We can entertain Manchester United but not Three Bridges, says Sittingbourne chairman Maurice Dunk

SITTINGBOURNE have been forced to switch their opening Ryman League Division One South game of the season to another venue.


The Brickies’ wanted to play Three Bridges at their new base at Woodstock Sports’ Broadoak Road in rural Sittingbourne, but the ground did not acquire the appropriate ground grading in time.

Sittingbourne will now open their campaign at Whitstable Town’s Belmont Road ground instead, but hope to play at Woodstock when they welcome Walton & Hersham under floodlights on Tuesday 20 August.

Sittingbourne moved out of Bourne Park at the end of the season after playing 267 competitive games at the ground, the first being a Dr Martens (Southern) League Eastern Division match against Burnham on 17 August, with Roy Guiver going down in the history books as the first man to score a goal at the ground.

Sittingbourne won 102 times at Bourne Park, drawing 69 games and their 1-0 defeat to Ramsgate on the final day of the season was their 96^th defeat. Sittingbourne scored 354 goals at the ground, conceding 347.

Maurice Dunk, who has quit Southern Counties East Football League landlords Woodstock Sports to take over from Andy Spice as Sittingbourne’s new chairman during the close season, was naturally disappointed with the news after the two clubs worked together to improve facilities for spectators.

“Ground graders were very impressed with our set-up at Woodstock. We’re cleared to play FA Cup and FA Trophy ties at the ground,” he said in a statement.

“We’ve got some minor things to do before we can play Ryman League football on the 20^th August and they need to be done by next Tuesday 13^th. Once the minor things are done, ground graders will return straight away.”

Mr Dunk added: “We can entertain Manchester United in the third round of the FA Cup – but not Three Bridges in the League!”

Visit Sittingbourne’s website: www.sittingbournefc.co.uk

Sittingbourne  v  Three Bridges
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 10^th August 2013
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Belmont Road, Whitstable, Kent CT5 1QP