Ashford United plan to switch their opening Southern Counties League East fixture to opponents Beckenham Town on Saturday week due to continued delays in installing their 3G pitch at Homelands caused by Operation Stack.

Owner and project manager Don Crosbie hoped to have the job completed earlier this month but there were delays in shipping the surface to the UK and a hold-up in customs, before it was eventually delivered late last week.

Now things have been compounded by Stack, meaning 3,500 tons of materials needed to finish the job have also been affected, with the final load expected yesterday (Wednesday).

Mr Crosbie said: “Stack is making things a complete nightmare and I wish our government would step in and do something about it.”

“We are not worse off by any means because I was talking to two guys this week, who haven’t been able to work for four days.”

He added: “We have approached Beckenham already about switching the game. The league are aware of the situation and helping us as well.
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We could cut corners but want to get the pitch down and get it right.”

United are due to send a side to Kennington tonight (Thursday, 7pm).

Ashford have moved their friendly against Hythe to Reachfields on Saturday (3pm).