FOOTBALL: Whether Whitton United reach Portman Road or not for the final of the Suffolk Senior Cup, manager Ian Brown is happy with a job well done.

His Ridgeons League First Division team has home advantage when they take on Kingsley Healthcare SIL Framlingham Town tomorrow (kick-off 3pm) in a weather delayed semi-final.

“We are no longer considered a laughing stock and are no longer generating the wrong sort of headlines,” said Brown.

“Just being alive is an achievement after what the club went through a couple of years ago.

“When I took over in June 2009 we had no players and were basically bankrupt.

“It all has to be good to be where we are now regardless of the result tomorrow. We are in a good place and it feels good.”

Despite his rather laid back approach to the semi-final, Brown is well aware of what an extra boost a visit to Portman Road on May 4 would be.

“For the community and the club it would be fantastic,” added Brown.

“We have made tremendous strides and many of my team would grace any side in the county.

“But the league is our bread and butter and this is always the case.”

Framlingham have already beaten Ridgeons League Stowmarket Town twice this season in cup competitions and Brown is aware of the danger they pose.

He went on: “They will offer plenty.

“I’m told there is not a lot of difference between their division and ours and of course both teams will be desperate to win and it will come down to who does it best on the day.”

Alan Middle’s Achilles travel to Kershaw Cambridgeshire League Lakenheath in the other semi-final for a match also postponed because of a waterlogged pitch last weekend.

Unhappy at having to travel an hour to play against the favourites, Achilles on their day have the ability to come back to Ipswich with a win and earn themselves and their loyal backroom staff a day out at the home of Ipswich Town.

The Omnico Cup has been badly affected by the weather this term and has been played in a piecemeal manner since Christmas.

Suffolk Senior Cup priorities has meant that just two quarter-finals will be played tomorrow with one junior side certain to reach the last four with in-form First Division outfit Wickham Market taking on mid-table Division Two Bramford Road Old Boys.

Having seen of Bildeston last week, Grundisburgh travel to fellow Senior Division Crane Sports at Greshams, Tuddenham Road, Ipswich with a double on the cards after emerging with a good recent run to be serious contenders for the SIL title.

In the league, Ransomes Sports, Felixstowe United and Ipswich Athletic will be looking for three points to keep their challenge going ahead of Achilles and Grundisburgh.

Recent Kingsley Healthcare SIL transfers: Jacob Barnard (Elmswell to Thurston), Rio Bowen-Wade (Haughley to East Bergholt), Lee Capocci (Waterside to Henley), Donovan Cook (Willis to Ipswich Exiles), Sam Cresswell (Waterside to Ipswich Athletic), Harry Froud (Crane Sports to Henley), Richard Idle (Halesworth to Wenhaston), Kieran Joseph (Melton St Audry’s to Felixstowe United).