There will be even more smiles on the faces of the up-and-coming footballers in the area than usual this weekend because it’s the time of season when the Cheltenham Youth League host their ever-popular cup finals.

Five games will take place on Saturday and another four on Sunday – the action starts at 10am on both days – and the venue makes it just that little bit more special because the teams will be playing at the home of League One club Cheltenham Town.

“They are brilliant days,” said league secretary Dee Pates. “They are special for everyone. The managers get their teams ready, they have their photos taken and the teams get led out onto the pitch.

“It feels like proper football, it’s like playing in the Premier League.

“For the players, especially if they win, it’s a day they will never forget.”

The action kicks off on the Saturday with the under-9 final between Gotherington Juniors Spartans and FC Lakeside Reds and concludes on day one with the under-17 final  between Leckhampton Rovers Whites and Bishop’s Cleeve Colts Rovers at 5pm.

Bishop’s Cleeve Colts Albion and FC Lakeside Blues kick off the action on Sunday with the under-11 final and the final match on day two sees Churchdown Panthers Blacks take on Charlton Rovers Blues in the under-14 final at 3pm.

“Each one of them are standout teams,” said Pates. “It’s fantastic to see the under-9s – they’re so small – but the under-17s are just as good to watch.

“It’s a lot of work but we all love our football, it’s our national game. We want the kids to experience the same things, the excitement, that we experienced playing matches and going to matches.”

While nine matches will take place at the Jonny-Rocks Stadium this weekend, one cup final – the under-18 game between Bishop’s Cleeve and Cheltenham Saracens – will be played at Evesham United on Thursday 5^th May at 7.30pm.

Cup final dates

Saturday
Under-9s: Gotherington Juniors Spartans v FC Lakeside Reds (10am)
Under-10s: Oldbury Park Tigers Siberians v Cinderford Town (11.30am)
Under-15s: West Worcester v Gala Wilton (1pm)
Under-16s: Severnside Nuclear Juniors v Cheltenham CS Yellows (3pm)
Under-17s: Leckhampton Rovers Whites v Bishop’s Cleeve Colts Rovers (5pm)

Sunday
Under-11s: Bishop’s Cleeve Colts Albion v FC Lakeside Blues (10am)
Under-12s: Whaddon United v Brockworth Albion (11.30am)
Under-13s: Stroud Eagles v Bishop’s Cleeve Colts Celtics (1pm)
Under-14s: Churchdown Panthers Blacks v Charlton Rovers Blues (3pm)

Thursday 5^th May
Under-18s: Bishop’s Cleeve v Cheltenham Saracens (at Evesham United, 7.30pm)