CHARITY SHIELD PREVIEW: Repton Park take on El Valiente in season opener

It may only still be August but the first piece of silverware will be contested for this Sunday as the inaugural Corinthian Charity Shield match sees two of last season’s top performers, Repton Park and El Valiente, lock horns once again down at Wadham Lodge.

This new annual competition will see the best sides from the previous season’s Premier Division and Corinthian Cup competitions go head to head, all in aid of charity, with the proceeds from the day being donated to an agreed charity each season.

This first match takes place this Sunday 25^th August on the Intermediate pitch at Match Day Centres Wadham Lodge, kicking off at 1pm. Entry is £3 to spectators attending. We now look ahead to the game and provide some insight into who might be crowned cup winners at full time.

Corinthian Charity Shield Final – 1.00pm
Repton Park vs El Valiente

Repton Park go into the contest on the back of a treble-winning season that saw them defend their Corinthian Cup title from the previous year then added the West Essex Sunday Charity Cup to their haul later in May. But the jewel in the crown will surely be their league title victory as they picked up the Premier Division silverware securing the points they needed in the last game to be crowned champions. Naturally, that will be a season that is hard to replicate but they will undoubtedly be a force once again with their attacking style of football and could look to begin the defence with a confidence boosting Shield victory this weekend.

For El Valiente, their first year in the Corinthian League last season was a good one and they will have been pleased to take some silverware of their own out of the campaign as they picked up the Premier Division Cup with an impressive cup final victory in April. They then almost did the unthinkable to chase down Repton for the league title but, alas, just came up short in that respect. A side who show much enthusiasm and buoyed on by the drive and determination of their manager, they will be eager to increase their trophy haul this coming season, seeking to begin that with a Charity Shield win on Sunday.

There was a real mixed bag of results between these sides last year with both teams having success over the other across their numerous meetings in league and cup, making this a difficult contest to pick a winner from. El Valiente will certainly be fired up to make their mark on the new season but Repton certainly have much big game experience in their ranks and won't be afraid, that's for a sure. A free-flowing contest is in store for us this weekend.

Congratulations to our appointed match officials on this final and we thank them for their time in officiating this match. Daniel Norris is the man appointed to referee the contest and he will be ably supported by Will O’Neill and Zac Conway from the touchlines.

We wish everybody the very best of luck for the cup final and look forward to a terrific match!