The third, and final, game of the tour is the against US national amateur champions - West Chester United - for the Transatlantic Cup, played to commemorate the nation's 250th anniversay.

The second warm-up game is against the Boston Bolts of the 4th tier USL League Two.

The first of three games will take place at 7.30pm on Friday, 19 June against the prestigious New York Athletic Club. It will be played at NYAC's 33-acre Travers Island sports facility.

Amateur champions of the United States, England set for semi-quincentennial spectacle in Philadelphia

​USASA National Amateur Cup champions West Chester United to host FA Inter-League Cup champion Arthurian League in birthplace of American independence

​https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2025/06/amateur-champions-of-united-states-england-semiquincentennial-spectacle-philadelphia

​One week shy of the United States of America’s semiquincentennial, the amateur club soccer champions of the U.S. and England will face off in Philadelphia, Pa., less than five miles away from Independence Hall. 2025 United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA) National Amateur Cup champions West Chester United SC will face the 2023–24 FA Inter-League Cup champion Arthurian League’s representative team at Drexel University on June 26 in an international exhibition dubbed the Transatlantic Cup.

Founded in 1976 in West Chester, Pa., West Chester United SC currently fields teams in the NPSL, USL League Two and the United Soccer League of Pennsylvania, among other leagues. Under head coach and program director Blaise Santangelo, the club has been revitalized in recent years, becoming a consistent national power in the amateur soccer ranks.

The club has also played a key role in the development of tomorrow’s stars, sending dozens of players to the professional ranks of MLS, the USL Championship and USL League One, among other leagues in recent years.

• MORE: ‘LEGEND’ BLAISE SANTANGELO FUELING DREAMS IN WEST CHESTER

West Chester has found success at all levels over the past decade, claiming several USASA Region I U-23 titles, winning state cups, topping its conference and division in both the NPSL and USL League Two, and lifting the USASA National Amateur Cup in 2025. The club has participated in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on multiple occasions and is also set to face defending USL League Two champions Vermont Green FC in the 2026 Hank Steinbrecher Cup Final on June 5.

“We often hear that kids fall back in love with the game when they’re here through the summer,” Santangelo said. “Obviously we’re creating a lot of success, and kids feel good about that, but we just feel like we’re able to do things a little differently than other programs, because we’re not doing it to pay the bills.
“It’s really not us. It’s us going to the field every night as adults to give back to the kids. But it’s really the kids and all their youth coaches. It takes a village, right? We’re just one more cog in that village.”

​Match report by David Lederman
​
​​​Dreams of becoming the first ever side to successfully defend the FA Inter League Cup were shattered for the Arthurian League on Good Friday afternoon when the side produced one of their most disappointing performances in recent memory in losing 4-1 to a very respectable Cheshire League outfit. The side from the northwest led 1-0 at the break but the tie was settled in the first twenty minutes of the second half when some shoddy defending saw the visitors score three avoidable goals. A late rally from the As saw Charlie Kelly pull one back, but it was far too little, too late and Cheshire will now go on to face the Herts Senior County League in the final at the King Power Stadium in May for the chance to represent England in the UEFA Regions Cup this summer.
 
Despite several absentees given the slightly strange timing of the game, chosen at the behest of the Cheshire League, confidence was high in the Arthurian ranks with a fine display in the quarter-final when dispatching the Essex and Suffolk Border League 4-0 and an intense training session in the build-up to the tie. Manager Billy Jenkins was forced to make several changes, with centre-back Henry Langley and influential midfielder Callum Holland both away. Carthusian Louis Ward had more than earnt the right to take the former’s place in defence given his excellent commitment to the cause and Jak Alcock dropped into the attacking midfield role with striker Jake Raine hoping his hamstring had healed sufficiently to allow him to get through ninety minutes.
 
Conditions were once more perfect in southwest London, with some cloud cover, only a slight breeze and the immaculate artificial playing surface at Hanworth Villa FC surely one of the best in non-League football. And it was abundantly clear from their arrival at the ground that the Cheshire League were an altogether more serious proposition than the Essex and Suffolk League in the previous round. Dressed in matching tracksuits, filmed by a videographer as they descended from the team coach, and having defeated last season’s finalists the West Yorkshire League in the quarter-finals, this would surely prove a stiffer test for the Cup holders.
 
The As started brightly enough, carving out an early opening when a lovely ball down the right wing from Harry Darnell freed Hector Platt and he in turn clipped the ball into the box for Jake Raine to run onto, the striker’s toe-poked effort beating the keeper only to be cleared off the line by a covering defender for a corner. The hosts continued to improve in the early stages, Josh Riley finding space down the left a couple of times, a couple of long throws from Connor Mitchell hinting at danger inside the Cheshire box. But midway through the half, and having barely threatened the As’ goal, the visitors took the lead. A throw-in on the Cheshire right wasn’t dealt with, the ball bouncing around inside the penalty area. A poked effort from close range rebounded off the near post and fell to another forward, who took his time to dummy a couple of players on the line before smashing in from close range.
 
This sudden setback undoubtedly knocked the confidence of the Arthurian side and the remainder of the half proved a real battle. The men in white became too anxious to move the ball forwards quickly and far too often surrendered possession to their opponents unnecessarily. It was a sharp contrast to the confident, flowing football seen in the previous round. Fortunately, however, the side remained disciplined at the back and further chances for Cheshire were kept to a minimum: a solitary, speculative overhead effort from a cross from the right the closest the visitors came to a second.
 
There was work to be done at half-time and manager Billy Jenkins and coach Nicky Samra set about reviving a rather flustered set of players, clearly frustrated at their performance levels in the previous forty-five minutes. Patience was preached, with absolute faith in the superior technical ability of the squad to override the aggressive press of the opposition. One change was necessary, however, with Platt’s groin causing him discomfort, Ardinian Charlie Kelly the natural replacement on the wing.
 
