FOOTBALL: Whitton United carry the hopes of the Ridgeons League into tomorrow’s quarter-final of the Suffolk Senior Cup.

But manager Ian Brown today insisted that his team, who have been doing aerobics this week after a month of inactivity, are not favourites to beat Kingsley Healthcare SIL Capel Plough.

“The fact that we are the only Ridgeons team remaining shows the strength of the SIL,” said Brown, who has worked wonders to lift Whitton out of the financially-induced doldrums they found themselves in a couple of years ago.

“And I would not class us as favourites to beat Capel even though they are in a lower league.

“They reached the final last season and will want to go back after losing to Team Bury.

“They have more experience than my young team in the competition and they have the know how to close out matches.

“I saw their Portman Road final last year and they had a go, and I’m sure they will do the same tomorrow.

“They are an honest side who will compete to the full within the rules.

“It will be tough and Capel have nothing to lose.”

After having to resign their first team from the league and face the possible disbanding of the club two years ago, a Portman Road visit would be a great fillip.

But Brown is certainly not getting carried away.

“That’s a long way down the road and tomorrow’s game will be about who performs on the day. It will be like the toss of a coin.

“I have a lot of talent and I believe we are moving forward with youngsters with an ability to play higher.

“I have the lowest player budget in the First Division and the emphasis is on moving the club forward and developing good players.”

Without a game since December 11, Whitton’s squad have been doing aerobics this week at the Millennium Boxing Club run by Steve Crawford.

“It tuned the lads up,” added Brown, who has former Newcastle, Tottenham and Norwich star Ruel Fox as his assistant.

“Ruel is also chairman, and the poor state that we were in a couple of years ago is behind us now.

“We have been battling for a while now and have another one tomorrow, but if it was easy it would not be a challenge.”

Felixstowe United will start favourites in the all-SIL game against Framlingham Town while Achilles at their best can come away from Anglian Combination Beccles Town with a win.

Coplestonians will have their hands full however with the lowly SIL side entertaining a Cambridgeshire League Lakenheath side that thrashed Ransomes Sports in a previous round and have ambitions to move up to the Ridgeons League.

Recent Kingsley Healthcare SIL transfers: Shaun Cridland (Stonham to Ufford), Toby Jackson (Sizewell Associates to Saxmundham), Gareth Kidd-Stanton (BROB to AFC Brickmakers), Marcus King (Walsham to Stanton), Aaron Morley (AFC Crowley to Stowupland), Tiago Canha (St Johns to Woodbridge Athletic), James Robertson (Melton St Audry’s to Woodbridge Athletic), Richard Ward (Sproughton to Felixstowe United), James Warren (Grundisburgh to Westerfield), David Winship (Trimley Red Devils to Felixstowe United).