Posted on 1st August 2025
Community-owned clubs celebrated with pre-season trophies
This summer we’ve once again been celebrating our community-owned clubs during pre-season with a summer series of trophies being handed out.
Bury and Chester kicked things off at Gigg Lane on Sunday 13th July as they took part in our FSA Women’s Cup match – contested in front of an enthusiastic crowd. Ending 0-0 after 90 minutes, Chester would eventually win on penalties.
The following weekend on Saturday 19th July Clapton CFC and Dunstable Town competed for the FSA Men’s Shield at Clapton’s Old Spotted Dog Ground.
The entertaining match was played in a friendly but competitive spirit throughout. Clapton took the lead early on in the first half with a looping header scored by their new signing defender Will Wright but Dunstable came back strongly in response with Montel chasing a long ball and slotting the ball into the near post.
With scores level at half-time, Dunstable started the second half brightly taking the lead with a goal cleverly worked between the two strikers in the penalty area. But Clapton stormed back into the game with a magnificent 35 yard pass picking out striker A.Trialist, who calmly put the ball into the far corner to level the game up.
After a period of sustained pressure, an excellent long range shot was parried by the goalie and Cameron Gordon was there to tap in the rebound for Clapton to go ahead 3 -2. And after restoring their lead, the Tons then went on to extend it with a superb headed goal by Fred Taylor scored from a corner. A last minute flourish from Dunstable led to a well-taken penalty on the final whistle calmly slotted home by 16-year-old debutant Owen Russell, bringing the final score to 4 – 3 to the home side.
Our summer series of pre-season fixtures was rounded off this past Saturday as the Brian Lomax Cup head to the midlands.
It was Bilston Town’s first appearance in an FSA match following their adoption of community ownership last year and AFC Rushden & Diamonds’ first appearance in such a game since 2014.
A lively affair culminated in a last minute equaliser for the home side, who play two steps below their visitors in the non-league pyramid, to make the game 2-2 and send it to penalties which Diamonds won 4-3 to take home the Trophy.
Bilston Town presented with the Brian Lomax trophy © Gary Strutt
We’ve also seen other clubs in our network playing against each other in the past month with AFC Wimbledon defeating Enfield Town at the Dave Bryant Stadium, Exeter City defeating FC United of Manchester at Broadhurst Park and Peacehaven and Telscombe beating Clapton CFC on the south coast.
We’re already looking forward to another series of pre-season games next year.
