Ruins Barn Road reopened ahead of Sittingbourne FC’s Isthmian South East play-off final vs Burgess Hill

A road closure has been lifted after fears fans could be delayed from watching a football club’s “biggest game ever”.

Both a council leader and local MP stepped in to demand Ruins Barn Road be reopened ahead of Sittingbourne FC’s playoff final match vs Burgess Hill.

It comes as the club expects a record sell-out crowd of 1,600 fans to attend The Staxson Stadium at Woodstock Park for its clash, which kicks off at 7.45pm tonight.

There are also 300 away fans travelling to the town for the Isthmian South East play-off final that will see one of the sides promoted to the Isthmian Premier alongside champions Ramsgate.

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But, there were concerns of traffic issues due to the main road to the ground being shut by SGN for gas works.

However, at around noon, SGN said it would temporarily reopen the road at 4pm. It will shut again tomorrow morning (May 3).

The announcement was made after Swale council leader Tim Gibson and Sittingbourne and Sheppey MP Kevin McKenna intervened.

Mr Gibson said just after 3.30pm via social media: “I had a message early this morning and I mean early [from the club] asking if I could step in and help.

“I got straight on to KCC to reverse the decision, which was absolute madness. But to be fair to them, they had an urgent site meeting.

“The upshot being the road will be open and the lights that were there on Tuesday gone.

“As if worrying about the game hadn’t kept me awake all night. See you at our fortress tonight, Brickies family.”

Sittingbourne FC thanked both Mr McKenna and Mr Gibson for their support on social media.

The club says that the fixture is “the biggest game ever”, adding that it hopes to end its “huge season with a cup and