Added incentive for Felixstowe players
FELIXSTOWE & Walton United’s players have added incentive to end this season on a high.
The club announced on Sunday that manager Stuart Boardley and his assistant Andy Crump will step down at the end of the season after five-and-a-half years in post.
And on the eve of their Endeavour Automotive Suffolk Premier Cup Semi-Final versus Needham Market, Boardley said the players now aim to end the season in style.
The Seasiders face the Marketmen at the GBS Stadium, home of Ipswich Wanderers FC, in the first of this season’s semi-finals on Wednesday night, kick-off 7.45pm.
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As well as a potential county cup final, the Seasiders returned to the top of the Isthmian North table on Saturday as they chase promotion to Step 3 for the first time in the club’s history.
Boardley said: “We have got a really tight group of players. The majority of them have been together for a long time, but undoubtedly with a new management team coming in that will mean changes to the squad next season.
“The message from the players has been positive as we all recognise that it is an opportunity to go out on a high over the next couple of months as it will be the last time that the majority of the group will be together in a Felixstowe shirt.”
Boardley, whose side lost 2-0 to Needham in last season’s final, is looking forward to his players testing themselves against opponents who play at Step 2, although both will have one eye on their weekend fixtures.
“Both clubs’ main focus is squarely on the league for different reasons as they are at different ends of the table.
“I am not sure how it will pan out as I don’t know how they will look at it. They may rest a few and the same probably goes for us as we have a huge game versus Brentwood Town, which is first versus second, on Saturday.
“Although our main focus is on that, we have always given the Suffolk Premier Cup a good go and it is no different this season.
“It is an opportunity for us to go up against the best Non-League side in Suffolk and test ourselves against them,” said Boardley.
You have to go back to the second round of the 2018-19 season when Needham lost 4-3 on penalties to Lowestoft Town after a 1-1 draw to find the last time they were knocked out before recording four successive cup wins.
Boardley said: “We are huge underdogs on Wednesday as everyone knows, but we have always done well against higher-league opposition. We gave a good account of ourselves against Boreham Wood (who play in National League South, the same level as Needham) in the FA Trophy earlier this season before losing on penalties.”
The Seasiders should have a full squad to select from with the exception of long-term injury victim Joe Whight.
Rob Harvey of Felixstowe & Walton United (red shirts) is pictured above in action versus Waltham Abbey (green & white hooped shirts) at the Martello Ground back in December.
