1st round review

Here is a review of some of the 1st round games.

Burradon & New Fordley 0 v Hetton Lyons Cricket Club 1
A 30 yard screamer from Marc Ellison secured three time winners Hetton Lyons passage in to the second round, as they came through a very tight game against Burradon & New Fordley of the Blyth & Wansbeck league.

Burradon, back in the Sunday Cup after a nine season absence, came close to opening the scoring on the 30 minute mark, when a spectacular overhead kick hit the cross bar.

Hetton should have taken the lead on 51 minutes, when a cross from the right from Joe Walton saw the unmarked Ian Watson put his header wide of the target. Other than these few highlights, neither side created many chances and with the game seemingly destined for extra time, substitute Marc Ellison picked the ball up in the midfield in the 86th minute and his long range strike gave the Burradon keeper no chance.

Falcons 12 v London Maccabi Lions 1
With joint managers Josh and Malcolm Newman unavailable and a number of regular players missing, the Maccabi Lions decided to forfeit the tie and withdrew from the competition.

However, when a replacement management duo were found, the club had a change of heart and decided to honour their commitment to the Sunday Cup and the game went ahead.

With only four first teamers at their disposal, the Lions drafted in four 17 year olds and four veterans (who had a combined age of 201) so, perhaps the result did not come as a surprise!

There were hat-tricks for Clift, Hefferon and Whitehead, whilst Lambert bagged a brace and Dalby had to be content with just the one goal, as Falcons went to town on their makeshift opponents.

South Bank (2006) 3 v Hartlepool Lion Hillcarter 5
It was a case of deja vu for South Bank in their game against Hartlepool Lion Hillcarter, as like last season (in their preliminary round tie against Kelloe) they held a 2-0 lead but were unable to go on and win the game, as five second half goals from Lion, completely turned the game on its head.

However, South Bank’s Stockton league rivals, Stockton Rosegale N&SA, had a memorable debut, beating sole Cumbrian entrants St Bees 6-0. They face another away tie in round two, to face double Bradford Sunday Alliance and West Riding County Sunday Cup winners, West Bowling, who recorded an impressive 4-0 away win against Obiter of the Liverpool Business Houses league, despite having a player sent off after only 20 minutes.

Nicosia 1 v Derby Lane Gym 4
2010/11 was a season to forget for former champions Nicosia, as they withdrew from the Sunday Cup without playing a game and were relegated from the Premier Division of the Liverpool Business Houses league.

Their return to the competition did not go as planned, as they were well beaten by Derby Lane Gym, for whom Smith, Lally, Kinny and Stanton were on the score-sheet.

Derby Lane Gym’s 2nd round tie against Eagle Cons has been suspended, pending an FA investigation.

A popular album from my youth in the 1980’s was London 0 Hull 4 by The Housemartins. However, it was more of a case of Hull 0 Liverpool 3, as all three sides from the Hull Sunday league were beaten at home by Scouse sides!

Hessle Rangers were beaten 2-1 by Canada, whose goals were scored by Tames and O’Brien, whilst Swanfield did at least manage a 3-3 draw with Allerton, only to lose 5-3 on penalties. AFC Blackburn Leisure were the third Hull side to exit, as BRNESC beat them 2-0.

It’s the second successive season that all of the East Riding’s sides have lost (or have withdrawn) in the first round and is a complete contrast to the league’s heyday in the mid to late 1990’s, when they had three finalists in six seasons.

A.C. Sportsman & Ravensborough 4 v Stanbridge & Tilsworth 1
Adey Bascombe (2), Matt Baldry and Neil Pugh were all on the score sheet for A.C. Sportsman in their routine win over Bedfordshire rivals Stanbridge, a quarter finalist back in 2008/09 but who have now exited at the first hurdle in the last two seasons.

Bari 1 v New Salamis 3
Debutants New Salamis have enjoyed success in the Kopa league and the London FA Sunday Challenge Cup and are fancied to do well in the FA Sunday Cup. They got their campaign underway with comfortable 3-1 win against Bari of the Essex Corinthian league, courtesy of goals from Richard Georgiou, George Gregoriou and David Hicks.

