On Saturday, the county will lose one of the institutions of sport when Matt Davison hosts his last ever BBC Radio Kent Saturday Sport Show.

BBC Radio Kent’s Saturday Sport show has for a long time now been the flagship of football fans across the country and the ideal way to get the information they need on their way home from grounds across the County – from Priestfield to the Charles Sports Ground; from Crabble to Princes Park, the voice of Matt Davison has been the one to guide Sports fans through Saturday afternoons.

But that is the case no more, as of Saturday, Matt presents his last Saturday Sport show after accepting an internal promotion at the radio station.

KSN’s own football editor Mike Green pays tribute to a Spurs fan; a colleague and a friend…

The radio station’s Sports Show is looking for a new “Voice of Kent Sport”, as after 18 years in the hot seat, Matt is leaving the Sports team to take over as Producer of the Breakfast Show in January.

And you know that it’s perhaps easier to assess the impact that Mr Davison has had on the Kent football circuit when you try and work out not only his staying ability, but the tremendous respect that he has developed over the years with the managers that he has regularly dealt with.

It would be an almost impossible task to work out exactly how many managers have come and gone through the Counties clubs over the last 18 years – with the possible exception of Neil Cugley’s 17 year stay at Folkestone Invicta.

In a recent conversation, I asked Matt about his time in the hot seat, and I started by asking him about his favourite interview in his 18 years.

After thinking he said, “Looking back I’d have to say that it’s tough to name the best interview – maybe Kelly Holmes after she won double gold in the Athens Olympics. And then there was also the interview that I did with Andy Hessenthaler after he was sacked the first time at the Gills!”

Anyone who knows Matt knows that he is very passionate about all sports -but what about on the job?

“The most excited that I’ve been at an event for the radio was undoubtedly the last minute of the Play Off Final when Ebbsfleet won promotion, whilst if you get me thinking about the best sporting event that I’ve covered it makes me realise how lucky I’ve been – I’ve covered two Open Golf Championships, the Tour de France on that fantastic day when Kent was showed off to the World in all of its finery, or football wise it has to be Gravesend and Northfleet playing at Villa Park; the Gills going up and just the once commentating from White Hart Lane for a Charlton game.”

“Another day that I’ll always remember is the day that Deal Town got to Wembley. I handed live to you with Tommy (Sampson) and he just burst into tears…”

“All in all, five Wembley visits; two Opens; two Tour de Frances; a SONY Radio Nomination and two Kent Sports Journalist of the Year awards. Oh and a one to one with Sir Alex Ferguson – I know you got Cloughie Greenie, but I got Sir Alex and that’s not something many people can say. Not a bad career…”

And so on Saturday he presents Saturday Sport that one last time. I’ve been talking to managers from across the County asking them for their tributes to the Voice of Kent Football one last time…

We start with Chris Kinnear, Dover Athletic’s boss; “Cant believe that Matt’s been in the job that long. You know I’m amazed just how many places that we’ve bumped into each other down the years away from football – the county show, garden centres and even weddings… I’ve seen his kids grow up and that is amazing at just how old they are now!”

“As a professional, I can’t fault him – there have been many times that I’ve told him things and spoken to him about things in confidence and that confidence has always been honoured and that in itself is extremely honourable.”

“There’s no doubt about it – the Breakfast Show’s gain is undoubtedly the Sports show loss and whoever fills Matt’s shoes is going to have a hell of a pair to fill…”

Next is one of the few who were still playing when Matt started Saturday Sport who have progressed through to management, Tonbridge boss Tommy Warrilow;

“Shocked that he’s moving on as I thought he was part of the furniture. I was still playing when Matt started and over the years I’ve always found him to be great at what he does – or have done for Kent football.”

“I think it’s helped at times that he supports the team that I run, but in the same way that’s been tough too. He’s been wonderfully professional in all that time – it’s daft in a way that the boys always know when I was going to get a phone call – usually coincided with us winning; needless to say I haven’t spoken to Matt much this year!”

“All joking aside, all the best of luck with the promotion and you’ll be welcome anytime at Longmead…”

We then spoke to the man who’s held the same job for the last 17 years – Folkestone’s Neil Cugley;

“Like others, I can’t believe he’s been in the job so long – heck he’s been doing Saturday Sport longer than I’ve been at Folkestone, and I’ve been here 17 years!”

“Seriously though, over the years he’s always demonstrated an understanding of football at our level that makes it so much easier for me as a manager to talk to on an even keel.”

“The knowledge that he’s shown is bettered by very few and has ensured that Matt has always been a terrific professional and I’m sure that he’ll do very well in his new job.”

“I look forward to seeing him at Cheriton Road sometime in the future without the probing questions…”

Final word must go to the first manager to lead a Kent team to Wembley glory when Deal Town won the 2000 Vase – the one and only Tommy Sampson;

“When Radio Kent’s then sports editor Neil Bell asked me to come into the studio on a regular basis to review the Kent League fixtures in late summer of 1996, I never imagined it would lead to a nine year collaboration with Matt.”

“He and I did untold interviews with managers from all around the Kent grass roots football scene. He would allow me to use my extensive network of friends in the game and arrange times and dates to talk.”

“Matt understood, like me, the value of this kind of media exposure for some of those minnows in the lower reaches of the County football world.”

“Matt was very generous in allowing me time to develop a meaningful conversation, allowing them time to talk about their club’s ambitions and hopes for the future.”

“I remain indebted to Matt for giving me his time and patience and thereby allowing me to learn some of those invaluable broadcasting skills.”

“To call Matt a consummate professional doesn’t really do him justice – the Saturday afternoon sports show has lost a valuable asset that’s not easily replaced.”

“I’ve joked in the past that my gift to Matt was giving him a Kent Wembley success as manager of Deal Town in 2000 even though as we lifted the trophy he was on a plane coming back from his honeymoon!”

“Come to think of it, he has two such victories on his CV and that’s not bad going. Wherever Matt directs his talents now, you can bet your bottom dollar that project will benefit enormously for having him on board.”

And there was this tribute from the Chairman of the Kent FA, Barry Bright –

“The Kent FA are pleased that Matt has been promoted within Radio Kent and wish him well but would wish to place on record their appreciation for a superb job undertaken in the promotion of Kent football over the past 18 years.”

“It is hard to believe that 18 years have passed by – the changes in structure ; the changes in people, but the heart of Kent football keeps beating.”

“Years that saw Deal Town bring The FA Vase back to Kent in 2000; Ebbsfleet United the FA Trophy in 2008 – Dartford and Maidstone United return to fine grounds in their home towns amidst the joy of success in promotions and cup runs for many of our clubs against the despair, at times, for others.”

“All covered in comprehensive, knowledgeable and professional production with Matt to the fore. Thank you, well done and good luck !”

These are just a few of the tributes that we received from various officials around the County when we asked for their memories of Matt.”

Saturday then not only marks the last Saturday of 2013, but also the end of an era as we salute the last 18 years and to “the Voice of Kent Football” – my friend – good luck and thanks for the memories, mate!