Kevin Turner is the League Secretary for the Sevenoaks & District Football League, incorporating the Tonbridge & District Football League which folded after a proud 119-year history.
Kevin is married with three adult children, one of whom plays in the S&DFL and his two daughters have qualified as referees, although only refereed youth football. He is a level six referee and he has refereed in Sevenoaks for the last 26 years.
Sevenoaks Sports magazine caught up with Kevin to understand where he gets his drive and ambition from. Kevin was talking to Steve Rowley, the Publishing Editor.
What is your first memory of participating in sport?
I remember playing football at primary school on Chipstead recreation ground and the highlight of the year was competing in the annual Bayham Road School tournament.
Who’s your hero and why?
I grew up a child of the 60’s and Manchester United were probably the most popular club, having Best, Law and Charlton playing as a strike force. My hero was Bobby Charlton and I loved his technique in striking the ball from distance so cleanly and accurately, learned from playing with a tennis ball.
What’s been the highlight of your career so far?
The highlight of my playing career came very early on when with Otford Colts we represented England in the Evening Standard Five-a-side tournament held at Wembley Pool. This was in the mid 1970’s. We lost to A team from Penicuik in Scotland. The highlight of my career as Secretary of S&DFL is starting this new season with five divisions.
What’s the best part of your job?
The best part of my job is attending our cup finals and watching the teams strive to win, whilst enjoying the atmosphere and the performance of the team in black.
…and the worst?
The worst part of the job is when I hear that one of our teams or club has folded, usually because of a lack of players or officials to run the club. At the end of last season we had the sad event of our closest League, The Tonbridge & District Football League folding, after 119 years.
Do you have a lifetime ambition?
My lifetime ambition is to become and archaeologist and discover a Pharaoh’s tomb (preferably with the assistance of Lara Croft).
If you could be anyone for a day, who would you be and why?
If I could be anyone for a day I would loved to have been Humphrey Bogart on the set of Casablanca. Quite magical.
Do you have any good or bad habits?
A good habit that I have is to answer correspondence immediately (or what I think is immediately). My bad habit is eating too many biscuits with a cup of tea (it’s to wet without one!).
What’s the best advice you have ever been given?
Good advice is something a man gives when he too old to set a bad example, I was once told. Not exactly good advice but interesting, none the less.
What’s next for you?
I intend to continue enjoying my role as Secretary but one of my targets is to try and find a replacement for me. Succession planning is a very underrated skill.
