Cup win would be a massive achievement
WINNING the CNet Training Suffolk Senior Cup would be a ‘massive, outstanding and memorable achievement’ for Trimley Red Devils.
The Macron SIL Senior Division side meet higher-league Leiston U23s in Wednesday’s final at Portman Road, kick-off 7.30pm.
It will be the club’s first-ever Senior Cup Final, and it has captured the imagination of those both inside and outside of the club.
Craig Chidlow, who is part of the management team with Anthony Fryatt and Andy Pirie, said the club had enjoyed the build up to the final.
He said: “Yes, there's been a lot of talk since the semi-final, a lot who attended that match have commented on how impressed they were with the way we played that night and barely a day goes by when the players, management and committee members are not discussing or planning some aspect of the final.
“Once we heard the final was to be played at Portman Road, the excitement was, of course, ramped up 10-fold!
“We've had a lot of support throughout the rounds from our Youth section watching our games and being mascots so the closer we have got to the final, the more excited they and the club and spectators have become.
“A lot of our players from both squads are from Trimley and the surrounding areas, so the word has spread and we are expecting quite a large following.”
Five members of the squad - Ryan Chidlow, Ross Driver, Josh Hewitt, Sam Osborne and Matt West - were in the Trimley side that lost 3-2 to AFC Kesgrave after leading 2-0 with 18 minutes remaining in the Suffolk Junior Cup Final at Portman Road in the 2017-18 season.
Chidlow said: “Those players, in particular, know what it feels like to lose at Portman Road and the way it was lost should serve as a reminder to keep going until the final whistle.
“They'll definitely want to right the wrongs of that game and come away with a win because despite it being a great experience to play at Portman Road regardless of the result, they will want to know what it feels like to win there!
“I know that they are delighted and grateful to have another chance to play in a Suffolk Cup Final at Portman Road and hopefully they can come away as champions this time.”
Despite losing 4-2 at Tattingstone United on the final day of the season, Trimley had a strong finish to their SIL Senior Division campaign.
“The boys seemed to have focused really well in the last few weeks and have shown a desire and a determination to keep taking everything on board to try to keep improving as a squad and with our style of play.
“A point on the last day would have ensured us runners-up and instead we finished fourth, but we can’t complain at that with the way our season started and it’s still the highest the club has finished in its history,” said Chidlow.
Opponents Leiston U23s play a level higher than Trimley in Division One North of the Thurlow Nunn League, and Chidlow admitted it will be a step into the unknown.
“With Leiston playing in a higher league we don't know as much about them as we'd like.
“We did have someone watch them once recently but with some of their players being cup-tied, it will be a little bit of a step into the unknown.
“We know they are a club with some promising young players from within a club at Step 3, so we will be prepared for a tough game.”
Chidlow said to win the cup would be the icing on the cake if Trimley can lift the trophy.
“The whole experience of playing at Portman Road, which is now a Premiership ground, is made even more special this season for the Ipswich fans, which is most of us, amongst the group.
“Getting to use the home changing rooms is a massive bonus and also representing Trimley in the Senior Cup Final in front of a big crowd and having the opportunity to win the club’s first major trophy.
“It would be a massive, outstanding and memorable achievement to win it and become part of its wonderful history and to do it at Portman Road, which has already seen such a memorable season, really would be the icing on the cake.”
Ryan Chidlow is pictured above slamming the ball into the roof of the East Bergholt United net to score the final goal for Trimley Red Devils in their 6-0 semi-final win at Felixstowe & Walton United FC. Photograph: Paul Voller
