Match Preview

The Seasiders have a rare eagerly anticipated Friday night home game when they face Somerset friends and rivals Bridgwater United for a 7-30 pm kick off in the Preliminary Round of the Les Phillips Cup.

Although both teams are riding high in the league, both will set out thinking they have a reasonable chance of winning the cup and neither will want to go out this early. However, the teams have vastly contrasting record in the competition.

In 27 previous attempts Clevedon have gone out in the first game 15 times and have only reached one semi-final in 1981/82 (a 0-2 defeat at Bridgwater!) and one final when the all-conquering 1992/93 championship winning side surprisingly lost 1-5 to Tiverton Town in the Final played at Taunton.

Bridgwater in contrast have made the joint highest appearances in Finals (8 with Bideford) and are also joint highest winners (5 with Tiverton Town), the last coming as recently as 2021/22 when they beat Cadbury Heath 1-0 at Wells.

Although early rounds of the Les Phillips Cup tend to be low key affairs, Friday’s encounter is likely to be the exception. Last season league honours finished even in two exciting and rumbustious draws, which extended Clevedon’s recent unbeaten run against their rivals to 6 games.

A game not to be missed. Gate, Bar and Snack Bar open at 6pm and printed programme available.