Belmont Banter

September 21 2020

Belmont Banter (episode 15) The Official podcast of Whitstable Town F.C.

In this edition we catch up with ex Whitstable Town’s Simon Halsey who after a very successful time as assistant to Whitstable Town manager Marc Seager went on to manage himself. He says that he never wanted to be a manager, ‘just wanted to be a coach, never a manager’ but he went on to manage at a number of Kent clubs. He won promotion with Herne Bay, had spells managing at Ramsgate and Lordswood amongst others. Simon also returned to Whitstable Town as manager.  

Currently manager of Hollands and Blair Simon talks about his disappointment at the way the FA handled the recent FA Cup match last weekend that was called off due to a couple Burgess Hill Town’s players tested positive for covd19. “We took the vote and decided that it was health before wealth, but the FA decided to award the tie to the opposition”.

Listen to the podcast to hear just what Simon has to say about it all…

September 17 2020

Belmont Banter (episode 13) The Official podcast of Whitstable Town F.C.

In this mid-week bonus edition, we catch up with Whitstable Town’s manager Lloyd Blackman as he chats about new players into the club and his preparations as we start the league season for 2020-21. Lloyd talks about the possibility of Whitstable Town having access to new training facilities and how impressed he is with the group of players he has brought to WTFC.

So that Lloyd can update the supporters to his plans for the future we will be bringing you one-off bonus podcast throughout the season, and this is the first ….

September 14 2020

Belmont Banter (episode 13) The Official podcast of Whitstable Town F.C.

This week we catch up with Whitstable Town’s supports Richard Tennant and Steve, (Stevie) Grown’s as they review the pre-season games as we start the league season for 2020-21. They look at new signings added to the squad and chat about the highs and lows of the last month’s games, mostly played behind closed doors. After a poor start, losing at home to Rusthall then some promising performances against Cray, Margate, Folkestone (although we lost 4-2) and Deal… and the FA Cup game away to Carshalton.

A light hearted look back at a month of football mostly without fans….

September 7 2020

Belmont Banter (episode 12) The Official podcast of Whitstable Town F.C.

(This is part two) In this week’s episode we catch up with Whitstable Town’s Sam Denly we hear how Sam started his successful football career in Whitstable Town’s youth sides. As a manager had four year spells both at Herne Bay and Hythe, talks about the worst drive to a club he ever had. Say’s as a manager he was not a fan of social media… “for one positive comment about me, there are four or five who want to say something bad’. Sam really opened up about his years at both clubs as the manager and Whitstable as a player, ‘some of my best years in football’.

As far as cricket is concerned say’s brother Joe was always better than him… “Joe was more focused, calmer, I was always the opposite’. “Could I have gone any further cricket wise, maybe… but Joe always played two years about himself, he was sixteen years old he was playing with me in the U18’s at Kent, that’s how good he was.” And goes on to say how proud he and all the family were sitting in a box at the ground when Joe walked out as an England player in the First Test of the 2019-20 Ashes, he felt so nervous but Joe was so calm…

Part 2: If you have enjoyed Belmont Banter podcast, then please click the ‘like’ and send… belmontbanter.podbean.com link to your friends…

September 1 24 2020

Belmont Banter (episode 11) The Official podcast of Whitstable Town F.C.

(This is part one of two) In this week’s episode we catch up with Whitstable Town’s Sam Denly we hear how Sam started his successful football career in Whitstable Town’s youth sides. And how a serious knee injury forced him to retire from playing over a decade later before moving into management. He remembers the time when he was in a knee brace and younger brother Joe Denly England and Kent Cricketer (England Ashes winner 2020) who had his arm in plaster at the same time after breaking it playing football for Whitstable’s U18’s.

How Sam went off to Australia to play Cricket for South Perth in the Suburban A League whilst part of Kent Cricket’s youth set up. He goes on to speak about the effect his Dad Nick and his youth football coaches at Whitstable Town had on his life. WTFC coaches, the likes of Peter Budge and Alan Gardener who he says were a massive influence on him growing up. And much more….

Part 2: of Sam Denly next week…

August 24 2020

Belmont Banter (episode 10) The Official podcast of Whitstable Town F.C.

This week we catch up with Whitstable Town’s official photographer Les Biggs who started off in the Army before taking to the sea when after over the next thirty odd years he can say that he really has ‘sailed the seven seas’ having visited he says 84 or 85 different places around the world,

In this episode we hear how Les played in goal for Kent Schools, and the Army as well as in Whitstable Town’s ‘A Team’ at a time when Whitstable had three men’s sides. His love of golf, until his knees forced him to stop playing, then when he then took up photography, saying how much he has enjoyed being around all the players and managers at Whitstable Town over the last decade or so. And much more….

August 17 2020

August 10 2020

Belmont Banter (episode 8) The Official podcast of Whitstable Town F.C.

Due the current covid19 pandemic manager Lloyd Blackman and chairman Steve Clayton decided that even though the season ended prematurely it was decided it should still go ahead so it was conducted online.

In episode two we hear the reaction from players Dan Eason, Jake Mackenzie, Tom Bryant (WTFC Captain) and Oysterboys supporter Andy Bruce. Manager Lloyd Blackman tells them which awards for the season 2019-20 they have won. This was originally shown via YouTube on WTFC TV however we decided to release it in two parts as a podcast to give WTFC supports the chance to listen to the news from Whitstable Town on their mobile’s.

August 3 2020

Belmont Banter (episode 7) The Official podcast of Whitstable Town F.C.

Due the current covid19 pandemic manager Lloyd Blackman and chairman Steve Clayton decided that the players deserved their end of season player’s presentation awards despite the current situation. Even though the season ended prematurely it was decided it should still go ahead so it was conducted online.

We hear the reaction from players Harry Stannard, Aaron Millbank and young T.J. Jadama as manager Lloyd Blackman tells them which awards for the season 2019-20 they have won.

July 27 2020

Belmont Banter (episode 6) The Official podcast of Whitstable Town F.C.

Today’s guest is Mark Lane ex Whitstable Town manager, goal keeper and present assistant manager alongside First Team Manager Lloyd Blackman who he rates as a really good manager for Whitstable Town.  Mark originally lived in Manchester where his early love of sport, in particular football developed into his career, then after leaving University at eighteen he spent two years coaching in America. Upon his return to the UK he secured a good job down in Kent where he eventually settled, combining his coaching with playing Sunday football when he was approached on the A2… by John Roseman manager of Sheppey to join the club, (John Roseman also managed Whitstable).  It was as the goalkeeper for Sheppey that Mark won the Kent League at a time when the league numbered 24 or 25 Kent sides.

A knee injury curtailed his playing career and from then on, apart from the odd time helping out between the sticks he concentrated fully on work and on coaching. He mentions recent Whitstable Town player Shaun Welford as one who he would always have in his side, naming Dave Powel from his early Sheppey days as the best player he ever played with, before going on to mention that he could easily name a pretty good eleven from all the ones he’d played with over the years. Admits that he feels comfortable at Whitstable Town having been around the club as player, coach and manager for a number of years. In 2010 he stepped in as manager and won the last four matches saving the club from relegation that season. Rated Mark Mundey as a really good manager but says things did not work out for him during his time in charge. How he had a great working relationship with managers Marc Seager and the recently departed Scott Porter, he speaks about hoe he loves working with the younger players and the different characters and banter in the dressing room and much, much more.

New Episodes every Monday… with extra episodes added during the season…