27th April 2024 - The Millers were crowned Champions of the Isthmian South East Division with victory at Horndean. They will play at step 3 next season for the first time. It was exactly five years to the day that they won the Southern Counties East Football Premier Division to gain step 4 status and what could be more fitting than Denzel Gayle, one of only two surviving members from that team, should provide a goal and an assist. Cem Tumkaya the only other surviving member, unfortunately was recovering from injury, although was present on the sidelines to join in the celebrations.

Wow what a season! In fact for those of a certain vintage the phrase 'If Carlsberg did Football Seasons..." may well resonate.

56 competitive matches 39 wins, 12 draws and just 5 defeats including the 4 cup competitions. The league campaign produced 95 points from 38 matches with just one defeat 4-5 at home to Three Bridges. 103 league goals scored and the best defensive record in the division, conceding just 32. On the road in the league they remained unbeaten winning 18 out of 19 games with just the one solitary draw at Ramsgate. Club record breaking runs in both the FA Trophy reaching the second round proper and the FA Cup taking Charlton Athletic to a replay in the first round proper. Truly a season to remember!

With so many wonderful memories it is difficult to highlight just a few but here are my top seven key moments of the season.

Pre-season completed, eight friendlies, a whole new management team led by Steve McKimm and on the player front ten new faces to add to the nine retained from the previous season. The opening league game was a trip to Woodstock Park to take on Sittingbourne.

Key Moment One:
Opening league game - Sittingbourne away Saturday 12th August
Valley went two goals up, a Lyle Della Verde first half penalty and Matt Vigor immediately after the interval. However the Brickies fought back and levelled in the 88th minute. In added time new captain Arthur Lee found Adam Coombes at the far post and his powering diving header gave Valley a 3-2 win. That late winning goal set the tone for the rest of the season and was the first example of the teams never say die attitude.

The cups dominated the next couple of months, a 2-2 draw at home to Braoadbridge Heath and a 7-2 demolition of Phoenix Sports at the Mayplace ground were the only league outings whilst 13 cup games in various competitions took place. Progress was made in the FA Cup with wins over Uxbridge, Northwood and Carshalton Athletic, the later two needing replays back at the Artic Stadium. This set up a fourth qualifying tie at home to Enfield Town, a crowd of 579 saw Valley triumph 5-2, goals from Kyrell Lisbie 2, Freddie Parker 2 and Adam Coombes and with it a place in the first round proper. Progress too in the FA Trophy with Broadbridge Heath, Hartley Wintley and Carshalton Athletic (again) all beaten in the qualifying rounds and a first round proper place earned. The Kent Senior Cup saw Steve McKimm making use of a number of players from our talented U18 Isthmian side and a very young Ramsgate side were beaten 7-1 before defeat at Punjab United 3-0 in the second round. Classed as a first team fixture that defeat would transpire to be the only one of the season in all competitions away from home.

Back to league action after 11 cup matches the team travelled to play East Grinstead Town on Saturday 21st October. Their previous league game had taken place at Phoenix Sports on August Bank Holiday.

Key Moment Two
League game - East Grinstead Town away - Saturday 21st October
Three first half goals from Kyrell Lisbie 2 and Freddie Parker took the sting out of the Wasps and an equisite late strike from Calvin Ekpiteta secured a comfortable 4-0 win and the three points. For me this was an important win, it was only our 4th league game and moved us onto 10 points, the leaders at the time were Three Bridges on 23 points from 9 games.

A late equaliser saw Littlehampton Town earn a 2-2 draw at the Artic Stadium but cup success continued, Chatham Town beaten 2-0 in the FA Trophy at the Bauville Stadium. The stage was set for an historic trip to the Valley to play Charlton Athletic in the FA Cup First Round Proper.