But everything that was said at half-time became almost irrelevant in a disastrous first twenty minutes of the second half that saw the As concede three times, the defence of the Inter League Cup left in tatters. Three minutes after play had restarted a cross from the Cheshire left winger found a teammate unmarked at the far post and his header back across goal landed just inside the far post. Tayo Felstead was replaced two minutes later, Finn Harvey the replacement. But almost immediately the visitors scored a third, a comedy of errors as possession was lost on the left ending with a shot on goal that was surprisingly fumbled by the normally reliable Bowers, a Cheshire playing scrambling the ball over the line under pressure.
 
With half an hour remaining the As took their final roll of the dice, throwing on Alex Nanni and Jak Alcock in place of Harry Larke and Ash Beddows. But any hopes of a comeback were extinguished completely midway through the half when a corner from the right found another Cheshire player unmarked, the header arrowing unerringly into the top corner.
 
Heads bowed but the men in white continued to push right to the end and the changes clearly had a positive impact on the team’s play, with Charlie Kelly on the left looking particularly threatening. It was little surprise that he was at the heart of the hosts’ best move of the match which resulted in their only goal. Fellow Ardinian Jak Alcock fed Kelly on the right, he played it inside to Jake Raine who turned inside before playing a return pass, Kelly firing in first time from eight yards out.
 
Fifteen minutes remained and hope of a miraculous comeback flickered briefly before a long ball over the top saw Jake Raine push his hamstring once too often, the player pulling up sharply before falling to the ground in obvious pain. After lengthy discussion with the physio, and given the state of the game, the player limped off and the side would play out the last ten minutes a man down. Unsurprisingly, Cheshire saw out the remaining time with minimal difficulty.
 
It was a sad way to end one of the most disappointing performances from the Arthurian League in recent seasons. The team have provided so many wonderful memories, not least last time out when dismissing the Essex & Suffolk League, that to lose a game so convincingly with such a sloppy performance almost defied belief. Nevertheless, Cheshire fully deserved their victory and the chance to step out at the King Power Stadium in May for the final. The As must regroup and look forwards, with the small matter of the summer tour to the USA and another incredible opportunity for the group to forge closer bonds, as well as testing themselves against some Stateside opposition in the midst of the World Cup.

Report from David Lederman

​The Arthurian League Representative side prepared for the latest edition of the FA Inter League Cup they won so spectacularly back in May 2024 with a couple of warm-up games against familiar opposition. In late January the side travelled to Redbridge FC to face Lloyds of London before, three weeks later, heading north to London Maccabi to take on the ISFA Under 17 side. Both games provided valuable time together for the squad ahead of the first serious test of the season – a home tie against the winners of the SAL vs Essex & Suffolk Border League in the quarter-finals of the FA Inter League Cup.

The fixture against Lloyds has traditionally been one dominated by the Arthurian League in recent times, but on this occasion the men from the City provided a stern test. A decent start for the A’s was cut short after ten minutes when an attack was broken up and Lloyds countered at pace, the ball laid off on the edge of the box and a superb curled left-footed finish beat keeper Ben Gould and nestled inside the far post. Within five minutes the lead had been doubled, this time from a set-piece: a free-kick was whipped in from the right and one of the Lloyds centre-backs crept in to flick home a header at the near post.

Things went from bad to worse for a shell-shocked Arthurian side as young Kimbolton centre-back Henry Langley was then forced off having taken an elbow to the face. Fortunately there was a straight replacement on the bench in the shape of moustachioed centre-back Louis Ward, who slotted in alongside Tonbridgian Harry Balcombe.

As the first half wore on, the A’s began to find their rhythm and were soon testing the Lloyds keeper. Repton striker Jake Raine was hugely unfortunate not to score when he drilled a shot against the post only for the ball to rebound straight into the arms of the keeper. A flowing move then saw skipper Josh Banfield find left winger Josh Riley but his pinpoint cross was disappointingly headed straight at the keeper by opposite winger Calum Maltese. But five minutes before the break the A’s finally grabbed the goal their play deserved when midfielder Connor Mitchell drew a foul inside the box, Jake Raine stepping up to confidently convert from the spot.

The second half allowed manager Billy Jenkins to rotate his squad with some quality additions from the bench and the side continued to improve as the game wore on, to the point where it seemed almost an inevitability that the A’s would become the first side to inflict defeat on their opponents this season. Johnians striker Craig Bonnar duly equalised, latching onto a perfectly-weighted reverse pass from Conor Mitchell before drilling his finish low into the far corner. And the men in blue then spurned several good chances to complete the turnaround, notably Jake Raine, who headed a Josh Banfield cross from the right just wide before repeating the feat with a shot from a Hector Platt cross.

But there was to be a sting in the tail late on as Lloyds snatched victory against the run of play. The outstanding striker, who has clearly played at a high semi-pro level, latched onto a pass, twisted away from both centre-backs before delivering an impeccable finish that left Gould clutching at thin air. Whilst the manner of defeat was obviously frustrating, this proved an excellent runout for the Arthurians as preparations begin earnest for the defence of the Inter League Cup.

​Match report from David Lederman​

​The Arthurian League Representative side began their preparations for the 2025/26 season in the unusual surroundings of one of world football’s backwaters – Steboneath Park in Llanelli, home of Llanelli Town AFC, recently promoted into the Welsh Premier League. A’s manager Billy Jenkins pulled a few strings to line up this prestigious friendly, with the Welsh side already five weeks into their pre-season preparations ahead of a return to the top division in Wales. A squad of fifteen travelled west on the morning of the game, an early start at Paddington station required for the two and a half hour train journey.
 
