Eighth-tier English club forced to call off fixture due to international call-ups

Lancing were due to make the short trip to face Three Bridges in the Isthmian League South East Division

Harry Latham-Coyle
Friday 11 October 2024 14:37 BST
Comments
Lancing play their home games at Culver Road
Lancing play their home games at Culver Road (The FA via Getty Images)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

A club in the eighth tier of English football has been forced to call off a fixture due to a number of international call-ups.

Lancing, based in West Sussex, had been due to make the short trip to face Three Bridges in the South East Division of the Isthmian League on Saturday.

Midfielder Knory Scott and forward Luke Robinson have both been called up to the Bermuda squad, though, and will instead be 3,500 miles away facing Dominica in the Concacaf Nations League.

To compound matters, squad members Charlie Gibson and Sam Bull will be playing six-a-side for England at the World Minifootball Federation U23 World Cup in Croatia.

“It’s ridiculous for a club at this level,” Lancing chairman Barry Sutton told BBC Sport.

“To have one person called up [Scott, last year] was something we celebrated, but to have four off in the same week is unheard of.”

Lancing sit 20th in the league with four points from their first eight games. The club are playing at their highest level in history having been founded in 1941.

Winger Scott was signed from Hastings last summer and was joined by international colleague Robinson, a former Brighton youth player, ahead of the start of this season.

“Knory is a lovely lad - quiet. You couldn’t hope to meet a nicer guy,” Sutton said. “Luke has been around a lot of clubs at a higher level.

“To have international players is something we’re enormously proud of. We’ve got a Bermuda flag which we hang up behind one of the goals each home game.”

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in