Gravesend Branch History

Gravesend KRA

The Gravesend Branch has been in existance for more than 50 years. It was formed, as far as the available records show, on the 4th July 1946. Thirteen local Referees met at "The Victory" public house, situated at Clarence Street, Gravesend. They met to discuss the formation of the Gravesend Branch of the Kent County Society of Association Referees.

At the meeting a Chairman and Secretary were elected and the start of a remarkable 50 years was born by just 13 gentlemen. At the end of the first season, 1946/47, the Branch had 22 paid members, each contributing 5 shillings subscriptions, (25p). The accounts were audited and confirmed as follows:-

Income £7-13s-6d (£7.68p)

Expenditure £6-15s-2d (£6.76p)

Cash in Hand £18s-4d (£0.92p)

In comparison some 50 years later our membership stood at 116 members, each paying subscriptions of £16.00. The Commitee now has 14 positions. At the Annual General Meeting our accounts were confirmed as:

Income £9550.44

Expenditure £10,043.41

Cash in hand £2218.52 (Although expenditure exceeded income our reserves were positive.)

I wonder whether those original 13 Referees could ever have imagined what foundations they were laying.

At a meeting held on the 20th August 1948 an extract of the minutes read, "the Secretary welcomed Mr Harding, who lives at Belvedere, to the Branch and hoped to see him at our regular monthly meetings".

We are pleased to say that he did honour their request and we still have the pleasure of meeting Vic from time to time. We are also very proud to say Vic Harding is our longest serving member and is soon to receive his 50 year R.A. membership award. (Was the motto "Service before Self" penned by or after Vic?).

There was much comradeship and dedication that existed in the days of the birth of the Branch and through to the present day those same qualities still exist amongst Branch members.