Sadly Canterbury City have requested relegation from the South Counties East Football League Division One due to issues with finding a ground. We all wish them well and particularly thank them for their hospitality on the Clapton CFC Men’s First Team’s visit there this season.

Their relegation – assuming it’s accepted – is likely to have a knock-on effect on the promotion picture as Canterbury are currently in third place. Rather than second to fifth qualifying for the play-offs, sixth place is now likely to be the final play-off spot.

So will this be a lifeline for CCFC, currently in seventh place? Probably not. Saturday’s defeat at sixth-placed Sheppey Sports leaves us five points behind them and having played a game more.

Even winning all four of our remaining games – two at home vs Welling Town and Forest Hill Park, and two away at Staplehurst Monarchs and Lewisham Borough – is unlikely to be enough. We would be relying on a major blip in form at one of Sheppey Sports, Soul Tower Hamlets or Croydon.

However, hitting form ourselves ahead of the SCEFL Division One Trophy final against Forest Hill Park is going to be important and Geoff Ocran’s team will want to finish on a high and lift the cup.