Cup final would be 'massive' for club
REACHING this season’s Parkers Pitches Suffolk Junior Cup Final would be ‘massive’ for Cockfield United.
The village side face fellow Gateway 14 SIL Division One side AFC Kesgrave in the first semi-final on Friday night at Stowmarket Town FC, kick-off 7.45pm.
BOOK YOUR TICKETS BY CLICKING HERE
Cockfield Tom O’Leary said: “Friday is going to be a great event and will be the highlight of our season so far for us. The Junior Cup always elicits that little bit more excitement, so there is always a good buzz around these fixtures.
“Hopefully we can manage that and put on a good show so we can come away from the game, regardless of the result, with no regrets.”
O’Leary said that the fact the two sides know each other well will make it easier to prepare from a tactical point of view.
He stated: “I think it can only be a good thing, in the last round facing Beccles Caxton there was that fear of the unknown playing a side we knew virtually nothing about other than looking up their results on Full Time.
“With AFC Kesgrave, because of that familiarity, we can plan for certain things and attempt to exploit little things we think might give us an edge.
“From a tactical point of view, it definitely makes our management groups plans a lot easier. Ultimately though, we always try to play our way and imprint our style of football on the game, so nothing changes from that perspective.”
Cockfield have had a tough run to the last four, defeating the holders Thurston 3-1, winning 3-2 at last season’s runners-up Woolverstone United and then overcoming Beccles Caxton 5-3 on penalties following a 1-1 draw away from home.
O’Leary said: “Beating the holders, Thurston, who also happen to be our local rivals, was a great start to the run then a last-minute win against Woolverstone in a real attritional game was a great feeling, but beating Beccles Caxton in very tricky conditions and on penalties was definitely the stand-out moment, even if my nerves were cut to shreds by the end of it!
“I think this year’s run has been typified by our character and determination to come through difficult moments and turn things around.
“I think these are really important attributes to have when coming to the business end of the competition. Teams always need that little bit of luck but that has to be earned, so hopefully we can keep that up on Friday. I'd never say our name’s on the cup, we've got to earn that right.”
O’Leary knows what it would mean to Cockfield to reach the final, having played for the club in the 2007-08 final when they lost 2-1 to Old Newton United
“It would be absolutely massive. I played in our last appearance at Portman Road way back when and it was a brilliant experience, even though we didn’t win that night!
“In my opinion, we are what you would consider a traditional grassroots club; we play on the village green, and we have to get the goals out and put them away before and after every game.
“All the lads pay their fees and we have a small team of volunteers to help run things off the pitch, many of whom who do that whilst playing on the pitch.
“Everyone understands the club is what they shape it to be and what they put in they get out. The major buzz word around the club is always to ‘enjoy your football’ win, lose or draw. Hopefully we can enjoy our football as a club on and off the pitch on Friday night,” he said.
Cockfield have a couple of players injured and one away on holiday, but will also be in what O’[Leary described as the ‘horrible position’ of having to leave some players out of the match-day squad.
“That is a real shame as undoubtedly everyone wants to be involved as these sort of games are why you play football. We will do our best to keep all of those players involved as much as we can on the day and make it a real squad effort,” he added.
Cockfield United (navy blue shirts) are pictured above in action versus Kirton Athletic (yellow & black striped shirts) back in December.
