Beavers Reschedule Met Game To Pull In A Crowd

HAMPTON & RICHMOND chairman Steve McPherson hopes budging his club’s midweek fixture with Met Police to tonight could help attract more support.

The Beavers were due to play the Boys in Blue yesterday – but the game clashed with England’s World Cup qualifier in Ukraine.

McPherson feared a much lower gate so took the decision to put the game back 24 hours.

Hampton slipped into the bottom four following Saturday’s 3-1 defeat to Maidstone but with Jimmy Cooper’s Met struggling for form as well, three points are crucial with both clubs still having designs on the play-offs.

The chairman said: “Like all clubs we are conscious of the impact international games and other big live matches have on Non-League football and its crowds.

“We decided to move the match to the Wednesday to allow our fans to watch both – even if perhaps some may have wished they didn’t turn on the TV last night!

“Hopefully we will see an upturn in fortunes and another good crowd. We welcomed nearly 800 supporters for Non-League Day, which was tremendous. It’s vital that those new faces keep coming back and they get behind the team.

“It’s not been a good start from us but now is the time the players should stand up and be counted.”

It’s not the only Ryman Premier game tonight. Title-chasing Maidstone United will be favourites to see off bottom club Cray Wanderers at Hayes Lane, while Dulwich will fancy adding to their four wins so far with victory at another of the early-season strugglers, Thamesmead Town.