Cosmos bid for a Sunday double
North End preparing for two cup finals inside a week
North End Cosmos are in the running for a 2019/20 Sunday silverware double.
The Portsmouth League outfit travel to Basingstoke this weekend to take on Fareham United in the delayed Hampshire FA Sunday Trophy final.
Then, next Thursday, they face league rivals Jameson Arms in the final of the Portsmouth & District FA Sunday Cup final at Moneyfields (7.45pm).
Cosmos were formed four years ago by Luke Channer. Starting out in the bottom division, they have risen all the way up to the top one.
Last season they were top of the second tier when life went into lockdown, but were still promoted.
At the time the season was stopped Cosmos were also through to the semi-finals of the Buster Gordon Cup and the Challenge Cup.
Overall, the team played 22 games in all competitions and netted 108 times.
After a disappointing 2018/19 season - when they finished bottom of their division but avoided relegation - Cosmos improved their squad with some big signings.
Tyler Ware joined from league rivals Broadoak and has established himself as a defensive lynchpin, earning last season’s Players’ Player of the Year award.
Danny Rimmer and Rob Taw were also recruited, along with striker Zac Willett, now at Hampshire Premier League side Paulsgrove.
Goalkeeper Perri King was another successful addition.
Cosmos are managed by Malcolm Nancarrow, who took on the role at the start of 2018/19. Jim Smalley joined that season as a player but became assistant manager last term.
Cosmos’ Hampshire Cup run started last season with a penalty shoot-out success at Bournemouth-based Shoulder of Mutton.
They then beat Portsmouth club DCC 2-0 helped by Russell Stanley’s 30-yard free-kick into the top corner.
Allan Shaw bagged five goals as Cosmos hammered
Meon Valley Leaguers Waterlooville Social Club 12-0.
Cosmos were handed a tough quarter-final trip to Andover Premier League leaders AFC Tukkers, a team packed with regulars from Wessex League Division 1 club Andover New Street.
Cosmos took the lead with a Jack Blake penalty before Rimmer added a second before half-time. The visitors lost Martin Pottage with a broken jaw but sub Luke Channer set up Stefan Nancarrow for a third before Tukkers replied late on.
Cosmos were handed a bye into the final when semifinal opponents Fawley RBL Reserves withdrew.
Channer is one of only two players in the current squad – Pete Simmons is the other – who were involved with Cosmos at the beginning.
Channer is the club’s highest appearance maker, with 85, and he has also scored 23 goals.
Ricky Byng is this season’s club captain after inheriting the armband from Rimmer who left in the summer to join Milton Rovers. The new skipper is nicknamed ‘Virgil Van Byng’ for his defensive displays.
There is a strong Paulsgrove connection to Cosmos, with Grove players Moulay
Ousman, Taylor Revy, Connor Revy, Steve Ledger and George Carnell all involved with the Hampshire Premier League club.
Earlier this year Carnell attempted to take his own life, posting a suicide note on social media.
After regaining consciousness in QA Hospital after taking an overdose, he was contacted by Pompey striker John Marquis who subsequently spoke at length with him on the phone.