BECCLES Town have completed a hat-trick of wins in the Suffolk FA Walking Football Cup.

Their victory in Saturday’s completion at Goals in Ipswich came just two weeks after they narrowly missed out on a national title.

Beccles remained unbeaten as they won all seven of their matches on Saturday, with Foxash finishing as runners-up, after winning five. Their only loss was a 4-1 defeat to Beccles.

The Beccles team included former Ipswich Town players Trevor Whymark and Laurie Sivell, who were both at the club when they won the FA Cup 40 years ago, although neither was involved in the final. 

Dave Allen, the Beccles Team Manager, said: “This competition has got better and better. 

“It is a friendly tournament and the camaraderie among the teams is terrific.

“It is nice to win it again, and hopefully we will be back next year to defend it.”

Beccles’ success came as no surprise bearing in mind they only lost in the national final of the FA People’s Cup to Fleetwood Town on penalties.

After winning rounds in Ipswich and Peterborough, the team qualified to take part in the national finals at St George’s Park in Burton upon Trent.

There they played a total of six games to reach the national final, but lost 4-3 on penalties following a 0-0 draw against Fleetwood.

Suffolk FA Flexible Football Officer Darren Scoulding, who organised the competition, said: “The Walking Football Cup has continued to be a success, with some familiar faces and some new faces.

“Foxash didn’t enter last year but returned this year and Ipswich Walking Football Club were on tour in Portugal so could not enter last year.

“It is pleasing to see the likes of Trevor Whymark and Laurie Sivell here as they are familiar faces that resonate with people playing against them, and it is not every day that you can say you marked Trevor Whymark!

“We now have around 250 players playing Walking Football each week across the county, and a key strand of our development strategy is to increase the number of players taking part.”

The cup was presented to Beccles by Suffolk FA Chairman Phil Lawler. He is pictured above (far left) with the Beccles team.

Results Round-up

Pitch One: Haverhill Rovers 0 Activ Lives Ipswich 1, Ipswich Walking Football Club Blues 1 Beccles Town 4, Beccles Town 2 Ipswich Walking Football Club Yellows 0, Ipswich Walking Football Club Yellows 0 Keep Activ VIII 3, Beccles Town 4 Foxash 1, Foxash 2 Ipswich Walking Football Club Blues 1, Ipswich Walking Football Club Blues 0 Haverhill Rovers 0, Foxash 4 Activ Lives Ipswich 1, Keep Activ VIII 1 Ipswich Walking Football Club Blues 3, Keep Activ VIII 1 Foxash 3, Ipswich Walking Football Club Yellows 0 Ipswich Walking Football Club Blues 1.

Pitch Two: Ipswich Walking Football Club Yellows 1 Foxash 2, Foxash 2 Haverhill Rovers 1, Activ Lives Ipswich 2 Keep Activ VIII 2, Ipswich Walking Football Club Blues 1 Activ Lives Ipswich 2, Activ Lives Ipswich 1 Ipswich Walking Football Club Yellows 3, Keep Activ VIII 0 Haverhill Rovers 2, Beccles Town 4 Keep Activ VIII 1, Haverhill Rovers 0 Ipswich Walking Football Club Yellows 2, Activ Lives Ipswich 1 Beccles Town 7, Haverhill Rovers 0 Beccles Town 3.