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1. 4th April 1976 1st XI vs. United Counties 1-2 Bedfordshire Lower Junior Cup Final
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2. 2nd May 1993 3rd XI vs. Norman King 0-2
Luton Sunday League Steve Smith Trophy Final
(No relation!) The Third Team's first Cup Final appearance came in May 1993
on a barren pitch at 61 FC, Kingsway Luton against League
Champions Norman King who had dropped just one point all
season. Despite the line-up being strengthened by
appearances from Russell Sheppard and Kevin Connolly, Norman
King proved too strong and ran out 2-0 winners.
Back row: Kelvin Callow, Hugh Byrne, Steve Goldsmith,
Rod Borlase, Mark Turner, Bobby McGrath, Pete Conquest, Paul Robson,
Andy BownesFront row: Dave Bateson, Dave
Blake, Steve Baggett, Kevin Connolly, Russell Sheppard (and mascot
Chris Smith)
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3. 25th April 1994 4th XI vs. Hightown 0-1 Luton Sunday League Invitation Cup
Final In only their second league season, and despite finishing
7th in Division 2, the Fourth Team made it through to the
Final of the Invitation Cup against First Division Hightown
at St.Albans City. Top scorer Sandy Muir went AWOL just
before the game (rumours had it that he was working
'somewhere on the M25') and we knew it would be tough. In
the end, a moment of madness by keeper Brendan Barr gave
away the penalty which would decide the game. Laurence
Freed, however, had made his name as a Manager and the
supporters who all went on the coach to St.Albans had a
great night out.
Left: The team
collect their medals after the match.
Right: Laurence
Freed samples the bath after the game.
Below:
Matt Borg receives his runners-up medal from 'celebrity'
Luther Blissett.
  
Back row: Laurence Freed, Paul 'Four-cans'
Robson, Paul Jenkins, Andy Bownes, Graham Carter, Andy 'Strawman'
Sheridan, Dave Malvern, ?, Kevin Knight, Stewart Jenner, Ben
Quince Front row: Darren
Groom, Steve Grimes, Brendan Barr, Steve Middleton, Matt
Borg, Wayne Groom
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4. 23rd April 1995 2nd XI vs. Rising Sun Potton
0-0 (4-5 penalties)Bedfordshire Centenary Cup
Final Laurence Freed continued his managerial career by taking his
superb Reserve Team to the final of the Beds centenary Cup
at Cranfield United FC's ground. The team were already
runaway Champions of Division 5 and had lost in the
semi-final of the Luton News Cup 1-0 to Britannia. The cup
runs had taken their toll and the team were catching up on
league games almost every night leading up to the final,
since this team also formed the nucleus of the Saturday XI.
In the end a tired side lost on sudden-death penalties when
Alex Houghton put his kick over the bar.
7. 12th May 1996 3rd XI vs. Chalton Strollers 1-4 Luton Sunday League Challenge Cup
Final
A fortnight after the Fourth team's triumph in the
Invitation Cup Final the Third Team had a chance to take the Luton Sunday League Challenge Cup Final, played for the
first time at Pirton.
The Thirds, under Manager Mick Marsh, were league runners-up
in Division One, but had finished 11 points behind their
opponents Chalton Strollers, who had beaten the Fourth Team
convincingly in the Invitation Cup Final a year previously.
Once again, unfortunately, the formbook didn't lie and
Chalton ran out 4-1 winners, despite a consolation goal from
Phil Thompson.
Team: Dave Newman, Archie Conway, Neil Hebron, Rick Vipers,
Steve Goldsmith, Mick Marsh, Paul Gathern, Alan Palmer, Phil
Clarke, Phil Thompson (1), Hugh Byrne Subs: Steve
Baggett, Kelvin Callow, Graham Carter
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15. 1st May 2002 Under 16 Reds vs. Stevenage
Colts 4-4 (2-3 on penalties) Royston Crow Youth League Under 16
League Cup Final Godfrey Knock's Under 16 Reds had had a difficult first
season in the Royston Crow League - not so much with
results, but more with the inconsistency of the fixture
list. Nevertheless, the team had fought its way through to
the League Cup Final, after a great 4-1 win in the
semi-final against Risdon Wood.
Stevenage Colts were
already the League Champions and Hertfordshire County Cup
winners, so were hot favourites, but the Under 16s excelled
themselves in the Final, played at Royston Town's ground.
