Sheppey United F.C.

Sheppey United F.C. is a football club based on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent. The club are members of the and play at Holm Park. The club is affiliated to the Football Association and is an FA Charter Standard club. History Origin of football on the Isle of Sheppey As in most parts of the UK, football began to make an appearance on the Isle of Sheppey in the middle of the 19th Century with local records showing teams active on the island from the 1860s onwards. Three clubs rose to prominence in this time – Sheppey Rovers, Invicta and Victoria. By the 1880s Sheppey Rovers had ceased playing with their players joining either Invicta or Victoria. In time for the 1888 Kent Merit Badge competition (the immediate precursor to today's Kent Senior Cup) the Invicta and Victoria made the decision to enter a joint side named "Sheerness" in order to challenge the two pre-eminent sides in the competition, Arsenal and Chatham Town. In both the 1889 Kent Merit Badge and 1890 Kent Senior Cup competitions Sheerness were drawn with Chatham in the first round and lost both times. Given that Chatham were a crack side at this time Sheerness' performances were considered admirable.