Vandals continue to plague Sidley

The goal nets have had to be replaced once again after the last set were shredded and hand rails around the Gullivers pitch have again been worked loose.

Supporters' club chairman Roger Lee said: "It's ridiculous. The groundsman is having to go around the pitch most mornings just in case there is any glass - it's getting beyond a joke."

The club has always been plagued by a mindless minority but the damage seems to have escalated in recent months with close to 2,000 being spent on covering the cost of repairing the stand roof, pitchside barriers, goal nets and break-ins to the tea bar, committee room and equipment shed.

On the field, Sidley visit East Preston on Saturday October 18 before welcoming high-flying neighbours Eastbourne Town for what should be an entertaining encounter on Tuesday night.

Joint manager Andy Laskey is looking for a positive response from his team in the wake of a self-inflicted 4-3 defeat at home to Sidlesham in the John O'Hara Cup at the weekend. "Hopefully we can forget about it," he said before turning his attention to the coming fixtures and in particular the visit of Town. "We tend to play better against good teams because when we play sides who play at a slow speed we struggle to beat them."