Lea Sports were in the lead three times, including going
4-3 up in extra-time after a marvellous strike from Ben
L'Honoré - a lead they held until
the very last minute when incessant Stevenage pressure
brought an equaliser against a very tired Lea Sports side.
In the ensuing penalty shoot-out it was top scorer Ben
L'Honoré (who had scored 25 goals in 21
games) who missed the decisive kick and Stevenage grabbed
the trophy 3-2.
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Back row: Dave Newman, Trevor England, Ashley
Burgess, Stewart Jenner, Adrian Burton, Nick Kane, Alex
Houghton, Bobby McGrath, Steve Smith, Laurence Freed
Front row: Trevor Taylor, Paul Gathern,
Archie Conway, Mike Brown-Fraser, Mark Abrahams, Steve
Bingham, Alastair Mayman
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20. 1st May 2011 Second XI vs.
AC Sportsman & Ravensborough Reserves 0-3
North Home Counties Sunday League Reserve Cup Final (Jack
Coyle Trophy)
The Sunday Reserves under Steve Baggett came
up against a team who had finished Runners-Up in Division
One in the Reserve Cup Final, played on a bone-hard pitch at
Barton Rovers FC. With just one goal separating the sides at
half-time, the match was still in the balance, but as the
game wore on the superior fitness of the Division One side
saw them score twice more to spoil the Lea Sports party.
Back Row: Archie Conway,
Pat McAneney, Phil Thompson, Simon Mayes, Gavin Bidgood,
Bobby McGrath, Paul Maclennan, Steve Baggett (Manager),
Greg Whelan Front Row: Jon Whitehead, Ed Thomson, Ben
Thomson, Kieran Williams (mascot), Steve Williams, Mark
Williams
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23. 29th March 2014
Under 10 Fishercats vs. Luton Allstars Hawks
0-5
Chiltern Junior Sevens Trophy Final
The Under Ten Fishercats, in their first
season in the Chiltern Junior Sevens League, made it through
to the Trophy Final (for teams from Divisions 3 and 4) after
a great 3-2 Semi-Final win over Champions Ampthill Town.
On the day, however, things did not go
well for them at Crawley Green Sports Club, as they came up
against a Hawks side which contained Academy players from Luton Town, to belie their lowly league position. Two goals
late in the first half knocked the stuffing out of the lads
and they were second-best in the second half. In defence
Lewis Manning was named man-of the match as the lads fought
hard against a strong, talented side.
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4. Second Team 1995
8. Netball Team 1996
12. Third Team 1999
16. Saturday XI 2002
20. Reserves 2011(1)
24. Saturday XI 2015
28. Saturday XI 2022
27. 12th December 2020
Under 7 Jaguars vs. Stopsley Tornadoes
4-1
Chiltern Junior Sevens League Autumn Cup Final
In their third season of football the
Jaguars put in a sterling performance to light the pandemic
gloom, winning by four goals to one in a rearranged match in
Luton.
Goals came from George M., Jacob M. and
two from Frank S. as the Jags dominated the match and
brought some much-needed silverware home to the Club.
Back to top
26. 18th October 2020
Veterans vs. Stevenage Veterans
0-6
Mid-Herts Veterans League Cup Final
The 2019-2020 League Cup Final in the Mid-Herts
Vets League finally took place in October 2020, having been
delayed for some months by the Coronavirus pandemic.
The Veterans had won through a tough
semi-final in September 2020 at home to Bradmore Rovers, 3-1
after extra time, but in the Final just about everything
that could go wrong did go wrong!
After conceding early, two hamstring
injuries and some 'iffy' decisions saw the team on the wrong
end of a 6-0 hammering. Maybe one to forget!
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24. 24th April 2015
Saturday First XI vs. Shefford Town & Campton Res.
0-2
East Bedfordshire Junior Charity Cup Final
In their first season with the Club, the
Saturday side were unlucky to lose this final under the
floodlights at Langford FC. Most onlookers in the 170-strong
crowd agreed that we deserved at least extra-time after a
classy performance.
The Saturday team, who finished runners-up
in Division 3, put in a brilliant performance in the
semi-final, when they won 2-1 away at Elstow Abbey, who sat
top of Division 1 at the time of the match. Unfortunately,
the team couldn't quite reproduce that form in the final and
went down to two scrappy goals against their opponents also
from Division 1 in the Beds.County League.
