IAN Long will use all his footballing contacts to ensure Alvechurch are fully prepared for their new opponents in the Polymac Packaging League Cup final next week.
The Midland League Premier Division champions had been expecting to face St Andrews in the second leg of a potential treble at Walsall’s Banks’s Stadium on Monday.
However, St Andrews have now been thrown out for fielding an ineligible player in their semi-final second leg so Hinckley AFC will be their opponents.
League secretary Nigel Wood said: “The Midland Football League board took an extremely dim view of this particular transgression of league rules and made the decision that St Andrews be removed from the competition and that Hinckley AFC are reinstated.
“This means that the club will contest the Polymac Packaging League Cup final at Walsall FC on Monday, May 15.”
Church boss Long admitted they had to rethink their plans for a fixture against Hinckley and he has been in contact with other managers, including Paul Smith at Bromsgrove Sporting, who took the Division One title with Hinckley as runners-up, to get some background.
“The change in opponents has thrown a spanner into the works,” said Long. “We had been expecting to face St Andrews and we had had them watched but now it’s Hinckley.
“They will be a good side. They finished second to Bromsgrove and they have got a few players with experience at Step Four and above that.
“But I’ve done my homework. I’ve spoken to managers of other teams, Smudger at Bromsgrove, and Steve Clarke at Pelsall, who was at Lichfield, and a few other people.
“We will plan as best we can.”
Hinckley, formed from the ashes of the old Hinckley United, will bring a far bigger supporter contingent than St Andrews and Alvechurch have issued a rallying call to fans to cheer the team.
Admission is only £5 for adults and £3 for concessions.