On arrival at the ground, following a twenty-minute walk through some fairly nondescript streets with barely a local in sight, the As’ preparations for the game were suddenly hampered by a hamstring injury to winger Aren Sargood suffered in the warm-up. A crying shame for a player trying to force his way into the squad on a regular basis. Fortunately, there was a more than adequate replacement in the form of Joffee Bradley, who joined Sam Allam and Josh Riley in attack behind main striker Jake Raine. Nicky Samra and Callum Holland provided a skillful, intelligent midfield pairing, although the lack of physicality against experienced semi-professionals already five weeks into pre-season could prove a test. But there was plenty of physicality at the back for the As, with keeper Ollie Bowles protected by a back four of Shaw, Rutherford, Langley and Felstead. With Sargood now injured, the bench looked rather thin with Fraser Lane, Harry Darnell and keeper Teddy Jefcoate the only genuine replacements, Lederman’s ‘have boots, will travel’ philosophy ensuring he would be available in an emergency. And with rumours that the Welsh side were going play an entirely different XI in the second half, the visitors would clearly need everyone to contribute.
 
Conditions at kick-off were excellent with a slight breeze blowing but an excellent pitch and suitably temperate conditions for the time of year. In truth, the first half proved rather a lacklustre affair, with neither side able to forge a chance worthy of note until ten minutes before the break. The As acquitted themselves well, Jake Raine falling foul of the assistant’s offside flag a few times before his first effort at goal, a volley on the turn that was comfortably held by the Llanelli keeper. Riley fired a shot wide having cut in from his perch on the left wing, Oli Shaw showed flashes of promise down the right and Matt Rutherford made some commanding interventions at the back. But both sides found the final ball impossible to deliver with any quality.
 
The As shuffled their pack prior to the break, Lane and Darnell replacing Bradley and Samra. And with nine minutes remaining to half-time, the first and only genuine chance of the half arrived. It fell to the hosts, the Llanelli number 11 dragging Rutherford wide before firing a powerful drive just past the far post with his left foot. Unsurprisingly, there were a few tired bodies at the break, the visitors having competed hard to stay on level terms. But, as feared, their work had only just begun, with the Welsh side making ten changes at the break, only one of the two centre-backs keeping his place for the second half.
 
As the second half panned out, it was clear that Llanelli version 2.0 was an upgrade – not a significant one, but an upgrade nonetheless. The hosts seemed more fluid and sharper after the break, with the right-back and a centre midfielder in particular catching the eye. The As continued to battle to stay on terms, Jake Raine having the first shot of the half from a narrow angle before the opposition forced several corners – the two towering centre-backs well marshalled by Rutherford and Langley.
 
As players tired, spaces began opening up across the pitch and the final half-hour provided the drama the game had been lacking to that point. With just over an hour played, Ollie Bowles made his two vital interventions of the afternoon: the first, a superb one-handed save low to his right from a first-time shot that appeared destined for the far corner; then, moments later, another flying save, acrobatically tipping a header from a left-wing cross over the bar. The manager clearly felt Bowles had provided his money’s worth as he was immediately replaced by backup Teddy Jefcoate.
 
Having barely threatened since the opening minutes of the half, it was something of a surprise when the visitors took the lead thirteen minutes from time. Llanelli pressure on the As goal was broken up and a swift counter down the right was launched. Langley’s header found Bradley and he delivered a fine pass down the line. Sam Allam ran onto the ball, crossed into the box and Raine beat the keeper to the ball, his header falling to the far post where Riley had made up the ground to head in from practically on the goal line.
 
But within four minutes the lead had been lost. Jefcoate raced out from his box to intercept a ball down the Llanelli left but caught the man and was duly shown a yellow card. The free-kick was delivered into the box with pace and a Llanelli player was somehow allowed a free header from six yards out right in front of goal.
 
That was disappointing enough, but with just over two minutes to play worse was to follow. With a hard-fought draw appearing just reward for their efforts, the As finally cracked under further Llanelli pressure. Some tired challenges failed to stop a winger carrying the ball across the edge of the box before a low shot on the turn forced Jefcoate into a save. The keeper couldn’t hold and a Llanelli player was on hand to tap in from close range.
 
It was cruel luck on an Arthurian side who had battled gamely against the odds, the superior fitness of the Welsh players finally counting in the closing stages. Nevertheless, the game served as an excellent first outing for the side ahead of what promises to be an exciting season, with the Inter League Cup to defend and dreams of representing England in a UEFA tournament once more.
 
Post-match celebrations in the bar included a shirtless boat race between the teams, won by the Welsh, and a singing competition, also won by the Welsh, Tayo Felstead’s much-heralded musical ability failing to stand comparison to the boys from the valleys. To commiserate at having lost at football, singing and drinking to the Welsh all in the space of a few hours, manager Billy Jenkins then led the squad on a night out in Swansea where they could at least practice two of those three skills. In the words of Xenia Onatopp, the Georgian femme fatale in Goldeneye: ‘I hope the third is where your real talent lies.’

​The Arthurian League Rep team ended their 2024/25 season with a narrow 1-0 defeat to the Southern Amateur League at the Quintin Hogg Memorial Ground in Chiswick on Tuesday evening. With the AFC unable to raise a side to complete the three-team round-robin Argonaut Trophy, these two sides met for the second time this season, the Arthurian League having already run out comfortable 4-0 winners on a cold November night in Arkley. This proved a very different encounter, however, with the Arthurians held goalless at the break, despite enjoying the better of the early exchanges, before succumbing to a spell of a severe pressure in the opening twenty minutes of the second half. The only goal arrived courtesy of a straight ball down the middle that bisected the two centre-backs, the SAL forward keeping his composure well to wait until the last possible moment before lifting the ball over the fast closing Bowers and into the roof of the net. Despite recovering to finish the game once more on top, the Arthurians were indebted to keeper Bowers for two magnificent late saves late on that prevented an even greater margin of victory.
 
