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PICTURE: Southcote will make their first-ever appearance in the East Berkshire League Cup competition Final on Bank Holiday Monday and club physio, Teresa Sunderland, believes it could be wrriten in the stars that the Reading side win the competition in 2024.
Southcote F.C. physio Teresa Sunderland believes it could be written in the stars that her team win the East Berkshire League Cup competition Final on Bank Holiday Monday.
The League Cup returns to the heart of Slough for the first time in more than 30 years when the 2024 Final takes place at Arbour Park Stadium, the home of Slough Town F.C.
Sunderland is excited that Southcote will be a part of the special day and create a small piece of history in the East Berkshire League and, she is thankful that her stars will have great support behind them in their bid to win the famous trophy.
“We’re very excited”, she explained. “We’re a relatively new member of the League so we don’t know all of the history but, to be playing at Arbour Park will be a special day for the Club, the League and all involved.”
The journey Southcote has taken to reach the League Cup Final has been far from straightforward; the Reading-based team was almost eliminated by Old Windsor Reserves in the Second Round but twice recovered from falling behind with only nine players on the pitch to win the game 3-2 back in November.
Southcote clashed with Frontline on Semi Finals Day at Eton Wick F.C. & Social Club in March when a last-minute Rocco Sofroniou goal secured a 2-2 draw in 90 minutes. Southcote thought the dream was over for another season when Frontline won 4-2 on penalties but, were thrown a lifeline when it was discovered their conquerors had used an ineligible player in the match.
The decision to remove Frontline F.C. from the competition was upheld by a sub-Committee of the East Berkshire League. on Friday this week, meaning Sunderland and her side have had only a matter of days to prepare for the biggest game of their season - possibly the biggest match in their careers in the East Berkshire League.
Sunderland explained: “The League Cup was always a priority this season. We’ve taken each game as it comes, and it’s been a tough cup run and journey for us. We could have gone out in the Second Round but we dug deep and now find ourselves in the Final, so maybe it’s written in the stars.
PICTURE: Southcote take on Old Windsor in an historic 2024 League Cup Final at the Arbour Park Stadium in Slough on Bank Holiday Monday. You can pre-order your tickets here - https://tktp.as/EOLXTG.
“It has been very difficult for us to prepare as even last week we were still not sure whether we will be playing in the Final. It’s hard to prepare with so many uncertainties and, only playing four games since February will not have helped either.”
Southcote were one of the stars of the 2022-23 Season when finishing as runners-up in their first-ever campaign in the Premier Division but, their league form has been a little bit mixed this time around. The Reading stars have won eight and lost seven of their 14 games in the top-flight leaving them in a comfortable mid-table position but a long way behind the title-chasing pace.
Southcote will be frustrated at having just four competitive matches in the eight weeks prior to the League Cup Final; one win, a draw and two defeats. Sunderland and her men will have to rediscover some confidence after a heavy defeat at the hands of Britwell in the Ascot & Fielden District Charity Cup competition three weeks ago.
“We’ve not had a consistent run of games,” Sunderland bemoaned. “We’ve played four since 10 February. Our form is very inconsistent as the league will show but, we have to continue to train, so fitness is the key.
“We have found this season to be the toughest yet for various reasons down to injuries and player availability, and we’ve travelled more this season than any other. So, to go through that and come out winning a trophy at the end of the season would make it all worth while. It would be a great personal achievement for all the managers and coaches. So much hard work goes into running a club and a team, and this would make it worth the time and effort spent.
“It would be a marvellous achievement for such a young side, and to be able to put the Southcote name on that trophy would mean everything to all involved with the football club.
“This is our third Final in three years and we’ve had some heartache over the last two seasons. Our supporters will be hoping its third time lucky and we’re fortunate to have such great support behind us.”
Southcote has failed to beat the Old Windsor first team in four attempts since joining the League in 2021; two draws and two defeats. And, with The Os so far sweeping all before them this season, Southcote will be underdogs in the eyes of many in the League Cup Final.
Sunderland added: “The Old Windsor first team has been exceptional this season so, credit where credit is due. They’ve had a great season and the conduct of this football club is exceptional. They fully deserve to be in all the finals and the potential winners of the league. There is no weaknesses there, just look at their season!”
She added: “We’re definitely the underdogs. We’re fully aware of the task in front of us. It’s a big ask but, I do have belief in the ability of my squad, and on the day you just never know.”
Rocco Sofroniou could be the main danger for Southcote in the League Cup Final having scored 14 goals in 19 appearances for team this season. He has scored three goals in the League Cup competition so far including two in the win against Old Windsor Reserves in the Second Round and one in the Semi Final versus Frontline.
Maxwell Lawrence is also no stranger to hitting the back of the net in the League Cup; two of his five goals this season came in successes over Reading Tigers and Old Windsor Reserves in the earlier rounds of the competition.
Preview meetings between Southcote and Old Windsor
27/10/2023 - League - Old Windsor 7-1 Southcote
18/02/2023 - League - Southcote 3-3 Old Windsor
08/10/2022 - League - Old Windsor 1-1 Southcote
26/02/2022 - League Cup - Old Windsor 3-1 Southcote
To enter the East Berkshire Football League ahead of the 2024/25 season, or for further information about the league, or an entry form for the upcoming season, please email the team at contactebfl@gmail.com
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