Not a very happy evening at Oakley Road for Becks boss Jason Huntley and coach Dave Mehmet after their side's 3-2 defeat by Holmesdale. The home side, playing their first competitive match under their new lights, always looked the brighter of the two sides. Becks fielded all five of their new signings - Charlie Hearns (from Tonbridge Angels), Lewis Wood (from Cray Wanderers), Wade Falana (from Bromley), Alex Tiesse (from Maidstone Utd) and Aaron  Barnett (from Hampton & Richmond). Whether that contributed to the alarmingly disjointed performance, only time and Saturday's trip to new boys Norton Sports will tell.     Fixtures

Becks started their Bulmers Cider Kent League Premier Division campaign with a 1-1 draw at Deal Town on Saturday. Mark Pollard netted for the home side in the 11th minute before Lenny Piper equalised for Becks thirteen minutes later. Becks have announced the signing of Maidstone Utd striker Alex Tiesse. In Saturday's League Cup draw  Becks have drawn Faversham Town away in the second round of the competition. Becks next game is against Holmesdale on Tuesday evening (kick off 7.45): it will be the first competitive game to be played under Holmesdale's newly erected floodlights.

Becks good fortune in cup draws continued with another home tie. After securing home games in both the London and Surrey Senior Cups, Becks made it three on the bounce with a third home tie - this time in the newly named Umbro Kent Senior Trophy. Becks, runners-up in the competition last season, start this season's campaign with a second round tie at Eden Park Avenue against the winners of the first round game involving Becks neighbours West Wickham and Kent League new boys Norton Sports.
Umbro Kent Senior Trophy Draw

Becks can be prepared to experience some spectacular skills from Fisher Athletic's new boy Jeremy Lynch who captured the imagination of the nation with his dazzling ball skills in ITV's recent Britain's Got Talent.  Lynch lines up for Fisher Athletic in their friendly against Becks tomorrow evening (Thursday 30th) at the Fitness Exchange (The Old Nat West Ground)
in Copers Cope Road, Beckenham, Kick Off 6:45pm.  Becks are still hoping to announce a significant signing before the weekend.

For the second time the club's appeal to the Football Association to reduce their five year suspension from FA Cup competitions has been turned down. A spokesman for the club stated "we are very very disappointed at the decision, we had hoped that some degree of leniency  would have been shown". The club's ban ends this season and they qualify for the FA Competitions again as from next season. Beckenham have been serving a five year ban for playing an ineligible player against Lordswood in the FA Vase in August 2003.
DULWICH HAMLET AT HOME ???
On a far more positive note the early cup draws have favoured Becks. In the second round of the Surrey Senior Cup they entertain  Ryman League Met Police and in the London Senior Cup first round Becks have a home game against Barkingside with the winners of that tie landing an attractive home game against Dulwich Hamlet.     Cup Draws

Plenty of pre-season headaches for Becks Boss Jason Huntley: although clearly pleased with the return of ex Millwall man Dave Mehmet as coach to replace the departed Billy Hughes, nevertheless Huntley faces major problems in trying to replace his trio of leading goalscorers. The departure of Joe Healy (to Welling Utd), Tony Adkins (to Cray Wanderers) and Theo Fairweather-Johnson (to Fisher Athletic) has a left a major problem for Huntley. Becks were hoping to announce a new signing over the weekend but there was no sign of any new personnel at Barking on Saturday where Becks drew 0-0 with the Essex Senior league side.

The start of the new Kent League season sees Becks "on the road" for the opening three games. On Saturday 9th August Becks travel to meet Deal Town and then on the following Tuesday evening (12th August) Becks travel a few miles down the road to meet neighbours Holmesdale in what will be the first competitive game under Holmesdale newly erected floodlights. Then Becks finish their "away days" with a trip to new boys Norton Sports (Saturday 16th) who are perhaps surprisingly ground sharing with Herne Bay. Becks first home game of the season is against Greenwich Borough on Saturday 25th August   Kent League Fixtures

Becks troublesome floodlights have at long last undergone a major overhaul during the close season. Ongoing problems with the lights have caused Becks problems but at last Becks Secretary Peter Palmer has been able to confirm that next season's matches at Eden Park Avenue will be looking a whole lot brighter. The cost was described to the club's web site as "very considerable". Once again the Eden Park Avenue pitch  will be amongst those challenging for the title of the best pitch at Level 5. Becks are still awaiting the decision as to whether they have landed the title last season. They were considered amongst the favourites.