Reds bid to lift Sussex Senior Cup for first time since 2005
Head Coach Dermot Drummy has named a strong squad for tomorrow night’s Sussex Senior Cup final against Brighton & Hove Albion under-23s.
It’s the first time Reds have appeared in the final since 2008 and Dermot believes his players will relish the opportunity to play at the American Express Stadium, which will be hosting Premier League football next season following Brighton’s recent promotion.
Dermot said: “We have taken the competition seriously from the first round down at Langney Wanderers back in November and it’s no different on Wednesday.
“There is the opportunity to give players who haven’t had too many starts recently some game time but it will be a side capable of winning the game if we play as well as I know we can.
‘We’re looking forward to it. The stadium itself and facilities are fantastic and our players should relish that stage.”
There will be a familiar face in the Seagulls’ dugout. Their under-23 team is managed by ex-Reds defender Simon Rusk and coached by Vic Bragg, who played for the club more than 40 years ago.
Dermot added: “I have seen their under-23s a few times when they have played their Premier League 2 games at Crawley and they have some very good players, as you would expect at a club like Brighton.
“It should be a decent game but we would love to win the trophy and give everyone something to celebrate.”
Reds will be bidding to win the trophy for the first time since 2005, when they defeated Ringmer 2-0.
Nearly 300 tickets have already been bought by Crawley supporters but you will be able to pay on the day at the Amex. Advance sales end at 4.30pm today from the club. The offices are closed on Wednesday. For more information click here.
Squad: Mersin, Young, Garnett, Lelan, Yorwerth, Bawling, Tajbakhsh, Clifford, Roberts, Harrold, Murphy, Blackman, Morris, Payne, Connolly, McNerney, Djalo, Smith, Collins, Boldewijn.
