Bostik League rivals Staines Town and Hendon FC are set to do battle once again this Tuesday Evening as the pair goes head-to-head for the Middlesex FA Senior Cup crown. The match, set to be played at Uxbridge FC’s Honeycroft Stadium will be broadcast live via the Middlesex FA Facebook page, a first in the competitions 130-year history. 

Match details: 

Staines Town FC v Hendon FC 
Date: 17th April 2018
Kick-off: 7.45pm
Venue: 200 Horton Rd, Uxbridge UB7 8HX

The Senior Challenge Cup was established in 1888 and is contested by the most senior clubs in the County. Both clubs are no strangers when it comes to success in the competition with 25 Senior Cup titles between them, though neither club has managed to get their hands on the trophy since the 2012/13 season when Staines defeated Ashford Town (Middlesex) in the final to win the competition. 

This season, both teams have enjoyed entertaining paths to the final of the competition. Staines progressed through two dramatic penalty shootouts in the quarter-final and semi-final rounds to earn their place in the final, whilst Hendon had impressive victories over Spelthorne and competition favourites, Barnet, to seal their first Senior Cup final place since 2009.

Hendon Manager, Gary McCann said: 

‘Our record in this competition since I became manager at Hendon has not been as good as in other competitions and it was one we highlighted this season as being very important to do well in it. Scoring all those goals against Spelthorne was very nice, but the victory over Barnet stands out. They sent a very experienced team and a number played in the Football League a few days later. It was a tough game, but we came through it.’

The Bostik league rivals haven’t only enjoyed cup success this season, but both have it all to play for in the league too. With just four games to play, they sit fourth and eighth respectively with just five points (Staines have a game in-hand) separating the two teams in the table.  In the two league meetings this season, Hendon enjoyed a convincing 3-0 win at Silver Jubilee Park in September before losing convincingly 4-0 at Staines in the most recent meeting last month. Staines Manager, Johnson Hippolyte is well aware of the threat his opposition will pose in the final.

‘Gary McCann and Freddie Hyett have been on the non-league scene a long time, but not quite as long as have I and my coaching staff, and we’ve played and managed alongside and against one another for years, so we will both know all about each other’s’ styles.  We are in the same league and have already faced each other home and away, as well as our routine scouting missions, and so we will be well prepared but will be trying to work on one or two new things to surprise them with. This is a competition I have won in the past both as a player and a manager, and I want my players to go out and give this game their best shot.’

Staines Town – one to watch: Now in his second spell with Staines, Elliott is enjoying a record-breaking season atop the Bostik goalscoring charts. Previous clubs include Northwood, Stevenage, AFC Wimbledon and Margate. Top scorer in the Conference South just two years ago.

Hendon FC – one to watch: Niko Muir - One of non-league football’s most prolific strikers in 2017–18, the 25-year-old was an unused substitute in 2012 and scored 11 goals in 27 games in 2016 before signing for Leiston. He returned to SJP in the summer and reached 30 goals in January 2018.

Entry prices for the final are as follows:
£6 Adult
£3 Concession

There will be a collection at the gate for our chosen charity, London Air Ambulance.

Can’t make the game? The full match will be streamed live to the Middlesex FA Facebook page courtesy of our official filming partners, Film My Match. Coverage starts from 7.35pm.

For more information on this match or any of the other Middlesex FA finals, please see our Cups and Competitions page.