An eighth-tier English village football club have been allowed to postpone their league match today because four players, including two Bermudians — Luke Robinson and Knory Scott — have been called up for international duty.

Lancing were meant to face Three Bridges in the Isthmian League South East Division, but with the 25-year-olds Robinson and Scott required by Bermuda for the two Nations League matches against Dominica at the Flora Duffy Stadium, that match will now take place at a later date.

What compounded the situation for Lancing is that Charlie Gibson and Sam Bull have also gone away to represent England in the six-a-side World Minifootball Federation Under-23 World Cup in Croatia.

News of a village team postponing matches because of international call-ups is unusual, hence the BBC – the most widely used news source in Britain – ran the story of its website on Friday. The story was one of the top sports stories on the BBC website.

Lancing, who are coached by Jamie Hollis, are 20th in the 22-team league.

They have four points, picked up from one win and a draw with six defeats, from the eight matches played this season.

Bermuda’s game against Dominica today is the first of a crucial Nations League double-header at home for the national team.

Bermuda are level on three points from two games with Dominica, ahead of their rivals in the standings by virtue of superior goal difference.

Two victories for Bermuda would put the pressure on group four leaders Dominican Republic, with the winners of the group qualifying automatically for next year’s Gold Cup.