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25. 22nd April 2016
Saturday First XI vs. Henlow
0-1
East Bedfordshire Junior Charity Cup Final
A year on and the Saturday side made it
through to this floodlit final again at Langford FC.
The journey was an interesting one: they
drew their first game in August 2015 against Elstow Abbey
Reserves and then lost 6-7 on penalties. It wsn't until
March 2016 that they learnt they had been reinstated after
Elstow folded. The semi-final was a replay of last year's
final against Shefford Town & Campton Reserves, but the best
display of the season saw the lads win 3-0.
The final was decided by a soft penalty
awarded to Henlow after 20 minutes - after that few chances
were created and a disappointing game fizzled out into a 1-0
win for the higher-division side.
Back to top
28. 6th May 2022
Saturday 1st XI vs. Cranfield Utd. Res. 2-5
Bedfordshire County League Centenary Cup Final
The Saturday 1st XI failed in their
attempt to bring the Centenary Cup to Pirton, when they lost
5-2 to Cranfield Unites Reserves at Shefford Sports Club.
Cranfield started the stronger and were 2 goals up inside 15
minutes: a shot from the edge of the box was well saved at
the foot of the post but the ball squirmed away from the
keeper and a Cranfield forward was able to squeeze the ball
home. Minutes later a corner found its way into the Lea
defence and was clipped in off the underside of the bar. Lea
steadied the ship but before half time another Cranfield
break down the left hand side saw the ball side-footed past
the keeper to make the half-time score 3-0.
A few minutes after the break, Joe Hennem met
a left-wing cross with his head to reduce the arrears. When
Kian Devers broke through a few minutes later to smash the
ball into the bottom corner, cries of 'Istanbul' could be
heard from the supporters behind the goal. An equaliser came
tantalisingly close as the Cranfield keeper just managed to
stick out a boot to divert the ball wide. However, Cranfield
exploited the gaps that started to appear as the lads pushed
forward for an equaliser and two further breakaway goals
sealed the tie.
 
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5. 30th April 1995 4th XI vs. Chalton Strollers 1-5
16. 11th May 2002 Saturday XI vs. Macdonald Humfrey 2-1 Luton District & South Beds League
Invitation Subsidiary Cup Final The Saturday team, under the managership of Jim Betts, had
had an average season in the Premier Division of the Luton &
District League, finishing sixth of nine teams with 16
points from 16 games.
The Invitation Cup had brought the
chance of some silverware after a 4-1 win over Luton Borough
in the semi-final.
Bobby McGrath made his sixth appearance in a Lea Sports
Cup Final as the team ran out 2-1 Winners in the Final at
61FC, Kingsway, Luton.
Team: Nigel Timms, Shohel Ahmed, Simon Jackson, Mark
Booth, Bobby McGrath, Glen Walker (1), Adam Celine, Andrew
Newton, Dwayne Grant, Luke Munt, Henriques Mthuthuzeli (1)
Subs: Craig McCann, Mujib Miah, Sujel Miah, Rob Gurruchaga,
Scott Wood
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Luton Sunday League Invitation Cup
Final
9. 11th May 1997 3rd XI vs. Luton Rangers 2-0 Luton Sunday League CBS Cup
Final The second Sunday League Cup Final to be held at Pirton saw
the second appearance of the Third Team. This time they were
up against Luton Rangers in the renamed CBS Cup Final.
The
team, now managed by Steve Baggett, had finished 5 points
ahead of their opponents in mid-table in Division One, but
the team had won 8 of 11 since Christmas and was very
confident.
Showing just 4 changes from the final of the year before,
Lea Sports dominated the match and ran out 2-0 winners.
Back row: Matthew Clarke, Trevor Taylor
(1), Steve Close, Graham Carter, Dave Newman, Steve Baggett,
Mark Freire, Hugh Byrne, Steve Goldsmith
Front row: Alan Palmer, Phil Clarke,
Neil Hebron, Archie Conway, Paul Gathern (1), Rick Vipers
Back to Top
A week after the Reserves' failure to take the Bedfordshire
Centenary Cup, the 4th team also failed in their second
attempt in two seasons to take the Luton Sunday League's
Invitation Cup.
The match
6. 28th April 1996 4th XI vs. Woodlands Social 2-1 Luton Sunday League Invitation Cup
Final
Lea Sports' first Cup Final success came when the Fourth
Team made their third successive appearance in the Luton
Sunday League's Invitation Cup Final at 61FC, Kingsway,
Luton.
