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Cheltenham League new boys Relics chasing a league and cup double

All Areas > Sport > Football

Author: Roger Jackson, Posted: Friday, 8th April 2022, 09:00

Relics will take on Whaddon United Reserves in the final of the County Primary Cup North at Kayte Lane Relics will take on Whaddon United Reserves in the final of the County Primary Cup North at Kayte Lane

Jamie Witter has been in charge of Relics for only a few weeks but he’s a got a good chance of leading them to a league and cup double.

The Cheltenham League club are well placed in Division Three – they are in a three-way scrap for the title with Montpellier and AFC Kempsey – and they are also through to the final of the County Primary Cup North.

That game will be played at Kayte Lane on Tuesday 12th April (7pm) against Whaddon United Reserves, a team who play in the same division as Relics.

Witter took over as manager of Relics, who were formed at the start of this season, when Ryan Baker stood down because of work and family commitments.

“We set up the club together and ran it together,” he said. “But then Ryan said he didn’t have enough time to do the job properly so he asked me to do it on my own.

“He still plays when he can though, he’s a central midfielder, he’s a very good player.”

Witter is 37 and the one-time striker says his playing days are behind him.

“I played for quite a few clubs,” he said. “I played for Cheltenham Saracens when Gerry Oldham was in charge and I also played for their reserves.

“I played for Newton Heath when they were in Division One of the Cheltenham League and I started out at Smiths Athletic at the Newlands.”

He also played for former Cheltenham League club the Newlands, as do a number of the players now with Relics, including Baker.

“We thought it would be a good idea to get the lads back together,” said Witter. “Apart from three or four players, we’re all 30-plus, that’s why we called ourselves the Relics.”

And it’s fair to say this season has gone a lot better than they imagined.

“It has gone well,” Witter said. “We wanted a bit of a social but then we started to win games and it got a little bit serious.”

It’s also left Witter facing some difficult decisions.

“It has been a bit headachy,” he said, “everybody wants to play!”

Witter has not been put off the job though and he has confirmed he is happy to remain as manager next season when he will be assisted by John Hext, who used to run Smiths Barometrics Reserves.

Ask Witter which he’d prefer to win – the league or the cup – and he plumps for the league.

“We can definitely do it, we’ve still got to play Montpellier home and away and we’ve also got to play AFC Kempsey again,” he said.

And while the league is the main aim for Witter, he wants to win the County Cup too.

“The final is on the all-weather pitch, there are no excuses when you play on a carpet,” he said.

“It’s a big pitch, under the floodlights, those are the games you dream about.”

AFC Kempsey, meanwhile, booked their place in the final of the Cheltenham League Senior Charities Cup with a 3-1 win over Montpellier.

They will play Cheltenham Civil Service Reserves in the final at the Jonny-Rocks Stadium on Wednesday 27th April (7pm).

Selected other County Cup final dates – County Minor Cup North: Down Ampney v Gloucester Ath, at Kayte Lane (Tuesday 19th April, 7.30pm, AWP)

County Intermediate Cup North: Fratellos v Charlton Rovers Res, at Kayte Lane (Thursday 21st April, 7.30pm, AWP).

County Junior Cup North: Wotton Rovers v Chelt Civil Service Res, at Kayte Lane (Tuesday 3rd May, 7.30pm, AWP).

County Senior Cup North: Longlevens Res v Dursley Town, at Kayte Lane (Thursday 5th May, 7.30pm, AWP).

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