Applause to mark tragedy's tenth anniversary

Folkestone Invicta's fans, players and officials will hold a minute's silence before kicking off against Redhill in Ryman South today (Saturday) to mark the tenth anniversary of the tragic death of striker Paul Sykes.

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 28 later that evening at The William Harvey Hospital in Ashford.

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 the charity Cardiac Research in the Young (CRY) and the Ryman South club.

As well as the pre-match tribute on the pitch in front of their late player's family and friends including his widow Carly and son Thomas, officials were also planning further ceremonies in the Stripes Bar and the Wilf Armory Suite at the Fullicks Stadium.

Club press officer Mick Cork said: “I am delighted that Carly, Thomas and other family members and friends are going to be with us to mark our modest tribute to Paul. That tragic night still remains vivid in many memories and will live with most of us forever. It’s hard to believe that it really was 10 years ago.

“I went home in a state of complete shock and am still not sure how I managed to write something for my paper, the Folkestone Herald, in time for our deadline early the following morning.

“I can’t remember what I wrote, but it may well have been to dispute Bill Shankly’s famous ‘football’s more important than life or death’ quote. As much as we all love the game, it cannot be and Syko’s tragic loss put that very much into perspective.

“By the Thursday, as news got round, hundreds of flowers were left at the ground, close to the spot where Paul had collapsed. The weeks that followed brought out the very best from the local football and sporting community – especially between those from my home town, Folkestone, and his friends and family from Dover.

“His funeral at the family’s parish church in Buckland in Dover was one of the most moving I have ever experienced as representatives from clubs throughout the south of England spilled out into the packed churchyard to heard Carly’s brave and courageous eulogy to her late husband."

* Tune into this week's Non-League Show on BBC 5 Live for a live report from the Fullicks Stadium on the tributes to Sykes.

Follow us: @rymanleaguenews on Twitter | Ryman League group on Facebook