Highams Park Rangers win the Sands Support Cup

On Sunday 8th of June Highams Park Rangers took on May & Baker FC men's second in support of the charity Sands, the game was played at Redbridge Football Club in East London. The game ended 4-4 and moved onto penalties where the final score ended 4-3 on penalties, this victory lead Highams Park Rangers to lift the Sands Support Cup for the first time in the fixtures history.

Highams Park Rangers squad standing on the centre circle holding a minutes silence in honour of the charity.

The Sands Support Cup

The game was an exciting game with lots of action and lots of great goals, the game started with a walkout of both team from the changing rooms lead by our team of FA match officials, and once the players were ready both teams made their way to the centre circle and stood around it to observe a minutes silence in honour of our chosen charity, Sands.

The Highams Park Rangers Starting XI consisted of a variety of players consisting off: Ted (GK), Mitch, Perry, Camron (C), Natty, Joseph L, Ernest, Aaron, Dan, Simeon and alfie. And on the substitution bench we had: Sam (GK), Joseph C, Adam, Jimmy, Joey, Josh, George, Dean, Jaxon, Brandon, Bill and Troi.

Unfortunately because of the nature of the game not everyone got to get game time, but everyone included had their incredible contribution to the result with their support from the sidelines.

Onto Kickoff, The game started with both teams playing hard and fighting to earn the win they wanted more then anything, and within the first Highams Park took the lead, however shortly after the May & Baker side managed to pull 2 goals back, this meant that going into half times May & Baker were leading, however Highams Park knew they had all to play for and never gave up.

During the second half the battle became even more intense with both teams fighting hard, shortly into the second half Highams Park scored a second to bring it level which was shortly overturned by a goal from May & Baker, but the fiesty highams park side never gave up and shortly took the lead again to make it 4-3 to the rangers but in the dying minutes of the game May & Baker would pull one back to send the game to penalties.

Penalties, these minutes of the game felt the longest, as the first players from both sides walk the long walk from the half way line and go on to shoot and score this was repeated 3 times until on the 4th shot players from both sides failed to score their penalties, this lead to more pressure on the 4th penalty taker who had to score to prevent a chance of loosing, and in the penalty went and slowly the final taker from May & Baker walked to the spot, took the ball and placed it ready, and shot over the bar meaning Highams Park Rangers won.

Victory felt glorious, Players ran around celebrating, fans cheering and even a fan on the pitch! after that the players went inside to get changed to sing and chant their hearts out and that lead to the final moment where the players got to lift the trophy they had their eyes locked onto all day.

A massive thank you to everyone who turned up to support, this event raised over £1000 for our chosen charity and thank you to all the volunteers who helped, including our media team, Harry Reed and Tom Roberts who hosted our live stream, and Joshua Purton and Keegan Goodman who ran our social media on the day. And to the Lewis, Keegan and The May & Baker staff for helping the event happen and getting everything prepared.

Thanks to our manager Lewis Geoghegan

Photos to come on here and around the site and socials!