SHEPPEY United are aiming to re-establish their senior side in time for the 2002/2003 season. The club, which has a 110-year history, lost its first team last February but has continued with its youth programme running successful under-16 and under-18 sides in the MUSH Kent Youth League.

It is these boys and memnevrs of the management who are expressing a desire to continue playing under the name Sheppey United. Chairman Peter Sharrock said: "The youngsters coming through have told the club that when they are too old to play youth football they want to make a new Sheppey United senior side.

"Most of the lads and management of the under-18 side have been together since they were under-11s so they are really keen to continue. There are a number of people working hard behind the scenes who have the backing of the directors. We are still a financially viable organisation and a member of the Football Association and are giving serious thought to reinstating a first team."

The big problem that led to the collapse of the last senior side was finding a place for the team to play - a place which was economically sound and close enough to attract Island fans. After being forced to sell their ground in Botany Road in 1992 to pay off debts Sheppey began a nomadic existence ground sharing with Faversham, Canterbury and Sittingbourne.

All the while the club was working tirelessly to try and find a new home on the Island but were knocked back eight times. Planning permission, cancelled budgets and ludicrously high land prices were among the reasons plans which took a lot of time and money to develop came to nothing.

Mr Sharrock said: "We have had a long and happy association with Medway Ports, where our youth teams play, and they are happy for any senior side we build to play there too.

"We would not attempt to get straight back in to the Bass Brewers Kent League but try for the Kent County League and work our way through. Nothing has been decided, as we are still at the stage where options are being looked at."