Tripimeni 4 Upshire 1
The Kopa league’s other Sunday Cup representatives are Tripimeni and like New Salamis, they are also expected to do well this season.

They suffered a setback when Waltham Sunday league champions, Upshire, took the lead in the 20th minute. However, Tripimeni recovered and scored 4 times through Ahmet Rifat, Darren Gray and a double from Nico.

Lobster 6 v Alder 4
There were goals galore in this all Liverpool clash, with the District league coming out on top, as Lobster beat Alder from the Business Houses league. Extra time was required to separate the sides and goals from Oliver (2), Flett, Andrews, Christian and Forshaw, saw the 1979 champions to through to the 2nd round, where they will face last season’s runners up, Paddock.

Gadeside Rangers 2 v FC Nirankari 5
The Watford Sunday league’s sole entry, debutants Gadeside Rangers, got off to a nightmare start, when they found themselves two goals down after just 15 minutes, against FC Nirankari from Stevenage.

The first goal came in the ninth minute, when the lively Theo Swaine made progress down the right hand side and his low cross was turned home by David Iwediuno at the far post. Gadeside looked shell shocked and worse was to follow six minutes later, when the home side were unable to clear another Swaine cross and Tegana James tame effort trickled into the far corner.

Gadeside were given a lifeline just before the half hour mark when Dave Nelmes was tripped in the area and Russ Popplewell stepped up and his confident spot kick reduced the deficit to one goal.

With half-time approaching, a Nirankari counter attack inside their own half, released Iwediuno and after his run was halted just outside the penalty area, Lee Wilson scored from the resultant free-kick, to restore Nirankari’s two goal advantage.

A superbly struck volley from sub Joe Pizans gave Gadeside renewed hope with 15 minutes to go. However, another penalty, this time awarded to Nirankari, was successfully converted on 83 minutes, by Lee Wilson.

Nirankari’s 5th was scored deep in to stoppage time, by Peter Duffy.

Chapeltown Fforde Grene 3 v Dengo United 1

After a family sickness bug put pay to my original plan of a North East Sunday Cup double – Sunderland RCA Barnes v Dawdon at 11:00am, followed by South Bank (2006) v Hartlepool Lion Hillcarter at 2:00pm – I made my way to Garforth Town, to watch this Yorkshire v Liverpool clash.

This was the first Sunday Cup appearance of Chapeltown Fforde Grene, a merger of former entrants Chapeltown Brazil and Fforde Grene. And it was the new look Leeds side who opened the scoring on 17 minutes, when Dempsey Smith controlled the ball well inside the penalty area and rifled home.

It could have been 2-0 five minutes later, when a superb cross field run set up Dominic Blair, whose fierce strike only just flew over the cross bar. Fforde's did have the ball in the net four minutes later but the goal was quickly ruled out for a push in the build up. HT 1-0.

Dengo (whose name is taken from an engineering firm - Drawing Office and Engineering Office) hadn't shown much in the first half but started the second period better and levelled the score on the hour mark, when Paul Jones applied the finishing touch to cross-cum-shot from out of the area.

A through ball from Fernando Moke released his Garforth Town colleague, Dempsey Smith, whose low shot beat the keeper to his right, restoring Fforde’s lead with just 7 minutes remaining.

The same due combined well for the third goal in stoppage time, when some neat interplay down the left, set up Smith for his hat-trick chance and he duly obliged, with a stunning strike so seal a 3-1 victory.

2nd Round Draw

Ties to be played on 20th November at 2.00pm:
Home & Bargain v JOB
Allerton v Dawdon Colliery Welfare
Eagle Cons v Derby Lane Gym
West Bowling v Stockton Rosegale N&SA
Eden Vale v Kelloe WMC
Hetton Lyons Cricket Club v Chapeltown Fforde Grene
Oyster Martyrs v Belt Road
Paddock v Lobster
Britannia VNC v Hartlepool Lion Hillcarter
Salisbury Athletic v BRNESC
Canada v Mariners
Loughborough Saints v St Josephs (Luton)
AC Sportsman & Ravensborough v Northampton Duke Of York
Magnet Tavern v Wymeswold
FC Houghton Centre v Club Lewsey
The Dog v Whitwick Compass 2008
Travellers v Seven Allstars
Lea Hall Sports & Social v St Margarets
Advance Couriers v Birstall Stamford
Highfield Social Club v Falcons
Greengate v Elm Farm
Gym United v FC Tripimeni
Comets Sports Club v Britannia United
Sungate v Torrun United
FC Nirankari v New Salamis
AFC Donsville v Hazelhurst
Barnes Albion v Nyetimber Pirates
C.K. v Dee Road Rangers
Wonford United v Lebeqs Tavern Courage
Bedfont Sunday v Branksome Con
All Saints v Lakeside Athletic
Wrightchoice CSA v The Lounge

