Kentish Football 
Kent club's complain about clash with England International
Thursday 24th March 2011
KENT Football Clubs face a financial blow due to the European Championship Qualifier between Wales and England at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, which kick-off’s off at three o’clock on Saturday afternoon, writes Stephen McCartney.
Some club’s have been able to agree with their opponents to switch their kick-off to an earlier time so that supporters can watch the International from their clubhouse and boost club coffers, but some club’s haven’t been so lucky and face a financial blow at the weekend.
Sittingbourne, who pulled their entire playing budget at the beginning of the year, have found basement club Horsham YMCA problematic and the Ryman League Division One South clash between the two sides will kick-off at the same time as the England game.
“We play Horsham YMCA, who have refused to change the kick-off time, and could well pay out as much to the officials as we receive through the gate,” said Sittingbourne secretary, John Pitts.
He added: “I firmly believe that there should be no live football on a Saturday, let alone televising a live international at three o’clock.
“The FA make noises about helping non-league football, whilst delivering very little.”
Bromley secretary, Colin Russell, has pulled off a masterstoke as their home Blue Square Bet South game against Hampton & Richmond Borough will kick off at 12:30pm, to enable supporters to either watch the England game at the plush upstairs bar or swiftly find another match to watch and pump much needed revenue into the non-league football economy.
Kent League side Lordswood and their Ryman League Division One South neighbours Chatham Town have come up with an excellent idea for supporters to watch two games in one day.
Lordswood have arranged their home game against Greenwich Borough for 1pm, whilst Chatham’s vital game against promotion chasing Whitehawk will kick-off at 3pm, giving fans around ten minutes to drive from Martyn Grove to Maidstone Road.
“In a bid to welcome more supporters, the two club’s are combining forces to offer the football fans of the Medway Towns and beyond something a little bit different,” said a joint club statement.
“With the two clubs both being at home on Saturday afternoon, both have acknowledged that even watching live non-league football can prove too expensive for some.
“And so, because this weekend sees both sides playing at home but at different times, the two clubs have agreed a deal that we are now delighted to offer for the very first time a combined ticket called ‘The Medway Towns Non League Ground Hop Ticket.’
“The idea is simple - pay once and see both the Medway Town’s Non-League sides play in a single day!
“One single £10 ticket (OAP’s £5), which will be available from the turnstiles at Lordswood from noon on Saturday, will enable supporters to watch the Lords home game and then move across to the Maidstone Road Sports Ground for the Chats home game with Whitehawk.
“Come out and support your local non-league club’s - we both need your support.”
Both clubs though would like to point out that anyone wishing to watch the international can do so in the two clubs respective club bars, which will both be showing the action from Cardiff.
Hythe Town are going ahead with a 1pm kick-off for their home Kent League clash with Fisher, despite learning that they will not be able to screen the International match afterwards in the club bar at Reachfields Stadium.
Hythe Town secretary Martin Giles said: “We had been told by several people that the Wales v England game was on terrestrial TV as well as Sky but this was not the case.
“After the game people have a choice to either hot-foot it home or hopefully watch the game later in the evening.
“We are grateful to Fisher for agreeing to the earlier kick-off and so now we have decided to go along with whatever they now want and that is to keep it at 1pm.
“We will have to hope that our supporters will see the publicity and not turn up at 3pm - and for those who still come up for the traditional drink after our game we will offer all draught beers at £2 a pint as a thank you.”
Mr Giles felt the Football Association could have been more favourable towards club’s outside of the Premier League, who will have to bite the bullet with a loss of income, whilst the England players pick up a telephone number salary.
“I don’t think that anyone in non-league football can be very impressed about the kick-off time for the International,” he said.
“We do not expect Rugby and Cricket to consider grass roots football when they plan their schedules but this is our sport and I find it absolutely unbelievable that this clash can be tolerated. I wonder if it is all down to money!”
Norton Sports’ welcome Tunbridge Wells for a 3pm kick-off - but to entice fans to Woodstock Park the club have made the Kent League game FREE OF CHARGE.
