Wednesday 6th May 2026 sees the first of the League’s 4 domestic Cup Finals take place with a mouth-watering game in prospect between Shakespeare United and new boys to the League this Season in the form of East Drayton FC.
This will be the first time that a Lincoln & District Sunday League Cup Final has ever been played on an EFL Championship Ground, this following on from the amazing efforts of EFL League 1 Champions Lincoln City fulfilling the dreams of all keen Lincoln City Supporters in the EFL Season just ended.
Ahead of the game I will take a look at how the 2 teams got to the final.
Shakespeare United have enjoyed a fine Season in Division 1 of the League where they finished as runners-up in Division 1 behind eventual champions OAP FC. Shakespeare United have maintained steady progress up the League over recent Seasons rising steadily with annual promotions from the lower divisions. This Season they had high hopes of securing the Division 1 League title and for much of the Season looked to be in with a chance of doing just that but the loss of 3 games in the League saw them well placed in second spot in their Division.
Their journey in this Cup saw them progress powerfully with the following match results:
Round 1: Bye
Round 2 9-2 win v Bassingham Bugle Horn FC
Round 3: 5-0 win v Belton FC
Round 4: 3-0 win v Ivy Tavern FC
Round 5 (Semi-Final) 6-1 win v Cherry Tree FC
Opponents East Drayton FC arrive at the LNER just 6 days after winning the Nottinghamshire FA Sunday County Cup following a 6-5 victory (after extra time) against AFC Newark on Thursday 30th April 2026. The game finished 4-4 during the regulation time so anything like a repeat of that scoreline will have everyone on the edge of their seats from the kick-off.
East Drayton FC are in their first Season with the League, and they operate from League Division 2 following their entry request to be placed at that level. To date, they have only completed 12 of their 20 League fixtures due to extensive League postponements caused by the priority of their Cup success in multiple Competitions this Season, coupled with considerable home postponements due to waterlogged pitch issues with their ground being situated very close to the river Trent.
During their League campaign they are yet to experience defeat with a haul of 30 points from their 12 games played so far, this being made up of 9 wins and 3 draws. With literally all of the Division’s fixtures completed for the remaining teams, save for their fixtures against East Drayton FC within the initially allocated 8 months of the current playing Season, there are just East Drayton’s outstanding postponed games to be played leaving the Club playing on every Sunday and every midweek of the full additional month of May, which has been sanctioned for play by the Lincolnshire County Football Association following a League request, in order to complete this Division’s fixtures. It is, therefore, highly likely that East Drayton FC will finish somewhere in the top 2 of this Division when all their remaining fixtures have been gathered in.
Their League and Cup form is impressive to say the least and makes for a fascinating match between two entertaining and free scoring teams separated by one Division, which in reality, may lead to little or no playing ability difference between them. It will be very interesting to see.
East Drayton FC’s journey in this Cup saw them reach the final with the following match results:
Round 1: Bye
Round 2: 9-2 win v Ruston Sports FC
Round 3: 6-4 win v Metheringham FC
Round 4: 1-1 draw v OAP FC followed by a successful penalty shootout after extra time finished level.
Round 5 (Semi-Final) 1-0 win v Glebe United
The match kicks-off at the LNER Stadium at 7.00pm. The Match Officials are:
Referee: Ms Amy Barber
Assistant Referees : Mr Cameron Johnson and Mr Ryan Wood
Fourth Official: Mr Phil Dainty.
Entry fees: Adults £10.00
Concessions for Under 16s £5.00
Under 5’s Free.
Please note that this event is a cashless event. Payments will be by card, as will any drinks and food purchased from the ground.
Why not come and see this intriguing event for yourselves? I’m sure you will not be disappointed, and all are welcome.
League Secretary.
