Waiting outside the dressing room area after the 5-0 thumping of Faversham Town, I could detect an unreal feeling in the air.
Doddsy told me that he heard a story I couldn’t comprehend until Hassan Ibrahiym and Tom Chambers appeared at the entrance.
“There’s food in there boys” exclaimed Doddsy.
“No thanks – couldn’t face any at the moment” was the response from Chambo.
“Haven’t you heard Rich ?”, said Hass.
It was then that I knew – Valley’s most successful manager, Kevin Watson had informed the boys that he was stepping down.
As Kevin entered the Artic Stadium Media Suite with Cemil Tumkaya for a meeting, an era that began in August 2017 was coming to a close.

Taking on the reins from James Collins after the first two games of the 2017/18 season had been won, Kevin’s first match at the helm was a Bank holiday encounter at Glebe in the SCEFL.
A 2-1 victory was to be followed by a run of nine successive defeats, before a new look line-up finally tasted victory at Rochester United on 7th October. Staring down the barrel of a tenth straight loss, an 83rd minute goal from Jamie Day looked to have salvaged a point before Joe N’Guessan’s 95th minute winner brought the sweet taste of victory.
The season finished with Watson’s men reaching the final of the London Senior Cup – beaten 4-1 by Balham -, and the semi-final of the Kent Senior Trophy.
A final league position of 6th place was highly creditable given the poor run in the autumn.

Kevin’s first full season saw the Club win the SCEFL championship – and with it promotion to the Isthmian league for the first time in it’s 100 year history – and an unforgettable run to Wembley in the FA Vase – defeat to Chertsey Town under the famous Arch coming after extra time.

The 2019/20 season will be best remembered as the first season terminated by the Covid Pandemic.
After winning the division’s Manager of the Month award on no fewer than three occasions, Valley were in the midst of a run of 8 successive wins and a nailed on play-off place (or better ?) when Covid saw the season end with Watson’s men in 3rd position. -

Although the following season (2020/21) was also decimated by the Pandemic, a record of only one win in five league games was paled into insignificance by the Clubs most successful FA Cup run.
Entering the competition in the Preliminary Round with a 6-0 win over VCD Athletic the week BEFORE the season began, Valley won through to the First Round Proper – only to be beaten at Havant and Waterlooville by the only goal.
It was a run most notable for an amazing 3-2 win against all the odds at National League side Maidenhead United – a result that got the Club onto the front page of the national Non-League Paper.

Hopes were high therefore for the 2021/22 season, as one defeat in the opening 17 games saw Valley lead the Isthmian League South East division for a long period of time before eventually finishing in a Club record 5th place.
A single goal defeat at Ashford United in the Play Off Semi Final shouldn’t take the gloss off a league season the saw us win 19 of our 38 games.

And so, with Valley sitting once again in a play off position, Kevin has decided to call an end to a tenure the witnessed 88 wins in 158 league games, and an overall record of 128 wins in 227 – a highly creditable win percentage of 56%.

Thanks Kev – it’s been a great ride…………….

Come on you Millers!