Craig Elliott believes more teams historically take the Sheffield & Hallamshire Senior Cup seriously when compared with the West Riding equivalent.
The Shaw Lane Aquaforce manager is entering the prestigious competition for only the second time and he hopes there will be no repeat of last season’s debacle.
Aquaforce resigned from the Senior Cup after Athersley Rec were allowed to replay their first round win, despite the local FA initially booting them as the Rec had played Daniel Monfredi.
Monfredi turned out to be ineligible to play. Shaw Lane quit the competition before the Barnsley derby was played again.
Elliott, who until last season, always competed in the West Riding County Cup each campaign, told Non League Yorkshire: “It is a cup I want to do well in.
“I’m still a bit bitter over last year because of the circumstances of not being able to be in it.
“It is a cup we can potentially we could go on and win so we will be taking it seriously.
“If you look at the teams in it, it is a hard competition to win. There is a lot of history to the cup and there is a chance to play at Hillsborough or another Football League ground in the final.
When asked about how the two competitions compare, he added: “Over the last few years the West Riding Cup has been taken a lot less seriously through teams like Guiseley and FC Halifax because they have used the games like training matches.
“I think there is a big difference between the two cups. I remember playing Halifax reserves (as Ossett Town manager) and I know Guiseley don’t always play their strongest team.”
Elliott intends to rotate his squad for the first round tie at West Yorkshire League strugglers Shelley tonight.
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