THREE boys who currently play for AFC Sudbury EJA will be appearing in their sixth consecutive Suffolk FA County Cup Final on Sunday.

They will be playing against Needham Market EJA Blue in the Crown Imperial Boys’ Under-16 Cup Final which is one of ten finals organised by Suffolk FA taking place at the Crown Imperial Youth Cup Finals Day.

The finals are being staged at Ipswich Town’s Playford Road Training Centre, kicking off with the first final at 10am and continuing until the last fixture at 3.30pm.

The three AFC Sudbury players are Ben Harris, Owen Lennie and Will Oxborrow. 

Ben has played for Woodbridge U11s and U12s, Whitton U13s and U14s and Sudbury U15s and U16s.

Owen and Will have both played for Woodbridge U11s, U12s and U13s, Whitton U14s and U15s and Sudbury U16s.

Woodbridge Town won the U11s final in 2014 (8-0 v Kirkley & Pakefield Youth Wildcats) and the Under-12s final in 2015 (4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw with Bury Town Colts), while Whitton United won the Under-13s in 2016 (3-2 v Woodbridge Town), meaning Ben was victorious against his former team-mates.

Whitton United won the Under-14s final in 2017 (2-1 v AFC Sudbury) while AFC Sudbury won the Under-15s Minor Cup in 2018 (2-0 v Whitton United), meaning Ben again came out on top against Owen and Will.

With Ben now part of the AFC Sudbury EJA side, all three players will be facing Needham Market EJA Blue in the Under-16 final which kicks-off at 10.30am. 

AFC Sudbury EJA Under-16s. Back row (left to right): Caleb Palmer,  Ben Harris,  Owen Lennie, Kolinio Biakula, Alfie Adams, Josh Blunkell, Joe Gunn, Archie Sayer, Jacob Thomas, Jessie Ebosele; Front row: Taylor Sumpter, Jack Palmer, Will Oxborrow, Ted Penn, Dan Smith, Tye Hypkin. Main mage: Action from the match between Needham Market EJA (red shirts) and Brandon Town Community (blue shirts) in the Boys' Under-14 tie at the Youth Cup Semi-Finals Day at the New Croft in Haverhill. Needham Market won 11-0 to reach the final.

The full schedule of finals is as follows:

10am: Girls’ Under-14 Cup Final – Waveney v Ipswich Valley Rangers, Grass Pitch 3

10.30am: Boys’ Under-14 Cup Final – AFC Sudbury v Needham Market, Grass Pitch 1

10.30am: Boys’ Under-16 Cup Final – AFC Sudbury v Needham Market, Grass Pitch 2

12 noon: Girls’ Under-16 Cup Final – Capel Plough v Stowupland Falcons, Grass Pitch 3

12.30pm: Girls’ Under-12 Cup Final – Waveney v Haverhill Rovers, Grass Pitch 5

12.30pm: Boys’ Under-15 Cup Final – AFC Sudbury v Needham Market, 3G Pitch 6

2pm: Boys’ Under-13 Cup Final – AFC Sudbury v Whitton United, Grass Pitch 1

2pm: Girls’ Under-13 Cup Final – Ipswich Valley Rangers v East Bergholt United, Grass Pitch 3

3pm: Boys’ Under-18 Cup Final – Bacton United v Bury Town Saints, Grass Pitch 2

3.30pm: Boys’ Under-12 Cup Final – Ipswich Valley Rangers Blue v Kirkley & Pakefield Royals, Grass Pitch 3

To ensure an even spread of parking teams and supporters have been designated one of three car parks to use. Car parking will be in return for a donation to Ipswich Wanderers FC.

Car parks are allocated as follows:

Red Car Park 

 (10 minutes’ walk) – Ipswich Town Training Centre, Bent Lane (IP4 5RB) for all players and supporters of Capel Plough, Ipswich Valley Rangers, Stowupland Falcons, Whitton United and Waveney U14 Girls. After parking, please be careful when crossing the road to enter the Playford Road ITFC Training Centre.

Green Car Park

(10 minutes’ walk) – Ipswich Wanderers FC, Humber Doucy Lane (IP4 3NR) for all players and supporters of AFC Sudbury, Bacton, Haverhill Rovers and East Bergholt United.

Yellow Car Park (10 minutes’ walk) – Ipswich School Sports Centre, The Street, Rushmere (IP5 1DE) for all players and supporters of Needham Market, Bury Town, Kirkley & Pakefield and Waveney U12 Girls.

Entrance for spectators to Ipswich Town’s Playford Road Training Centre will be £2 for adults and £1 for children under the age of 12.

Drinks and BBQ food will be available throughout the day, with all players and coaches offered free food after their match. The Ipswich Wanderers FC clubhouse will be open throughout the day, although no alcohol is allowed within the Playford Road ITFC Training Ground, which is also a no-smoking site.

All proceeds received from entry fees, refreshments, and parking donations will go to Ipswich Wanderers FC.

Lee O’Neill Academy General Manager – Football Operations and Academy Manager said: “Ipswich Town are very happy to support Suffolk FA by allowing them to use the training ground facility. 

“We hope this is an enjoyable and worthwhile day for all involved and wish all teams every success.”

The Youth Cup Finals Day programme can be downloaded via the document below.