Sidley lodge Lingfield complaint

Sidley United have accused Lingfield of fielding a banned player under an assumed name in last weekend’s game.

The Blues claim that the Lingfield player listed as Josh Smith on the teamsheet for the Sussex County Football League Division One match was, in fact, Kai Bichard.

Sidley notified league registrations secretary Tim Dawes by telephone after the fixture and put their complaint in writing on Tuesday morning.

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Club secretary Dane Martin took photos of the player - who also scored Lingfield’s second goal in a 3-1 win - and videod him to support Sidley’s claim.

Bichard is serving a three-match suspension from March 13-20 for an offence committed playing for Eastbourne Town, where Sidley midfielder Bryce Masters knows him from.

Sidley manager John Lambert said: “I just wouldn’t entertain it. It’s just not right and it just leaves a bad taste in your mouth. You can’t get away with stuff like that at our level.”

The league will now look at the teamsheet and ask Lingfield for their comments/observations. If they admit to Sidley’s allegation, they will be fined and have the three points they earned from the match deducted.

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If they don’t, the league could call an identity parade, although that would be an unprecedented scenario for them. Whatever happens, however, Sidley will not be getting the points.

See tomorrow’s Bexhill Observer for the full article.