This Sunday 11th April sees Barnes Stormers FC take back to the field in their first competitive fixture of 2021.
A cup tie against SSFL Championship side West Norwood FC will pose a new challenge to the Stormers who are hoping for a positive start to their opening group game of the Dylan Rigobert Trophy, "With the league being null and voided due to Covid-19 and the lockdown, the Dylan Rigobert Trophy offers the club a chance to get some competitive football in 2021 and make something of a very stop-start season", said manager Tom Jackson.
"The team aren't fazed by facing another Championship side in the cup. We seem to have rotten luck in the cup draws facing the big teams in the early stages but we came within maybe 5 minutes of giving Battersea Dogs FC (another Championship side, not the charity) a real scare in the Marcus Lipton Cup earlier this season losing 3-2 in the final minutes. That performance will be fresh in the lad's minds and give them confidence in their ability" said Jacko, reflecting on 20/21 cup runs.
With a few injuries and a couple new faces in the cup squad for Sunday, the gaffer is looking to build on recent training sessions and take the game to West Norwood, "There's no way we're just turning up to play a game of football. This is all we have left of our 20/21 season and absolutely everyone at the club wants to keep the season going as long as possible - that means progressing from our group. To do that we need to start with a positive result on Sunday".
The old football adages of 'playing the team in front of you' , 'beating the best to be the best' and 'magic of the cup' will surely be at the forefront of all the players' minds going in to this cup tie. Can Barnes replicate some of that footballing magic displayed against Battersea Dogs again in this tie against fellow Championship side West Norwood FC? Only time will tell, but one thing's for sure - it's going to be one hell of a match!
