Saturday's cup reunion called off

EVO-STIK League Skelmersdale United have confirmed the cancellation of their reunion match on Saturday with FA Amateur Cup opponents Enfield Town.

The second of two special friendlies to mark the fiftieth anniversary of their epic meeting in the 1967 FA Amateur Cup Final, the fixture was called off on Thursday with the EVO-STIK League North club admitting they were unable to send a team south with their squad still taking shape.

After losing last season's first match 3-2 at Stormy Corner to the successors of the original Enfield, Skem had been hoping for a case of third time lucky at the Queen Elizabeth II Stadium after the Isthmian League club claimed the cup back in 1976 with a 3-0 win at Maine Road following a 0-0 draw at Wembley on Saturday 22 April 1967.

Skem, coached by Liverpool legend Ian St John on their route to the final in front of 75,000 fans, went on to lift the FA Amateur Cup four years later when they beat Dagenham at Wembley in 1971.

The Towners, established by their fans in 2001, were expecting a bumper turnout out at Donkey Lane and had been promising a warm welcome for supporters who made the trip to see them bid to record a first win over their old foes.

In a statement on their website, club officials told supporters they were "saddened" to miss out on the chance to complete the celebrations for one of the biggest days in the Lancashire club's proud history.

Spokesman Simon Driscoll said: "After waiting until our hosts Enfield Town had announced the news, Skelmersdale United are saddened to confirm the cancellation of the proposed trip to Enfield this Saturday due to being unable to field a team.

"The game of course was due to be the reverse meeting of the 50th Anniversary of the FA Amateur Cup face-off at Wembley which Enfield won 3-2 at Stormy Corner last July. The trip had been planned since early in the year but the wholesale changes to the club - staff and players-wise have had an impact with some of the current players restricted by work commitments."

Skem return to action next week with a visit to Runcorn Linnets on Saturday 29 July before hosting Bootle on Tuesday 1 August and Gresley on the Saturday seven days before the 2017-18 EVO-STIK League season kicks off on Saturday 12 August.

Images courtesy of Skelmersdale United

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