FOOTBALL.

Hampton FC have won their way into two cup finals, the Middlesex Charity Cup and the Southern Combination Cup, and are now preparing for the two matches.

They will be playing Godalming and Guildford in the South Combination Cup Final at Hampton FC, on April 21, and Waltham Abbey in the Middlesex Charity Cup Final at Uxbridge FC on May 15 .

The Middlesex Charity Cup competition has been in existence since 1902. Waltham Abbey, who play in the Minerva Spartan South Midlands League Premier South Division, are the surprise packets of this season's tournament. Waltham Abbey beat two teams from their own division, Cockfosters 2-1, and then Hillingdon Borough 5-1, before accounting for Ryman League Division Two Edgware Town 3-2. And on April 2 Waltham went to Vauxhall Conference Hayes and won 3-1.

Hampton are in their third Middlesex Charity Cup final in four years. In this season's competition Hampton beat Wealdstone 3-1, Uxbridge 7-6 in a penalty shoot-out after extra time and Wembley 2-0 in their semi-final.

Hampton will start odds-on favourites against Waltham Abbey but no doubt Edgware Town and Hayes were in the same position and look how they fared.

The Southern Combination Cup competition has been in existence since 1958 and is open to clubs that play within 25 miles of Kingston-upon-Thames. Hampton are the current holders of the trophy having beaten Staines Town 2-1 in the final last season.

This will be Hampton's 11th appearance in the final and of the previous 10 Hampton have won seven times. Godalming and Guildford play in the Courage Combined Counties and have never progressed to the final before. This will also be the first time they have met Hampton in a competitive fixture. Hampton will start out favourites to win the Southern Combination Cup for the eighth time in their history.

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