First Round Results

Chapeltown Fforde Grene 3 v Dengo United 1 - match report to follow later
The Dog 4 v Hole in the Wall 0
Salisbury Athletic 4 Thirly 1
Kelloe WMC 1 v Hartlepool Rovers Quoit 0
Burradon & New Fordley 0 v Hetton Lyons 1
Belt Road 3 v Bolton Woods 0
Obiter 0 v West Bowling 4
Northampton St Margarets 2 v Luton Celtic SC 0
Sungate 3 Hammer OGB 0
St Josephs (Luton) 3 v Crawley Green Sunday 2
Hundred Acre 3 Advance Couriers 4
St Bees 0 v Stockton Rosegale N&SA 6
South Bank (2006) 3 v Hartlepool Lion Hillcarter 5
Sunderland RCA Barnes 2 v Dawdon Colliery Welfare 5
JOB 3 v Seymour 0
Lobster 6 v Alder 4
Mariners 4 v St Sebastians 3
Poulton Royal 1 v Home & Bargain 3
Loughborough Saints 2 v Clumber 1
Wymeswold 2 v Loughborough Falcons 1
Whitwick Compass 4 v Bartley Green Sunday 2
Kingshurst Punchbowl 1 Birstall Stamford 4
Belstone 0 v Grengate 3
Dee Road Rangers 5 v Broadfields United 3
C K 5 v Kings Tamerton CA 2
Efford United Bluebird 1 v All Saints
Lebeq Tavern Courage 3 v The Windmill 2
Railway Inn 0 v Wonford United 2
Sporting Bristol 1 v Lakeside Athletic 2
AFC Blackburn Leisure 0 v BRNESC 2
Hessle Rangers 1 v Canada 2
Swanfield 3 v Allerton 3 - Allerton won on penalties
Bedfont 5 v AFC Rayners Lane 2
Elm Farm 7 v North London Olympians 4
CB Hounslow United 0 v Wrightchoice CSA 2
The Lounge 2 v Knighton Arms 1
Hazelhurst 8 v Ajax LA 0
Nyetimber Pirates 4 v Fountain Court 2
Barnes Albion 2 AFC Kumazi Strikers 1

A big thanks to those who have supplied results

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.

Bighouse are the first casualty...

Debutants Bighouse from the Wallasey & District league are the first side to withdraw from this seasons competition. Britannia VNC have a walkover in to Round 2.

Hopefully, we will avoid a repeat of last season, when 10 teams withdrew/were unable to fulfil their fixture!

