Hethersett Athletic

Despite having beaten Barking twice in the league this season, Hethersett know that it is the team that performs on the day that will take the trophy.

“Getting to the cup final was one of our aims for this season and we have been training hard for this game. We believe that we can bring the trophy back to Norfolk but we certainly won’t be under-estimating Barking. It is the team that has most desire on the day that will win. Barking are tough opposition and a cup final is a cup final” said coach and joint manager Tom Parke.

Parke will be leaving his team selection to the last minute for the game which kicks off at Soham Rangers FC at 3p.m.

“I will pick the team from how the players perform at training leading up to the match and also on their commitment. I hope that the local community will support us and recognise how well we have done this season,” Parke added.

Hethersett will be hoping to add the cup to their Eastern Region Division One East championship gained last season. They still have a genuine chance of winning the Premier Division this season although the destiny of that trophy could be out of their hands.

Norwich City Ladies have four home games still to play and need a maximum 12 points to pip Hethersett for the title, providing Hethersett win their remaining two away games.

Meanwhile eight Hethersett players have been selected to represent Norfolk against Essex at Wivenhoe next Tuesday (29^th April) at 7.45 p.m. They are Sarah Quantrill, Nicola Bray, Emily Coates, Sophie Fuller, Logan Shepherd, Jemma Smythe, Nicola Stolworthy and Jodie Allard.

Hethersett Athletic’s first team were without a fixture on Sunday and finish their season this week with a visit to The Grove. Overall it’s been a disappointing season for last year’s runners-up in the Norwich Sunday League Premier Division. After starting the campaign with five consecutive victories, they fell apart somewhat and at one stage were looking possibilities for relegation until a late improvement saw them pull clear of the drop zone. They look likely to finish in seventh place and the re-building programme for next season has already begun.

Hethersett Athletic Under-15s rounded off their season with a lads v dads game full of goals. With a scoreline of 4-4 the match went into a penalty shoot-out with youth triumphing over experience.

Hethersett Athletic Under-14s went down 5-1 at home to Dereham with their goal coming from Shane Smith. This Sunday the Under-14s visit St Andrew’s.

Hethersett Athletic Under-11s hit form to beat Firside 6-3 with two goals each for Matthew Butcher and Fraser Ellis and others from Read and Mehtab.

Hethersett Athletic Under-10B side drew 1-1 with Litcham with their goal coming from Lewis Baxter to take his tally for the season to 30.

The football season may be coming to an end, but Hethersett Athletic have a number of major events planned for the next couple of months.

Over 70 former players will be returning to the club from all over the United Kingdom and further afield for a special match in memory of Lee Thompson, a Hethersett player who was tragically killed in a road accident in 1999.

Members of the team that reached the final of the Norfolk Sunday Senior Cup will be re-united for a game against other “golden oldies” from the club’s past.

“It is a tribute to Lee’s popularity that so many players will be travelling long distances to be with us. Players have been talking about the match on the internet for some time and many are returning from Europe and even further,” said club chairman Peter Steward. Former first team manager Ian Harrison will also be returning to manage one of the teams.

The match is being organised on the Memorial Playing Field on Sunday May 11^th by current first team player-manager Ross Potter who was a team-mate of Lees. “We have 70 players who have pledged to be there and many more who could turn up as well. It could be the largest game of football ever seen on the park, although some of them can probably only play about ten minutes now,” Potter joked.

The day will also include a barbecue and money raised will be given to a charity chosen by Lee’s parents, Ray and Mary Thompson.

The annual Lee Thompson Memorial Trophy for outstanding contribution to the club during the season will be presented at one of the club’s two presentation events. The adult teams’ will get together for a meal at Park Farm Hotel, Hethersett, on Friday May 2^nd and the annual youth team’s funday will be held this year at Hethersett Junior School on Saturday, June 7^th.