Parkinson bids for Tesco Cup glory

The competition began with only 29 English County Football Associations taking part and that total has now increased to 39.

Teams battle through County, Area, Regional and National rounds to represent their county at the UK Final.

Parkinson would like to add Crayford based club VCD Athletic – whose first team will be competing in the Ryman League for the very first time in August – to the list of previous champions, Hutchinson Vale (from Scotland), Harpfield (Staffordshire) and Linfield (Northern Ireland).

“It’s been a fantastic season so far, winning the quadruple” reflected Parkinson, when speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk today.

Vickers’ under 13s have already clinched the London Cup, the Kent Cup, the Kent Youth League and the Southern Area Final this season and winning on Sunday would cap off an excellent season for the lads.

He added, “We are really looking forward to it and we’re going to try and enjoy it – but try and win at the same time.

“I’ve got a fantastic bunch of boys and they deserve every minute of this weekend.”

James Blake, Ashley Long, Callum Ball, Luke Parsons, Harvey Marsden, Bobby Hoy, Dan Parkinson, Sam Aldred, Connor Bovingdon, Ollie O’Neil, Luke Adams, Corey D’eath, Jake Lee, Charlie Hocking, Lee Groom, Brandon Masher, Mitchell Wright and Josh Smith are all flying the flag for Kent and Parkinson admitted this is a great honour for the youngsters.

“We’re very proud to be representing Kent as it’s a very competitive county and it has some very good football clubs,” said Parkinson.

Parkinson’s boys defeated local rivals Thamesmead Town (3-0) in the Kent Cup Final to progress to the Southern England Competition.

And they brushed aside the Amateur Football Alliance (1-0), Hertfordshire (2-0), Hampshire (2-1) and Middlesex (2-1) in the group stages but were made to fight all the way against London outfit Boca Youth in the final.



SUPER HOOPS:  The victorious VCD Athletic side, pictured with England Women's footballer Casey Stoney, celebrate their success against Boca Youth.
Photograph courtesy of www.tesco.com/football

“After a close game that finished goal-less, we won 4-2 on penalites,” added a proud Parkinson.

Parkinson explained why he’s got into coaching at such a tender age.

“I got into football coaching after leaving school and not knowing what I wanted to do,” he said.

“I went on a course with Alan Seamons and enjoyed it and went on to get my level one and two and managed to get my UEFA B licence.

“I was the youngest person in the south of England to pass it and from there I carried on playing at VCD Athletic, and now I play for Welling United.

“Coaching was something I could always do on the side, which then made me want to help run the under 13’s at VCD.”

VCD Athletic kick off their campaign against Greyhound City Sports (from Hereford) at 12:20pm on Sunday afternoon and if successful, the hoops will lock horns with either AFC Kempston Colts (Bedfordshire) or Stokesley (North Riding FA) in the final at 3 o’clock.

And a star from the past, in the shape of former Nottingham Forest and England legendary defender Des Walker, will be in attendance to cast his eye on Vickers’ talent.

And the Tesco Cup Ambassador said, “When I was a young footballer I dreamt of playing at a major football ground, so it is a fantastic opportunity for the teams to play at the Walkers Stadium in the Tesco Cup English Final.

“I am sure the youngsters will really enjoy the experience.

“I look forward to spotting potential stars of the future and wish all the footballers the best of luck for the day.”

The Tesco Cup is part of a wider commitment from Tesco to encourage children to get involved in sport. 

The supermarket giant works in conjunction with the FA and local communities to help improve the football skills of young players.

For more information  visit www.tesco.com/football