Despite the loss, the first for the Arthurians since a 5-0 defeat to Conference North side Curzon Ashton in Jersey last July, there were plenty of positives to take from the encounter for weary manager Billy Jenkins and his players and staff. With the fixture having been arranged at short notice and several events impacting the build-up - not least the tragic passing of former Old Alleynians skipper Josh Lawrence just a couple of days beforehand – it was a fine effort to cobble together a competitive squad of fourteen that once more featured several new faces eager to impress. Merlin Ferrinho (Reptonians) started at right-back with another debutant in front of him, KCS Wimbledon’s Aren Sargood. Another Reptonian, the lively Eno Nto, started up front, club teammates Jake Raine and Josh Riley, who were integral to the England side’s efforts in the UEFA Regions Cup in Finland last summer, provided prodigious support from the bench, alongside the final new boy, Old Kimboltonian Harry Darnell.
 
Conditions in southwest London were perfect with a warm evening, little to no breeze and an immaculate if slightly slow artificial pitch on the banks of the Thames. The Arthurians began brightly, especially down the left-hand side where several times overloads provided moments of danger for the SAL rearguard, the final cross just lacking the requisite quality. Once the SAL had grown into the game, play became slightly scrappy with too many long balls from both sides, all of which were comfortably dealt with by the respective back fours. With twenty minutes played, both sides then created their best chances of the half in quick succession: a long ball from left-back Tayo Felsted, who enjoyed a superb first half, freed Sam Fetherston into the box but his attempted volley flew just wide of the far post. The SAL then broke quickly up the other end, their inverted right winger, clearly their most dangerous player, cutting inside onto his favoured left foot, his low shot inside the near post smartly saved by Johnny Bowers.
 
As the half wore on, the Arthurian League gradually settled and began to play with more confidence, some lovely one and two-touch football showcasing the best of the men in white, with the evergreen Samra and Callum Holland in the middle both increasingly influential, Aren Sargood on the right coming into the game for the first time. But for all the promising football, there was little sign of an end product, with front men Eno Nto, Payne, Fetherston and Sargood all struggling to break through a doughty SAL back four. Manager Jenkins made his first changes just after the half-hour mark and five minutes before the break both the Reptonian substitutes were involved in the last chance of the half: some excellent build-up play on the left resulted in a long ball over the top for Jake Raine to run onto. The striker beat the keeper, who had rushed out of his area, to the ball, nodding it past him, but a covering defender scrambled the ball out for a throw. That was taken quickly and Josh Riley delivered into the box but Sam Fetherston was unable to find a way past a phalanx of defenders inside the six yard box, three or four shots on goal were all blocked before the danger was cleared.
 
Plenty of encouragement was forthcoming at the break, with the Arthurians generally satisfied with their first half’s work even if there was nothing to show for it on the scoreboard. But the opening twenty minutes of the second half proved a very different affair, as the SAL, for the first time in the two encounters this season, finally showed what they were capable of with a spell of suffocating pressure. The men in blue swarmed forwards at every opportunity, pinning the Whites back inside their own half, the visitors now struggling to string even a couple of simple passes together. It took only eight minutes for the pressure to tell, the only goal of the game arriving when a perfectly weighted pass straight through the middle caught Langley and Darnell too far apart, the forward running on to lift the ball over the advancing Bowers despite late pressure from retreating defenders.
 
It could and probably should have been more in the immediate aftermath, with the Kimbolton keeper twice called into action to keep the Arthurian League in the game. A flowing move from the SAL through the middle ended with a powerful shot from the edge of the box that seemed destined for the top corner until Bowers dived full length to his left to tip the ball around the post. Three minutes later and a similar intervention was required, this time the save deflecting the ball over the bar as the SAL pushed for a decisive second. A free-kick on the edge of the box offered a further opportunity but again Bowers proved up to the challenge, palming the ball onto the bar before earning a free-kick as a forward arrived rather too over-zealously.
 
Having ridden this storm, the Whites gradually worked their way back into the game, Nto and Payne returning to the action as the manager decided to push more forwards onto the pitch. The changes seemed to pay off, too, as the visitors were soon causing problems of their own. A quick break down the left saw Riley cross for Jake Raine inside the box and although his effort was blocked by the keeper at close quarters, the ball ran loose and should really have been finished only for Nto to blaze his effort wildly over the bar. Suddenly it was the Arthurians back on top, Raine narrowly missing out on a couple of occasions, drilling a shot just wide after excellent work from Nto on the right, before then heading just past the far post after a free-kick delivery from Holland.
 
Unsurprisingly, given the conditions, the final ten minutes saw the pace drop slightly and the SAL recover their composure, limiting the Whites to a couple of half-chances and no more. Indeed, the most dangerous moment arrived at the other end when the excellent SAL winger, who somewhat ironically been on the bench during his side’s spell of dominance, produced a scintillating late run, cutting inside once more before curling a shot onto the top of the bar and over.
 
With the FA Inter-League Cup re-starting once more next season, this victory will provide a badly-needed morale boost to the SAL, who must have started to develop something of an inferiority complex towards the Arthurian League given recent results between the teams. But with numerous players unavailable for this game, and plenty of newcomers pushing hard for a place in the squad, the Arthurian League will be confident that they can put up a strong defence of the title they won in such dramatic circumstances last summer. The players can now enjoy their well-deserved summer break, batteries to be recharged before the hard work starts once more come September.

Match report from David Lederman

​The Arthurian League Representative XI returned to action for the first time since their summer adventures in Finland with a much-changed lineup but proved they are still very much the rep team to beat on the amateur circuit with an impressive 4-0 win over a strong Southern Amateur League XI at the Maccabi London Sports Ground in Arkley on Tuesday night, in the process taking a strong early grip on the Argonaut Trophy – the triangular round-robin competition also involving the Amateur Football Combination.
 
