Politics and money talk set to be rudely interrupted by football at Priory Lane

Eastbourne Borough will play Hungerford tomorrow unless there's any late change of plan / Picture: Andy Pelling

The National South season resumes after a two-week pause, while the league’s funding issues – still not fully resolved – have been debated. There is no extension of that enforced break.

“We definitely expect to play our home fixture on Saturday,” CEO John Bonar told the Herald.

“As it happens, our Chairman Dave Blackmore works close to Hungerford in his day job, and he has sat down over a – distanced – coffee with their chairman. Like us, Hungerford are keen to keep the season going. They’ve booked their coach and they are looking forward to our game on Saturday.”

And for Bloor’s men, it’s as if they have never been away. “We have trained Tuesdays and Thursdays as normal, and we’re eager for a proper game,” said Bonar. “Our players are tested before every match and every training session, and although the turnstiles are still closed, I have the streaming link ready to go!”

Although short of actual competition, the Sports conjured up the next best thing last Thursday, with a full-scale friendly – permitted under the regulations – against a very strong Queens Park Rangers XI. The first half was close but goalless, and then Borough surprised their Championship guests with a storming second half performance.

Goals from Charlie Lambert and James Vaughan clinched a 2-1 victory, and Bloor was delighted. “We saw some terrific individual performances, including from several of our younger players. They are bursting with talent, and they are proof that our future is really bright.”

And ironically, with no actual spectators in the ground, the live stream on the Borough YouTube channel drew an astonishing 3,200 viewers. The appetite and enthusiasm among the Sports’ loyal supporters is evidently as keen as ever.

Hungerford will arrive at the Lane as one of the season’s surprise packages. With an inexperienced squad under a new young manager, the Crusaders were widely expected to flounder in National South, but they have punctured a few reputations and are challenging for a play-off place. All we need now, of course, is the completion of the league’s season – and a set of play-offs in happier times and sunnier spring weather!