Eastbourne Borough are putting aside their red and black kit - for a very good cause.

But they will not be changing the hard-working approach which has taken them into the play-off places.

Borough will wear all white at home to Maidstone today as part of the No More Red message in the battle against knife crime.

They are following the example of Arsenal, who did similar recently.

Borough boss Danny Bloor and his players all support the campaign.

They expect a large and youthful crowd to be present to take in the message.

But Borough have plenty of reason to be bringing in the fans after moving back into the Vanarama National League south play-off places.

Only Dorking Wanderers have more points than Sports in 2022.

Bloor said: “We just all do our jobs.

“I make no secret, the chairman has said it’s one of the club’s lowest budgets for a number of years. We just get on with it.

“I’m very fortunate to have some quality loan players.

“We sold Charley Kendall and he has come back to his on loan from Lincoln City.

“Add that to Trent Mahorn from Chris Ramsay at QPR, Omer Riza at Watford has let me have Dom Hutchinson.

“Carl Fletcher and Tommy Elphick at Bournemouth have let me have Luke Nippard.

“And Mark Robinson, the AFC Wimbledon manager, has let me have Jack Currie.

“The relationships we are building with those clubs are enabling us to compete.

 

 

“These loan boys are hungry. They are driven, they want to succeed in the game and they are bringing a hunger and learning all the time.

“They are keen to learn off our experienced players.”

Bloor will not be talking up Borough as promotion contenders.

He said: “We just go about our business in the right manner. We work extremely hard.

“I’m fortunate to have such a good management team.

“One of our major strengths has been the analysis we do with Teddy (his son).

“Do we over-achieve? I’m not sure I like that word. We just do what we do.

“My target at the start of the season was to get 40 points.

“We have 39 now with 15 games to go.

“Once we get to that target, it enables you to be brave in your team selection, be brave in your substitutions.

“Most importantly, everybody seems to be enjoying it.”

Borough hope enjoyment today helps spread a serious message.

Rachel Skuse, leader of East Sussex County Council’s KnowKnives campaign, said: “We work for safer communities, and our purpose is to educate, to support positive action, to raise awareness of the consequences of carrying knives.

“We totally support No More Red and we really welcome the football club’s involvement.”

Bloor added: “Every member of my squad is on board with this campaign.

“They will pull on those white kits with all their usual appetite for the action, but with an extra pride that they’ll be making a positive statement. Our lads are role models and examples, and they take that very seriously.

“We have a half-term soccer school next week at the Lane, with young Charley Kendall among the coaches – now there’s a role model for them!

"We want this game to be one huge, echoing shout for sport and sportsmanship and everything that’s good.”

The special edition white kit will be auctioned, with all proceeds to local charities who tackle the root causes of youth violence.

TODAY'S GAMES (3pm)

Vanarama National League south: Eastbourne Borough v Maidstone.

Pitching In Isthmian League, premier division: Carshalton v Lewes, Horsham v Kingstonian, Leatherhead v Bognor, Merstham v Worthing.

Isthmian south east: Burgess Hill v Ramsgate, Chichester v Cray Valley, Corinthian v Lancing, East Grinstead v Whitehawk, Herne Bay v Haywards Heath, Sittingbourne v Hastings, Three Bridges v Hythe.

SCFL premier: AFC Varndeanian v Hassocks, Alfold v Little Common, Bexhill v Loxwood, Broadbridge Heath v Eastbourne Town, Crawley Down Gatwick v Littlehampton postponed, East Preston v Uckfield, Eastbourne United v Horsham YMCA, Lingfield v Newhaven, Pagham v Peacehaven, Saltdean v Steyning.

SCF division one: Arundel v Billingshurst, Forest Row v Seaford, Hailsham v Oakwood, Midhurst and Easebourne v Storrington, Roffey v Dorking Wanderers Res, Selsey v Shoreham, Worthing United v Godalming.