It started as a way to encourage more supporters at Sunday’s game but has turned into a street battle.

New Ash Green III’s captain James Belsey put his skills as a graphic designer to good use and advertised the teams game against Swanscombe Tigers Reserves to improve on the usual attendance of just four.

He said: "Usually the under-eights on the pitch next to us have more people watching them.

"It's a big game so I just asked the guys if they wanted to put some posters out and about and try and get the attendance into double figures for a change.

"Most of the team are young lads and we're playing against adults - four of the guys work together in the Co-op."

But not wanting to let the young squad take all of the limelight, Swanscombe retaliated and set off to the village to post some messages of their own.

Plastered over New Ash Green signs and the carefully created posters advertising the game on Sunday was A4 sheets of paper which read ‘the tigers are coming’.

‘The Panda’ – who lead the mischief - was keen to share his activities on the clubs social media accounts.

He said:”I was sitting with the manager and he said ‘have you seen this?’ and showed me the posters.

“We didn’t know how to take it whether it was a bit of banter or a serious rivalry.

“I had an idea to go out and cover them up so we headed out on Wednesday.

“Last night the manager rang me and said they are covering our stickers and putting more up.

“We haven’t actually met yet so it’s going to be interesting tomorrow.”

Belsey, the veteran in the team at 33, lead some of his team out last night where they came across and defeated a bear who was part of the Panda's team.

The rivalry will come to a head tomorrow when the teams take to the pitch tomorrow at the Punch Croft Pavilion at 10.45am.