The Toolstation Cup Final will take place on Saturday afternoon
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Words by James Grayson (@jamesAgrayson, @NonLeagueNorth)
He might have to buy the beer after the game, but NCEL chairman David Morrall hopes Saturday’s Toolstation Cup Final between Knaresborough Town and Bristol Manor Farm will be a ‘big success”.
The inter-league match between NCEL League Cup winners Knaresborough Town and Western League Premier Division runners-up Bristol will take place at Staveley Miners Welfare.
Toolstation are the main sponsors of both leagues and the match will also to raise money for two charities – the Royal National Lifeboat Institution and Asthma UK.
Admission is free but donations for both charities will be collected during the game. There will also be a half time raffle with great prizes including a Makita 4 piece kit worth over £600.
NCEL chairman Mr Morrall said: “It is absolutely massive day for us.
“We’ve just had the first year of the sponsorship and it has gone really well.
“Ours and the Western League’s sponsorship deals are certainly the biggest at this level of football.
“It is important we get this game on Saturday right and that it is a good advert.
“I’m hoping it is a big success.
“Toolstation want to make it a really fun annual family occasion.”
He added: “There’ll be plenty of beer drunk after the game.
“Knowing (Western League chairman) John Poole, he’s a tight sod so I’ll be buying the beer.”
The choice of teams to contest the game was chosen by the respective leagues.
The match will be refereed by Premier League referee Robert Madley.
Northern Counties East League chairman David Morrall hopes the Toolstation Cup Final on Saturday is a big success
Mr Morral added: “The game means a lot to the league.
“Toolstation are part of the Travis Perkins group and it is a really big company who recognised an opportunity to sponsor at steps five and six.
“They see that steps five and six are underfunded by the FA and they’ve sponsored the Western League for nine years.
“I’m friends with the chairman and secretary and I never thought of approaching what I perceived as their sponsor.
“The Western League then approached me and said: ‘how would you like to join us with another Toolstation sponsored league’?
“The deal was done within a minute and part of it was that they were keen to have a Toolstation Cup which was to be played annually.
“So for this first year we are playing at Staveley and then next year we will be going down to wherever they (the Western League) choose.”
The match kicks off at 3pm and it is the featured game on nonleagueyorkshire.com this weekend.