Arms set for attack on the silverware

29/1/2009

MIDDLETON’S top two football teams are bidding for glory in what promises to be a classic seven days.

On Sunday all eyes will be on Radclyffe Arms who aim for a place in the Manchester Amateur Sunday Cup semi-finals.

Over the years Arms earned a reputation as a club which was always the bridesmaid, but this season they are odds-on to claim the Middleton Sunday League Premier Division title and could add possible knockout silverware from three other fronts.

Tameside Sunday League side Stamford FC provide the opposition on Sunday, and Arms will go into the game as hot favourites after a string of superb performances in the competition, not least the 11-0 drubbing of Weaste United in the previous round.

Arms have given up home advantage, and the match will now be played at Armidale Road, Dukinfield, kick-off 10.30am

If Arms go on to clinch the Middleton League title they will earn an invitation into next season’s contest for the North West Champion of Champions Cup – a trophy which Langley Celtic are determined to retain for a second year.

On Sunday week (8 February) they face Heywood Reform at Parkfield in a quarter-final of this year’s competition, kick-off 10.30am.

Reform took a coachload of supporters to Blackpool in the previous round and are expected to be well supported again.

Celtic hope that some of Middleton’s large contingent of FC United fans will be attracted by the appearances in the green and white of Dave Neville and Tunji Moses who are regulars in the United side.