The final of the Sussex Stan Beattie Memorial Trophy (under-15s) sponsored by Gardner & Scardifield due to take place on Sunday 17 March 2019 between Barnham Trojans and AFC Varndeanians has been CANCELLED.

Barnham Trojans vs. AFC Varndeanians - CANCELLED
Sussex Stan Beattie Memorial Trophy Final (Under-15s) - sponsored by Gardner & Scardifield
Date: Sunday 17 March 2019
Kick-off: 2.30pm
Venue: Sussex County FA, Culver Road, Lancing, West Sussex, BN15 9AX

This Sunday’s clash consisted of two teams that had come up against each other various times in previous years.

Barnham Trojans play in the Sussex Sunday Youth League - Division 1 and are currently placed fourth with five games in hand. 

The Trojans have won their respective league five times since the 2012/13 season and have experienced cup glory three times, with one being the Sussex Les Kempster Challenge Trophy (Under-13s) two seasons ago where they came out 4-0 winners over Portslade United.

Therefore, this suggests that the team are clearly no strangers to big occasions and gaining silverware! 

Unfortunately the Trojans manager, Duncan Terry was unable to comment in the build-up of the game.

However, his sides journey to the final looked comfortable after knocking Lewes Juniors out in the first round 12-1, they then overcame Three Bridges 4-0 and following that, they put nine goals past Worthing with only one in reply.

The Quarter and Semi-Final looked to be more closely matched ties with the results ending 3-2 against Cuckfield Cosmos United and 3-1 against neighbours Bognor Regis Town. 

AFC Varndeanians manager, Andy Pinnock is in his second year of managing the side and was looking to make club history by lifting the County Cup on Sunday afternoon: “To get to the final is a great achievement for us and to win it would be even better.

“I think everyone holds the County Cup as the number one competition that they want to go for and win, so it means the world to all the players to be in it, it is the most prestigious competition. 

“There are a few of the lads who have won a county cup previously but there is a big proportion who have never been in a final, so I think right the way through the line-up, it will be a great day for all of them.”

Pinnock’s team have been together for six years and at the start of this season decided to move ships from Hove Riverdale to the Old V’s due to the player pathway into adult football in which the club offers and he said: “We wanted to join AFC Varndeanians because they offered a pathway to adult football and it was a good opportunity to transition the guys to senior football - they have a great pathway so we were thankful they had space for us."

AFC Varndeanians play in the Sussex Sunday Youth League Under-16s age category despite being an Under-15s team and are having an impressive campaign to date. 

Although they are sitting second in the table, Pinnock admits that it has not been easy: “It’s tough, because we are playing a year up, there can be a physical differences between the two sides, but it’s good for the lads and their development.”

The Varndeanians route to the final consisted of everything from high-score lines, extra-time and penalties to clean sheets! 

“Our first game was a fairly one sided event for us, I think we won 14-1, the second game was our toughest game, we played a very strong Eastbourne Borough side and it went to penalties. It was a very evenly matched game, a cracking game actually.

“The others have been comfortable and our hardest test was the second round game which we knew it would be,” he said.

AFC Varndeanians breezed past AFC Worthing 14-1 in the first round, they then edged a victory after going all the way and winning 4-3 on penalties against Eastbourne Borough. Following that, they were drawn at home for the third time and managed to keep Billingshurst at bay and won by five goals to nil. That result saw them progress into the quarter-finals, where they overcame Select Soccer Eastbourne by one goal to nil; the final hurdle saw a comfortable 5-1 win against Bexhill United to set up the final at Culver Road. 

With both sides’ cup run results consisting of high score lines, Sunday afternoon’s clash at the Sussex County FA Headquarters was looking to be a goals-galore contest!

Entry prices for the final were as follows:
£3.00 Adult (17+)
£2.00 Concession (65+ and students with valid student ID card)
FREE Child (16 and under)

For further details about the Sussex Stan Beattie Memorial Trophy please contact Competitions:

Competitions
T: 01903 753547
E: Competitions@SussexFA.com