Kent Exiles 2001 team photo
Courtesy of Martin Jefkins

Team Notes: The Exiles were formed on the 28th October 1990, from ex-Tonbridge Tiger players and were soon under guidance from their first head coach Graham Gosling, an ex-player.

Before entering their first senior league season in 1992 the Exiles played in the seven a side autumn passball league for two years, they lost all their games up against world league players such as Mike Taylor, Les Jackson and Steve Hutchinson but did gain valuable experience.

The Exiles finished their first season with a 4-6 record they gained their first victory versus the Gravesend Lions with a shut out 30-0 win and gained the leagues fair play award.

In 1995 the Exiles went through a hard time with a shortage of players and head coach Gosling retiring just before the season started. But with all this against them they played on to keep the name and pride of the exiles going with no head coach and a roster of about 20 players on game day they finished with a 2-8 record not bad for a team that had to play both ways but this gave most players valuable experience at new positions as well as their old ones.

In 1996 the Exiles were led into their 5th season with two new coaches Andy Whalley and Stewart Croucher, who had been impressed with the teams spirit and determination on game days. With new coaches the team started to get more players and some good sized linemen they ended that year with a 5-5 record.

In 1997 the Exiles started the year with a win for the first time in the history of the club, breaking a jinx that had plagued them since they started in the BSL, carrying on the year they beat the now collapsed Invicta Eagles twice but due to injuries to the lines the Exiles began to fade and fell to a 3-7 record. Although the final game truly showed what the Exiles where made of with only 15 players on game day (including Martin Jefkins prematurely back from a shoulder separation that kept him out of the season) the Exiles lost to the much stronger Sundevils 42-6, but showed real pride playing their hearts out with all players playing Iron man football.

In 1998 the Exiles moved from Edenbridge to Orpington, to attract new members to the team from the local London areas. The Exiles had been strengthened by an influx of veterans coming out of retirement to play one last year and rookies looking to get in to the sport to create the UKs version of the "over the hill club", so with greater depth than ever before in the clubs history, the Exiles entered the 98 season full of hope. It turned out to be the teams best year ever ending with their first winning season, at 6-4, and just missing out on a playoff spot. The highlights of the season were QB Dan Dart being the best passer in division 2 that year and putting together their biggest victory ever 43-6 over the Maidstone Pumas. 1998 though will be remembered most for the teams greatest victory ever, the Exiles were away to the London Mets, who were undefeated, and had lost to them 44-19 earlier that year. The Mets strong rushing game had been halted by the Exiles tough D and the Mets were 6-0 up with 5 minutes remaining, when Rob Hall caught a seven yard pass from QB Dan Dart to tie the game 6-6. Rob Whalley's Extra point kick was tipped at the line, but not enough to stop it from crawling over the bar, and gaining the Exiles a 7-6 victory, thus spoiling the Mets perfect season, and giving the Exiles a chance of post-season play for the first time ever.

1999 saw the Exiles falter again, and lose many players, and at the end of the season coach Andy Whalley decided to call it a day.

2000 Saw a shortage of players again at the club, but team spirit was high with a team of mainly rookies and some vets still remaining, the team played on with WR Martin Jefkins taking on the role of head coach. The Exiles played the 2000 season with out getting a win, their old rivals Maidstone beating them twice. the Exiles played some very tough competition and played very hard though.

In the 2001 season the side saw many improvements with another surge of players coming back from retirements and injuries, and a new head coach Nick Cursley who was last with the team in 1998 as the teams Offensive Coordinator, when he led the team to have the top rated passing attack in division 2 of the BSL he also had the top rated passer in that division that year and three receivers in the top 10, the season was dissapointing on the pitch, finishing with a 1-7 record, but a great success off the pitch. The Exiles were now in a position foreign too them, with a new stronger management structure, they had renewed hope for next year, after the improvements of 2001 they really had something to build upon, and were determined to not let it slip through their fingers again. In 2002, Phil Wood became Head Coach.

The photo shows the Exiles new coaching duo of Phil Wood and Edward Crossley.
Photo courtesy of Martin Jefkins

They finished with a 1-7-1 record, but 2003 brought a remarkable turnaround in fortunes. They finished 2003 with a 7-2-1 record and qualified for the division two playoffs and fell to a 27-12 quarter-final defeat to the eventual Division Two champions, Bristol Aztecs away from home. In 2004 finished with another winning record (6-4-0) and narrowly missed out on the Division Two playoffs.

Formed a Youth Kitted squad in 2003 called the Kent Brewers, and in the 2004 off-season renamed them the Kent Exiles Youth.

Kent Exiles Head Coach Phil Wood announced his decision to step down from his position at the end of the 2005 season. 

History from http://www.kentexiles.co.uk/

Kent Exiles (white) in action against the Cambridgeshire Cats in BSL Div.2 in 2002
Photo courtesy of Martin Jefkins

The Exiles defense (in black) taking on the Cambridgshire Cats offense in 2003

The photo shows wide receiver Martin Jefkins shaping up to catch his first
touchdown of the day from quarterback Matt Duncan against the Maidstone Pumas in 2003

Game notes

29th June 2005 - QB Matt Duncan threw for 286 yards and 6 touchdowns vs
Norwich Devils – both club records
3rd April 2005 - Stuart Muir ran for 239 yards vs Norwich Devils
30th May 1999 - Paul Pester registered 19 tackles vs Tiger Bay Warriors
19th July 1998 - Ryan Holness ran for 214 yards and 2 TDs vs Maidstone Pumas