Pay what you like at Pilot Field

It’s take three for the Ryman Football League Division One South fixture after it was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch on November 9 and then controversially abandoned for the same reason on December 16.

Because of that, spectators will be able to pay what they choose tonight. United will be required to cover Walton & Hersham’s travelling costs and those of the match officials, but any surplus proceeds will be donated to St Michael’s Hospice.

“I think that’s a very good gesture by the club,” said United manager Terry White. “I’ll get a few quid out of the players for that as well.”

United will be eager to resume their league campaign following the postponement of Saturday’s scheduled visit from Faversham Town following all the rain of the preceding days and groundsman Simon Rudkins confirmed on Twitter this morning that the pitch is playable.

The U’s have slipped to fourth in the table having lost three of their five league games since Christmas, although a win tonight would move them level on points with third-placed Guernsey having played three fewer matches.

Walton & Hersham, who were 3-1 down when the fixture was abandoned after 61 minutes during December, have drifted down to 16th as a result of gaining just one point in seven outings since the end of November.

White has brought in four players - Josh Jirbandey, Tom O’Connor, Josh Oyinsan and Frankie Sawyer - since taking over the managerial reins a week ago and it will be interesting to see how many of them feature tonight. Kick-off at The Pilot Field is 7.45pm.