Gladiators clash at Hardenhuish Park

Players, officials and supporters of both FC Box and AFC Melksham will hopefully descend on  Hardenhuish Park, home of Chippenham Town FC this coming Sunday for the 2021/2022 and 54^th staging of the A M & Print & Copy sponsored Knockout Cup Final.

Down to the final two teams from the 29 teams that started out way back last September, and on paper the Final that brings together cup holders and Premier Division champions, AFC Melksham and second division Champions, FC Box for the first of the three Finals, the league have scheduled over the coming weeks should be a classic

The match is really hard to call, but if both teams who are bidding for a League & Cup double are at their very best, it could be one of the finest for many seasons. For Melksham this will be their third successive Knockout Cup final appearance, having suffered defeat in 2019, they returned last season to beat FC Devizes United 3-0.

For FC Box who have claimed the notable scalps of top flight sides FC Lacock & FC Devizes United on the way to their first ever final, a victory could be the Launchpad for future silverware.

James Whitehead, Liam Ralph and Stuart Donnelly took over what was Spartak Rudloe in the Summer of 2021 and rebranded the club as FC Box. This is therefore the debut season for FC Box and one that has gone well to date as they recently clinch the Division Two title to the delight of Corsham based sponsors May’s Greengrocers.  

James brought in many of the old guard from his previous and highly successful team, Corsham Centre to bolster the ranks of the players left from the Spartak days. Those two groups of players along with some new and thankfully younger faces have gelled well in this debut campaign.

The team got off to a relatively shaky start but have come on leaps and bounds with several new additions both defensively and up front. The squad has well surpassed the management expectations this year and to have knocked out two of the top Premier teams on the way to the final proves they can contend with and beat the best.

After beating Sutton Benger 4-2 in the First Round, FC Box gained a 2^nd place finish in Group A, group stage, behind only today’s opponents AFC Melksham. The two sides did not actually meet due to FC Box being unable to raise a side for that fixture. FC Box achieved four wins – Warminster Athletic (5-0), Spires Athletic (4-3), British Lion (3-2) and Kingfisher FC (5-1) and a 3-3 draw with Pack Horse FC from their other fixtures and progressed to the Quarter Finals where they met Premier Division outfit FC Lacock.

FC Lacock had already knocked FC Box out of the Wiltshire Sunday Cup earlier in the season by a comfortable 8-1 scoreline, and certainly did not expect to get turned over by their Division Two opponents. This is however exactly what happened as a brace from man of the match Ben Wickens and an Adam Mitchell effort saw FC Box run out as 3-2 winners.

The Semi Final draw saw a visit to Beversbrook and another Premier Division side in FC Devizes United. FC Box proved to be giant killers again with another hard fought 3-2 victory with goals from James Lye, Spencer Dymond-Hall and Adam Mitchell.

Can they complete the hat trick by seeing off AFC Melksham on Sunday afternoon awaits to be seen, but one thing is certain and that is they will be giving it their best shot.

AFC Melksham joined the League at the start of the 2004/05 season when they were made up with a bunch of sixteen and seventeen year-old lads who had left the under sixteen league and needed somewhere for them to play. The youngsters found the transition difficult and spent two seasons without many wins but enjoyed the experience.

Since those early days AFC Melksham have progressed through the Divisions’ and have collected a fair amount of silverware along the way, the first coming when they finished the 2007/08 season as Division 4, runners-up.  In 2009 Mickey Hawkes guided them to the 2009 WG Parr Final where they beat White Hart Combe 2-1.

The 2011/12 season saw Melksham enjoy a great first season in the top flight where they finished fourth, however they also suffered a shock WG Parr Trophy Final defeat against AFC Calne.

Since then AFC Melksham have been ever present in the top flight and have never been outside the top four with greatest achievement coming in 2016 when they were crowned champions.  This campaign have been another title winning one for Mike Rogers team who recently saw off the challenge of both FC Lacock and FC Devizes United to finish top of the pile for a second time.

Add into the mix their 4 Wiltshire Sunday Cup semi-final appearances; it would be fair to say they have been among the top teams for the last few years.

Melksham’s route to the final, which will be third in a row, the first ended in defeat against Box Rovers before last year’s 3-0 triumph over FC Devizes Utd started with a walkover in the First Round. Melksham then topped Group A ahead of today’s opponents FC Box, however the two sides didn’t meet as Box were unable to raise a side for that fixture. Melksham beat Spires Athletic (3-0), Pack horse (14-1), Warminster Athletic (13-3) before finishing with draws against The British Lion (2-2) and Kingfisher (1-1). 

In the quarter-final they needed extra-time before seeing off, First division Lavis FC 2-1, thanks to goals from Seth Wain and Paul Gittins unbelievable extra-time winner. 

The Semi Final draw saw AFC Melksham paired with Premier Division stable mates Chippenham Icons, and thanks to a Rhys Talmash double and a goal each for Jack Woolsgrove and Paul Gittins they claimed a 4-0 triumph to set up what should be an intriguing contest with Second division winners FC Box.  

AFC Melksham wish to thank Kit sponsors, Keynsham based Premier Angling, Keynsham Rd Marina, Keynsham, Bristol BS31 2DD. Polo Shirts sponsors, Appleby & Townend Estate Agents, Broad Lane, Seend, Melksham SN12 6RJ and Shurnhold Storage & Recycling of Melksham.