Shameful London Riots force cancellation of three games over safety reasons

THREE Kent football clubs have taken the sensible decision to cancel matches tonight following shameful scenes of rioting around the capital, writes Stephen McCartney.

Thamesmead Town were the first to cancel, as their pre-season friendly against Gillingham based side Hollands & Blair, was officially cancelled at half-past-two this afternoon.

Manager Keith McMahon confirmed that the game was cancelled through “safety reasons,” especially considering the scenes of violence at nearby Woolwich last night.

He said: “We can’t take any risks, with people getting home.”

Forty-minutes later, Greenwich Borough manager, Gerry Cox confirmed that their game against Leatherhead was called off.

It was to be the Kent League club’s only pre-season game at Holmesdale’s Oakley Road ground in Bromley, a town that was the target of mindless thugs last night.

The most surprising cancellation was Whitstable Town’s warm-up game against Ryman Premier League side Horsham, on the Kent coast.

Horsham’s management team consist of Justin Luchford, Hugo Langton and Richard Langley, who were with Faversham Town, Thamesmead Town and Ramsgate respectively last season.

Manager Luchford lives in Greenwich, whilst assistant manager Langton resides in Forest Hill.

Langton said: “Quite a few of us are based in London and we can’t put people at risk getting home as most of us drive through affected areas.”

A club statement, issued by Whitstable Town said, “Horsham have taken the decision to call the match at the Belmont Ground off due to safety concerns regarding their players travelling back to London due to the on-going problems in the capital.”

Whitstable Town manager, Peter Nott, added, “I complexly understand and although I am disappointed, I fully support their decision, players safety must come first.”

Tonight’s Carling Cup first round ties at Charlton Athletic, Crystal Palace and West Ham United, were all postponed, so has tomorrow night’s Friendly International between England and Holland at Wembley Stadium.

Meanwhile, Fisher’s opening Kent League game of the new season against Erith & Belvedere, to be played at Champion Hill in east Dulwich on Saturday, could be at risk.

Scheduled as www.kentishfootball.co.uk’s first league game of the new season, after covering seventeen pre-season games, Fisher officials are keeping an eye on the situation.

Club secretary Dan York said: “We’ll see how things go during the rest of the week.  As things stand we expect to go ahead but we won’t take risks with people’s safety.”