It's all happening in Hartlepool. The town's highly successful Third Division team are looking for promotion through the play-offs and crack Sunday side Hartlepool Lion Hillcarter are also seeking national glory.

Lion figure in the final of the FA Umbro Sunday Cup at Aston Villa's ground against Bedfordshire outfit Houghton Centre.

The Hartlepool Sunday League side were reinstated into the competition when it was discovered that Liverpool side Fantail, who beat them in the semis, had fielded an ineligible player.

Despite playing League football for Torquay United and Hartlepool, Hillcarter's Andy Davies will be playing in his biggest game.

He said: "This is as big as it gets. Even though it's a Sunday team, it's still a cup final, it's what you're in the game for."

But the most important game of his career comes at a price. He explained: "It's a shame the game is on Sunday - the same day as the play-off because I would've probably gome to Blackpool."

Reflecting on Hillcarter playing in the final, despite losing their semi, Davies says he has no sympathy for Fantail.

"Rules are rules, they are there for a reason, he said. "We could go out and sign five or six Northern League players and have a great team but you can't do that. They (Fantail) knew that.

"We're the underdogs but that'll probably suit us. They'll be looking at our semi final-result and thinking 'well, if they've got beat they can't be that good'.

"Even in local league games, ever since the semi, we've been drawing and losing, people's minds have been on the final."

For Davies, whose family will be in attendance, the game marks something of a return to his roots as he was born in nearby Wolverhampton and brought up in Telford.

"I spoke to my brother for the first time in ages the other day, he supports Villa but he won't be there as he's working."