SYKO CHALLENGE: CHRIS KINNEARS REDS 1 CLIVE WALKERS BLUES 3 - KENT STARS TRIBUTES

As we all know, Sykes collapsed and later died whilst playing in last season’s Kent Senior Cup semi-final for Folkestone Invicta against one of his former clubs, Margate.

Therefore, Tuesday 12^th April 2005 will go down as the darkest ever day in Kent footballing history, when we lost the much-loved 28-year-old GENTLEMAN, whose played for Gillingham, Welling United, Margate, Dover Athletic, Dartford and Folkestone Invicta.

Last season’s Kent Senior Cup Final, played at Folkestone Invicta’s Cheriton Road, which saw Margate defeat Dover Athletic by two goals to one, attracted a crowd of 2,374 as everyone paid their tributes.

But due to competition rules only players from the two competing clubs were allowed to play, so BBC Radio Kent’s Mike Green and Margate’s Steve Wells have worked tirelessly during the course of this season to arrange today’s SYKO CHALLENGE.

Managers and players that have played with and against the much loved player turned out in force today as Chris Kinnear - a Margate Legend - and Dover Athletic boss Clive Walker selected stars from the Kent game to play a tribute match in his honour.

They came onto the pitch through a guard of honour made up of Margate’s and Dover based St Margarets’ under thirteen’s sides.

Sykes had coached St Margarets as well as playing other sports such as golf and cricket.

Having been defeated by Fisher Athletic 2-0 in the Kent Youth League earlier in the day, Margate bounced back and thumped their St Margarets’ counterparts 7-0 - with five goals coming in the first half at the “Coffin End” of the ground.

A warm welcome greeted Chris Kinnear’s Reds and Clive Walker’s Blue’s. In fact Walker’s side were wearing a lime green strip.

Both teams lined up together in the middle of the lush Hartsdown Park playing surface for photographs and a minutes applause erupted around the ground before kick-off.

The Margate faithful then started to sing their favourite songs as their heroes from the past returned to their spiritual home.

And it was Margate Legend, Phil Collins, who built up a brilliant partnership with Sykes during Margate’s Southern League days, that gave Kinnear’s Reds the lead after 21 minutes, rifling a shot into the top left hand corner from eight yards following Mark Harrop’s cross from the right after good work from current Margate star, Bill Edwards.

But Clive Walker’s side drew level on the half-hour mark, when Dartford’s Steve Hafner rifled a shot past Lee Turner after a low square pass from Gillingham’s Danny Spiller.

Two goals inside three second half minutes from Spiller gave Walker’s side a 3-1 victory.

First he tapped home at the far post from five yards before lobbing the ball over James Simpson - whose expected to return to Dartford next season following a year out of the game - and into the top far corner of the net to wrap up the victory in the 64^th minute.

During the half-time break, a penalty shoot out was won by BBC Radio Kent’s sports team’s presenters - beating a selection of Kent football managers 4-3.

Ramsgate boss Jim Ward blamed his shoes as the reason he skied the first penalty high over Charlie Mitten’s crossbar.

The Margate goalkeeper then saw Matt Davison blaze his penalty over.

But Dartford manager Tony Burman found the bottom far corner to open the scoring.

Jamie Reid, however, struck a sweet penalty into the corner to bring the presenters level.

Welling United manager, Adrian Pennock, the only person wearing a football strip, also found the corner.

Gemma Sterba’s spot-kick rolled into the bottom left hand corner, leaving Mitten rooted to the spot. She claimed it was the best penalty of the contest!

But after taking some banter from the public address announcer, Clive Walker’s left-footed penalty was tipped around the left upright by a diving Mitten.

Bill Rice gave BBC Radio Kent a 3-2 lead, drilling an exquisite spot kick into the corner before Steve Sodje, who received a good reception from the fans, also scored.

And Mike Green crashed a right-footed penalty against the underside of the crossbar, and despite dropping the wrong side of the goal-line the goal was awarded so the radio presenters came through victorious.

Today was about fans, managers and players paying their tributes - watching and playing the game we are all very passionate about.  The Beautiful Game.

“I thought it was a great day,” said Clive Walker afterwards. “A good crowd, a decent game and a lot of players played.”

Speaking about Sykes, he added: “He was a character. No doubt about it and it’s been a great response for him, and rightly so.”

