Entrant Review

Merseyside once again leads the way in the number of Sunday Cup entrants, with 25 sides accepted (22 are affiliated to the Liverpool FA, whilst the 3 Cheshire FA sides are all based on The Wirral).

Bedfordshire is the next best represented County, with 11 teams, of which 9 play in the North Home Counties league, including Sunday Cup stalwarts St Joseph’s, Celtic SC and FC Houghton Centre (who now operate in Division 2, which is the league’s 3rd tier of football).

Offley Moat are another side from the NHC league in the Sunday Cup but they are affiliated to the Hertfordshire FA, who have 7 entrants, including Berkhamsted league duo Gossoms End (2005 champions) and Comets Sports Club, who reached last season’s semi final.

Leicester and Rutland FA have 8 teams in from 3 different leagues. Their best chance of success will probably lay with 3 time semi finalists, Birstall Stamford of the Charnwood league.

Highfield Social Club of the Banbury & District league are Oxfordshire FA’s first representatives in the Sunday Cup for over 10 years! They reached the final of last seasons Oxfordshire County Sunday Cup, scoring 29 goals in just 4 games. However, they have a tough ask on Sunday, when they entertain Houghton Town from the North Home Counties league.

After years of under achievement, there is a genuine buzz of excitement about the quality of teams in from London. Hazelhurst from the Morden & District league have re-entered, after a season out. They reached the semi finals two seasons back, losing 2-1 to Hetton Lyons.

Kopa league duo New Salamis and FC Tripimeni (under their former name of Aris) are both former winners of the London FA Sunday Challenge Cup and both sides are tipped to do well. Tripimeni pushed last season’s semi finalists, Duke of York, all the way in their 3rd round game, losing by a goal to nil.

Debutants Barnes Albion have enjoyed success in both the Surrey and Middlesex County FA's Sunday cup competitions in recent seasons and carry a strong reputation. They are one of 7 Middlesex based sides in this season and will no doubt draw inspiration from their West Middlesex league rivals and former runners up Bedfont Sunday, who reached last seasons quarter finals.

I’m disappointed that Huddersfield Irish Centre will not be taking part this season. This could well be due to the fact that the Huddersfield Sunday league folded in the summer, after 43 years. Irish, who enjoyed some great battles with Oyster Martyrs, Scots Grey and Hetton Lyons, to name but a few, have joined the Kirklees Sunday league, so we may see them return to Sunday Cup action next season..

I'm glad to see that the number of withdrawals is significantly lower than last season (so far!). However, it's sad to learn that London Maccabi Lions are the second team to withdraw this season, so debutants Falcons of the Cambridge and District league receive a walkover in to round 2.