Footballers from Coxheath B (in blue and black) and Fleet Leisure (in red) play in a charity match that descended into a brawl

by Chris Hunter

A charity football match descended into a punch-up on the pitch.

The memorial tournament for former Larkfield and New Hythe Sports Club president Ray Clifton was to generate funds for Cancer Research UK.

But it also raised fists, several desperate defensive blocks and eyebrows from the sidelines.

Dumbfounded spectators and fellow footballers looked on in horror at the club ground in New Hythe Lane as players from the Coxheath B (in blue) and Fleet Leisure from Gravesend (in red) began trading blows - for reasons that no one is too sure about.

Fleet Leisure had been 2-0 up - and top of their group - with only a few minutes to go when the fighting started.

"The game was nearly finished," said a witness. "Someone rushed out and onto the pitch and went for one of the players.

"There were punches being thrown but they couldn’t land any. It was soon over - no more than half a minute."

"someone rushed out and onto the pitch and went for one of the players..." – witness to the football brawl

But he said he did not see what sparked the incident.

Players from Maidstone’s Star United then rushed on to the pitch to help break things up, but got sucked into the dispute too.

Larkfield and New Hythe Club chairman Tony Birchard was also unsure about the cause of the fracas, but suspected it was over a misunderstanding when one player "cuffed" another in reaction to a comment - causing a spectator to run on.

He said the two teams wrapped up in the brawl were "slung out and told to leave the ground" and he had demanded apologies in writing.

But he added: "It didn’t spoil the event. It went on. It was a great day, and I’ve got emails from people saying what a success it was."

The club hopes to make the tournament - which involved 15 teams including teams such as Aylesford, Coxheath, Ditton and Headcorn - an annual event and expand it into a fun day for the whole community.

Fleet Leisure manager Lee Richmond said his team "had no reason to start trouble" because they were on the verge of qualifying for the semi-finals.

Some confusion had been caused, among spectators, by the fact Coxheath B were playing in the blue strip of Langley and Chart.

The Coxheath spokesman said he did not wish to comment.