All heads were bowed when Crown Football Club delayed its crucial league cup game to hold a minute's silence for a loved one.

Sombrely the 11 players trudged on to the pitch at the Broadfield Stadium in Crawley wearing black armbands.

A hush fell around the ground as the team joined hands with rival club Stone Quarry to pay their respects to the deceased.

Referee Hamed Rissoni had been asked just seconds before the match if the home team could hold the silence, in memory of a "bird" they knew who had just died.

Thinking it must be a local woman the ref agreed to delay the game. In fact he was so touched by their show of emotion he placed his hand comfortingly on the shoulder of one of the players and asked if he was all right.

What Mr Rissoni didn't realise was the sobs he could hear from the grief stricken players were muffled sniggers.

And "the bird they knew" was not a local women but strictly of the feathered variety - a budgerigar.

Player Phil Jarman dreamed up the hoax after his mother-in-law Jane's pet budgie died that morning.

He persuaded every player in the side to dig out their black armbands and take part in the minute's silence.

However the budgie did have a footballing connection - its name was Ruud after the former Chelsea manager Ruud Gullit.

Phil, who lives in Crawley, said: "I told my mother-in-law I was going to do it before the game but she didn't believe me. To be honest I did not expect everyone to fall for it.

"When we held hands for the silence we were all struggling not to laugh. There were a few sniggers but it just sounded as though we were crying.

"Everyone else was being so serious. Even the players from Stonegate were standing there really straight-faced as well as the crowd. We couldn't believe it.

"I felt really sorry for the referee, he looked really concerned. I did not have the heart to tell him it was a wind up until after the match. Then I think he didn't believe me."

Crown, who play in the East Grinstead and Crawley district Sunday league, were battling for a semi-final place in the Fairway Cup.

They managed to shake off their misery to win the game 2-0.

The club, who are last year's cup holders, have already had more than their fair share of bizarre games.

Last year they won one of their matches with an astonishing 31-0 score.

Phil said: "We became quite famous for that win. Generally, though, we have got a bit of a reputation as pranksters. All the lads are really up for a laugh and pulling off this was just typical of us."