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If you’ve ever dreamt about following in the footsteps of Liverpool stars such as Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher and playing at Anfield in front of the famous Kop, then make sure your grassroots club are signed up for the 2008-2009 FA Carlsberg Sunday Cup.The Football Association have confirmed that Liverpool’s world famous stadium will be hosting the final for a seventh consecutive season and last April saw Durham’s Hetton Lyons Cricket Club pick up the trophy, for their second time with a 3-2 win over Coundon Conservative, the 2007 winners also from Durham.Hetton scooped over £4,500 in prize money in the competition which gives players from Sunday League teams, who are not under written contract, to pit their abilities against sides from across the country.This coming season will also see The FA provide a fund of £60,000 to assist clubs in meeting match and travel expenses throughout the entire competition.Hetton Lyons secretary, David Leitch, praised his side’s mental strength and paid tribute to them for appearing in their second final in the last three seasons, by saying: “It's been an absolutely fantastic experience winning here at Anfield again."We had to dig deep after going behind twice but I am absolutely delighted. It was memorable the first time around but perhaps this is even better because of the way we did it coming from behind like that and getting a late win.”Many former Football League players have taken part in the Sunday Cup with former Chelsea and England striker, Kerry Dixon, playing for St Joseph's in both the 1998 and 1999 Finals.Peter Clayton, Chairman of The FA Sunday Cup Committee, has seen the competition grow during his 35 years of involvement in Sunday football. After serving time as secretary of a club that competed in the Sunday Cup and refereeing in the competition, Peter is always keen for more clubs to take up the challenge."The Sunday Cup is unique in that it offers players from Sunday Leagues the opportunity to play in a national knock-out competition with a final at one of the most famous football grounds in the world."This season we have, again, increased the financial support, which makes up a prize fund to go towards helping clubs with the cost of staging matches and taking part."We have also slightly relaxed the entry criteria to encourage more clubs to take part. The growth of the competition has led to an increased level of media interest in the competition. For a team entry fee of just £40, the competition provides players with an opportunity to showcase their talents and have a once-in-a-lifetime football experience that they will never forget."So, if you think your local club have got what it takes to knock Hetton Lyons Cricket Club off their FA Carlsberg Sunday Cup perch, then click here to download the competition’s guidelines and application form.For further information on entering a team, please contact competitions@TheFA.comThe deadline date for entries is 1 August 2008.
