Sutton United Women's match was called off on Sunday after they planned to field transgender goalkeeper Blair Hamilton against Ebbsfleet, with players reportedly uneasy over the stopper's involvement.

The game was postponed within three hours of the 2pm kick-off as Sutton said they could not field a team. The club did not provide further information, but The Sun claim that the decision was taken due to 'disquiet' in the Sutton squad.

Ebbsfleet chief executive Damian Irvine said: "Very disappointed to be advised this by Sutton United Women. A full hour later, they’ve advised their own fans so I’m so sorry for those planning on setting off. We do our best to promote and support the sport but this doesn’t help."

Hamilton, who was born male and stands 6ft tall, has previously played for Hastings United, Saltdean and England Universities. They were brought to Sutton by Lucy Clark - the first transgender manager in the top five tiers of English women's football.

In 2022, before being appointed by Sutton, Clark wrote on social media: "At some point we will field a team solely of trans women for the first time in history. How good is that?"

Hamilton's spells at previous women's sides have been met with criticism. A demonstration was staged by the local chapter of the Women's Rights Network when the goalkeeper represented Hastings United Women two years ago. Further backlash emerged when Hamilton was called up to represent England Universities.

Former Olympic medallist Sharon Davies, a passionate advocate for fairness in women's sport, claims to have received a letter from an anonymous source expressing their concern over Hamilton's move to Sutton. It read: "We wish to be anonymous due to threats I know we will get.

"The women’s team hired transgender (former) referee Lucy Clark with no previous experience in women’s football. Now Clark has signed Hamilton, a 6ft, 34-year-old trans goalkeeper, and the female goalkeeper has been let go. The club need to be held accountable for pushing women out of women’s football. It’s disgusting."

Davies herself added: "I get emails like this every single day. It's bloody shameful."

Sutton boss Clark, 51, stood defiant in the face of criticism when she was appointed back in January despite never having managed a women's team. "I’m prepared to deal with (abuse), should it happen, so we crack on," they said. "I’m not going to stop doing something I love because of who I am."