Proud Deres are 100 not out

STEP 5 club Erith & Belvedere are celebrating a special anniversary this month, marking a century since their initial founding.

The South London club will commemorate the occasion by releasing a detailed and extremely well researched book, covering the past 100 years of history.

“A Century of Deres” looks back over the club’s first century, with its ups and downs, title campaigns, relegation battles and memorable matches.

It was on 26th August 1922 that Erith and Belvedere played their first match, losing 3-1 at home to Chatham Town. However, impressively, their very first season still went down as a successful one, with the Deres making it all the way to the quarter-finals of the FA Amateur Cup, going two better a year later by reaching the final.

Every season in the club’s history is featured: the story includes another run to the Amateur Cup final in 1938, an all-conquering wartime team, the heyday of the Corinthian and Athenian Leagues, two thrilling Kent League titles, as well as darker days when the club’s future appeared under threat.

There are also profiles of 100 major figures in the club’s history, including record-breaking strikers, loyal club men and some of the Deres’ most successful managers

Erith and Belvedere are looking to mark this special season with success on the pitch.

Under the stewardship of new boss Tony Beckingham, the Deres are seeking to mount a promotion push in Southern Counties East Premier League.

A sixth-place finish last year saw them compete near the summit of the table for much of the campaign and early signs this season have been promising.

Beckingham’s side went into the weekend having won both of their opening league games, without conceding a single goal.