Buckland fumes at FA Cup and league schedule

Horsham YMCA manager Peter Buckland has blasted their schedule despite keeping their unbeaten start to the season going.
By The Newsroom
Published 4th Sep 2015, 13:30 BST
FA Cup: Horsham YMCA v AFC Croydon Athletic (Pics of manager Peter Buckland). SR1519747 Pic Steve Robards SUS-150817-124423001FA Cup: Horsham YMCA v AFC Croydon Athletic (Pics of manager Peter Buckland). SR1519747 Pic Steve Robards SUS-150817-124423001
FA Cup: Horsham YMCA v AFC Croydon Athletic (Pics of manager Peter Buckland). SR1519747 Pic Steve Robards SUS-150817-124423001

The Gorings Mead side set up a clash in the first qualifying round of the FA Cup with Ryman League Burgess Hill thanks to a 4-2 win away to Erith Town on Sunday, before preserving their fine start in the Southern Combination League on Tuesday night.

They played out a 0-0 draw at local rivals Broadbridge Heath to make it 11 points from their opening five games. But Buckland fumed: “I think that it’s disgraceful that we finish in South East London at 6pm on a Sunday night, representing the Sussex League in the FA Cup, and then after 24-hours rest, we’re pitched into a local derby.

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“I would have liked for the game to have been played Wednesday night, just to give us that chance of an extra day. I think it is a big ask to come here and play in a local derby that close to an FA Cup game.

“But we’re still unbeaten in the league and we’re still quite a few points better off than we were this time last year. I’m really grateful now for a few days off.”

“I’m not going to train the players on Thursday ahead of the FA Vase on Saturday (against FC Elemstead).

“Then we’re down at Southwick next Tuesday, where we’ll rest a few ready for Burgess Hill in the FA Cup on the Saturday.”

Related topics:Burgess HillSouthwick