EUROPE DREAM IS INSPIRING HOPEFULS
ARTHURIAN League secretary Jonathan Hunter admits they can’t help but dream of winning the FA Inter-League Cup and represent England in Europe.
Their representative side take on the Herts Senior County League in the semi-final at Hendon on Saturday with a place in the final at stake.
The Arthurian League comprises old boys of public schools with teams such as Old Etonians and Old Carthusians who have both lifted the FA Cup, and have reached the semi-final stage in their first year of entering the competition.
The FA Inter-League Cup has returned for the first time since Covid and sees leagues compete for the chance to play in a UEFA competition against leagues from other countries with this year’s finals to be held in Finland.
He said: “This cup competition crowns an amateur champion every two years domestically and they go on and play in a UEFA competition against all the other countries the following year.
“This is the qualifying year for us in England and the FA invited all leagues up to Step 5, and 17 leagues entered including The Arthurian League for the first time.
“It’s an unbelievable cup and if you can get to win it you do go and represent England in Europe against other champion teams, it’d be an honour to win it and we’re giving our best shot.
“We beat Thames Valley in the last round, and we beat the Amateur Football Combination previously and now we’re playing Hertfordshire Senior County League. It’ll be a proper test. We’d love to get the chance to go as far as we can go.
“Cheshire are playing West Yorkshire in the other semi-final so it’s a battle of the roses derby in one semi-final and a home counties semi-final in our semi-final – so we’ll have a north vs south final.”
Hunter hopes Argonaut Trophy success last season has given them a platform to believe.
He said: “We have a few players from Old Carthusians, a few from Old Reptonians and Old Chigwellian. Old Reptonians are very strong and look like they’re going to win the league.
Arthurian League v Herts Senior County League. Saturday, March 16, Hendon FC – 6.45pm ko.