THIS season’s Suffolk Champions Charity Cup has been likened to David versus Goliath.

Trimley Red Devils, who will be effectively playing five leagues below Needham Market this season, travel to Bloomfields for the match on Tuesday, kick-off 7.45pm.

Proceeds from the match, including ticket sales, will go to the British Heart Foundation. Tickets can be purchased on the night at the turnstile but payment shall be by debit or credit card only. 

In addition to winning the Endeavour Automotive Suffolk Premier Cup last season, Needham Market became only the second Suffolk side to earn promotion to Step 2.

That means that the gulf between the level the Marketmen will be playing and their visitors, who last season lifted the CNet Training Suffolk Senior Cup, will be bigger than ever before in this one-off showcase fixture.

Craig Chidlow, who is part of the Trimley Red Devils’ management team along with Anthony Fryatt and Andy Pirie, said: “Firstly, massive congratulations to Needham for their league and cup success last season – what an achievement!

“As a Step 2 side, Needham are by far the highest-ranked team Trimley have ever played and we’re looking forward to being part of this showcase game.  

“It does feel a bit like David versus Goliath. Everyone in the East of England will have heard of Needham Market FC, but I’m not so sure the same can be said of Trimley?

“As a collective, this is certainly the toughest opposition our boys have come up against and possibly ever will, so it’s about making the most of the occasion and trying to enjoy it.”

Curtis Harvey, who scored the second goal - his 27th of the season - in Trimley’s 2-0 victory over Leiston Under-23s in last season’s final at Portman Road, has since re-joined Hadleigh United.

Chidlow said: “It’s obviously going to be an extremely difficult game for us. We've even lost our top young goalscorer who I persuaded to come to us last season.

“I told him to get off the bench he was constantly sitting on, bang in a load of goals for us and earn a move to a bigger club then leave with my blessing, which is exactly what happened, and the best of luck to him.

“To be honest, this is a complete free hit for us. Yes, there’s a trophy to be won and our lads will give it their best, but we also have to be realistic of the gap between the teams. 

“As long as our boys work hard and try to play our football, we’ll be happy. It’ll be a great experience which I’m sure we’ll all learn lots from. We’re looking forward to an enjoyable night.”

As well as facing Suffolk’s highest-ranked side, Trimley will get to experience playing under lights at one of the county’s best grounds.

“We’re actually very fortunate that our home pitch is a nice playing surface, but of course it’s always nice to play on decent pitches with top facilities such as Needham’s.

“I think a lot of our lads have played there before too, at Youth level and U18s, with two or three at one point being in the Needham Academy itself, so it will be good for them to experience it again,” added Chidlow.

The Trimley Red Devils players are pictured above celebrating after their 2-0 CNet Training Suffolk Senior Cup Final victory over Leiston Under-23s at Portman Road in May. Photograph: Paul Voller