Key Moment Three
FA Cup First Round Proper - Charlton Athletic away - Saturday 5th November and replay at home Tuesday 15th November
Valley had reached the first round proper losing 1-0 at Havant & Waterlooville three seasons earlier but that was during Covid and whilst on the red button for all to see on the TV, no crowds were allowed. This was very different and of course it was a visit by Valley to the Valley to play a team 5 divisions apart but less than 4 miles in distance. A 1-1 draw at the Valley in front of 6,721 spectators including 1,998 in the away Jimmy Seed Stand (and quite a few more in the West Stand) earning a replay and bringing First Division Charlton Athletic to the Artic Stadium. Both games were shown live on BBC2. A capacity record all ticket crowd of 1,550 (1,268 home 282 away) saw Cray Valley (PM) equalise through a Kyrell Lisbie penalty just before half time eventually losing 6-1 to a full strength Charlton side. The Charlton games provided unforgettable and life long memories for players, team management, club officials, volunteers and supporters alike. Specially made kits, marquee erected for hospitality at the replay all added to the occasion. Ten games in total during the FA Cup run and 26 goals, the most by any team in this seasons FA Cup

With cup games coming thick and fast our U18 Isthmian side were entrusted with fulfilling the London Senior Cup first round tie at home to Balham and gave a good account of themselves in defeat. In between the Charlton games there was a home league game against Erith & Belvedere and a potential banana skin was averted with focus maintained and a 3-0 victory, two more goals for Kyrell Lisbie and one from Freddie Parker. The Saturday after the Charlton FA Cup exit saw Valley also exit the FA Trophy having reached the second round proper for the first time. A cup too far was the headline in a 6-1 home defeat against National South Hampton & Richmond Borough.

With the four cups now out of the way focus could fully return to the league. A 4-1 home victory against Mertsham on the 21st November in what was only their 8th league game saw Valley in 7th place on 18 points. Ramsgate were league leaders 13 points ahead on 31 having played four more games.

The Rams were the next visitors to the Artic Stadium and the game ended in a 1-1 draw, Joe Ellul cancelling out Matt Vigor's first half goal late on after Kiki Oshilaja had seen red for a second yellow card. Valley then went on to win their next five games beating Ashford United and Herne Bay away, Beckenham Town at home, Littlehampton Town away followed by Phoenix Sports at home with Kyrell Lisbie, Denzel Gayle and Danny Waldren scoring the Boxing Day goals in a 3-1 win.

Valley had to settle for a point at home to Sittingbourne, captain Arthur Lee seeing red in a 2-2 draw in their final game of 2023. They went to Greatness Park to play Sevenoaks Town on New Years Day still unbeaten in the league and having won all six on their travels.

Key Moment Four
League game - Sevenoaks Town away - Monday January 1st
Danny Waldren had joined from Beckenham Town at the end of November, he had already shown he had an eye for goal scoring twice. With the game at Sevenoaks Town entering added time and still goalless, Valley's run of away wins looked threatened. To quote from the match report - "It was late late delight for the Millers at a wet Greatness Park as Danny Walden scored the winner in the 94th minute of the game. A long 40 yard pass from Kiki Oshilaja put Denzel Gayle clear on the right flank and his whipped in cross was powerfully headed home by Waldren from close range prompting wild celebrations on the bench as only last gasp winners do." This victory took Valley into 2nd place after 15 games and 9 points behind Ramsgate who had played three more games.

Thereafter the unbeaten run continued away victories at Lancing, Chichester City, Merstham, Three Bridges and Burgess Hill Town. Home victories against Sheppey United, Ashford United and East Grinstead Town with draws versus Lancing, Horndean and Chichester City.

Following the Burgess Hill Town 4-1 away win on the 20th February with goals from Michael Ademiluyi, Sonny Black, Matt Vigor and Lyle Della-Verde Valley were top of the league on 64 points after 26 games, one point ahead of Ramsgate having played the same number.

Key Moment Five
League game - Three Bridges home - Saturday 2nd March and Erith and Belvedere away - Saturday 9th March
I have included the Three Bridges game not so much in that it was the first and only league defeat of the season but more so the positive reaction to it and the results that followed. The shock defeat and perhaps the manner of it seemed to galvanise the determination to succeed even more. The game itself has seen Valley rally from 2-1 behind at the interval to take a 4-2 lead within 13 minutes of the re-start. Bridges had pulled a goal back but as we entered added time Valley still led 4-3. A 94th minute equaliser and 97th minute winner inflicted the 5-4 defeat. The follow up game and reaction to the defeat was always going to be key, a trip to Erith & Belvedere who were struggling at the bottom was next. Michael Ademiluyi had given Valley an early lead but this had been cancelled out by a Dan Parkinson penalty on the hour. Entering added time the scores were still level but Sonny Black restored the lead on 91 minutes and Kyrell Lisbie completed the scoring for a 3-1 victory on 98 minutes. The win saw us in 2nd place on 67 points, two points behind Ramsgate having both played 28 games.

