Sykes tragedy marked alongside Hillsborough

Folkestone Invicta were hoping their fans would mark the ninth anniversary on Saturday of the collapse on the pitch and death hours later of striker Paul Sykes by donating to the charity Cardiac Research in the Young.

Along with the rest of football, Invicta’s 2-1 Ryman South win over Corinthian Casuals kicked off at 3.07pm as a mark of respect for the 96 Liverpool fans who died at Hillsborough 25 years ago on Tuesday (April 15, 1989) and officials also used the fixture to mark the club’s own tragedy by raising funds among fans.

Sykes, pictured, was taken ill at Cheriton Road on April 12, 2005, an hour into a Kent Senior Cup semi-final against his former club Margate. Despite the best efforts of Invicta physio Dave Williams and paramedics to revive him before doctors took over, he passed away aged 29 later that evening at The William Harvey Hospital in Ashford.

Invicta withdrew from the cup but were honoured to stage the final between two of their late player’s former clubs, Dover Athletic and Margate, at Cheriton Road on Bank Holiday Monday, May 2, 2005.

In the wake of his death, his family and friends led by his brother Pat, himself a professional national league rugby union star, began fundraising for Cry and club.

After collecting for the charity and publicising its work at the weekend, officials hope fans who remember the popular player will carry on donating or even start fundraising themselves for the charity which has been in the headlines since the collapse and subsequent recovery of former Bolton star Fabrice Muambo in an FA Cup against Spurs on 2012.

A club spokesman said: "We realise there are numerous calls on your hard-earned cash but please give generously to support CRY which has such significance for Invicta and our fondly remembered hero Paul Sykes."