With another unwelcome break in training and matches due to another COVID Lockdown we decided to catch up with current first team coach Tom Larman. Larms is in his 5th season with the club after signing from Marcham a lethal striker slowed down by injury he now helps run the first team and will generally help the club whenever needed in getting beers and food in on his cash and carry card to travelling by to Cropredy to have a game for the reserves. Let’s not waste anymore time here’s what Tom had to say.

A little about yourself to begin with, what’s your occupation?

Iv been a Michelin star chef for the past 11 years now at my little family run burger van in B&Q car park, Abingdon, £3 any sandwich and drink for any Kennymen. Very good price. I also done 6 weeks on the hod for Kennington brickwork last year during lockdown when it first struck, so I also tell people I’m a bricky too.

Marital/family status?

Engaged to be divorced, how and why my women has put up with me for 10 years I honestly, no joke have no idea, 5 kids in the last 5 years hasn’t left her with much choice to be fair.

Favourite pub/club? And alcoholic beverage? Favourite fruit machine?

Ive never liked clubbing , Iv got two left feet and just dance round in circles with my hands and arms doing some weird motions, it isn’t a pub but I mean if I really think about where Iv had some great times growing up, even more now so with the passing of my uncle, Abingdon Town Fc used to put on some great gentlemen evenings, anyone who knew my Uncle Tom would know he didn’t have many rules, when you have to shut all the curtains , shut all windows and lock the front door you knew you was in for a show. Had a few good laughs up that place over the years.
I hate the taste of all alcoholic drinks , I don’t enjoy any of them. Drink them purely to get tanked up , a usual night of mine would usually consist of a few lagers , then move on to a vodka redbull or a southern comfort , lime & lemonade. then go find the biggest bloke I can find and have it out with him.
Fruit machine you say, I must admit I’m a bit disappointed the way the pub gambling is going , I use to enjoy the proper fruit machines, the deal or no deals, the family guys , now it’s been replaced with newer machines where you don’t have to press as many buttons. Don’t stop me chucking £200 in to a £100 jackpot machine though does it , Christ no.

I must say I enjoyed many a drink and a laugh with your uncle at Town what a great bloke, sadly missed! Which professional player would you liken yourself too?

My games changed so much over the years , I was a centre mid until I was 16/17 , I’d like to of thought of myself as a bit of a Roy Keane. Later in my footballing days was almost forced to go up top usually in the centre of a front 3, resembling a young white immobile Akinfenwa.

Any you’d love to play against?

If I could of ever been on the same pitch as your Keanes , Scholes , Beckhams that would of been nice , class of 92 makes the hairs on my arms stand up. I’m a utd fan. The old utd. Bit of character about them weren’t there. Be a while before we see it again I fear with all the money and politics in football now. People play for money now , not for the badge on the front of the shirt they’ve got on.

Very true Tom. Can you give us your career to date?

Radley boys , was there at the very first training session at age 5 or whatever it was and played the final game at 15/16, then changed from Radley too Abingdon United under 16’s I think it was , can’t remember exactly , I was only there briefly , I was 15 playing for the under 18’s at the time , but an altercation with the referee resulted in a 6 month ban from all football and got told to find a new club once the ban was up, completely out of character I know, i had a year with the reps of Oxford also at age 14/15 I think it was, I then joined my local men’s team, Wootton Fc, playing in North Berks Division 1 for Rick Viner. i actually started training with them when I was 14/15 so I actually had to wait till I turned 16 before I could officially sign if I remember correctly. I started in the reserves but didn’t take long to be on the fringe of the first team.
It didn’t go as planned though, just as I was becoming a regular, starting most games for the first team, at age 17 I had a nasty footballing injury resulting in a full knee rebuild , pins, plates the works, I had 4 years out of football due to this , and When I felt I could play again I was never the same player. I had 2 seasons at Marcham fc , Marcham was playing against a Kennington side including a certain Rob Andrews (more on that later) in a cup game one Saturday afternoon, and then I joined the Yellows..

Quite a journey that. Best ground played at? And in the Senior league?

Iv Not played at many , Abingdon United has always been nice, I played on Readings pitch when playing for the reps of Oxford, that was lovely if I can remember correctly. Senior league, OUP always had a nice surface didn’t they.

Yes OUP is lovely hopefully we’ll get to play there soon as it is the new home of Mansfield Road. Best player played with?

Back when I use to play for Wootton, Tom Strawley was unreal. You never felt like If you gave him the ball he would lose it, you trusted him every time , his touch was unreal and was just a footballer in ever aspect. He couldn’t get about because of bad knees , but watching him as a kid definitely didn’t do me any harm. Very good player on his day.

A good player was Tommy, looked a textbook geek but certainly could play. What brought you to Kennington?

As mentioned at Marcham we played a cup game v Kennington and a few weeks/months later Rob Andrews come to my work he said he was starting a new Saturday side and recruited me and Rob Fathers to the club after playing against us in that game, if I remember correctly I run the show, we won 1-0 and I scored both. Ive never looked back, absolutely love Kennington, and although my playing days are pretty much over , I enjoy being involved with the club and will continue to do so as long as I can.

You’re part of the furniture now aren’t you. How have things changed in your time at the club?

Personnel more than anything , lots have come and gone, but the goal has never changed. And the average age , gotta be classed as an old side now surely. With Catts and Butts bumping up the average age.

Experienced side mate not old!!! Best moment in football and for Kennington(if not the same)?

Has to be winning division 1, 3/4 years ago? 5 years ago I was top goal scorer with .......... 7 goals I think it was , I got managers player also that season. That was the first time playing men’s football I’d ever won a league so will always be special. That was a good time.

Well he having a little something to remember the 5th anniversary coming up on the site. What is the best thing about being at the club?

The team morale and togetherness of the boys has been something that has stood out to me from day 1, granted it’s been difficult the last 12 months to implement what we normally would , to build on the relationships with eachother, which ultimately shows on the pitch also, but it will pass and we can get back to doing what we do so well at the club, one big footballing family.

Completely agree there that first club night out is going to be one for the ages. What are your hopes for the season?

My hopes and goals never change , to win the league , to win the cup. To clear up, this season started so well, we’ve had a couple of slip ups but we can recover if we have no more. To give the new young lads who have joined a memorable first year in men’s football, show them what it’s all about, and my main hope is too actually finish the season. That would be nice .

Yes fingers crossed we can get back out there in the not too distant future and get the season completed. Thanks for a brilliant interview hopefully the lads don’t know you too well will have learned a little more about you and the ones you do know will enjoy the reminiscing parts as as always your stupid jokes! Thanks Tommy see you soon!