A free-flowing opening half-hour saw both sides create several chances as play raced frantically from end to end, the scoreline somehow remaining blank to that point. But a superb move down the right wing saw debutant Callum Maltese feed the overlapping Ollie Light and he calmly rounded the keeper to slide in the opener. From that point on, the men in white took command, Jake Raine heading in ten minutes later to make it 2-0 before a third just before the break from the outstanding Maltese finished the match as a contest. Although the second half wasn’t quite as easy on the eye for those watching on, Reptonian Raine ensured the Arthurians had the final word, volleying in at the far post to round off a successful night’s work both for him and the team.
 
Manager Billy Jenkins was beaming from ear to ear come the final whistle and with good reason. Whilst the nucleus of the squad that had won the FA Inter-League Cup back in May remained, thereby earning the opportunity to represent England at the UEFA Regions Cup in Finland in August, there were still plenty of new faces to ensure that Tuesday night undoubtedly felt like the start of a rebuild and a chance to scale the heights of amateur football once more. Several leading names that have served the Rep team with distinction over many years have moved on, not least in defence, with former skippers Pete Brooking and Ant Beddows and Reptonian giant Andy Evans all now unavailable. Brentwoods Harry Larke, who started every game in Finland in the heart of the midfield, was absent, as was injured left winger Josh Riley, whose last-minute equaliser against the host nation in the final group game provided a truly memorable moment on which to end the trip.
 
But the latest recruits undoubtedly prove their manager’s eye for talent remains pin sharp with some excellent performances on Tuesday night. Four players were making their Rep team debuts: Reptonians centre-back Artem Aliev and winger Tom Jones, Epsomian midfielder Callum Holland and Forester Callum Maltese; a fifth, Cholms right-back Ollie Light, made his debut a couple of seasons ago but hadn’t played since. That quintet, combined with the heart of the all-conquering Repton side and stalwarts such as Chigs’ Josh Banfield, Johnians’ Craig Bonnar and Eton skipper Gus Shaw-Stewart – dragged out of potential retirement for what hopefully won’t be a last hurrah – ensured the As lined up with a pleasing blend of the old and the new, the young and the old, for the inaugural Argonaut Trophy fixture of 2024/25.
 
Matches against the Southern Amateur League have always proved hard-fought affairs down the years, with July’s 4-0 friendly win for the As on the astroturf in Chiswick something of an anomaly given the extensive fitness and preparations the team had been undertaking prior to the Regions Cup and the rather hurriedly put together nature of the SAL team. Rarely, however, can many of the games between the two have started as frantically and open as this one did. Within five minutes of kick-off both sides had come close to scoring: the As threatened immediately, Tommy Redhead feeding Jake Raine down the left and he drove into the box before seeing his shot blocked – from the resulting throw-in, further pressure resulted in the striker firing over on the turn; the SAL responded with a lightning-quick break of their own, the right winger delivering a cross towards the penalty spot and a header that required Jonny Bowers to dive to his right to palm the ball away.
 
The pattern was set for a thrilling first half as play raced from one end to the other, the SAL at times leaving four attackers upfield, the new-look As attack with Maltese on the right and Jones on the left looking dangerous every time they received possession. It was little wonder that, at times, the frantic pace of play occasionally caught out the experienced midfield pair Banfield and Samra as they battled to control a swarm of red shirts around them.
 
Onwards pressed the Arthurians. A run from Jake Raine was blocked on the edge of the box with a superb last-ditch tackle, Maltese highlighted his pristine close control, jinking inside from the right before his curling left foot delivery, probably a cross, missed everyone before clipping the outside of the far post. Redhead then headed over as pressure built on the SAL. But the visitors remained a threat themselves, another break down their right wing saw Bowers again called to make a save, this time a routine one from a low struck shot. Tom Jones then cut in from the left before just over-hitting his through-ball to Redhead, the SAL then came within inches of taking the lead when their left winger cut inside only to drill his effort against the inside of the near post, the ball agonisingly rolling along the line before being cleared.
 
It was truly breathless stuff, but in amongst all the excellent football there were, unfortunately, a couple of nasty challenges on As players that raised the heckles on the sidelines. It was a pair of Reptonians on the receiving end, striker Raine very lucky to walk away apparently unscathed as he was clattered into midway inside the SAL half but left-back Fraser Lane wasn’t so fortunate – he was felled by a sliding tackle as he raced down the wing and required lengthy treatment before very gingerly making his way around the ground to the dugouts, a nasty ligament sprain the initial diagnosis.
 
Whether it was a response to these two incidents is doubtful, but once play resumed following the tackle on Raine, the Arthurian League quickly reasserted their authority and in the final fifteen minutes of the half scored three goals to take a firm grip on proceedings. The As had already served notice several times of their potency down the right and they threatened again - Maltese and Banfield combining beautifully to create another chance that ended with a well-struck shot blocked by the keeper at the near post. But two minutes later the SAL were powerless to prevent the opener with Maltese again dictating play: collecting possession on the right wing, he waited until the perfect moment to slip the ball through for the storming Ollie Light to run onto, calmly round the keeper and slide in from a tight angle. It was the perfect moment to unleash a ‘Charge of the Light Brigade’ quip but clearly the squad had already been traumatised by the numerous, rather tedious, Tom Jones ‘gags’ in the whatsapp group leading up to the game and so nobody bothered. It probably would have been lost on half a league side anyway…
 
Onwards rode the Arthurians once more, Maltese again producing some magic before whipping a delicious cross into the box which Raine flicked just over the bar. With eight minutes of the half remaining Nicky Samra made way for Callum Holland to make his debut and three minutes later the As had their second, a superb cross from the left from Gus Shaw-Stewart – who had replaced the stricken Lane – was this time converted by Raine, who leapt to divert his header perfectly inside the near post. And then, a minute before the break, a touch of fortune as a strong run from Tom Jones saw him drive towards the penalty area only for the ball to run loose from a challenge and fall perfectly for Maltese to run onto, the Forest man smashing the ball into the near top corner with glee to round off a spectacular first forty-five minutes for him in an Arthurian League shirt.
 
