Southern Counties East Hollands & Blair hope to have striker Tom Walmsley involved but boss Scott Porter will need to pick him up from the airport

Hollands & Blair’s manager will be on airport pick-up duty this Saturday in a bid to get their star striker to the match in time.

Blair travel to higher-league East Grinstead Town in the preliminary round qualifier of the FA Cup and boss Scott Porter is keen to have their key summer signing in the starting line-up.

Tom Walmsley lands on the morning of the game at London City Airport, fresh from his summer holiday, and Porter hopes to be there to greet him. The pair will then head to the match. That’s the plan, anyway.

“I will probably pick him up myself if he comes in on time, if not somebody else will be able to get him, ” said the manager.

“We should have enough time, he should get in and out, hopefully there are no delays and he can be there on Saturday to play a part.”

His kitbag and boots were picked up from a team-mate last Friday so all is ready to go.

Porter’s men will be looking to build on their opening game of the Southern Counties East Premier Division last week, with Blair drawing 1-1 at Holmesdale.

Ben Brown opened the scoring for the Gillingham side before Jacob Skelly levelled midway through the second half for Dale.

Porter was forced to miss the game, with a one-match stadium ban after picking up an accumulation of bookings last season, but had the lowdown on the action.

“I did what I would normally do and let the boys get on with it,” he said.

“It was a game of two halves. We were on top first half, they made a couple of substitutions and they were on top second half. It was just a typical first game of the season, very hot, a bumpy pitch, away from home, we were missing Tom Walmsley and that was a big miss for us.

“It is not the same for the players, no disrespect, when the manager isn’t there. I