LEA SPORTS PSG
* PIRTON * SHILLINGTON * GRAVENHURST *    

Established 1973

The Recreation Ground, Pirton, Hitchin, Hertfordshire, SG5 3PX

Cup Finals - Lea Sports teams have appeared in no fewer than 18 Cup Finals, but we lost the first 5 and it wasn't until April 1996 that the Fourth Team brought home the silverware by beating Woodlands Social 2-1.

 

1. 4th April 1976    1st XI vs. United Counties   1-2

      Bedfordshire Lower Junior Cup Final

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2. 2nd May 1993  3rd XI vs. Norman King  0-2

     Luton Sunday League Steve Smith Trophy Final     (No relation!)

The Third Team's first Cup Final appearance came in May 1993 on a barren pitch at 61 FC, Kingsway Luton against League Champions Norman King who had dropped just one point all season. Despite the line-up being strengthened by appearances from Russell Sheppard and Kevin Connolly, Norman King proved too strong and ran out 2-0 winners.
Back row: Kelvin Callow, Hugh Byrne, Steve Goldsmith, Rod Borlase, Mark Turner, Bobby McGrath, Pete Conquest, Paul Robson, Andy Bownes

Front row: Dave Bateson, Dave Blake, Steve Baggett, Kevin Connolly, Russell Sheppard  (and mascot Chris Smith)

3. 25th April 1994   4th XI vs. Hightown 0-1

      Luton Sunday League Invitation Cup Final

In only their second league season, and despite finishing 7th in Division 2, the Fourth Team made it through to the Final of the Invitation Cup against First Division Hightown at St.Albans City. Top scorer Sandy Muir went AWOL just before the game (rumours had it that he was working 'somewhere on the M25') and we knew it would be tough. In the end, a moment of madness by keeper Brendan Barr gave away the penalty which would decide the game. Laurence Freed, however, had made his name as a Manager and the supporters who all went on the coach to St.Albans had a great night out.

Left:  The team collect their medals after the match.
  Right:  Laurence Freed samples the bath after the game.

Below: Matt Borg receives his runners-up medal from 'celebrity' Luther Blissett.

Back row: Laurence Freed, Paul 'Four-cans' Robson, Paul Jenkins, Andy Bownes, Graham Carter, Andy 'Strawman' Sheridan, Dave Malvern, ?, Kevin Knight, Stewart Jenner, Ben Quince

Front row: Darren Groom, Steve Grimes, Brendan Barr, Steve Middleton, Matt Borg, Wayne Groom

4. 23rd April 1995   2nd XI vs. Rising Sun Potton  0-0  (4-5 penalties)

Bedfordshire Centenary Cup Final

Laurence Freed continued his managerial career by taking his superb Reserve Team to the final of the Beds centenary Cup at Cranfield United FC's ground. The team were already runaway Champions of Division 5 and had lost in the semi-final of the Luton News Cup 1-0 to Britannia. The cup runs had taken their toll and the team were catching up on league games almost every night leading up to the final, since this team also formed the nucleus of the Saturday XI. In the end a tired side lost on sudden-death penalties when Alex Houghton put his kick over the bar.

7. 12th May 1996   3rd XI vs. Chalton Strollers  1-4

      Luton Sunday League Challenge Cup Final

A fortnight after the Fourth team's triumph in the Invitation Cup Final the Third Team had a chance to take the Luton Sunday League Challenge Cup Final, played for the first time at Pirton.

The Thirds, under Manager Mick Marsh, were league runners-up in Division One, but had finished 11 points behind their opponents Chalton Strollers, who had beaten the Fourth Team convincingly in the Invitation Cup Final a year previously.

Once again, unfortunately, the formbook didn't lie and Chalton ran out 4-1 winners, despite a consolation goal from Phil Thompson.

