The Football Association has confirmed that Liverpool’s world famous stadium will once again be hosting the final for the seventh consecutive season. Last April saw Durham’s Hetton Lyons Cricket Club pick up the trophy for the second time, scooping over £4,500 in prize money with a 3-2 win over Durham rivals Coundon Conservative.
The competition enables players from Sunday League teams who are not under written contract to pit their abilities against sides from across the country, and this season The FA will be providing £60,000 to assist clubs in meeting match and travel expenses throughout the entire competition.
Following their victory, Hetton Lyons secretary David Leitch praised his side’s mental strength and paid tribute to the players for reaching their second final in three seasons.
“It's been an absolutely fantastic experience winning here at Anfield again. We had to dig deep after going behind twice but I am absolutely delighted. It was memorable the first time around but perhaps this is even better because of the way we did it, coming from behind and getting a late winner.”
Many former Football League players have taken part in the Sunday Cup, with former Chelsea and England striker Kerry Dixon playing for St Joseph's in both the 1998 and 1999 Finals.
Peter Clayton, Chairman of The FA Sunday Cup Committee, has seen the competition grow during his 35 years of involvement in Sunday football. After serving time as secretary of a club competing in the Sunday Cup, as well as refereeing in the competition, Peter is always keen to recruit more clubs to take up the challenge.
"The Sunday Cup is unique in that it offers players from Sunday Leagues the opportunity to play in a national knock-out competition with a final at one of the most famous football grounds in the world.
This season we have again increased the financial support, which makes up a prize fund to go towards helping clubs with the cost of staging matches and taking part. We have also slightly relaxed the entry criteria to encourage more clubs to take part. The growth of the competition has led to an increased level of media interest in the competition. For a team entry fee of just £40, the competition provides players with an opportunity to showcase their talents and have the once-in-a-lifetime football experience at Anfield that I’m sure they will never forget."
So, if you think your local club has got what it takes to knock Hetton Lyons Cricket Club off their FA Carlsberg Sunday Cup perch, then click here to download the competition’s guidelines and application form!
The deadline for entries is August 1, 2008.