Memorial fund now at £20,000

THE bumper benefit night for the late James Duffell and Liam Cox has swelled the total amount of money raised in their memory by Sidley United to approximately £20,000 in less than six months.

The remarkable sum will be put towards a completely new stand or an extension of the present structure that will be named in the boys' honour.

Chairman Dickie Day admits he's been overwhelmed by the inundation of support. He said: "We've not done a definite count up but it must be getting on for 20,000. It's fantastic and if you'd said to me 'your going to raise this much' I wouldn't have believed it. The benefit night was a very good night and I know everyone put their hand in their pocket and the place was full of people who knew them, there were no outsiders there."

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The next phase of the programme is to investigate various stand designs and obtain three quotes in order for them to become eligible for grants from various bodies such as Sport England and the Lottery. Day added: "The club has written to a couple of firms that deal with stands and we've had a look at a couple of brochures but we need to seek advice."

He said there are no further fund raising initiatives planned at the moment but their efforts will continue over the summer months.

On the pitch, United bring the curtain down on their home programme with a visit from leaders Chichester City United on Saturday April 17 and joint manager Andy Laskey wants to conclude with a win for the supporters. "It would be nice to show the people who come up there every Saturday in all weathers just what we can do," he said.

Matt Dadswell and Lee Wood will be available again, Neil Maplesden should come back in and Jimmy Watson plays his last match of the season due to an impending suspension. Dave Carey (hamstring) won't play again this term.

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