The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Pinchbeck United Sunday can make their own piece of footballing history this weekend.
Tom Roberts’ side travel to Lincoln City’s Sincil Bank stadium on Sunday for the PFA Sunday Cup final against Thurlby United (11am). Should they prevail, Pinchbeck will become the first-ever side from the Spalding Sunday League to get their hands on the county cup.
Having already won the John Chappell Shield and League KO Cup, the championship favourites are also hunting an unprecedented quadruple this season.
Roberts, who has enjoyed an impressive career as a top keeper at UCL Premier Division and ChromaSport Peterborough League standard, reckons that winning the competition would be among the best moments of his career so far.
And the 28-year-old, who is also assistant boss at Holbeach United, admits that he wants to bring the trophy back to South Holland to boost the Spalding Sunday League and its dedicated chairman Pete Maltby.
Roberts said: “I’m really excited if I’m honest. It’ll be right up there with the best moments of my career as either a player or a manager – especially if we win.
“We’ve done our research on them. They’ve got a lot of players from the Peterborough League, which – fortunately – is a league I know a lot about.
“If they don’t know about my players there’s something wrong, so we should be looking at things the same way.
“The main thing now is just getting through the weekend. Most of the lads will be down to play on Saturday, so it’s always a worry that we’ll pick up an injury or two.
“I’d actually hope that a few of the teams take us into consideration and rest a few of the lads. Other than Spalding United, none of them have anything to play for.
“Obviously, the main aim on Sunday is to make history. Becoming the first team from the Spalding Sunday League to win the trophy would be a proud moment.
“It’d also be great for us to do it for Pete Maltby. It’d be nice to see him have the trophy in his hands for the first time – nobody deserves it more than him.”
Pinchbeck will have a light training session together on Thursday night, before going out for a team bonding session afterwards. They haven’t all been together since the semi-final victory over Ironstone Gunness back on March 1.
Over 100 people are expected to fill two coaches that are leaving for Lincoln on Sunday morning, with a few spaces still available. The coaches will leave Spalding bus station at 8.30am, with pick-ups at the Bull in Pinchbeck (8.40pm) and The Barge in Swineshead (9am).
Pinchbeck thank Bounce Sports Bar in Spalding, Wykeham Staff Services and photographer Jake Whiteley for their support ahead of the final showdown.
