The Sunderland-based side take on serial winners Oyster Martyrs at Ewood Park on Sunday, and while Hutchinson is in no doubt over the Liverpool side’s pedigree, he believes his team can rise to the occasion.
Oyster Martyrs v
Humbledon Plains Farm
FA Sunday Cup Final
Ewood Park, Blackburn
Sunday, 27 April 2014
“The way Sunderland are playing at the moment it would be good to bring a trophy home and cheer a few people up,” said Hutchinson, 34, who was on the Black Cats’ books as a teenager.
“The first thing we do when we stop playing is have a look at how Sunderland have got on – and things haven’t been going so well at all.
“I’ve watched Plain Farms since I was 17 every week. No matter what. So it is an honour to be the manager.
“But I’ve been taken aback a bit by how much this means for our area. In our league you think you have rivals who hope you fail but so many people have come up to me and said ‘I hope youse win it’.
Humbledon Plains Farm celebrate reaching The FA Sunday Cup Final
“Being in the national cup final is good for the area, and good for the league, and good for the County.”
Hutchinson admits he had always had a sneaky feeling that Plains Farm might do well this season.
He said: “Over the past two years we have won our County Cup and we knew we had a good team.
“This year I had a feeling we’d do well and here we are. This is our third time back in the competition since we won it in 1990 and we’ve added to the squad and strengthened.”
“I’ve watched Plain Farms since I was 17 every week. No matter what. So it is an honour to be the manager”
Steven Hutchinson Humbledon Plains Farm manager
A large number of Humbledon’s squad also turn out for Hutchinson on Saturday with Northern League Division Two side Washington, who share the same home ground.
Washington had looked doomed to relegation by late last autumn, when, seeing Hutchinson’s success with Humbledon, the board approached him to take over as manager.
Since then Humbledon have sewn up their Sunday League, and Washington are safe in mid-table after a remarkable winning run.
And Hutchinson is only too grateful for his band of weekend warriors who sacrifice their social life - for the better of both his teams.
“A lot of the lads have made real sacrifices, playing for me with Washington on a Saturday, getting home late and then getting earache of their wives because they’re staying in to keep right for a Sunday morning.
“I can’t thank them enough for the dedication they have shown.
“We have got some young lads who have come through. Kyle Fryatt is only 18 and it’s his first year in senior football, playing Saturdays and Sundays. He has a great future, but we’ve also got lads who have played league football, some who have experienced winning the FA Vase with Spennymoor, and the majority of the team has good experience.”
But Hutchinson knows Oyster Martyrs will be a potent threat.
“We’ve played some really good sides from Liverpool and we have won comfortably in some of them and had some tough but positive experiences in others,” he said.
“I’ve known about Oyster Martyrs for years. I’ve watched them play and I know for a fact they are a very good side.
“They have got good players and there are a few players I’m very well aware of. I’ve done my homework and this is going to a very hard game.”
He added: “For any Sunday side the FA Sunday Cup is the biggest honour around. And we will not be overawed.”