Ten games left in the run in and it was fast becoming a two horse race between us and Ramsgate for the title. Six victories on the spin followed with away wins at Sheppey United, Beckenham Town with a standout scoreline of 6-0 and Broadbridge Heath. The latter game warranting further detail.

Key Moment Six
League game - Broadbridge Heath away - 30th March
Heath had taken a two minute lead and for a brief moment the team looked nervy but on 20 minutes Barney Williams produced an absolute cracker, volleying first time on the run a headed clearance into the top corner of the net, giving the keeper no chance, for the equaliser. It was duly acknowledged as goal of the season by those present. Arthur Lee and Kyrell Lisbie then added further goals to give Valley a 3-1 lead at the interval. Heaths’ Jamie Chesworth with a wonder strike direct from a free kick, 25 yards out pulled a goal back to set up a tense finish. In added time Chesworth almost repeated his earlier wonder strike from another centrally placed free kick, some 30 yards out but this time Ovenden got a vital touch deflecting the ball onto the post and then blocked the follow up before Clement Asiedu cleared away for a corner.

Home wins were achieved against Hythe Town , Sevenoaks Town and Burgess Hill Town in a 5-0 thumping. Valley were now three points clear of Ramsgate, both with four games to play

The next game at Ramsgate was going to be key.

Key Moment Seven
League game - Ramsgate away - Saturday 13th April
By the time the game was played the Rams had played a game more and were on top by virtue of a better goal difference of +1, with both teams on 85 points. Following the game between the two title rivals, Valley would have three games left and the Rams two. Everything pointed to the Rams having to win with Valley probably being able to settle for a point. In front of a crowd of 2,563 at Southwood Valley took the lead with a Kyrell Lisbie goal on 41 minutes. The lead was doubled by Freddie Parker ten minutes after the re-start. Valley were very much in the ascendancy but Jordan Green pulled a goal back on 86 minutes and Alfie Paxman got the equaliser in the 97th minute with game ending 2-2. This ensured their fate remains in Valley's own hands and seven points from the last three games would make them champions.

In the event three victories 4-2 at home to Herne Bay, 4-0 at Hythe and 2-0 on the final day at Horndean saw the trophy lifted by captain Arthur Lee and the team. The title was won by 6 points in the end, Valley finishing on 95 points from 38 games. 103 goals scored and just 32 conceded, the best defensive record in the league.

Max Ovenden played a total of 35 games in which he kept 16 clean sheets. Top goalscorer in all competitions was Kyrell Lisbie with 29 (19 league, 10 cup), Adam Coombes 20 (league 12, cup 8), Freddie Parker 16 (7 league 9 cup), Matt Vigor 15 (13 league 2 cup), Danny Waldren 10 (10 league), Denzel Gayle 7 (5 league, 2 cup), Michael Ademiluyi 7 (5 league 2 cup), Sonny Black 7 (5 league, 2 cup) and Lyle Della-Verde and Marcel Barrington both scored 5 goals all in the league.

Supporters player of the year was Barney Williams. Other award winners announced at the presentation event on Saturday 4th May at the Artic Stadium were:

End of Season Awards
Managers Player, Players Player and Goal of the Season (for that cracker at Broadbridge Heath) .... Barney Williams
Golden Boot - Top Goalscorer .... Kyrell Lisbie
Young Player of the Year .... Joint Winners .. Kyrell Lisbie and Matt Vigor
Chairmans Award .... Match Secretary David Carter
https://www.crayvalleypmfc.com/news/end-of-season-awards-2850113.html

End of season interview with Steve McKimm
London Online by Richard Crawley
https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/sport/cray-valley-pm-boss-steve-mckimm-this-title-winning-season-will-be-cherished-for-a-long-time/

Website - Summary, full statistics and game by game
https://www.crayvalleypmfc.com/a/past-seasons-archive-60404.html?page=4
Season 2023/24

Website - Cup Campaigns 2023/24
https://www.crayvalleypmfc.com/a/past-seasons-archive-60404.html?page=5