Felgate aims to keep comp alive

By Elvin King

SOCCER

THE Inter-Firm Cup has been part of the Ipswich football scene for many years. Will it be allowed to die out?

Not if Suffolk Football Association official Barry Felgate has anything to do with it.

The competition did not run last season and has had a rocky existence for the last four or five years. In 1999/00 it did not run either.

Now Felgate has taken it on board along with referee Graham Apperley. "It was too late to get anything up and running last season although we did receive a few applications," said Felgate.

"It would be a great shame if a competition of this importance was to just fade away."

No games will be played this autumn but Felgate hopes to get enough teams to start up in the spring.

"Some firms have shown interest, and if we can bolster this up to a minimum of six we should be able to run," he added. "Then hopefully we can build for the future."

The competition is open to companies within a 20-mile radius of Ipswich, which brings Felixstowe, Stowmarket and Woodbridge into the equation.

In previous years the final was played at Portman Road and in the 1990s attendances were still high when the coveted trophy was played for at Bourne Vale Sports Club.

Traditionally played on the eve of the FA Cup final many of the better amateur players Ipswich have produced have played in the Inter-Firm showpiece match.

Felgate can be contacted on 01206 393029 and companies interested are advised to get in touch as soon as possible.

"If we receive enough support we can start when the light evenings arrive in April," he said. "This will give us plenty of time to complete the competition."

Felgate is doing his bit to keep an Ipswich footballing tradition alive. Now it is up to works teams to come forward and support him.

There may not be as many big employers as there used to be, but surely enough to keep the Inter-Firm Cup alive.