C P Mason Cup 2022

Sussex C P Mason Cup Final (Under-14s) Preview

Lewes vs. Bognor Regis Town

The final of the Sussex C P Mason Cup (Under-14s) is due to take place on Sunday 15 May 2022 between Lewes and Bognor Regis Town.

Lewes vs. Bognor Regis Town
Sussex C P Mason Cup Final (Under-14s)
Date: Sunday 15 May 2022
Kick-off: 2:30pm
Venue: Sussex County FA, Culver Road, Lancing, BN15 9AX

Mid-Sussex Youth Division One Champions, Lewes, face Bognor Regis Town who play up a year in Division A of the Arun & Chichester League.

Lewes manager, Dale Hurley, is looking forward to well-contested fixture.

“We're very excited for a good, competitive, fixture against Bognor. We've heard a bit about them and know they are quite a good side.

“We've had a good season ourselves winning the league and league cup so the County Cup will be a great addition.

“The boys are really excited - our ethos is just really demanding. We've been demanding of them from our first training session in pre-season and all the way through.

“We've said to them if we demand a lot from each other then we will do good things so that will be us again in the cup final, demand a lot from each other and set the standards high.”

These are two sides in the final that have a fantastic pathway to the first team, and at Lewes, Dale believes it’s great inspiration for his players.

“For the young players to move up the pathway with us is great, especially at Lewes, we try and incorporate them from a young age all the way up to the first team. Big occasions like the County Cup Final really help them with that and their experiences.

“The pathway is brilliant for the players - the last game of the season for the men's side, the players got to parade their league cup trophy around the pitch, met a lot of the players, given boots, shirts etc. so it was really inspiring for them.

“We have a playing style that we adhere to and a development programme for all the players, technical development and physical development.

“It's fundamental for us to develop the individual - we want to try and win as many games as we can, but it's not win at all costs, we have to develop these players as well.

Lastly, he gave his thoughts on his side’s opponents in the final: “We haven't played Bognor officially before, I believe we played a few of their boys when they were under a different entity, which was a high scoring game at 9-a-side so a bit younger.

“We haven't played them since in a competitive, 11-a-side game so I am looking forward to the challenge and I'm sure it'll be a well-contested game.

“Bognor have obviously played up a year this season which has its physical benefits, we feel we play in a competitive league as it is.”

Similarly, for Bognor manager, Nick Scott, he is respectful of the threat Lewes will pose.

“There's a little bit of nervousness there! It's the biggest game we can play in at this level of football so really looking forward to it as well.

“I've been and seen Lewes play once and we played them a couple of years ago in the County Cup Quarter-Final at under-12s when they were Woodingdean Wanderers, and we were Felpham Colts.

“We know they won the Mid-Sussex League this season, so we are expecting a really tough game and hoping an enjoyable one.”

With Bognor playing up a year in the under-15s division, Nick gives us an insight into the thought behind it.

“We wanted to give the boys a fresh challenge this year. Obviously physicality and size were a big challenge for the lads, but they've gone about the challenge well. They have suffered some defeats but won more than they lost.

“They've proved they can compete in the year above with some real big lads and the age they are at, growth and maturity obviously come out at different stages and playing up a year they've come up against young men really but applied themselves really well.

“We've always competed highly at our own age group and made the final of this competition two years ago before being cancelled due to COVID, so we entered this year expecting it to go well.”

Nick put a highlight on this competition at the start of the season and has enjoyed the challenge it’s given his players.

“We don't take reaching the final for granted but we expected to do well in the tournament, and we knew the boys were capable of getting to the final again if they played to their standards.

“Playing up a year has given us the chance to play new teams and the County Cup has given us the chance to do that also.

“We've had to get on the road a little bit, see some teams outside our area, including our semi-final trop to Peacehaven which was a fair old trip for us!

“It's nice to play other teams though to see what's going on and play some teams in other leagues so really enjoyable experience for them.”

Lastly, he told us of the mindset of his players for the final: “Being young lads, you hope the nerves don't get the better of them. Certainly I'll be asking them to play the game and not the occasion. That's the big factor to take away that level of nervousness as much as possible.

“We'll be trying to treat it as any normal game and take away any of those nerves and hopefully if they can do that, I'm sure they will be fine.”

Entry prices for the final are as follows (cash and card accepted):

£4.00 Adult (17+)
£2.00 Concession (65+ and students with valid student ID card)
FREE Child (16 and under)
£1.50 Official Match Day Programme

For further details about the Sussex C P Mason Cup (Under-14s) please contact:

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

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