First Round draw

Ties to be played on 16th October, 2.00pm kick off

South Bank (2006) v Hartlepool Lion Hillcarter
Kelloe WMC v Hartlepool Rovers Quoit
St Bees v Stockton Rosegale N&SA
Sunderland RCA Barnes v Dawdon Colliery Welfare
Burradon & New Fordley v Hetton Lyons Cricket Club
Chapeltown Fforde Grene v Dengo United
Lobster v Alder
Eagle Cons v Queens Park
Obiter v West Bowling
Nicosia v Derby Lane Gym
AFC Blackburn Leisure v BRNESC
Sandstone v Eden Vale
Belt Road v Bolton Woods
Hessle Rangers v Canada
Poulton Royal v Home & Bargain
Mariners v St Sebastians
Swanfield v Allerton
Bighouse v Britannia VNC
JOB v Seymour
Salisbury Athletic v Thirly
Hundred Acre v Advance Couriers
Wymeswold v Loughborough Falcons
Loughborough Saints v Clumber
FC Hoskins v Lea Hall Sports & Social
Whitwick Compass 2008 v Bartley Green Sunday
Magnet Tavern v Plough Barfly's
The Beacon Way v Hole In The Wall
Kingshurst Punchbowl v Birstall Stamford
Travellers v R.H.P Sports & Social
Seven Allstars v Hamstead YFC
St Josephs (Luton) v Crawley Green (Sunday)
Rumours v FC Houghton Centre
Club Lewsey v Duke Of Rutland
AC Cadoza v Northampton Duke Of York
AC Sportsman & Ravensborough v Stanbridge & Tilsworth
Highfield Social Club v Houghton Town (Sunday)
St Margarets v Celtic SC (Luton)
Co-op Sports v Britannia United
Belstone v Greengate
Gossoms End v Torrun United
Gadeside Rangers v FC Nirankari
Bari v New Salamis
Sungate v Hammer OGB
Royal Falcons v Comets Sports Club
Falcons v London Maccabi Lions
FC Tripimeni v Upshire
Gym United v Offley Moat
Elm Farm v North London Olympians
CB Hounslow United (Sunday) v Wrightchoice CSA
Barnes Albion v AFC Kumazi Strikers
Bedfont Sunday v AFC Rayners Lane
Dee Road Rangers v Broadfields United
AFC Donsville v Oak Park Rangers
Branksome Con v Goring Rangers
The Lounge v Knighton Arms
Hazelhurst v Ajax LA
Nyetimber Pirates v Fountain Court
C.K. v Kings Tamerton CA
Sporting Bristol v Lakeside Athletic
Efford United Bluebird v All Saints
The Railway Inn v Wonford United
Lebeqs Tavern Courage v Windmill

Oyster Martyrs and Paddock are exempt to Round 2

Number of entries confirmed

126 teams have been accepted in to this season’s FA Sunday Cup. Whilst this still remains a comparatively high figure (the average number of entrants through most of the competition’s history has been approx 100 a season), it is actually the lowest number since 115 were accepted in 2004/05.

2004/05 was the last season not to feature a preliminary round and the FA have notified all club Secretaries to confirm that under the current structure of the competition and due to the number of teams accepted, there will be no preliminary round this season.

The draw for the first round will be published on the FA’s website on Friday 26th August. The first round games will take place on 16th October.

2010/11 Season Review

The 47th FA Sunday Cup season commenced on 26th September, when the preliminary round games were played. This is the sixth consecutive season that the Sunday Cup has had a preliminary round and in each of those seasons, the number of entrants has exceeded 130, which is an impressive increase when compared to 2002/03, when just 90 teams entered. So, despite a worryingly long list of withdrawals, the Sunday Cup is actually enjoying a golden period in terms of the number of teams entering it.

There were only four preliminary round ties but they did take place in some of the competitions heartland areas of Liverpool, the North East and the West Midlands.

Unfortunately, Sandon Dock were the first team to withdraw, when they were unable to fulfil their fixture against Oak Tree Pub.

The other all Liverpool tie featured two ‘debutants’, Eagle Cons and Eden Vale (although Eagle were back-to-back finalists in the 1980’s and Eden Vale were semi finalists in 1997 and 1998).

For me, the first round is one of the most eagerly anticipated dates in the football calendar, as I decide which local side to watch.

In the end, I made the short journey to Thackley, to watch Wharfedale Triangle champions Malt Shovel play West Riding County Cup winners and Bradford Alliance champions, West Bowling. I made Bowling the favourites and they certainly justified this, by taking the lead in the first minute through a penalty.

However, Shovel equalised midway through the first half and only succumbed to an 88th minute winner, which on the balance of play, flattered Bowling.

This was a nightmare round for the traditionally strong Hull Sunday league, as all of their representatives went out. AFC Blackburn Leisure, Swanfield and Hessle Rangers all lost to North East opposition, whilst West Lee were one of the nine sides to withdraw.

For such a huge fan of the Sunday Cup, I found the number of withdrawals to be particularly disappointing. However, in the current economic climate, the costs of staging a home tie in the competition can be too much for a lot of sides.

The highest profile side to withdraw were two time champions Nicosia. I don’t know the reason for their withdrawal but based on their on the field displays, it was the correct decision, as they were sadly relegated from the Premier Division of the Liverpool Business Houses league.