Team: Dave Newman, Archie Conway, Neil Hebron, Rick Vipers, Steve Goldsmith, Mick Marsh, Paul Gathern, Alan Palmer, Phil Clarke, Phil Thompson (1), Hugh Byrne  Subs: Steve Baggett, Kelvin Callow, Graham Carter

15. 1st May 2002   Under 16 Reds vs. Stevenage Colts  4-4   (2-3 on penalties)

      Royston Crow Youth League Under 16 League Cup Final

Godfrey Knock's Under 16 Reds had had a difficult first season in the Royston Crow League - not so much with results, but more with the inconsistency of the fixture list. Nevertheless, the team had fought its way through to the League Cup Final, after a great 4-1 win in the semi-final against Risdon Wood.

Stevenage Colts were already the League Champions and Hertfordshire County Cup winners, so were hot favourites, but the Under 16s excelled themselves in the Final, played at Royston Town's ground.

Lea Sports were in the lead three times, including going 4-3 up in extra-time after a marvellous strike from Ben L'Honoré - a lead they held until the very last minute when incessant Stevenage pressure brought an equaliser against a very tired Lea Sports side.

In the ensuing penalty shoot-out it was top scorer Ben L'Honoré (who had scored 25 goals in 21 games) who missed the decisive kick and Stevenage grabbed the trophy 3-2.

 

Back row: Dave Newman, Trevor England, Ashley Burgess, Stewart Jenner, Adrian Burton, Nick Kane, Alex Houghton, Bobby McGrath, Steve Smith, Laurence Freed

Front row: Trevor Taylor, Paul Gathern, Archie Conway, Mike Brown-Fraser, Mark Abrahams, Steve Bingham, Alastair Mayman

 
 
5. 30th April 1995   4th XI vs. Chalton Strollers  1-5
16. 11th May 2002   Saturday XI vs. Macdonald Humfrey  2-1

      Luton District & South Beds League Invitation Subsidiary Cup Final

The Saturday team, under the managership of Jim Betts, had had an average season in the Premier Division of the Luton & District League, finishing sixth of nine teams with 16 points from 16 games.

The Invitation Cup had brought the chance of some silverware after a 4-1 win over Luton Borough in the semi-final.

Bobby McGrath made his sixth appearance in a Lea Sports Cup Final as the team ran out 2-1 Winners in the Final at 61FC, Kingsway, Luton.

Team: Nigel Timms, Shohel Ahmed, Simon Jackson, Mark Booth, Bobby McGrath, Glen Walker (1), Adam Celine, Andrew Newton, Dwayne Grant, Luke Munt, Henriques Mthuthuzeli (1)  Subs: Craig McCann, Mujib Miah, Sujel Miah, Rob Gurruchaga, Scott Wood

      Luton Sunday League Invitation Cup Final

9. 11th May 1997   3rd XI vs. Luton Rangers  2-0

      Luton Sunday League CBS Cup Final

The second Sunday League Cup Final to be held at Pirton saw the second appearance of the Third Team. This time they were up against Luton Rangers in the renamed CBS Cup Final.

The team, now managed by Steve Baggett, had finished 5 points ahead of their opponents in mid-table in Division One, but the team had won 8 of 11 since Christmas and was very confident.

Showing just 4 changes from the final of the year before, Lea Sports dominated the match and ran out 2-0 winners.

Back row: Matthew Clarke, Trevor Taylor (1), Steve Close, Graham Carter, Dave Newman, Steve Baggett, Mark Freire, Hugh Byrne, Steve Goldsmith

Front row: Alan Palmer, Phil Clarke, Neil Hebron, Archie Conway, Paul Gathern (1), Rick Vipers  

A week after the Reserves' failure to take the Bedfordshire Centenary Cup, the 4th team also failed in their second attempt in two seasons to take the Luton Sunday League's Invitation Cup.

The match

6. 28th April 1996   4th XI vs. Woodlands Social  2-1

      Luton Sunday League Invitation Cup Final

Lea Sports' first Cup Final success came when the Fourth Team made their third successive appearance in the Luton Sunday League's Invitation Cup Final at 61FC, Kingsway, Luton.

