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Rochester United vs Punjab United, SCEFL Challenge Cup, Rede Court Road, Tuesday 4th February 2025, 7:45pm Kick-Off
After a dramatic comeback against Lordswood, being 2-0 down inside 20 minutes, goals from Roman Campbell X2 and a Arun Suman strike turned the deficite around and gave Punjab a massive three points in their ambitions to make the playoffs at the end of the season. However, they move away from the league as they take on Rochester United to earn a place in the SCEFL Challenge Cup Semi-Final.
Rochester United are coming away from a 3-0 win against title chasing Faversham Strike Force in SCEFL Division One back in January. Their previous game before that was against Kennington in the SCEFL Challenge Cup where they won 5-3 and got to this stage back in January.
Here’s all the stats that Punjab fans need to know ahead of the game…
Team and Match Stats:
Punjab last played Rochester in January 2022 where it was a night to forget as they lost 5-0.
Punjab have not won a competitive match against Rochester United in their history.
If Punjab win it will be the furthest they have gone in the SCEFL Challenge Cup. Rochester are creating history as this is the furthest they have gone in the competition.
Opposition:
Credit: SCEFL Website
Bly Spartans FC at the end of season 2011/12 decided to change its name to Rochester United FC after winning the new Kent Invicta Football League and being promoted to the Kent Hurlimann League.
Bly Spartans was formed in 1982 by the now President and Chairman. They were entered in the Sunday Medway Football League and over the years they progressed through the league and finally reaching the Senior Division.
In 1992/3 and 1993/4 they played in the All England Sunday FA Cup reaching the last 32 on the first attempt. In 1997/8 season they left the Sunday League and applied for The Rochester and District League and were accepted to play in the first Division season 1998/9 winning division 1 and being promoted to Premier Division. At the end of season1999/2000 they applied for entry into the Kent County Football League and were accepted for division 3 west. Over the next two season they finished 2nd in Division 3 and 2 and were promoted to division 1 West.
Promoted to Premier Division in season 2008/09 finishing just below mid table.
Since being in the Kent County Football League the club has made improvements to the ground and changing facilities. The club house has been altered and changing rooms improved. In the grounds 8 floodlight columns have been erected around the pitch and completed and ready for use by mid season 2010/11.
In season 2011/12 a new league was formed in Kent and Bly were invited to be one of the clubs to join the league, which was called Kent Invicta Football League. Bly had a very good season winning the league and the challenge cup in its inaugural season. Bly were promoted to the Kent Hurlimann League.
Further changes to dressing rooms and officials room have been made as well as a 200 seater stand erected (still to have roof on it ) and concrete footpath down one side of the pitch, other work to be finished by March 2012/13.
Rochester United started its first season in the Kent League very well, being in the top half of the table up till Christmas 2012, after Christmas a bad run of lost games followed and ending the season finishing fifth from bottom.
The new 2013/14 season the league changed its name to Southern Counties East Football League. The club are pushing on with finishing work to the remainder of the footpath around the pitch, and the completion of roof to seating stand, the club have now received the ok from Football Stadia to erect fence behind bottom goal. Also a paybox has been bought and will be incorporated into the new fence.
The season commencing 2015/16 the club entered the FA Cup for the first time, going out of the competition against Herne Bay FC in the 1st qualifying Round. We have also made alterations and improvements to ground and facilities and keep on looking to improve the infastructure of the club where we can.
Unfortunately on the pitch we finished 20th and last in the SCEFL Premier Division for Season 2017-18 to get relegated to the First Division. Another disappointing campaign resulted in a 17th placed finish followed the year after before a much more improved performance in 2019/20. However with us looking good for promotion the Coronovirus Pandemic caused an early end to the 2020/21 football season as it did the following year, before we then gained 10th and 6th and 4th placed finishes over the next three seasons.
Getting There:
The journey from The Steve Cook Stadium to Rede Court Road takes 9 minutes when travelling by car.
Rochester United FC
Rede Court Road
Strood
Kent
ME2 3TU
Matchday & Ticketing Information:
Tickets for the game can only be purchased on gate and not in advance.
Ticket prices for the game are as follows:
Adults: £8
Concessions : £5
Under 18s: £1
Card payments are available across the stadium, including on the turnstiles and at any bars and catering facilities.
How to follow the game:
There will be live updates during the game on Punjab's’ Twitter / X page from Football Web Pages.
A post-match interview with the gaffer will also be posted on our YouTube channel and other social media platforms after the game.
We hope to see you there at Rede Court Road.
Pride Passion Punjab
Written by Ben Brown
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