The merger of the Kent Invicta League and Southern Counties East Football League is in the pipeline and John Moules has backed the plans.

Following the recent announcement that the progression of football across the County will take another step from the start of the 2016/2017 season, KSN has been speaking to John Moules, the secretary of the Kent Invicta League, who himself enjoyed a fine refereeing career.

We’d like to thank John for taking the time to speak to us as we posed some pointed questions.

We began by asking him about the merger of the Kent Invicta League with the Southern Counties East Football League, which naturally he’s very excited by.

John told us: “I am delighted the merger is now a real possibility as it will be the final piece in the jigsaw for Kent Football with promotion from grassroots to the National League.”

“The so called merger between the Southern Counties East Football League and the Kent Invicta League is part of the planning which went in to the formation of the KIL and it is the beginning of uniting Kent Football across the County.”

“I believe that the joining of the two Leagues is a positive step forward and will bring with it improved stadium facilities as well as playing and coaching standards.”

There have been a couple of unsavoury incidents in the KIL this season which we then asked John about.

“The two incidents are we all hope isolated ones and do not reflect on the game as a whole. I have been in the game long enough to cope with most things football throws up. I have been disappointed as the incidents have taken the spotlight away from the progress the Invicta Clubs have made in such a short space of time moving from park and intermediate football to the National League.”

“Invicta is the most progressive Step 6 League in the country, something I and my fellow officers are immensely proud of, as are the member clubs.”

We then turned the spotlight on John himself and his time in the middle.

“My highest honours as a Referee was to be on International and European appointments, along with matches at the old Wembley Stadium. The Full Members Cup Final between Chelsea and Manchester City, Division Four (as it was Play-Off Final) England v Brazil, England v France and Yugoslavia,”

John reminisced. “My most treasured matches were Arsenal v Tottenham being born a Londoner, a great day. To have been at the top for almost 15 years was a huge success for me.”

“At 3pm every Saturday l still want to be out in the middle despite all the pressure, it is a fantastic experience and one l sadly miss today.”

We all have favourites and heroes. and John is no different. “George Courtney is my all time favourite Referee having been on matches at home and in Europe, George was and always will be a great ambassador for referees,” he told us.

“Today my top man is Michael Oliver who I appointed as referee of the first ever Football Conference Play Off Final at Wembley. Michael will go to the World Cup in the future.”

2016/2017 obviously now promises to be a massive year as we’ve already said for Kent Football – what are John’s hopes?

He told us: “My one hope is the newly formed football structure in Kent enables everyone involved to achieve their personal ambitions and sees the game develop with Respect and Fair Play.”

“And in the future, I hope to enjoy every week and life as I grow older looking back on my small part in paving the future.”