Lordswood open the gates for the visit of injury-hit Tunbridge Wells

LORDSWOOD have confirmed that Saturday’s home game against Tunbridge Wells at Martyn Grove is FREE to attend, writes Stephen McCartney.


Lordswood officials are putting their fans’ first, having played four home Safety Net Associates Kent League games in the past four weeks.

Mike Green, the club’s community officer, said, “We’re in a ridiculous run of home games - its something like eight home games in nine weeks to finish the season - and in the current economic climate we cannot ask our supporters to pay out and expect them to come through the turnstiles every single week!
 
“So we as a committee took the decision that on a day when both Gillingham and Chatham Town were away from home (we didn’t want to be seen to be trying to attract fans away from our neighbours) we would offer free entry to everyone - and that Saturday is this Saturday - April 9th!


“Every person who enters the ground will be given a free ticket for a prize draw that will take place at half time, and as well as that, on a first come first served basis we will be running a Grand National Sweep Stake, which should be finished just before the final whistle (the race begins at Aintree 4:20).

“So the forecast is good so come and get your weekend football fix in the sunshine at Martyn Grove this Saturday afternoon.”

It’s the second time that travelling Tunbridge Wells’ supporters’ can watch their side play for free – as their game away to Norton Sports on 26 March was a free-of-charge game to entice fans to Woodstock Park on the day of England’s European Championship qualifier win over Wales in Cardiff.

Lordswood average league crowds of 83, whilst Tunbridge Wells are the third best supported side in the division, with average crowds of 127.

Martin Larkin’s side have, like Lordswood, lost their last two league games, but the Hove-based manager faces a race against time to get players fit for the Kent Senior Trophy Final against Erith Town on Sunday, 17 April.

22-goal striker, Carl Cornell, picked up a hamstring injury during last weekend’s 5-0 defeat at Herne Bay, and wasn’t risked during their midweek 1-0 home defeat to Norton Sports.

Alex Rich (work commitments), Perry Spackman (groin/suspended), Jason Bourne (ankle), Jon Pilbeam (foot), were all ruled out against Ben Taylor’s warriors, and 34-year-old Slovakian goalkeeper Michal Czanner was forced off after 57 minutes with a thigh injury.

Although right-back and club skipper Bourne said he hopes to be fit for Saturday’s game, Larkin will also be without Drew Crush and Tom Davey against Lordswood, as they are both abroad on a skiing trip.

But Larkin’s main concern is to patch up his injured players, especially Cornell, in time for their trip to Welling United as they bid to win the Kent Senior Trophy Final.

Larkin, who has an eighteen-man squad, said: “That’s why we need to protect a few (on Saturday).  We need to work out what we’re going to do because we’ve got three or four carrying serious injuries and another three or four who are carrying slight knocks.

“It will be about getting Lordswood out of the way Saturday and then we’ve got a week to build them up and have one more final push.”

Visit Lordswood’s website:  www.lordswoodfc.co.uk

Visit Tunbridge Wells’ website: www.tunbridgewellsfc.co.uk  

Lordswood  v  Tunbridge Wells
Safety Net Associates Kent League
Saturday 9^th April 2011
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Martyn Grove, North Dane Way, Walderslade, Kent ME5 8YE