We appear to have 2 games on Saturday 22 July with Herne Bay saying that we are visiting them and Grays Athletic saying that that is the date of their visit to PVR.

Charlton have declared a subject to confirmation date of 2 Aug for their visit to PVR as they are still negotiating their South African tour for the end of July, which ties in with their email response to me saying that they expected to announce confirmation of their pre-season friendlies by the end of the week.

What has happened with regard to friendlies this season? Let me suggest the following.

The Club arranged and announced the following
15 July away to Herne Bay
18 July home to Grays
24 July away to Erith Town
29 July away to Folkestone
tba home to Charlton (Charlton were and still are trying to complete arrangements for a late July tour of South Africa playing 2 games)

The 15 July match with Herne Bay was rescheduled for 22 July as it was known that Charlton were playing Millwall on that day (Alan McLeary's testimonial) - thus leaving 15 July free as an option for Charlton's annual visit to PVR. Herne Bay therefore arranged a friendly with Fleet Town on the 15th.

Grays managed to get PSF's with Plymouth Argyle on 15 July and Leyton Orient on 19 July so pulled out of their announced visit to PVR on 18th and perhaps suggested 22 July as an alternative.

As a consequence of these changes the programme of PSF's now looks like this
22 July home to Grays and away to Herne Bay according to their websites.
24 July away to Erith Town
29 July away to Folkestone
2 Aug home to Charlton (subject to change as per Charlton)

Looking at the fixture lists of Herne Bay and Grays and assuming the Charlton tour to South Africa goes ahead will the final fixtures look like this?
15 or 18 July home to Charlton (They did originally suggest that the visit to PVR would precede the Millwall game and they may need post tour rest before match against New Zealand on Sat 5th August)
22 July away to Herne Bay (their only available Saturday)
24 July away to Erith Town
29 July away to Folkestone
2 or 5 Aug home to Grays (free at the moment according to their fixture list.)

I believe that with Premiership clubs spreading their roots overseas their fixtures with local sides, who rely on a prestige friendly to survive, are likely to become more and more difficult to arrange - even more so when there is also a change of Manager in the closed season. It is however to their credit that they still manage to fit such friendlies in despite the headaches it no doubt gives both themselves and the Clubs concerned.

Hopefully things will be a lot clearer by the end of the week for both players and supporters.