Woodlands Social had finished half way up the Division One table, whereas the Fourths had finished 4th in Division 2, so an even contest was on the cards and so it proved as the Fourths battled their way to a hard-fought 2-1 victory with some desperate defending in the later stages.

Back Row: Dean Kempson, Kevin Knight, Craig Brooke, Phil Roberts, Dave Malvern, Houston Ferguson, Owen McKee, Marcus Olden, Andrew Sexton

Front Row: Richard Sexton, Graham Manton, Steve Grimes, Rob Middleton, Steve Middleton, Ian Clarke, Damian Corbett

pitted the Fourth XI, Champions of Division 2, against Chalton Strollers, Champions of Division 1 and the match ran true to the form book with Chalton running out 5-1 winners on yet another barren pitch at 61FC in Kingsway, Luton.

11. 6th May 1998   Saturday XI vs. Mallard  0-1

      North Hertfordshire Football Alliance Greg Cup Final

In the 1997-98 season, Hitchin Reds, playing as Lea Sports FC, had finished runners-up in the North Herts FA Premier Division. They were confident of victory in the Greg Cup Final, played at Hitchin Town FC, against Mallard from the division below.

In a poor final, however, it was Mallard who made the running right from the start and deservedly took the trophy 1-0.

Team: Brian Routledge, Cyril Gittens, Phil Casey, Justin Fells, Toby Pitcairn, Roger Clarke, Stewart Hamilton, Neil Bethell, Ben Kowalczyk, Garnett Hendricks, Marvin Hall  Subs: Paul Parris, Leroy Saward

Bobby McGrath made it three cup final appearances out of four, but couldn't prevent Strollers running away with the game in the second half.

Team: Steve Blackhurst, Steve Middleton, Matt Borg, Martin Alley, Alan Palmer, Bobby McGrath, Paul Dubal, Neil Addison, Andy Bownes, Tony Fontanelle (1), Steve Eneduwa. Subs: Hugh Byrne, Ben Quince

12. 2nd May 1999   3rd XI vs. Railway Tavern  2-3

      Luton Sunday League TT Trophy Final

In 1998-99 Steve Baggett took the Third team to Runners-up spot in Division One and to both the TT Trophy Final and the final of the Challenge Cup.

This game was a bad-tempered affair against a rough Railway Tavern side who had kicked their way to runners-up spot in Division 2 (they had been robbed of the title by an injury-time equaliser by Steve Baggett in their match vs. the Fourth XI at Pirton on 15th April). In the end poor officials offered little protection to the Thirds, who went down 2-3.

Back row: Lee Brown (1), Graham Carter, Andy Shiers, Gavin Bidgood, Phil Thompson, Neil Hebron, Bobby McGrath, Steve Goldsmith

Front row: Steve Williams, Paul Gathern (1),  Steve Bingham, Archie Conway, Rick Vipers, Chris Gathern

13. 9th May 1999   3rd XI vs. Dunstable Drivers  4-0

      Luton Sunday League Challenge Cup Final

The Thirds were determined to finish the season on a high note after their battle in the TT Trophy Final the week before.

Playing in Pirton, Steve Baggett's team took the game to Dunstable Drivers right from the start and ran out convincing 4-0 winners. Phil Thompson scored 45 goals in the season, but failed to score in the final.

Team: Gavin Bidgood, Neil Hebron, Andy Shiers, Rick Vipers, Steve Goldsmith, Steve Williams (1), Archie Conway (1), Lee Brown (1), Phil Thompson, Steve Bingham (1), Paul Gathern  Subs: Graham Carter, Chris Gathern, Bobby McGrath

8. 1st June 1996   Netball vs. Vauxhall Golds  31-47

Luton & Dunstable Netball Association Cup Final

After a nailbiting 32-30 semi-final win over Toddington, Lea Sports netballers faced the mighty Vauxhall Golds in the Cup Final.

The league match a few weeks earlier had resulted in a 70-19 win for Vauxhall, so confidence wasn't too high, but the girls stuck at their task and although they finished on the losing side they put up a good show on the day.

