CUMBERLAND CUP: Final at BP on Tuesday night

The ‘Team of the Round’ Award has generated a considerable amount of interest and has rewarded teams who have beaten the odds to get through the next round. The Award has not only given teams an extra incentive to play well but has also seen investment in the clubs increase with Nike kit and equipment provided.

The Cumberland Cup Final is one of the oldest and most prestigious competitions in the Country. Cumberland FA are delighted that Carlisle United have once again agreed to support the competition by hosting the final at Brunton Park giving players from across the County the chance to play in a Football League stadium and on a first class pitch.

Netherhall FC v Carlisle United FC, Brunton Park, Carlisle, Tuesday 28 April 2015, kick off 7pm

Tickets: £2 (adults), £1 (concessions)

Cumberland Building Society said about the partnership: "The Cumberland supports the work of voluntary and charity organisations that aim to make a real difference within our communities, and we are therefore proud to have been the sponsor of the 2014/15 Cumberland Cup competitions, which brings together teams from across our region in the most prestigious football competition in the county."

All the talk will be about the two teams playing to win the Cumberland Cup, but the game wouldn’t be going ahead without the ‘third’ team, the Officials.

The Officials for all Cumberland FA County Cup Finals are selected following a season long process with referee’s performances taken into account rewarding the consistent decision makers in what can sometimes be an almost impossible role in the game.

Referee: Kevin Mulraine

Assistant Referees: Adam Pattison and Ken Stevenson

4th Official: John Mulligan

Netherhall FC have had great success since reforming in the 1999/2000 season. The Club have been crowned Champions of the Smurfit Kappa Cumberland County League 11 times and represented Cumberland FA in the Northern Counties Cup reaching the Final in 2006 and more recently in this season’s FA Inter League Competition. Netherhall FC beat Blyth Town FC, representatives from the Northern Alliance in the preliminary round and are awaiting news on the draw for the next round.

The Maryport based Club reached the Quarter Finals last season, losing out to eventual winners Celtic Nation FC. Netherhall FC got their revenge this season in the Quarter Finals, beating the holders after extra time to set up a Semi Final with Cleator Moor Celtic FC from the Wearside League.

For the second time in five years, the players from Netherhall FC will be walking out on the pitch at Brunton Park to play against Football League opposition aiming to win the coveted trophy. The West Cumbrians will be aiming to go one better than 2011 when they were defeated 2-0 by an experienced Carlisle United FC.

Netherhall FC are currently second in the Premier Division of the Smurfit Kappa Cumberland County League (at the time of going to press), 8 points behind leaders Wigton FC with 3 games in hand.

For the second year running a ‘County based League’ team have reached the Final of the Cumberland Cup, a fantastic reflection on the playing standards across the Smurfit Kappa Cumberland County League. 

The Tuesday evening fixture may give a slight advantage to the professional league team, while Netherhall FC players will be preparing for the game following their day in work; however no one will be writing off the County League team.

Manager Billy Gilmour commented: “Reaching our second Cumberland Cup Final is a fantastic achievement for our small club. A win for Netherhall would be as big a shock as Workington Reds beating Manchester United, very special!”

The atmosphere around Carlisle United’s season finale will be more relaxed having assured survival in League Two last weekend following their 2-0 win against Plymouth Argyle. The club are looking ahead to their first appearance in the Cumberland Cup Final for two years and are not taking anything for granted.

Carlisle United FC’s previous appearance in the Cumberland Cup Final against Whitehaven AFC saw them break the post-war record of winning the Cup for three consecutive seasons (2010/11, 2011/12 and 2012/13). 

Their last defeat in the Cumberland Cup also came from a Smurfit Kappa Cumberland County League team and United will not want this repeated! Wigton FC knocked Carlisle United FC out in the 2nd Round last season. 

The Cumberland Cup, sponsored by Cumberland Building Society gives Carlisle United FC a chance to end the season on a high and they’ll be looking to add some silverware as they look to build for next season’s challenge.

Carlisle United FC’s Chairman of 56 years, Andrew Jenkins, is a big supporter of the competition and always encourages the team to do its best, and to go all the way if at all possible. 

Carlisle United FC  are expecting a competitive game giving the players a chance to get 90 minutes of important pitch time in a fixture they want to win.

Coach Paul Thirlwell said: “This will be a tough game against a side who will come to Brunton Park to win. Having made it through some extremely tricky ties the lads will want to finish things off by lifting the trophy in front of what we hope will be a big crowd on the night.”

Media officer Andy Hall said: “The club is in the fantastic position of having made it through to both senior cup finals, with the Carlisle United Ladies team also due to contest their silverware. It would be excellent if the club could display both trophies in the boardroom come the end of this season.”

Cumberland FA would like to wish both Netherhall FC and Carlisle United FC the best of luck in what is the first of 11 Cup Finals over the coming weeks.

Cumberland FA are delighted to welcome the ball boys and girls who this season are being provided by Cockermouth JFC.

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