The message at the break was clear: maintain the high standards set and perhaps, for the first quarter of an hour at least, try to assert some kind of control on the game, to slow things down and maintain possession better.
 
In fact, almost the exact opposite occurred, with the men in white beginning the second half in slightly sloppy fashion, too many long balls played with too much haste gifting possession back to the SAL. The visitors were largely unable to trouble Jonny Bowers in goal however, with Aliev and Langley at times looking almost regal at the back as they mopped up at the first signs of danger. There were a couple of scares, however, a low shot dragged just wide of the near post and then a much closer call as a cross from the right was headed back across goal from the far post, the ball bouncing off the top of the crossbar and behind with Bowers beaten.
 
But with just over an hour played, the As extinguished any last vestiges of hope the SAL may have harboured when Maltese cut inside from the right to pick out Raine at the far post, the striker pulling off the back of his man and guiding a low volley just inside the near post before executing his trademark run to the nearest camera where several pre-rehearsed insta poses were coldly delivered. Waiting lensman Andy Nunn duly obliged and clicked away dutifully on his trusty 70-200mm although even he must be tiring of Raine’s schtick by now…
 
With the result now beyond any doubt, the final half-hour served up rather meagre fayre. The As continued to hit too many long passes but, encouragingly, produced a strong final ten minutes, Craig Bonnar forcing a good save from the keeper with a strong run and shot, and Callum Holland, who enjoyed an excellent debut in midfield, nearly breaking through after some excellent work down the left, Gus Shaw-Stewart backing him up as the pair of them caused some anxious moments in the SAL defence. If the Old Etonian is to retire from the Rep team, it will have nothing to do with his physical capabilities – the seventy-five minutes he played here showcased all the energy and tireless workrate he has produced for many seasons.
 
The final minute summed up the night for the SAL as they carved out one glorious final chance but, alas, the finish was lacking, the shot from six yards out at the far post almost landing in the Morrisons car park on the other side of the A1.
 
Hot dogs and beer were served in the clubhouse after the game, the Arthurian League top brass purring like Cheshire cats at yet another thumping victory served up by their charges. This was a hugely encouraging first performance of the season for the As and there is undoubted potential for the side to grow stronger still as players return to the fold and closer bonds are formed with the latest additions. Exciting times lie ahead…Half a League, Half a League, Half a League onward…

Jake Riley's superb overhead, hooked finish, three minutes into added time, ensured the Arthurian League Rep Team's UEFA adventure continues into the final game against Latvia on Wednesday.

After the team drew 3-3 with the Lisbon FA on Wednesday, the tournament hosts, Länsi-Vantaan Ylpeys, scored an impressive 5-1 win against the Latvian Amateur team. Before today's game, the Lisboan FA beat the Latvians 3-0 to eliminate them, and put themselves top of the group - for a few hours, at least.

Today's game was a tight affair with the Arthurians holding out until 2 minutes before half-time when Aaro Nyholm turned home Kevin Nurmi's cross to put the Finns ahead.

The second half was equally hard fought with both sides acquitting themselves well but it looked like the Arthurians were heading out of the tournament as the 4th official held up the board to indicate 5 minutes' added time. In a final throw of the dice, 'keeper Olly Bowles ventured forward for one final corner, but it was Harry Larke who got his head to the ball and, with the ball floating harmlessly wide of the post, Josh Riley who executed a dramatic overheard kick to hook the ball back into the goal.

The players celebrated by running towards our favourite photographer, Andy Nunn, who has already produced five albums worth of photos of the tournament, and we're only half way through!

In the final game, the team face already eliminated Latvia, needing a win by at least four goals to have any chance of progressing, while hoping either that Portugal and Finland draw in the late game. 

Arthurian League: ​Bowles - Thomas, Rolls, Evans, Beddows (Langley 62') - Larke, Banfield, Bonnar (Redhead 62'), S. Fetherston (J. Fetherston 62') - Riley ⚽, Raine

Goals from Jake Raine, Tommy Redhead and an own goal gave the Representative Team a point in their first game of the UEFA Regions Cup in Finland, today.

Raine was in the mix to force an own goal from Nogueira Silva ahead after only three minutes at the Myyrmäki Stadium and it was looking good when he scored for himself after 32 minutes, but the Portuguese came back strongly, pulling 1 back within 3 minutes.

Half-time: Arthurian League 2 - 1 Lisbon FA

A double substitution on 38 minutes followed by a third change at half-time worked wonders for Lisbon who equalised on 48 minutes through substitute Bastos before another sub, Botas - who replaced Gavino, scorer of the first Lisbon goal - put the Portuguese ahead on 56 minutes.

Five minutes later Jake Fetherston and Tommy Redhead entered the fray in place of Craig Bonnar and Sam Fetherston - what turned out to be a crucial change. At time appeared to be up for the Arthurians, Redhead popped up to level with five minutes remaining.

The next game is on Saturday at 5pm. We will share a live feed if there is one!

Arthurian League: Bowles - Thomas, Beddows, Evans, Rolles - Bonnar (J Fetherston, 61), Banfield, Larke (Langley, 88) - S Fetherston (Redhead, 61 ⚽), Riley, Raine ⚽​.

Match report by David Lederman
Photograph by Andy Nunn

​The Arthurian League Representative XI created their own small slice of history on Sunday afternoon when a goal from Old Forester Ben Hale nine minutes from the end of extra-time earned the Whites a 1-0 win over the West Yorkshire League in the final of the FA Inter League Cup at Lincoln City’s LNER Stadium. The victory, coming at the first attempt for the Arthurian League in this biennial competition, ensures that they will now go on to represent England in the UEFA Regions Cup in Finland this summer.
 
