Non-League and Academy football writer

On Friday night (kick-off is at 7:45pm) FC Trent Park and AC Milano Reserves will compete to be the winners of the 2025/26 London FA Sunday Trophy, at Wingate & Finchley FC. Both really fine sides in their respective Sunday leagues, FC Trent Park, who are also in this seasons’ Middlesex FA Sunday Premier Cup final, entered the London FA Sunday Trophy at the first round stage, this season. The team who play in the Barnet Sunday Football League Championship, where they are currently in second place with one game remaining, would face Omonia Youth men’s first team, in round one of this county cup competition. And FC Trent Park would win that competitive cup tie 4-3.

Facing The Gun (Pub) in round two, despite that tie finishing 2-2, FC Trent Park would progress on penalties, into the third round, where they faced a good HMT Samsunspor side, with the north London side winning 3-2. They would then beat Hampstead Wanderers 2-1 away, in the quarter-finals, before beating The Warren 4-3 away, in the semi-finals. AC Milano Reserves play their football in Division One of the Essex Sunday Corinthian Football League. They are currently in fourth place in the Division One standings. Like their opponents this Friday, the east London based side also entered the London FA Sunday Trophy at the first round stage. And they would beat Hackney & Leyton Sunday Football League side Limehouse Tigres,  4-2 in the first round.

After beating AFC Bexley 5-0 (away) in the second round of the London FA Sunday Trophy, they would then beat Ashtead Athletic Green 4-2 (at home) in round three. They were then handed another home draw in the quarter-finals, where they beat Cryfield Athletic 2-0. An excellent performance from AC Milano Reserves in the semi-finals (I was in attendance for this game) saw them win 4-0 against AFC Kumazi Strikers, to make sure of their place in Friday’s cup final, which should be a great occasion for both talented sides, who I wish well for the game.