League chairman keeps the peace!

By David Watters

Ryman League chairman Nick Robinson always knew that his mediation skills would be vital when he was elected to succeed Alan Turvey in the summer.

After more than 30 years of sitting on committees, tribunals and disciplinary panels for both the league and the Football Association, on Bank Holiday Monday he got to enjoy settling one of the more pleasant disputes he's had to deal with over the years between two sisters who just happen to be officials at opposing clubs!

Before kick-off between Faversham Town and Chatham Town, the Ryman chairman is pictured at the Shepherd Neame Stadium stepping in to keep the peace between Lilywhites secretary Wendy Walker, left, and her elder sibling, Chatham Town's director and shop manager Janet Cocup, over who would walk away with the bragging rights at the final whistle.

With the Chats playing their hosts competitively for the first time in five seasons after returning to Ryman South this August for the first time since the 2010-11 campaign, tensions were high before events on the pitch settled any chance of a long term family rift, Ray Turner's Lilywhites coming out on top as 2-0 winners.

Ryman League

Ryman League

Afterwards, the Ryman's relieved chairman joked: "When I decided to go to Faversham I had forgotten about the sisters - a bit of sibling rivalry added to the derby atmosphere and I was just glad there were no controversial incidents or they may have both turned on me!"

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