This victory was all the more remarkable given the rather extraordinary circumstances surrounding the Arthurians’ progress to the final. Having been defeated 2-0 by the Herts Senior County League in the semi-finals at Hendon FC in mid-March, manager Billy Jenkins and League Secretary Jon Hunter had assumed dreams of silverware had been dashed for the season, only for the FA to later discover that Herts had fielded an illegible player in the tie. With just over ten days to the final, the Arthurian League were reinstated and suddenly the management duo had to prepare a squad to travel north on the Bank Holiday weekend. Understandably, a number of players were unable to make the trip, with the entire contingent of Reptonians, this season’s League and Cup double winners, absent. Despite this, a strong squadron of sixteen met bright and early at Kings Cross station for the two-hour train journey north, followed by a short walk to the Lincoln stadium, a number of League officials and supporters in tow.
 
Conditions were perfect and, for almost the first time this year, a strong, warming sun greeted the players as they finally made their way out onto the pristine turf to warm up – the kick-off having been delayed by fifteen minutes due to West Yorkshire’s coach getting delayed in heavy traffic due to "Truckfest" on the way to the ground. Manager Billy Jenkins was able to rely on Brentwoods keeper Olly Bowles and a strong back four with young Sam Thomas on the right, Charlie Rolls on the left and the two Beddows brothers in the middle, Ant and Ashley. Skipper Pete Brooking returned to the midfield alongside Josh Banfield – fresh from completing the London Marathon in three hours – whilst the front four, shorn of the Arthurian League’s leading scorer Josh Riley, saw Etonian Gus Shaw-Stewart on the right, Jake Fetherston on the left and Craig Bonnar in behind Sam Fetherston up front. Five substitutes were named, including Foresters pair Ben Hale, who knew the ground well having spent three years at University in the city, and Tayo Felstead.
 
Given the lack of proper preparation for the game, and the number of players missing from the squad, it would have been easy for the Arthurian League side to consider themselves underdogs and fear a tricky start against a West Yorks side that had scored eight goals and conceded only two on their run to the final. Instead, however, the men in white settled quickly and dominated the opening twenty-five minutes’ action. Inside two minutes a swift move down the right freed Sam Fetherston and his pull back saw Craig Bonnar’s low shot across goal brilliantly saved by the Yorks keeper, who flung out his right leg to divert the effort wide of the post. The next chance arrived soon afterwards via a set-piece, Ash Beddows turning a corner back towards goal only for the ball to rebound back off the post.
 
The Yorkshire side eventually managed to compose themselves and enjoy a brief spell of possession but they soon found themselves under pressure once more, Jake Fetherston and Gus Shaw-Stewart dominating down the right and causing consistent problems for the over-worked Yorks left-back. Such was the dominance of the Arthurians at this stage that it forced a change in tactics from the opposition, with Yorkshire dropping deeper and content to play on the counter. The oceans of space down both flanks that Jake Fetherston and Shaw-Stewart had previously enjoyed were squeezed and the play became far more even, although a trio of bookings from the men in maroon highlighted which of the two teams was enduring the greater frustration.
 
The two Beddows brothers were now in the action and asked to tidy up a number of balls over the top but they did so with the minimum of fuss, keeper Olly Bowles with little to do in the opening half-hour. Sam Thomas, who enjoyed an almost faultless game at right-back, grew frustrated that play wasn’t being switched quicker across the back, but his defensive focus remained razor sharp as he covered behind the two centre halves superbly to clear a dangerous loose ball inside the Arthurian penalty area.
 
The final act of the first half saw the Yorkshire side build up play well and one of the two strikers turn adroitly on the edge of the box only to produce a weak final effort that was comfortably held by the Arthurians keeper. The half-time whistle signalled a familiar situation for the men in white, with the blank scoresheet failing to recognise the superiority of their play. In the quarter-finals against the Thames Valley League a 0-0 half-time score ended in a 1-0 win; in the semis against Herts County, two late goals produced a 2-0 defeat. Both times the Arthurians had been the better side, but the lack of a cutting edge was clear to see, an ounce more composure in the final third all that was lacking.
 
Manager Billy Jenkins rallied the troops at the break without changing any personnel – wary no doubt of the prospect of extra-time and the need to martial his resources carefully given the piercing sun and onset of fatigue that would surely arrive as the second half wore on. But once again the Arthurians made a fine start to the half, on the attack from the first whistle and carving out another chance as one low cross missed everyone inside the box before Sam Fetherston’s shot was deflected just wide.
 
This time the opposition recovered and the next ten minutes proved rather scrappy, neither side able to find their rhythm, the game devoid of goalmouth incident. But on the hour mark the first of several magnificent interventions from Brentwoods keeper Olly Bowles ensured that the score line remained blank. A swift counter saw the ball slipped between the two centre-halves, Ant Beddows momentarily appearing as if he was going to haul down the striker before thinking better of it. As the forward raced through a goal seemed certain, but Bowles narrowed the angle to perfection, stayed big and blocked the shot, only for the rebound to be turned back across the six yard box and somehow blasted over the bar with the goal gaping.
 
Billy Jenkins had seen enough and began to ring the changes with skipper Pete Brooking the first to make way, Henry Langley coming on in midfield in a bid to regain control of the ball. Five minutes later and Ben Hale came on for a tiring Sam Fetherston, who appeared exhausted but frustrated to be making way. The changes appeared to have the desired effect however, as the Arthurians began to regain the momentum and the side finished the match much the stronger of the two sides, despite the finishing touch continuing to elude them. Hale found himself clean through down the right but seemed caught in two minds whether to drive towards goal or cross for a teammate, in end doing neither and producing a tame chip straight into the keeper’s arms. Charlie Rolls then clipped a perfect ball over the top down the left that ended with Josh Banfield – who must have covered every blade of grass on the pitch twice over – clipping a shot inches wide of the far post. He tried something similar moments later but again the effort flew wide of the mark. Corners were forced, the keeper blocked one shot, a second was deflected just over the angle of post and bar. The Arthurians simply couldn’t find a way through. Just as in the first half, Yorkshire produced a late scare, Ant Beddows forced to back-pedal in a one-on-one situation but the experienced Carthusian did just enough to put the striker off and the final effort was mishit, the ball dribbling wide of goal.
 