Walker takes his Dover Athletic side to Metropolitan Police tomorrow (3pm) as they aim to get into the play-off final.

He will, however, be without Danny Chapman and James Rogers, who are both suspended, with Shane Hamshare and Daniel Braithwaite ruled out through injury.

“We’ve got James Dryden back in scoring goals, we’ve had one or two back,” Walker said. “They’ve got to do it in the next two matches or one match or whatever we have to play.

“But we’ve got back to our strongest side. It’s put us back into contention really.”

Walker, whose done very well to claw the Whites back into contention, added “I’m just worried about tomorrow to be honest. Not worried who we play after that. It’s down to what we do tomorrow really.”

Looking ahead to their game at Imber Court, Walker expects fate will play a strong hand.

“It’s a big game for us - it all comes down to fate now quite honestly. It comes very quick as well so hopefully we can get the result.”

When asked if he can handle the pressure, Walker replied: “I think at Dover you’ve got no choice - you have pressure all the time.

“I’ve had it all season, I’ve had it ever since I’ve been came here nine years ago. It’s always been the same at Dover. It’s never been any different at any club I’ve been to if I’m honest.”

Welling United manager Adrian Pennock admitted there is a rivalry between players, clubs and fans but there is a strong link with everyone once the football has finished.

He said: “It’s been a great day. The sun shone for us, the crowd turned up and it was a great occasion for everybody. It’s just a privilege to be here really.

“It was such a tragedy but everyone has to look forward now. Obviously Paul will never be forgotten but it was emotional especially at the end there when Carly was up there with the Sykes’ brothers as well.”

The former Gillingham player praised Mike Green, Steve Wells and everyone involved in today’s SYKO CHALLENGE.

“Mike Green and everybody whose organised this event should be very proud of themselves,” he said. “Like I say it’s been an emotional day but a very good day.”

Chatham Town midfielder Steve Best felt he had to play for one of his own.

“The whole day, the amount of players that turned up, just proved what everyone thought of Paul really - a brilliant day,” he said.

“It was a good game with a few people having a laugh out there but that’s what it’s all about.

“Paul used to play 110% like everyone else but we all enjoyed it. He’ll be looking down on us saying thanks very much.

“We are all like a big family really. When you look around everyone knows everyone and we all do it for each other.”

Scott Lindsey, whose played for Maidstone United and Folkestone Invicta this season, revealed why he needed to be at Hartsdown Park today.

“It meant a lot of things to me really,” said the 34-year-old midfielder. “I moved down to Gillingham about twelve years ago and moved in with Paul and lived with him for a small while and he was the first person I met in Kent.

“He meant a lot to me. To turn up and see a lot of players I’ve played with and against over the years - I’ve been looking forward to it for a couple of weeks now.

“Things like this everyone rallied round together and I think it’s been fantastic.”

But Chris Kinnear, a Legend in this part of the world, for what he’s achieved in the ten years at the club before his departure earlier in the month, reminisced on the good times.

When asked what today meant to him, Kinnear replied: “It meant we could all celebrate Paul’s contribution to football and the type of person he was.

“It was great for his wife Carly and son Thomas and his brothers who played all the game for us, which was great. His mother and father were there and his close friends.

“As I say a lot of managers from Kent football, a lot of ex and current players and it just shows you Kent football, even though its had a bad couple of years, hopefully it can get together now and we can all move on.”

Kinnear admitted he had to return to Hartsdown Park despite his shock departure following their 1-1 draw with Windsor & Eton earlier in the month.

“Today’s all about Paul and there’s no doubt I wanted to be here for him,” he said. “He did a great job for me when he was playing here, a great lad, it’s just so sad that this is what we’re here for but everyone remembers it was his day and a good day and that’s the main thing.”

After the match, Mike Green presented Carly Sykes with shirts from all six clubs Paul has played for. The players were thanked for giving up their Sunday afternoon before the Kentish Football family joined together in the clubhouse to share some memories and talk about the game we love the most.

As Kent football waved goodbye to Chris Kinnear today, we would all like to wish him all the very best for the future.

* Players, managers and fans, who attended today’s SYKO CHALLENGE, can send in their views by clicking on CONTACT US.

REST IN PEACE PAUL - GONE BUT NEVER FORGOTTEN!