FA Inter League Cup

The Balcan Lighting Supplies Lincolnshire League representative squad will play their second round FA Inter League tie against the Staffordshire County Senior League on Saturday 20th January.

The tie was previously arranged for Saturday 9th December but due to poor weather conditions in the West Midlands, the Staffordshire squad were unable to travel on the morning of the match and as a consequence the game had to be postponed.

The fixture comes two years after the men from the Potteries knocked out Matt Easton’s men from the same competition at Sleaford Town’s Eslaforde Park.

This time round the two teams meet at the Vertigo Stadium, home of Skegness Town.

Easton knows it will be a tough test for the Lincolnshire lads, who came up against a full squad from the then Staffs champions Wolstanton United last time.

An FA rule change now restricts the number of players from each league team, so the visitors will have to rethink their selection policy. They progressed to the second round with a 5-0 victory over the Lancashire League. Lincolnshire were given a bye in the first round after opponents the Northern Football Alliance withdrew at the 11th hour.

The competition gives amateur sides at Step 7 and below an opportunity to play representative football against the best in the country. There is the added incentive that the winning side goes on to represent England in Europe.

The current holders are the West Yorkshire League, who beat Teeside in the 2016 final before going on to wear the three lions in Romania. There they came up against the best of Romania, Serbia and Russia, narrowly missing out on further progression.

Kick off versus The Staffordshire Senior League is 3:00pm at The Vertigo Stadium, Wainfleet Road, Skegness (PE25 2EL). Entry is £5, which includes a matchday programme.