9 March 1990. p. 79. Retrieved 18 June 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.; "All The Latest Details: Results: Thursday: Winstonlead Kent League: Division 2 Cup, quarter-final". Kentish Gazette. 6 April 1990. p. 85. Retrieved 18 June 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
* Second Round: "Results: Saturday: Winstonlead Kent League: Division 2 Cup, second round". Kentish Gazette. 8 December 1989. p. 79. Retrieved 18 June 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.; "All Your Results, Fixtures and Tables: Results: Thursday: Winstonlead Kent League: Division 2 Cup, second round". Kentish Gazette. 15 December 1989. p. 70. Retrieved 18 June 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.; "All Your Results, Fixtures and Tables: Results: Saturday: Winstonlead Kent League: Division 2 Cup, second round". Kentish Gazette. 15 December 1989. p. 70. Retrieved 18 June 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.; "All the latest details: Results: Saturday: Winstonlead Kent League: Division 2 Cup, second round". Kentish Gazette. 5 January 1990. p. 61. Retrieved 18 June 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.; "All The Latest Details: Results: Tuesday: Winstonlead Kent League: Division 2 Cup, second round". Kentish Gazette. 23 February 1990. p. 79. Retrieved 18 June 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.; "Reserves swoop in extra time". Isle of Thanet Gazette. 2 March 1990. p. 32. Retrieved 18 June 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
* First Round: "All the latest details: Results: Tuesday: Winstonlead Kent League: Division 2 Cup, first round". Kentish Gazette. 24 November 1989. p. 87. Retrieved 18 June 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.