We return to league action on Saturday after Tuesday night's SCEFL Challenge Cup match which saw us exit the cup. After 90 minutes of football, the score was 1-1 and penalties were to follow. The outcome of the penalties saw us score 2 to Bearsted's 4, as their keeper made two incredible saves. Prior to the Cup Match, last Saturday we hosted Glebe at the Belmont which saw us come out on top 4-1 with goals from Victor Aiyelabola, Tom Mills, Harry Gamble and James Jeffrey. When looking towards Tuesday night's game Marcel said, “We were keen to start January using the Momentum from December in which we picked up 2 wins out of 3.” This remains the same as Marcel and his team look to keep the momentum going, making The Belmont a fortress this month.

Marcel's thoughts ahead of the game and reflecting on Tuesday's Cup Match:

First and foremost congratulations to Bearsted who progressed through to the next round of the cup. Both teams put on a great footballing display and delivered a great cup entertainment night for all supporters.

Bearsted played great football and had great spells of possession in both halves. They certainly did not play like a side fighting relegation. Equally, we do not want to dwell on the penalty shoutout outcome, too much.

We are in a good place at the moment and we are noticing real stability around the club and changing room. The performances are more consistent, and the player selections are now also more familiar. I was equally pleased to name a squad with two players from last season's successful U18s side. All of these factors are starting to bring positive results and we are keen to maintain this momentum. Although, it is still early doors and we certainly will not be getting carried away.

We are fully focused on the game ahead vs Stanfeld. A side that has really raised eyebrows across Kent and beyond with their domestic and FA Vase success. They have maintained the momentum from last year and to no one’s surprise, they are up there with the rest of the pack who are chasing for that second spot

To the supporters (regular, new or neutral) in recent home and away games, your enthusiasm from the side has played a huge part in our results and I kindly ask you all to continue to support us in numbers and noise.

Thank you, everyone!

History on Saturdays Visitors:

Stansfeld, Oxford and Bermondsey Club was formed in 1897 when Dr John Stansfeld an Oxford graduate visited Bermondsey and seeing the poverty decided to form the Club to keep the waifs and strays off the streets. At one time the organisation ran five Clubs in the Docklands, Southwark and Bermondsey areas when the population was far greater than it is today.   

Thankfully the need is not as great today. The Club's headquarters are now to be found in Webb Street, Bermondsey, where over 200 members enjoy various sections, i.e. football, golf, snooker, athletics, circuit training and drinking. Currently the club fields four football teams on a Saturday, one in the SCEFL First Division and two in the Kent County League and a Vets team in the Southern Veterans Football League; as well as two youth sides in the Kent Youth League on a Sunday.  

In 1958 Stansfeld joined Division Two of the Western Section of the Kent County League and went on to win the division at the first attempt, as well as the Division Two Challenge Cup. The club were promoted into the Premier Division, skipping Division One. They were Premier Division runners-up and won the Premier Division Cup in 1961–62. They went on to win back-to-back Premier Division titles in 1962–63 and 1963–64 before being promoted to the Senior Division, in which they were runners-up in 1964–65.  

Stansfeld finished as Senior Division runners-up again in 1969–70 but were later relegated to the Premier Division, which they won for a third time in 1977–78. They were Senior Division runners-up in 1980–81 before winning the division in 1984–85. They were league champions again in 1986–87 and then won back-to-back titles in 1988–89 and 1989–90, before finishing as runners-up in 1990–91. When the league was reorganised in 1992 the club were placed in the Premier Division.  

Stansfeld were Premier Division champions in 1994–95 and runners-up in 2002–03. Despite finishing fourth in 2006–07 the club were relegated to Division One West. However, they were runners-up in the division in 2007–08, earning an immediate promotion back to the Premier Division. The club won the Premier Division for a second time in 2009–10 and subsequently finished as runners-up in 2011–12 and 2014–15. In July 2016 Stansfeld took over Southern Counties East League Division One club Eltham Palace. The team continued playing under the Eltham Palace name until the end of the 2016–17 season when they adopted the present name of Stansfeld.   

In the 2016-17 Season, Stansfeld finished in 15th place before improving to 13th for the 2017-18 Campaign. Another improvement occurred in 2018-19 as the side finished 8th while in 2019/20 we were joint 4th when the Coronavirus Pandemic came along and ended football for the season.   

Covid again cut short the 2020/21 campaign; however, it was a record year for the club as they entered the FA Cup for the first time in their history and made it into the Second Round (Proper) of the FA Vase.  
The 2021/22 campaign was a successful one; becoming SCEFL First Division Champions. And also getting to the last 16 of the FA Vase, where we were knocked out on penalties.  

Last Time

Last Year we faced Stansfeld twice, the first match in the Kent Senior Trophy which saw us exit the cup as Stansfeld came out on top winning 0-1 at The Belmont, while Richard Styles was in charge. Our second fixture away at Foxbury Avenue in the league saw us take all 3 points as Marcel took charge in his first game as The Oysters Manager, seeing us win the game 0-2.

Teams Form in the last Five Matches (League)

Whitstable
WLWDW

Stansfeld
WLDLL

Directions:
Attached below is a document with instructions to help those travelling to The Belmont Stadium. We hope you have a safe journey to the ground.

The Oysters