Norton Sports’ assistant manager Scott Appleton was disappointed that Tunbridge Wells didn’t agree to switch the game to an earlier kick-off.
“I think we phoned them up to see if they could bring it forward to one or two o’clock like most of the other games are,” said Appleton.
“I don’t know it’s a Scottish person who’s running Tunbridge Wells, I don’t know, especially after a nice big crowd against Herne Bay, but with free admission, it should see a good attendance, hopefully.”
Tunbridge Wells secretary, Phil Allcorn, explained why manager Martin Larkin wanted the game to remain at three o’clock.
“It was too early for our players to get going over there, as some of them work on Saturday morning’s, so we kept it at three,” said Mr Allcorn.
Meanwhile, the Kent Senior Trophy Final between Tunbridge Wells and Erith Town has been confirmed for Welling United’s Park View Road ground on Sunday, 17 April.
Tunbridge Wells won the coin toss so they will be the home club and will wear their home strip, whilst Erith Town will be wearing their yellow and black kit, a strip that they’ve worn en-route to the final, with wins over Greenwich Borough, Hythe Town and Beckenham Town.
Meanwhile, Erith Town official Ian Birrell has explained why their Kent League game against Corinthian has been re-scheduled for Monday, 11 April.
“The game was called off because the new stand is being erected,” he said.
“It will take five days, hence the change. The original start date for the stand was delayed due to contractual discussions.”
Whitstable Town, meanwhile, are looking forward to attracting their largest crowd of the season - as their home game against Ryman League Division One South leaders Metropolitan Police has been switched to Sunday, 27 March, with a 1pm kick-off at The Belmont, in Belmont Road.
“We are hoping for a really big gate,” said club spokesman Andy Short.
“Our last home game was 248 and we expect to double that at least and if the weather is good as it’s forecast, maybe a lot more.
The club are doing a KIDS FOR FREE entry (children under 12, admitted with an adult free of charge).
The Tea Bar is offering Sausage, Chips and a Pint deal for £4.50, great if you are out with the family and fancy a bite to eat along with your football.
The car park is located in Grimshill Road.
Who will I be watching? That’s easy! Sittingbourne v Horsham YMCA on Saturday, followed by Whitstable Town’s clash against Metropolitan Police on Sunday.
Whatever game you decide to support, please make sure it’s a Kent football club!
Saturday’s Kick-Off times:
12:30
Bromley v Hampton & Richmond Borough (Blue Square Bet South)
13:00
Chelmsford City v Welling United (Blue Square Bet South)
Dartford v Lewes (Blue Square Bet South)
Ebbsfleet United v Bishop’s Stortford (Blue Square Bet South)
Aveley v Maidstone United (Ryman Premier League)
Croydon Athletic v Cray Wanderers (Ryman Premier League)
Margate v AFC Hornchurch (Ryman Premier League)
Godalming Town v Faversham Town (Ryman League Division One South)
Holmesdale v Sevenoaks Town (Safety Net Associates Kent League)
Hythe Town v Fisher (Safety Net Associates Kent League)
Lordswood v Greenwich Borough (Safety Net Associates Kent League)
14:00
Erith & Belvedere v Herne Bay (Safety Net Associates Kent League)
15:00
Dover Athletic v Boreham Wood (Blue Square Bet South)
Folkestone Invicta v Hendon (Ryman Premier League)
Tonbridge Angels v Wealdstone (Ryman Premier League)
Maldon & Tiptree v Thamesmead Town (Ryman League Division One North)
Chatham Town v Whitehawk (Ryman League Division One South)
Merstham v Ramsgate (Ryman League Division One South)
Sittingbourne v Horsham YMCA (Ryman League Division One South)
Norton Sports v Tunbridge Wells (Safety Net Associates Kent League)
Sporting Bengal v Deal Town (Safety Net Associates Kent League)
VCD Athletic v Beckenham Town (Safety Net Associates Kent League)
Sunday
13:00
Whitstable Town v Metropolitan Police (Ryman League Division One South)
Red Dragon I.T. Ltd