LEAMINGTON Hibernian Sunday Reserves have been crowned regional champions for Wales and Midlands in the BT Sport Pub Cup.
The team, representing the Hope Tavern pub in Leamington Spa, have now qualified for the semi-finals which take place at Manchester City’s Etihad Campus on Sunday, July 24.
They will be one of eight teams taking part in the 11-a-side tournament in Manchester for the right to play in the Pub Cup Final at Wembley in November.
The regional heats took place at Cardiff City’s House of Sport facility and Hope Tavern snatched a late 2-1 win in their opening game against The Windsor from Penarth courtesy of Jack Avery’s last gasp strike.
And this was backed up by convincing 4-2 and 8-0 successes in their remaining two group games before thrashing The Mitre from Exeter 6-0 in the semi-finals.
Hope Tavern then met group foes The Windsor in the final and prevailed 2-0 thanks to a brace from Scotty Hammond to book their place in Manchester and keep their Wembley dream alive.
You can’t beat a trophy lift 🏆
And there was no beating The Hope Tavern @HibsSunday in the #PubCup today
See you lot in Manchester! pic.twitter.com/2v3STzaHUD
— BT Sport Bars (@BTSportBars) July 10, 2022
Club Secretary, Charlie Maguire said: “It’s been class, we’ve all loved it, it’s been brilliant.
“We all love it in there [at the pub], it’s a family-knit unit down there.
“I’ve had some of the regulars ringing me asking what the scores are, we all love it and everyone gets involved.”
The BT Sport Pub Cup is a national competition held across the UK with 64 teams given the chance to represent their local BT Sport pub.
And the cup run adds another chapter to Leamington Hibernian’s fine season after they won the Leamington and District Sunday League Division Three title.
This completed a league and cup double for the club after they lifted the Tracey Thomas Challenge Cup with a penalty shootout win against Bishops Itchington in the final.
They also finished as runners-up in the Division Three League Cup, this time suffering penalty shootout heartache against Cubbington FC.
And Leamington Hibernian were the top scorers across all leagues in the Leamington and District Sunday League with 90 goals scored in just 18 league matches.
