Whitstable Town FC

BBC Radio Kent's Mike Green launches "THE SYKO CHALLENGE" a tribute game scheduled for Sunday 30th April at Hartsdown Park.

When you watch the amount of games that I do during a season, both as a fan and as a ?reporter?, you meet an awful lot of nice people as well as getting involved in clubs various battles. The year 2005 has been slightly different purely and simply because it?s been so depressing. The first half of the playing year saw nearly all Kent sides struggle, and ultimately saw four of them relegated. Fortunately as we get ready to go into 2006, on the field at least the county?s sides are in a great deal better position than even the most optimistic of supporter would have thought possible in August.

Off it however, we are collectively a good worse off after three tragic and untimely deaths during the year rocked the Kent football family! Just in the past month Doug Gillard, the Southern League Chairman, and former Ashford chairman passed away. Back in the early part of the year, the well liked and well loved Alan Lancaster sadly passed away. The former Ashford secretary was so respected that I know of at least one fellow secretary in the County who often spoke to Alan for advice.

Perhaps though the saddest of all our losses occurred on the field of play on Tuesday April 12th at Cheriton Road, when Paul Sykes suddenly died whilst playing for Folkestone against Margate (one of his former clubs, and ironically the club where he made his name). The out pouring of grief resulted in the KCFA deeming that last season?s final would be held in Paul?s memory. The only ?problem? with that was that only the players on duty in the Final were able to pay their respects to one of their own.