Last December, Erith Town hosted Punjab United in a South East Counties Football League Premier Division fixture at Erith Stadium.
Although it was a league match and the points important, The Dockers are a community club and rather than taking admission over the turnstiles, they asked that people bring food items that could be donated to the Bexley Foodbank for people who live locally and have to use the facility.
So successful was the day that Erith Town are repeating this again, when they host Crowborough Athletic on Saturday 30th November.
Erith Town Chairman Mark Deveney moved the club back to Erith last season, as they were previously ground-sharing with VCD Athletic in Crayford when he took over. They have also equalled their best ever F.A. Cup and Vase records in that time and finished Sixth in the league last season.
The club continues to grow as a community club and now has eight youth sides in Selkent and Kent Youth League. They also run the Dockers Community Scheme, which provides coaching for boys and girls to play football every Saturday morning in Erith at King Henry School.
Mr Deveney said ‘The club is growing at a great pace and is expanding both on and off the pitch each season. We are very ambitious at The Dockers, but it is important to us to ensure that we take the local community with us at the same time.
“I have had numerous meetings with Bexley Council and other local stakeholders to ensure that everyone knows the club and understands what we can do for the local community here. It is essential that everyone is able to share our vision for the club and also to bring some success to Erith. Supporting Bexley Foodbank is just another indication that when we start a project we stay fully committed to it.”
For the Crowborough game, the food that will be accepted on the turnstile are non-perishable items (minimum four items per person). Any contributions will be gratefully received and could make a big difference for the festive period.