THE proceeds from a soccer cup final are to go to the widow and son of Paul Sykes, the Folkestone Invicta footballer who died after collapsing during a match.

The John Ullmann Kent Senior Cup final between Dover Athletic and Margate will be played at the Westbourne Stadium, Cheriton Road, Folkestone, on Monday, May 2 (Kick off 3pm).

Neil Cugley, manager of Folkestone Invicta, said: "All the proceeds from this game will go to Paul's wife, Carly, and their young son, Thomas."

Mr Cugley stressed: "Syko, as he was known, was one of the bubbliest, sparkiest characters in Kent football, having had spells with Gillingham, Welling United, Margate, Dover Athletic, Herne Bay and Folkestone Invicta.

"He had only been with us a matter of months, but it was our privilege to have him playing for us and to get to know him during that time.

"Tributes to him have been pouring in and are already well into the hundreds. He had an almost unqiue rapport with the fans.

"From the tributes received, it is clear how tremendously popular Paul he was around the county and much further afield. He was someone who played the game hard but was the first to share a laugh and a joke afterwards."

He added: "We want to make the Kent Senior Cup Final a day to remember for his family and hope that as many players, former players, club officials and supporters will come along to the game which could be as much a celebration of Kent football as a celebration of Paul's tragically all too short life."

A post mortem has been carried out but the result was inconclusive. Further analysis is necessary in order to establish the cause of death. An inquest into Mr Sykes’ death is due to be opened on Wednesday, April 20, at Ashford.

Arrangements have been made for 28-year-old Paul's funeral. It will take place at St Andrew's Church, Buckland, Dover, at 1.30pm on Friday, April 22, followed by cremation at Barham at 2.30pm. Family flowers only.

Football clubs and supporters are still trying to come to terms with the tragedy. Paul was playing for Folkestone in a Kent Senior Cup semi-final against Margate when he collapsed. He was taken to Ashford’s William Harvey Hospital where he died.

Paul was a prolific goalscorer with Gillingham’s youth team before being released. He later forged a potent partnership with another ex-Dart, Martin Buglione at Margate.

Despite suffering serious ankle and knee injuries, he later went on to play for Dover and Dartford.

The big striker played for Darts for 15 months after former manager Tommy Sampson signed him from his home town club Dover.

He left the club earlier this season to join Folkestone after changing jobs to become a milkman, which curtailed his travelling.

A devastated Sampson said: "I received a phone call late on Tuesday night telling me that Paul had died. I just couldn’t believe it.

"In his time at Dartford he was fully committed to the club. At times he was over committed and I made him captain in an effort to calm him down.

"He was a warrior who played on adrenalin and gave nothing less than 100 per cent to Dartford Football Club.

"I remember beating King’s Lynn last season when he virtually played them on his own. He was one of those players who stuck out his chest and got stuck in.

"Off the park he was totally different. He didn’t smoke, didn’t drink and could be quite sensitive.

"I last saw him 10 days ago at Hempstead Valley Golf. My thoughts are with his wife Carly and their baby. This is such a tragedy."

Paul lived in London Road, Dover. He was a former pupil at Dover's Archers Court School.

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*Margate manager Chris Kinnear spoke to kmfm sports editor Simon Watts about the tragedy...