Season 2021/22

2021/22 JW HUNT CUP FINAL.

7.30pm Thursday 12th May

@ AFC Wulfrunians, Castlecroft Rd, Wolverhampton.

Lye Town 2v1 Boldmere St Michaels.

Lye Town is the new name on the JW Hunt Cup after a 2-1 victory over Midland League premier division rivals Boldmere St Michaels.

The game at AFC Wulfrunians’ Castlecroft Stadium was the 94th final of a competition founded in 1926. The Covid pandemic meant it was the first since 2019.

The game was won by a special goal from Ben Billingham on 73 minutes, who curled home a free kick from 25 yards. His all-round display earned him the man-of-the-match trophy sponsored by Hunt Cup committee man Les Pickerill.

Boldmere, also first-time finalists, started better and a defensive slip let in Isaac Phillips only for goalkeeper Ben Newey to come out and block his effort.

Lye came more into the game and took the lead on 13 minutes. Billingham’s corner was not cleared and Adam Meacham scored from close range.

Although Lye were on top for the rest of the half, the best chances fell to Mikes with Steve Palmer having an effort blocked and Ben George firing over from distance.

Boldmere were quick out of the blocks in the second half and were rewarded on 52 minutes when Lewis Archer glanced home a Danny O’Sullivan cross.

Then came Billingham’s free kick and Lye made sure they stayed in charge for the rest of the match.

A well-attended game will go further to ensuring the committee can again make a five-figure donation to the Beacon Centre for the Blind which benefits from all the cup’s proceeds 

Semi-final two.

Tuesday 26th April 7-30;pm @ Darlaston Town Att 150.

Bewdley Town 1 v2  Boldmere St Michael's.

 First semi-final.

21st ,April  7.30pm @ AFC Wulfrunians.

Lye Town beat Lichfield City 4-2 on penalties. Score 0-0 after 90 mins.

21/22 Season.

ROUND ONE RESULTS

DON BURLINGHAM

The late Don Burlinghama long time supporter of the JW Hunt Cup and ex Final Referee has posted the following article.

I refereed the Hunt Cup final in 1958 and have the dubious experience of being the oldest Final referee. I enjoyed the experience and the friends made in Wolverhampton before leaving for 1 year in Hereford and line of the Southern League and then in April 1960 being posted to Cyprus ,As the football season in 1960 was almost at an end I only refereed a few RAF Unit games However at the beginning of Season 60/61 the Cyprus Football Association approached the Services with a request for assistance in refereeing their 1st Division games as their Cypriot referees had gone on strike -have we any Class 1 referees who can assist ,The Cypriots needed 6 referees and 12 assistants every weekend, The Combined Services found they could call on 7 or 8 Class 1 officials and several Class 2 and 3 for Linesmen duties so the services agreed to give it a try firstly on the pre -season friendly matches and then on the league matches ,As it was I was the only service referee to have limited experience on senior football and then only as a Linesman.So it was my first match was Apoel Nicosia v Benfica my second Omonia v Dynamo Moscow and my third Moscow Spartan .The matches were all very friendly and easy to handle so it was that I ended up between then and September 62 refereeing 16 1st Division league and cup matches and in June 62 Anorthosis Famagusta v Olympiakos Nicosia intheCup Final The Cyprus FA were kind enough to write to the English FA about my performance and I was promoted to the Referees list of the Southern League This happened because of my experience in refereeing in the Hunt Cup The Works League,Amateur League and the help given me by Mr Norman Wixon, Mr Arthur David and the Wolverhampton Referees Association

 GILBERT PREECE BEM.

 Congratulations to JW Hunt Cup Vice President and ex Referee Gilbert "Gilly" Preece who has been awarded the British Empire Medal "BEM" in the Queen's New Year Honour's. 

Well done, well deserved Gilly.