Sidley forced to switch FA Cup tie

Relations between the two organisations would have been strained to a degree by an article that appeared in the Daily Telegraph newspaper on Tuesday.

The report quoted Football Club secretary Roy Maplesden as criticising the Cricket Club for failing to allow them use of the ground for their FA Cup preliminary round tie on Sunday.

The Cricket Club has insisted upon using the ground for a friendly match against a side put together by club member Ian Crittenden, leaving the Football Club to take on Deal Town at the neutral venue of Hailsham Town.

"I've not got any beef with the cricketers' decision," Day said. "It's disappointing, but I can totally understand the cricket section because they have the pitch until a certain time in September."

Day and Crittenden had reached a compromise in that the football match could go ahead on the proviso that they kicked-off significantly earlier than the customary 3pm slot. Sidley approached Deal about the possibility of starting at 12.30pm, an option that was turned down by the Kent club.

"They (Deal) wouldn't kick-off before two (o'clock)," Day continued, "so I went back to Critt and he said 'no, sorry' because they wouldn't be able to get the cricket started before 4.30pm."

Sidley United, who won their first ever FA Cup match at the eighth time of asking in the extra preliminary round against Pagham on Sunday, will now take on Deal at Hailsham on Sunday August 28, kick-off 3pm.

The Telegraph story had quoted Maplesden as saying: "Until now the cricket club have been flexible. What annoys us all the more is that this friendly match they've got booked for next Sunday is of no importance at all."

It also quoted Cricket Club chairman Scott Woodroffe as saying: "Unfortunately the rules of the club state that at certain times of the year the ground is used for cricket. It has been booked for this date all season."

Sidley United, who were praised by Sussex County Football League chairman Peter Bentley for the way in which they staged the Pagham match, will be without goalkeepers Greg Thurstans (family commitments) and Peter Newstead (knee), plus Jimmy Watson, Chris Steward, Callum Wooller (all holiday), Keith Miles, Steve Morris, Dominic Clarke (all suspended) and Lee Wood (personal reasons).

Any replay would take place at Deal on Tuesday night, meaning that Sidley's league game at Eastbourne United Association that evening would be postponed.