Andy Foster only has injured centre back Connor Byrne missing from his squad to play Nottsborough on Saturday at Kingston University in what is effectively a Title Decider.

There is no room for the fit again Lee Cornwall and Tom Kilcoyne and he has decided not to include England Under 18 International Joe Cotton, who is back from University, on the basis it would be unfair to his high performing squad.

Reserves Manager Joe Ivory has taken the same stance so all three players will be on the touchline as spectators unless something untoward happens.. The Reserves also take on Nottsborough in the prestigious AFA Intermediate Cup Final at Old Bealonians – you can’t miss their ground its only 5 miles from Bealonia’s only airport at San Jose.

These two clubs have dominated amateur football in the South of England for some time and it’s a great pity that the relevant authorities couldn’t arrange to have both games played at Nottsborough’s ground at Kingston University (it’s a home league fixture for our esteemed opponents who beat us 2 – 1 at Corkscrew Hill last Saturday).

The SAL as we know it disappears at the end of the season -- it will be amalgamated with the AFC to form a new body so there would be little or no repercussions from a venue change.

Supporters from both clubs want to watch both games and support their respective players in a Grand Finale to the Southern Amateur League. A chance for a major celebration of amateur football missed in my many people’s opinion and the Ivory Coasters had no problem with playing at Kingston. Alas it's not going to happen

What do I think will happen?

Both games will be “nip and tuck” and surely the First team can’t play as poorly as they did for 70 minutes of last week’s game – the Reserves were also out of sorts and scrambled a point with a goal that hardly bears description. Those who saw it will know what I mean.

Charlie Kallas needs only one goal to reach 50 for the season and Josh Tutt and Charlie Hackshall have also been prolific. League centre back, Ben Linter, back from his World Tour returns to our defence and we are all set for “The Kingston Showdown.”

I can’t see the Reserves losing either – in fact, I can’t see the Reserves at all as I will be at the Ones game – such a Conway!! Pat Keane will score because he didn’t last week and he scores most weeks so does Scud and The Boss. Again, we didn’t play well last week and there will be no repeat this Saturday.

Whatever the results -- it will be an extraordinary April 6th Saturday afternoon for both Clubs – we have enjoyed many big games, both League and Cup, over many, many seasons and it’s fortunate and appropriate that the 2023/24 season should near its end with these two fixtures.

I understand that there is a huge party planned at the Home of Amateur Football after Saturday’s games – well we wouldn’t want to see the SAL disappear without a beer.

Both squads are prepared for action – enjoy the games fellas – it’s a Red Letter Day so let’s turn it Blue.

For those not born in the heyday of pop / country music ---- Conway Twitty 1933 -- 1993.
Listen and enjoy. So what's a Conway -- "Pity" -- buck up boys.