Woodlands Social had finished half way up the Division One
table, whereas the Fourths had finished 4th in Division 2,
so an even contest was on the cards and so it proved as the
Fourths battled their way to a hard-fought 2-1 victory with
some desperate defending in the later stages.
   
Back Row: Dean Kempson, Kevin Knight,
Craig Brooke, Phil Roberts, Dave Malvern, Houston
Ferguson, Owen McKee, Marcus Olden, Andrew Sexton
Front Row: Richard Sexton, Graham Manton,
Steve Grimes, Rob Middleton, Steve Middleton, Ian
Clarke, Damian Corbett
Back to Top
pitted the Fourth XI, Champions of Division 2,
against Chalton Strollers, Champions of Division 1 and the
match ran true to the form book with Chalton running out 5-1
winners on yet another barren pitch at 61FC in Kingsway, Luton.
11. 6th May 1998 Saturday XI vs. Mallard 0-1 North Hertfordshire Football Alliance
Greg Cup Final In the 1997-98 season, Hitchin Reds, playing as Lea Sports
FC, had finished runners-up in the North Herts FA Premier
Division. They were confident of victory in the Greg Cup
Final, played at Hitchin Town FC, against Mallard from the
division below.
In a poor final, however, it was Mallard
who made the running right from the start and deservedly
took the trophy 1-0.
Team: Brian Routledge, Cyril Gittens,
Phil Casey, Justin Fells, Toby Pitcairn, Roger Clarke,
Stewart Hamilton, Neil Bethell, Ben Kowalczyk, Garnett
Hendricks, Marvin Hall Subs: Paul Parris, Leroy Saward
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Bobby McGrath made it three cup final appearances out of
four, but couldn't prevent Strollers running away with the
game in the second half.
Team: Steve Blackhurst, Steve Middleton, Matt Borg, Martin
Alley, Alan Palmer, Bobby McGrath, Paul Dubal, Neil Addison,
Andy Bownes, Tony Fontanelle (1), Steve Eneduwa. Subs: Hugh
Byrne, Ben Quince
Back to Top
12. 2nd May 1999 3rd XI vs. Railway Tavern 2-3 Luton Sunday League TT Trophy Final
In 1998-99 Steve Baggett took the Third team to Runners-up
spot in Division One and to both the TT Trophy Final and the
final of the Challenge Cup.
This game was a bad-tempered
affair against a rough Railway Tavern side who had kicked
their way to runners-up spot in Division 2 (they had been
robbed of the title by an injury-time equaliser by Steve
Baggett in their match vs. the Fourth XI at Pirton on 15th
April). In the end poor officials offered little protection
to the Thirds, who went down 2-3.
Back row: Lee Brown (1), Graham Carter,
Andy Shiers, Gavin Bidgood, Phil Thompson, Neil Hebron,
Bobby McGrath, Steve Goldsmith
Front row:
Steve Williams, Paul Gathern (1), Steve
Bingham, Archie Conway, Rick
Vipers, Chris Gathern
Back to Top
13. 9th May 1999 3rd XI vs. Dunstable Drivers 4-0 Luton Sunday League Challenge Cup
Final The Thirds were determined to finish the season on a high
note after their battle in the TT Trophy Final the week
before.
Playing in Pirton, Steve Baggett's team took the
game to Dunstable Drivers right from the start and ran out
convincing 4-0 winners. Phil Thompson scored 45 goals in the
season, but failed to score in the final.
Team: Gavin Bidgood, Neil Hebron, Andy Shiers, Rick
Vipers, Steve Goldsmith, Steve Williams (1), Archie Conway
(1), Lee Brown (1), Phil Thompson, Steve Bingham (1), Paul
Gathern Subs: Graham Carter, Chris Gathern, Bobby
McGrath
Back to Top
8. 1st June 1996 Netball vs. Vauxhall Golds 31-47Luton & Dunstable Netball Association Cup Final
After a nailbiting 32-30 semi-final win over Toddington, Lea
Sports netballers faced the mighty Vauxhall Golds in the Cup
Final.
The league match a few weeks earlier had resulted
in a 70-19 win for Vauxhall, so confidence wasn't too high,
but the girls stuck at their task and although they finished
on the losing side they put up a good show on the day.
