Feature Interviews
Kent Cup: Flashback to 2001
Published by Gillingham Ladies Media on April 7, 2010
The date was 19th April 2001 – not many people will know the significance of the date but that is the first and last time that Gills Ladies won the Kent Cup.
This Thursday they have the opportunity to win it for the second time when they take on Millwall Lionesses in the 2010 final.
The Gills played local rivals Ashford in the final in the 2000/2001 season, eventually running away with the game 7-2 thanks to an excellent second half display.
On the night the goals came from Jac Fiddyment, who scored a hat trick, and a brace from Gina Payne with a goal each for Alex Southgate and Sarah Kelly.
Almost nine years on, the Gills have two players still at the club who were part of the Kent Cup-winning team.
Becky Lyon is now the Captain of Gills Ladies and Laura East was brought back part-way through this season by manager Ian Varley.
We caught up with Becky ahead of the final to see just what she could remember from the Kent Cup final.
Vaguely recalling the game, she said, “I remember being ridiculously nervous as we were obviously going to be the underdogs.
Bex a few years older and wiser is ready to lead the Gills to glory.
“I remember being really excited and really nervous, so I would say that it is pretty much the same feeling that I am having now.
“I am very much looking forward to Thursday, as I have been through the bad times and come through this season and to lead the girls out in the Kent Cup final will be a dream come true. It is going to be a massive honour for me to do that.
“We have to go out there, play our hearts out and just see what happens on the night. If we do lift the trophy I have said to the girls that I am probably going to cry.”
Back in 2000/2001 the Gills went on to do the double by winning the South East Counties League Premier Division.
It is possibly more remarkable that the Gills have not won a trophy in eight years and that they only have their name on the Kent Cup once. Could this be the season that changes all of that?