Bognor decide against festive friendlies with Chichester City

The new Covid restrictions have led them to scrap plans to play Chichester City in a showcase friendly match at Nyewood Lane over the festive period.

Rocks manager Jack Pearce and coach Robbie Blake were in discussions with Oaklands Park supremo Miles Rutherford to stage the game to help keep players ticking over and to provide a football fix for the area in light of Isthmian League football being still suspended.

But having scrutinised the latest government guidelines the Nye Camp hierarchy have decided to call time on all football activity.

Rocks general manager Simon Cook explained: "A game against Chichester City would have been ideal and we were even talking about a reverse fixture over the New Year holiday, too. But we have a number of players in the new Tier 4 areas and realise we have supporters who might travel too -- and so in all honesty it would be folly to play the game.

"We have a duty of care to players and fans and although there is some disappointment that we cannot see the team in action we really have to follow our social responsibility and suspend football indefinitely.

"We will of course keep supporters put to speed with any news from Nyewood Lane and in the meantime we would like to wish everyone a merry Christmas. We'll see you all soon and when it is safe to do so. Up the Rocks!"