A FOOTBALL club wants to hold matches after the 11am silence on Remembrance Sunday in future following a fall out.

Great Oakley Football Club received a raft of criticism on social media last Sunday after players could be heard during the 11am two minute silence being held nearby.

The club was playing a match and had held a silence at 10.30am to commemorate the end of the First World War.

But some said they should have stopped at 11am, something which the FA does not allow.

Ben Horton- Cooper, secretary of Great Oakley FC, said the comments had been "hurtful" to the players.

Writing on social media, he said: "We went to the pitch this morning and asked the referee if we could stop at 11am for the silence. He told us we we would have the silence at 10.30am before kick off which we did as we have done every year.

"He also said this "the FA (the footballing body of English football) emailed him and stated that all games were to have a silence before games and none would be stopped during games".

"As a club we can do no more than that . I apologise if it was loud today but during a game we obviously are not aware of the time.

"As a committee we will take it to the Colchester and District Sunday League to kick off at 11.15am on Remembrance Sunday in the future however this will have to be agreed by all other clubs."

The club received a wealth of support following the complaints, with many thanking them for holding a minute's silence before the match.

However, resident Gillian Watkins said they should have stopped the game anyway.

She said: "The silence was at 11am, they should have done it at 11am.

"[It's] very off putting when you are trying to remember the fallen and all you can hear are shouts and cheers."

Mr Horton-Cooper said he agreed with the sentiments, which is why the team was asking for future matches to be held after 11am.