Final Preview

In the run up to the 48th FA Sunday Cup final, the big question on everyone’s lips is are Canada able to derail Hetton Lyon’s 4th title bid and clinch the Sunday Cup, which they have been chasing for over 40 years?

In my opinion, Canada will start as underdogs and I say this despite the fact that they have recently been crowned as champions of arguably the Country’s strongest Sunday football league, the Liverpool and District.

I think the combination of them going up against the competitions best ever side in Hetton Lyons and having to enter the ‘Lyons den’ as Hetton have ‘home’ advantage in playing the game at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light, will prove too big a hurdle to overcome.

However, Canada have enjoyed their travels this season and have recorded wins at Hull, Aylesbury and Saltash, so know what it takes to win away from home. And in Stephen Tames, they have a quality striker who is in top goal scoring form.

Canada have competed in the Sunday Cup since the early days of the 1960’s and have come close to reaching the final on several occasions.

They were formed in 1965 and spent their early years playing in the Liverpool Business Houses league (they were league champions in 1965/6 and 1966/7) before moving on to the stronger Kirkby Newtown Combination, which was home to many of Liverpool’s strongest Sunday sides (former winners Lobster and Fantail both played in this league).

Canada proved their class by finishing runners up in debut season (1967/8) and were crowned league champions in 1968/9. They were Liverpool’s first Sunday Cup semi finalists the season after, when they went down 2-0 to 1966 champions Ubique United at Dudley Town’s ground.

Canada also reached the quarter final in 1973, where they came up against one of the competition’s legendary sides, Carlton United, who ran out 4-1 winners on their way to lifting the Sunday Cup for the second time.

Canada’s second semi final appearance came in 1987, when they locked horns with champions Avenue from Birkenhead. Avenue were bidding to reach their third successive final and were packed full of Merseyside’s finest players.

However, they Canada a tough nut to crack and after the first game ended in a 2-2 draw, the pair reconvened at St Helens Town a week later, where Avenue narrowly won 2-1.

Their was another 17 year gap to Canada’s next semi final, when they played local rivals Nicosia in 2004 at Marine. Once again, Canada were edged out by the tightest of score lines, losing 3-2.

There was no big wait for the next semi final appearance, as this came the following season, under a new name of Canada Edinburgh Park. This time they cantered to a very convincing 4-0 win against Gossoms End. However, they were removed from the final, following a protest over player eligibility.

Hetton, by way of contrast, have a 100% record from their four semi final matches. They have the same record in the three finals they have contested, all of which were played at Anfield.

However, unlike Canada, they didn’t have to experience facing a local side in the final, as their opponents came from Luton (St Joseph’s in 2006), fellow Durham outfit Coundon in 2008) and Boston (Magnet Tavern in 2010).

Another factor could be the weather, as heavy rain is forecast and perhaps the side that deals best with the conditions will triumph.

Good luck to both sides and lets hope that the weather doesn’t spoil things today.