Team: Chris DeHaan, Debbie Allen, Debbie O'Brien,
Catherine Cassidy, Hilary Adams, Lorraine Breheny, Cheryl
Price Subs: Elaine Bodsworth, Michelle Coogan
Back to Top
14. 7th May 2000 3rd XI vs. Purley Old Boys 1-2 South Beds Sunday League Division One Cup
Final The Thirds had finished in third place in their first season
in the South Beds league, but 12 points behind Champions
Purley Old Boys, whom they now faced in the Division One Cup
Final played at Arlesey Town FC.
Despite falling behind to
an early strike, Lea levelled through a strike from Jamie
Richards. In the second half, however, the Purley pressure
told and a mistake at the back let them through for a
winner.
Team: Gavin Bidgood, Neil Hebron, Andy Shiers, Mark
Williams, Steve Goldsmith, Steve Williams, Archie Conway,
Lee brown, Graham Carter, Jamie Richards (1), Paul Gathern
Subs: Steve Bingham, Chris Gathern, Phil Thompson, Rick
Vipers
Back to Top
10. 26th April 1998 4th XI vs. Dunstable Drivers 3-2 Luton Sunday League Invitation Cup
Final The Fourth Team, under Kevin Knight, had been determined to
reach the Invitation Cup Final for the third time in four
years, after failing in extra-time in the semi-final last
year.
In their semi-final this year they overpowered Luton
Rangers 3-1 to set up a final against an in-form Dunstable
Drivers team who had finished 2 points ahead of us in the
Luton Sunday League Division 2.
The result was a cracking game at 61FC, Kingsway, Luton
with the Fourth team squeezing out a 3-2 victory, thanks to
goals from Chris Bryant (2) and top scorer Craig Brooke.
Team: Dave Newman, Steve Grimes, Steve Middleton, Andy
Westgate, Mark Freire, Alan Palmer, Lee Clark, James Crook,
Craig Brooke (1), Chris Bryant (2), Martin Davern
Subs: Archie Conway, Eddie Johnson, Dave Malvern
Back to Top
17. 14th May 2006 Under 11 vs. St.Josephs 6-1
Chiltern Youth League Under 11 League
Cup Final The Under Elevens, in their first season with the Club, had
missed out on the Division One Championship by a whisker, so
were keen to make amends in the Final of the League Cup,
played at Ampthill.
In their run to the Final, the Under
Elevens had scored twenty goals without conceding one in
reply, but they were shocked to find themselves a goal down
after just two minutes.
They didn't panic, however, and their superior football
told in the end as they ran out 6-1 winners, with goals from
Matty Baxter, Danny Butler (2), a free-kick from Jack
Mordecai and two from super-sub Ashley Palmer.
Team: Jack Good, Brett Longden, Matty Baxter (1), Bradley
Turner, Andrew Smith, Jack Stanton, Jack Mordecai (1),
Thomas Hignell, Danny Butler (2), Yusuf Mushtaq, Adam Nunn
Subs: Aaron Bodger, Elliot Isted, Ashley Palmer (2), Billy
Redding
 
Back to Top
18. 4th May 2008 Under 11s vs. Wootton
Rangers 0-1
Filmergraphics Mini-Soccer League
Cup Final Only the second
mini-soccer (7-a-side) team to play for Lea Sports, the
Under 11s were delighted to reach the Cup Final after
starting the season with the bare minimum of players. The
team excelled in the Group stages finishing top of Group A,
before securing a 1-0 win away to Bedford Panthers in the
Quarter-Final and disposing of Wilstead Harriers by the same
score in the Semi-Final.
Just one goal decided the final too
(played at Barton Rovers FC) but it was to go to Wootton
Rangers. Lea Sports put up a brave performance and defender
James Lovett was declared Man of the Match.
The team with Coach Phil Toyer after the
medal presentation ceremony.
James Lovett receives his Man of the
Match award.
 
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19. 19th April 2009 Second XI vs. Bird & Bush
0-2
North Home Counties Sunday League Challenge Cup Final
Unbeaten in the League Division 4 going in to
the Cup Final, the Reserves were confident of putting up a
good show against their Division 3 opponents. However, on a
big pitch at Ampthill Town FC and on a hot April afternoon,
two late goals from Bird & Bush were enough to take the Cup.
Back Row: Andy Shiers, Pat McAneney,
Ollie Palmer, Paul MacLennan, Gavin Bidgood, Ed Thomson
(Manager), Archie Conway
Front Row: Luke Day, Tom Newland, Jon
Whitehead, Simon Mayes, Ben Thomson, Mark Williams, Phil
Thompson
 
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