Claverdon eye treble success on Saturday after winning league and cup
MANAGER Graham Waterworth insists Claverdon will be fired up to complete the most remarkable finale to a season in the club’s history with a treble on Saturday.
Claverdon lifted the most prestigious cup in the Birmingham League last Tuesday, thanks to an 86th-minute goal, then swept aside the Division One leaders on Thursday before turning around an eight-goal deficit on the final Saturday of the season with a 10-1 thumping away win to become champions.
This weekend they have the chance to retain the league’s Intermediate Cup, with Claverdon favourites to oust Division Two side Northfield Town in the final at Boldmere St Michaels.
“It’s been a great year, possibly the greatest in the club’s history, and now we are going for a historic treble,” said Waterworth.
“We won the County Cup in 2018 which was quite an achievement but the last few weeks have been surreal.”
Tommy Williams had been the Claverdon match-winner last Tuesday to defeat Kingston Alliance in the final of the Senior Cup – a competition which dates back to 1906 – at Boldmere when he poked home after an Owen Bennett free-kick had been parried.
Then goals from Williams, Bennett and Harry Eddy accounted for Glades 3-1 on Thursday to leave Claverdon needing to beat hosts Cresconians on Saturday by an eight-goal margin to take the title. It was only 2-0 at half-time but Cresconians could not withstand the second-half onslaught as Claverdon were crowned champions.
Jamie Spiers scored a hat-trick, top scorer Dan Sill and Eddy both netted twice and Bennett, Hill and Williams completed the scoring.
“I’ve never seen such belief – that we could go out and win by the eight clear goals,” said Waterworth, who helped reform the club in 2015 and then returned as boss in 2021 when they joined the Birmingham League from the Stratford Alliance.
“Even at 2-0 at half-time, we knew we would create the chances to get the goals we needed.”
Claverdon can now prepare to play in the Birmingham League Premier Division for the first time in 2024-25