Team: Chris DeHaan, Debbie Allen, Debbie O'Brien, Catherine Cassidy, Hilary Adams, Lorraine Breheny, Cheryl Price  Subs: Elaine Bodsworth, Michelle Coogan

14. 7th May 2000   3rd XI vs. Purley Old Boys  1-2

      South Beds Sunday League Division One Cup Final

The Thirds had finished in third place in their first season in the South Beds league, but 12 points behind Champions Purley Old Boys, whom they now faced in the Division One Cup Final played at Arlesey Town FC.

Despite falling behind to an early strike, Lea levelled through a strike from Jamie Richards. In the second half, however, the Purley pressure told and a mistake at the back let them through for a winner.

Team: Gavin Bidgood, Neil Hebron, Andy Shiers, Mark Williams, Steve Goldsmith, Steve Williams, Archie Conway, Lee brown, Graham Carter, Jamie Richards (1), Paul Gathern  Subs: Steve Bingham, Chris Gathern, Phil Thompson, Rick Vipers

10. 26th April 1998   4th XI vs. Dunstable Drivers  3-2

      Luton Sunday League Invitation Cup Final

The Fourth Team, under Kevin Knight, had been determined to reach the Invitation Cup Final for the third time in four years, after failing in extra-time in the semi-final last year.

In their semi-final this year they overpowered Luton Rangers 3-1 to set up a final against an in-form Dunstable Drivers team who had finished 2 points ahead of us in the Luton Sunday League Division 2.

The result was a cracking game at 61FC, Kingsway, Luton with the Fourth team squeezing out a 3-2 victory, thanks to goals from Chris Bryant (2) and top scorer Craig Brooke.

Team: Dave Newman, Steve Grimes, Steve Middleton, Andy Westgate, Mark Freire, Alan Palmer, Lee Clark, James Crook, Craig Brooke (1), Chris Bryant (2), Martin Davern  Subs: Archie Conway, Eddie Johnson, Dave Malvern

17. 14th May 2006   Under 11 vs. St.Josephs  6-1

      Chiltern Youth League Under 11 League Cup Final

The Under Elevens, in their first season with the Club, had missed out on the Division One Championship by a whisker, so were keen to make amends in the Final of the League Cup, played at Ampthill.

In their run to the Final, the Under Elevens had scored twenty goals without conceding one in reply, but they were shocked to find themselves a goal down after just two minutes.

They didn't panic, however, and their superior football told in the end as they ran out 6-1 winners, with goals from Matty Baxter, Danny Butler (2), a free-kick from Jack Mordecai and two from super-sub Ashley Palmer.

Team: Jack Good, Brett Longden, Matty Baxter (1), Bradley Turner, Andrew Smith, Jack Stanton, Jack Mordecai (1), Thomas Hignell, Danny Butler (2), Yusuf Mushtaq, Adam Nunn  Subs: Aaron Bodger, Elliot Isted, Ashley Palmer (2), Billy Redding

 

 

18. 4th May 2008   Under 11s vs. Wootton Rangers  0-1

      Filmergraphics Mini-Soccer League Cup Final

Only the second mini-soccer (7-a-side) team to play for Lea Sports, the Under 11s were delighted to reach the Cup Final after starting the season with the bare minimum of players. The team excelled in the Group stages finishing top of Group A, before securing a 1-0 win away to Bedford Panthers in the Quarter-Final and disposing of Wilstead Harriers by the same score in the Semi-Final.

Just one goal decided the final too (played at Barton Rovers FC) but it was to go to Wootton Rangers. Lea Sports put up a brave performance and defender James Lovett was declared Man of the Match.

The team with Coach Phil Toyer after the medal presentation ceremony.

James Lovett receives his Man of the Match award.

Back Row: Phil Toyer (Coach), Kelsey Brown, Joe Seago, Tom Hall, Ross Embleton, Jack Kirkwood, James Lovett

Front Row: Diluckson Sivasothy, Lewis Sadler, Salvatore DiGrado, Andrew Kinsella

 

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This site was last updated 9th May 2008