Tickets are now on sale for this year’s National Cup Finals weekend – with the prospect of two non-NVL sides making it to the showpiece event.
At a time when the footballing exploits of Sutton and Lincoln have caught the public’s attention in this year’s FA Cup, Willesden and Cambridge University stand one win away from securing their places in the Men’s and Women’s Shield competitions respectively.
Fifty-six men’s teams entered this year’s Cup competition, including 11 sides from outside the NVL. In the women’s competition, there were 42 entrants, including five from outside the NVL.
Having already disposed of two NVL sides – St Albans Harriers and Newmarket – Willesden now travel to play Div 2 side London Aces for a place in the Men’s Shield final, where the winner will play either Team Durham or Black Country 1.
To make it to the Women’s Shield Final, Cambridge University will have to overcome Div 2 Ashcombe Dorking 1. York Falcons or Birmingham 2 lie in wait in the final. The students have every reason to feel confident though, having already claimed three NVL scalps in Northampton, Solent Ladies and Dartford Ladies.
The eight semi-final matches in the men’s and women’s Cup and Shield competitions commence this weekend, with the finals taking place on Saturday April 1 at the National Volleyball Centre in Kettering.
In the Men’s Cup, Team Northumbria host Sheffield Hallam while the current Cup holders IBB Polonia entertain Wessex 1.
Rounding off the line-up, in the Women’s Cup, Team Northumbria host Team Durham while the holders Polonia SideOut London travel to Pulsepoint London Orcas.
After the seniors play on April 1, Cup Finals weekend will also feature some of the country’s leading junior sides on Sunday April 2 in the finals of the boys’ and girls’ U16 and U18 competitions.
The U18 finals are already confirmed as Boswells vs EBC Greenhouse in the boys’ competition and Tameside vs Academy of Beach Sport in the girls’. The U16 finalists will be determined on March 12, when the remaining eight teams in each competition are whittled down to just two.
Tickets for this year’s Cup Finals weekend are now available to buy at the Volleyball England shop. Tickets for each day are priced at £10. A concessionary price of £5 is available for juniors, over 65s and students.
Tickets will remain on sale until midnight on March 30. After that, tickets may be purchased on the door at the National Volleyball Centre for £15 (£10 concessions).