Following a return to football for the Bracknell Sunday League on 11th April, this following a prolonged suspension of football enforced by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Football in Berkshire previews the forthcoming League Senior and Junior Cup Finals as well as checking in on the Sultan Junior and Senior Cups, an additional supplementary competition hosted by the League to fill the void left in the season following the League’s decision to abandon its League competition.
It’s fair to say that, despite many local League’s decisions to end its seasons, the Bracknell Sunday League have recognised the needs and wishes of its member clubs to play competitive football, closely following the FA’s guidance around Covid-19, and agreed to:
- Conclude its League Cup competitions that had reached 2nd round stage at the time the season was suspended back in December
- Organise a supplementary cup competition. With the kind sponsorship of Sultan Balti Palace in Wokingham, the Sultan Senior and Sultan Junior Cup competitions were launched, played on a Champions League basis initially in groups with the top teams in each group progressing to an 8-team knock-out competition
- Assist clubs in playing friendly fixtures to fill any gaps in play
Bracknell Sunday League Senior Cup
We start by previewing the League Senior Cup Final that is to be played on Friday 21st May at Larges Lane, Bracknell Town FC (KO 7.30pm) between Crowthorne Inn and Bracknell Rangers. Inn looked to be very well positioned to challenge for the Premier Division title when the season was halted and will start the game as slight favourites. Bracknell Rangers on the other hand struggled to find League form but won the delayed Aldershot Cup Final back in November, beating FC Fleet.
Route to the final:
Crowthorne Inn: 1st round – bye; 2nd round v. Crowthorne (3-1), QF v. Panthers (3-2); SF v. Raglan (2-1)
Bracknell Rangers: 1st round – bye; 2nd round v. Woodley Saints (3-0); QF v. Sandhurst FFC (5-2); SF v. Berks County (2-1)
Bracknell Sunday League Junior Cup
Holders AFC Dukes (Division 2) take on Crowthorne A (Division 4) in this year’s final, also to be played at Larges Lane on Friday 28th May 2021 (KO 7.30pm). Free-scoring AFC Dukes will be strong favourites to lift the Cup but face this seasons surprise package in Crowthorne A of the Leagues lowest of its 5 Divisions, impressively beating 3 teams in higher divisions on their way to the Final.
Route to the final:
AFC Dukes: 1st round v. Newbold (6-0); 2nd round v. FC Showcase (6-3), QF v. Braybrooke Athletic (9-2): SF v. Bracknell Cavaliers (4-1)
Crowthorne A: 1st round v. Bracknell Spartans (1-1, pens 8-7); 2nd round v. Woodley United (3-1), QF v. Bracknell Corinthians (1-1, pens 5-4); SF v. Freeman Royals (2-1)
Football in Berkshire will be at both finals to bring you all the action as it happens and would like to wish all four finalists every success in their big games.
Sultan Balti Palace Senior & Junior Cups
Following a total of 72 group stage games played between 11th April and 16th May, both competitions have now reached the quarter-final knock-out stage, to be played on Sunday 23rd May with the 4 semi-finals to be played the following Sunday, 30th May. The two Finals are to be played as curtain-raisers to the 2021/22 season. The draw for the quarter-final ties is:
Senior Cup Quarter Finals:
Woodley Saints v. Loveman United
Raglan v. Wokingham & Emmbrook TMW
Finchampstead Athletic v. Athletico Ascot
Crowthorne Inn v. Crowthorne (to be played Tuesday 25th May) [I presume this is El Classicrow? – Ed]
Junior Cup Quarter Finals:
FC Showcase v. Ashridge Park Royals
Harts of Bracknell v. Bracknell Corinthians
Bracknell Spartans Vets v. Bracknell Athletic
Winnersh Rangers v. Woodley United
