Match Preview

Today we are at Kidlington FC for an away game in the Evo-Stik League South Division One Central. Kidlington FC are based in Kidlington, Oxfordshire. They were formed in 1909, and play at the Yarnton Road Stadium, in Yarnton Road Kidlington.

The stadium holds 2086 supporters, and they play on a grass pitch which is 102m x 70m. The team play in a home kit of green shirt, shorts and socks, their away kit is orange shirt, shorts and socks, and the goalkeeper plays in yellow shirt, shorts and socks. The home kit determines their nickname of 'The Greens'.

The club was founded in 1909 and played local village football up to the 2nd world war. They won the Lord Jersey Cup in 1929, beating Fritwell 2–1 in the final. In 1945 they joined the Oxford City Junior League before promotion to the Oxfordshire Senior League in 1951. They were champions of the league in 1952–53 and moved up to the Hellenic League in 1954. When the league gained a second division in 1956, the club were placed in the Premier Division. In 1961–62, and after finishing second-from-bottom in the Premier Division, Kidlington were relegated to Division One.

In 1963–64 they were promoted back into the Premier Division however, after two seasons in the Premier Division they were relegated. In 1971–72 reorganisation of the leagues saw them placed in Division One B before it reverted to a single division the following season. The club won the Division One Cup in 1974–75, and after finishing as Division One runners-up in 1978–79, they were promoted back to the Premier Division. Unfortunately, the club finished bottom of the Premier Division in 1981–82 which resulted in them being relegated to Division One.

In 2000 Division One was split into regional sectors, and this saw Kidlington placed in Division One West. After finishing in third place in 2004–05, they promoted to the Premier Division. They won the league's Floodlit Cup in 2007–08 and the Supplementary Cup in 2010–11. After finishing the 2015–16 season as Premier Division champions, the club were promoted to Division One Central of the Southern League. At the end of the 2017-18 they were transferred to Division One West and currently play in the Evo-Stik League South Division One Central.

Saturday’s game is an important one as Sutton have gone out of three cup competitions in the last 2 weeks. This may have knocked their confidence; however, the team have played very well over those games and if they can perform at that level again there is no reason why they can’t win their second league game of the season. Kidlington have had a tough start to this league losing their opening few games, however they are starting to find their feet and a big improvement has seen them get their first points on the board in recent weeks. They are obviously full of confidence and should prove to be a big test for Sutton.

With both teams in the bottom three is it to early to call this a relegation battle? Let’s hope not.

Here’s to an entertaining and successful game.

COME ON YOU ROYALS!