Heading practice in Gatwick Airport car park was all Sittingbourne could salvage from a nightmare Saturday.

Air-traffic control issues meant their trip to Guernsey was postponed, after a near five-hour wait for a flight. Unable to finish the game in time to catch the last flight home, the Ryman League Division 1 South match was called off just after 11am.

“It was a nightmare,” said joint-boss Matt Wyatt (pictured), who had a 16-man squad assembled and ready to go.

“Some of us had been up since 4am for the flight and everyone was checked in by 7.30am. We were then told the flight would be delayed two hours and when it was eventually ready to leave, the game was called off.”

The kick-off was planned for 1pm, to allow Sittingbourne to return home on the same day but delays meant that was not possible and Wyatt believes it’s something the league need to look at.
“There needs to be a plan B,” he said. “We had 30-odd people flying out (including committee members) and there were supporters and parents as well, some who were making a weekend of it. They are all out of pocket now and so is the club, with parking and petrol costs.

“We all know there is a potential for a flight to be delayed and I don’t think this will be the only time it happens to a club heading to Guernsey."