East Sussex League ready for restart - but Kent clubs may have a problem

The campaign will restart this Saturday after a five-week suspension due to the second national lockdown, which ended today.

But two of the league's clubs - Hawkhurst United and Sandhurst - are based just over the county border in Kent, which means they are under tier three government restrictions as opposed to the tier two status of East Sussex. Some teams in East Sussex also have players who live in Kent.

As of this morning, the league is still awaiting clarification from the Sussex County FA as to whether these teams and players will be able to get back in action this weekend.

Fixture secretary Kevin Bray said: "We're waiting on advice from the government and Sussex FA regarding teams, players and referees crossing the (county) border. If they can't cross the border, it means teams in Kent can't play against teams from Sussex.

"The Sussex FA have raised the matter with the FA to negotiate with the government over what's allowed and what isn't. It's probably happening all around the country where there's a border between tier two and three.

"It's a shame but one has to appreciate these tiers are there for a reason. You can only go from Sussex to Kent for certain reasons and we don't know yet if this is one of them.

"I don't think most of our teams will have players from the Kent area. It's the village teams inland that may have players from both sides of the border.

"As far as we're concerned, the majority of games should go ahead this week. But some of the games may not go ahead."

With the tier system set to be in place until March, Bray admits it will be "a big problem" if players and clubs in Kent aren't permitted to resume playing.

He added: "Nobody's raised any concerns about having to go into Kent. Everyone wants to get the games played, it's just whether they're allowed to."

Despite not a single game being played in the whole of November - when, frustratingly, the weather was favourable - Bray is still hopeful of completing the season.

"We still think we're okay at the moment, provided we don't get a winter like last year," continued Bray.

"We probably would've got four good weekends played with all the games played (during November) - that's about 20 per cent of the season. We would've been well ahead (with the fixtures)."

The Southern Combination League, for example, hasn't scheduled any games for this weekend to allow clubs and players the opportunity to do a small amount of training before resuming matches next week.

But with almost all of its teams not possessing floodlights, and midweek fixtures therefore not possible until the latter part of the season, the East Sussex League has decided to press ahead with matches straightaway.

Bray said: "Everyone's in the same boat and we can't really say 'we'll give you a couple of weeks off for training' because that's another two weeks of the season gone and our teams can't play midweek.

"We will play games when we can play games. If the weather looks good, we've got to get games played. Nobody wants to do what we did last season and have to cancel the whole thing."

As he said previously, catching up on the league programme is Bray's priority and the schedule for the next three Saturdays is made up entirely of league fixtures. There won't be any cup matches until January 9.

Saturday December 5 fixtures (2pm kick-off unless stated) - Premier Division: Battle Town v Bexhill Town, Crowhurst v Rock-a-Nore, Northiam 75 v St Leonards Social, Robertsbridge United v Hawkhurst United, Wadhurst United v Punnetts Town.

Division 1: South Coast Athletico v Peche Hill Select (1.30pm), Bexhill AAC v Victoria Baptists, Rye Town v Battle Town, Sedlescombe Rangers II v The JC Tackleway.

Division 2: Catsfield v Northiam 75 II, Mountfield United v Bexhill Rovers, Peche Hill Select v SC Pass + Move Arrows, St Leonards Social II v Westfield II, Little Common II v Herstmonceux (3.30pm).

Division 3: AFC Hollington v Robertsbridge United II, Hawkhurst United II v Old Town Lions, Sandhurst v Bexhill AAC II, The JC Tackleway II v Hampden Park.

Division 4: Battle Town III v Sovereign Saints II, Hooe v Sedlescombe Rangers development, Parkfield v Magham Down, Welcroft Park Rangers v Icklesham Casuals, West Hill United v Orington.

Division 5: Hastings Comets v AFC Hollington II, Herstmonceux II v Ticehurst, Welcroft Park Rangers II v Wadhurst United II.

League standings (played-points) - Premier Division: Crowhurst 8-16, Northiam 75 7-13, St Leonards Social 7-11, Wadhurst United 6-11, Rock-a-Nore 7-10, Battle Town 4-9, Punnetts Town 5-7, Hawkhurst United 5-7, Robertsbridge United 6-4, Bexhill Town 7-0.

Division 1: South Coast Athletico 7-16, The JC Tackleway 7-16, Bexhill AAC 5-13, Sedlescombe Rangers II 7-8, Rye Town 6-6, Battle Town II 5-5, Sidley United II 8-5, Peche Hill Select 4-4, Victoria Baptists 5-2.

Division 2: Little Common II 6-18, Bexhill Rovers 6-12, Catsfield 4-10, Herstmonceux 8-10, Westfield II* 7-9, SC Pass + Move Arrows 4-9, Northiam 75 II* 6-6, Peche Hill Select II 6-6, St Leonards Social II 4-3, Mountfield United 5-0.

Division 3: AFC Hollington 5-12, Bexhill AAC II 5-12, Sandhurst 4-10, Hastings United Youth 6-9, Old Town Lions 4-7, Hawkhurst United II 6-6, Hampden Park 7-6, The JC Tackleway II 3-3, Robertsbridge United II 4-0.

Division 4: Icklesham Casuals 7-15, Hooe 7-14, Sovereign Saints II 6-14, Welcroft Park Rangers 6-12, Parkfield 6-7, Sedlescombe Rangers development 6-6, Magham Down 5-6, Orington 7-5, Battle Town III 5-4, West Hill United 3-0.

Division 5: AFC Hollington II 5-13, Wadhurst United II 4-10, Hastings Comets 4-9, Ticehurst 5-6, Herstmonceux II 6-6, Welcroft Park Rangers II 5-3, Hampden Park u23* 7-3. West Hill United II withdrawn. * = points adjusted