My First XI: Herne Bay, Ken Dixon

Ken Dixon is an Isthmian League legend in his own lifetime, and an enormous fan of Herne Bay. Ever the traditionalist, he’s gone for a four-four-two formation.

Ben Hunter -Ben was Bay’s keeper for the 2017-18 season, and when you read the reports from that season almost always gets a mention as he made save after save- including two penalties in a match against Ashford United.

Ben Gorham- Ben was also a part of that 2017-18 season, and has also turned out for Sittingbourne, Sevenoaks Town and Beckenham Town. These days the centre-half is at Ashford United, and indeed scored against one of his former clubs- Sittingbourne- in a two-two draw in October.

Sam McCallum- defender Sam came through the youth ranks at Bay and also made his first team bow in 2017-18 before being snapped up by Coventry City. He then signed for Norwich City for three and a half million pounds, proof positive that they produce only quality at Winch’s Field!

Josh Wisson -Wisson is another former Herne Bay player who these days plies his trade with the Nuts and Bolts of Ashford United. He’s in his third season at Homelands and also played at Sittingbourne. An England Schoolboys Under 18 international.

Jack Steventon- these days also at Ashford United, Jack was another stalwart of the 2017-18 season. Since leaving Bay he’s ben with VCD Athletic and also spent about ten minutes at Hastings United last summer!

Tom Carlton- made around a century of appearances for Bay in two spells, and has also spent time at Hythe Town but doesn’t like to talk about it. These days a few miles along the seaside at Whitstable Town, but Bay fans won’t want to talk about that either!

Joe Nelder – a Bay legend. Came through the youth and reserve sides, won the Kent Premier League title, played for the club in an FA Vase Semi-Final and has been a mainstay of the side for much of the last decade. Also spent time with Canterbury City.

Sam Hasler -magnificent over three years with Bay, and after that similarly magnificent for Folkestone Invicta. These days at Cray Valley PM, where he has scored three goals in four matches since signing.

TT Walters- played as a youth with Spurs and Chelsea, and has been superb for Bay since joining the club in the summer of 2019. Manages to both create goals and score them- and will be particularly popular because he seems to have developed a habit of scoring against Ramsgate!

Zak Ansah- it’s difficult to come up with enough superlatives to describe Zak Ansah. Four goals so far this season, and twenty eight last season- it’s difficult to understand why he’s still at Step Four, but Bay fans are delighted that he is. Was previously prolific at Hythe Town, and came through the Youth and Under 21 sides at Arsenal and Charlton Athletic.

Mark Lovell- spent almost four years with Bay and scored his fair share of excellent goals, including twenty one during 2016-17. A former Gillingham youth player, he also turned out for Sittingbourne, Hastings United and Faversham Town, amongst others.

Right, let’s have your First XI! Email your squad to Ian at townsendaround@gmail.com and you’ll see it appear here.