Lingfield fixture to be played at Fort Road

Saturday’s SCFL Premier Division fixture at Lingfield has been moved to the Trafalgar Ground due our opponents’ ongoing issues with their home ground.

Lingfield have been unable to play at their Godstone Road ground for the past two seasons due to the ‘drainage and severe weather conditions’ and have been playing their home matches at Oakwood FC’s Tinsley Lane ground so far this season, but said in a statement on their website: “The club were given dispensation to play all our matches until the end of this month at Oakwood FC based on an expectation of returning to our ground at Godstone Road.

“The club has been told that as this ground is not to the level of football we play at – non-league Step 5 – we must seek an alternative ground for the First Team to add to our problems. The club is currently dealing with this.”

The club have set up a JustGiving page on which they state: “We’ve been unable to play at our home ground for the past two seasons due to the drainage and severe weather conditions. A generous grant of £230,000 has been secured to install new drainage to the entire field, but ironically, the weather has once again defeated us, and this vital work cannot commence until spring.

“​​​​​​​This leaves us in a difficult position: we have no home ground or funds to sustain us through the season. Each match for our first team and under-23s costs £500 just to kick off, and without gate income or bar revenue, we are struggling to make ends meet.

“Simply put, we’re fighting to keep the club afloat. If we can survive this season, we’ll be back at home next year, generating our own funds and continuing to serve the community as we always have. We’re reaching out to everyone who has played, volunteered, or even just enjoyed a match or two with us over the years. Your children or grandchildren may play here one day, and your support now will ensure that the club is still here for future generations. Now is the time to give back, if you can.”

Lingfield will ‘host’ the game at the Trafalgar Ground, free of charge, and will keep all gate money received from entry and the sale of programmes. There will also be a collection bucket going round the ground to raise money towards the club’s survival.

The match kicks off at the usual time of 3pm, with Newhaven in their blue away colours and Lingfield in their traditional red and yellow.