Extra-time then followed, with both sides now permitted to make an extra change – something of a necessity given the shattered looks on the faces of most of the players as they gathered in the middle of the pitch to listen to some final words of encouragement from the coaching staff. Tayo Felstead replaced the tiring Gus Shaw-Stewart on the right for the Arthurians with Billy Jenkins keeping his final substitution in hand.
 
The first period of extra-time began with the best chance of the entire match falling to West Yorkshire. Yet again it was Brentwoods keeper Olly Bowles to the rescue for the Arthurians as he produced two outstanding saves in quick succession, spreading himself to block another one-on-one before somehow reacting to divert the follow up shot over the bar from point blank range as the ball was cut back across goal. The tension was almost unbearable, with even those on the sidelines now perspiring furiously as the sun continued to beat down. The Arthurians responded with a chance of their own, Banfield’s effort from the edge of the box well saved by the Yorks keeper down to his left.
 
With ten minutes remaining the Arthurian League made their final change of the game, Will Payne replacing an exhausted Sam Fetherston and the Harrow man looked lively from the off, nearly causing a mistake from the keeper as he challenged for a high ball which eventually ran loose inside the penalty area. It would prove a short-lived reprieve for the northerners. Moments later the Arthurian League produced a swift, incisive move down their right, Craig Bonnar exchanging passes and driving towards the byline before looking up and delivering a pinpoint cross beyond the keeper and into the path of the fast-arriving Ben Hale, who gleefully slid in to fire home from five yards out. The bench emptied and chaotic celebrations ensued.
 
The final eight minutes were seen out with relatively little fuss, the men in white managing to keep the opposition at arms’ length, despite having to defend a couple of corners in process. The final whistle signified a successful and remarkable end to a journey that had begun with a come-from-behind win over the Amateur Football Combination in the cold at Dorking Wanderers FC in late January and ended with a gruelling two-hour battle against a valiant West Yorkshire side in scorching sunshine at Lincoln City FC in May. Ant Beddows, a loyal and distinguished Rep Team servant over many seasons, was given the honour of accompanying Pete Brooking up to collect the magnificent trophy from the FA Representative and the celebrations could begin in earnest – all expertly captured, as ever, by the camera lens of Andy Nunn.
 
This was a superb effort from all involved at the Arthurian League and especially the sixteen players who gave their all in tough conditions on the day. The considerable reward, in addition to the trophy, is a trip to Finland as the official representatives of the English FA later this summer in the UEFA Regions Cup. England have been drawn in a group alongside the hosts, Portugal and Latvia with final dates of the tournament yet to be confirmed.
 
Many congratulations to all involved on a historic achievement.

The League Representative Team will contest the final of the 2023-24 FA Inter-League Cup Final against the West Yorkshire Association League at Lincoln City F.C. on Sunday, 5 May, kicking-off at 2pm.

After losing the semi-final to the Herts Senior County League it seemed that the dream was over but the Herts League were removed for fielding an ineligible player and so the Arthurian League now have the chance to become England's amateur champions!

In addition to the trophy at stake, there is a place in the UEFA Regions Cup 2024/25 for the winners, with the first round to played as a 4-team group in Finland next year.

This Saturday the Arthurian League representative team - proudly led by Old Forester, Billy Jenkins - makes its FA Inter-League Cup debut against the Amateur Football Combination.

The game will be played at the Surrey FA's headquarters in Dorking - also home to National League Dorking Wanderers - with a 6pm kick-off. We would love to see as many of you there as can make it to cheer the team on!

If they win, the team face three more games in the bid to become the Amateur champions of England and earn the right to represent England in the UEFA Regions Cup!

 Please could clubs attach any team pictures which they would like to appear on their club homepage on this website.

After the FA Cup, the oldest knock-out competition in British Football is The Arthur Dunn Cup. It carries the name of Old Etonian Arthur Tempest Blakiston Dunn (1860-1902), one of the finest footballers of his generation who won five England caps and was the last amateur captain of the national team. In addition to playing for Old Etonians, including in the 1882 and 1883 FA Cup Finals, Dunn also played thirty-two times for Corinthians, scoring twelve goals. In 1901 not long before he died suddenly at the age of just forty-two, Dunn had put forward the idea of an Old Boys cup competition, no doubt mindful that the dominance of the Public Schools in the FA Cup had been broken, and the Arthur Dunn Cup was born in 1903 as a lasting memorial. The first President of the competition was Arthur Fitzgerald Kinnaird, 11th Lord Kinnaird (1847-1923), who had played alongside Dunn as the Captain of Old Etonians. Kinnaird played in a remarkable nine FA Cup Finals, and was on the winning side five times with Eton and the Wanderers. He was later President of the Football Association, and such was his contribution that in 1911 he was presented with the FA Cup itself.

Read the rest of David Bauckham's article at https://dbauckham.exposure.co/old-school-ties and show your gratitude by voting for David in this year's Football Supporters' Federation Annual Awards at ​https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/fsf-awards-2016.

... writes award winning photographer David Bauckham in his latest photoblog featuring AFA football. In this blog he visited the Philathletic Ground for one of amateur football's most famous fixtures: Old Harrovians vs Old Etonians. David also photographed the Arthur Dunn Cup Final in April and we are grateful to him for the many photographs of his which colour our site.

To view the full article visit his blogsite at ​https://dbauckham.exposure.co/the-philathletes.