It was also a disappointing day for the Cumberland FA, as they too watched all three of their entrants crash out.

Probably the unluckiest side were Gamlingay United, who lost despite scoring 5 goals in their home tie against former finalists, FC Houghton Centre.

Eden Vale were drawn away from home in the second round for the third
game running and managed a repeat of their preliminary round result, namely a 2-2 draw, followed by a 4-3 success in their penalty shoot out, over local rivals Home and Bargain.

Debutants Clumber from Nottingham claimed the result of the round, when they beat last season's runners up, Magnet Tavern.

Another impressive result was Queens Park’s victory over Witton Park Rose and Crown, although I’m sure having home advantage sure helped, following two postponements at West Auckland Town.

Another Durham v Merseyside clash saw Kelloe WMC pushed the much-fancied Oyster Martyrs all the way in their match at Coxhoe, only succumbing to the odd goal in 5.

Kelloe went on to win the Durham County FA Sunday Cup. They beat Hetton Lyons in the semi final, ending their 5 year unbeaten run!!

There were no prizes for guessing the result of the third round, as this was bestowed to Paddock who beat legends Hetton Lyons 3-2 in another tie that was reverted from the North East to Merseyside, as the weather played havoc with the northern half of the draw. Highlights of this stunning win can be found on youtube!

After several postponements, Mariners and Alder made (what I believe to be) Sunday Cup history, when they played their outstanding game on Thursday 20th January at Formby, thus becoming the first tie to be played midweek. Mariners triumphed by 4 goals to 1.

I was lucky enough to witness a first half master class from the Sunday Cup’s standout player of this season, Leighton McGivern, as he pretty much took on the Huddersfield Irish defence single handed, as his side, Oyster Martyrs, gained revenge for their defeat in the third round last season.

While high scoring mis-matches can often be found in the earlier rounds, it is unusual for them to occur in the latter stages of the competition. However, Oyster Martyr’s 7-1 fourth round demolition of Sunderland RCA Barnes, was
the first time a side had scored 7 in a last 16 game since Celtic SC (Luton) beat Oakwood Sports 7-0 in 1997.

Home advantage counted for very little in the fifth round, as three of the four teams drawn at home lost. Paddock achieved another quality result by travelling all the way down to Hampshire to beat Knighton Arms of the City of Southampton league by 4-1.

The two Scouse sides dominated the semi-finals, with both Oyster Martyrs and Paddock enjoying comfortable 3 goal winning margins. Paddock recorded another 4-1 win, this time over Comets Sports Club of the Berkhamsted league, Whilst Oyster Martyrs were 3-0 winners against Duke of York at Rushden & Diamonds.

It was disappointing to note that both semi-final attendances were less than 400. In the past, I’ve seen first round games with bigger crowds!

Due to the unavailability of Anfield, the first all Merseyside final was played at Tranmere and I think it’s fair to say that the occasion got the better of both sides, with neither able to recapture the form they had shown in earlier rounds.

A flash of inspiration from star man Leighton McGivern was the difference between the sides, as his strike made up for the pain of 2009, when Oyster narrowly lost in the final to Scots Grey.

Sunday Cup blog
A few weeks after the blog was launched in July, I decided to add a stat counter to monitor the number of visits to the site, in order to make sure that I wasn’t just rambling on to myself!

The results have been very encouraging and I’m delighted to announce that since August, there has been over 4,000 page loads, and 1,800 visitors (of which over 1,000 have returned to the site).

For a Sunday football competition with very little in the way of publicity (outside of the FA website) I’m delighted that the blog has found an audience and look forward to seeing the figures continuing to rise next season!

2011/2012 round dates

The round dates for the new season are as follows:

Preliminary round - 25th September - 2.00pm kick off

First round - 16th October - 2.00pm kick off

Second round - 20th November - 1.00pm kick off

Third round - 11th December - 1.00pm kick off

Fourth round - 22nd January - 1.00pm kick off

Fifth round - 19th February - 2.00pm kick off

Semi final - 18th March - 3.00pm kick off

Final - 28th April - 3.00pm kick off

The closing date for entries is 1st August. The list of entrants and draw for the preliminary and first rounds are usually available several weeks after.