The County Cup Final season draws to a close. It's time to sit back and reflect on what has been a rollercoaster of a journey for the Nottinghamshire Football Associations flagship competitions.
Football came back from the enforced closure following the pandemic, Nottinghamshire Football Association planned the 2021/22 season not only for themselves, but the leagues within the county was problematic due to the unpredictability of the situation.
During this task, Nottinghamshire Football Association consulted with the grassroots community confirming there was a real appetite to bring back county competitions. With the support the board, the decision was taken to run all but one of the competitions, with the Sunday Champions League format competition being side-lined for the season due to not having leagues winners the previous season.
The Sunday Senior Cup
For the first time in many years placed all entries into bag from the start for a straight knock our competition through to the final. A strong entry list from across the county battled it out over the 4 rounds, leading to two mouth wearing ties in the semi-finals with Sunday Cup between Fanzines United v RHP Sports & Social and the other tie Phoenix Top Spot v Poet Young Boys 4 teams with County Cup pedigree.
Both ties were decided by a single goal, with RHP and Poets progressing through to the final at Basford United. The final itself was an excellent occasion, with a bumper crowd cheering on their local Sunday heroes in a tight affair. The two sides could only be separated by a late penalty, with Poets scoring and securing a league and cup double alongside a very credible FA Sunday Cup Quarter Final run.
‘A great achievement with us winning the Sunday Cup Final. A very tough game with RHP on what would have been a great highlight for Nottinghamshire football. The first part of our treble winning season. Thanks to the Notts FA for a great evening and their support over the season. Looking forward to next season already!’ Murphy Lennon (Manager, Poet Young Boys)
The Saturday Senior Cup
The jewel in the crown of the County Cup programme, featuring all of the teams playing in the National League System and for the first time in several decades representative sides from our three professional clubs. Having Mansfield Town, Notts County and Nottingham Forest taking part raised the profile of the competition to new levels and the live draws on Notts TV became an event itself, highlight being the lowest rank side Selston pulling out a home tie against Forest in the quarter final which pulled a crowd of 950+ on a very wet Wednesday evening. The professional sides didn’t find it easy, as our semi-professional players stepped up to the mark with Hucknall Town taking Notts County to penalties and Kimberley narrowly losing on penalties to Forest, two ties with massive crowds. Carlton Town and Newark FC flew the non-league flag all the way to the semi-finals, but Newark struggled to find rhythm in the semi-final losing out to Mansfield Town, who haven’t won the competition since 1932. Carlton had a different night backed by strong home support, they ran out 2v1 winners against a very experienced U23’s side from Forest taking a major scalp and setting up a Carlton v Mansfield final. The final itself was a tense affair as both sides were eager to get their hands on the famous trophy, but it was a resilient Carlton Town who hung onto a 1v0 lead and lifted the trophy and an historic night for the competition.
‘A really memorable senior cup this season for several reasons. Obviously the previous Covid hit seasons hit us all hard particularly with us being in the semi final and not being able to participate. Also this season has got to be one of the strongest cups in a long while. With Nottingham forest Mansfield and Notts county all putting strong teams out it’s really made the cup a force again. And finally it seems like Notts is becoming a hotbed again with local clubs all either gaining promotion or being promoted so ongoing it’s only going to get stronger. We’re really proud to win it this year particularly beating forest and Mansfield along the way’. Tommy Brookbanks (Manager, Carlton Town)
To read the full article, please visit: Nottinghamshire FA County Cup Winners - Nottinghamshire FA