Padiham out to end long wait for silverware

And he is hoping to end a 10-year drought on Sunday when his side take on Settle down the road at Read in the Ramsbottom Cup Final.

Padiham’s last trophy came in 2008 when they beat Ribblesdale Wanderers in the Ramsbottom Cup Final at Barnoldswick.

Hitchon was 12th man that day, as the won the competition for only the second time.

And while Hitchon expects a tough test against the reigning Ribblesdale League champions, he hopes his young side can seize the day and make history: “It’s 10 years since we won a trophy, and for the younger lads at the club, it would be great to get some silverware under their belts.

“It’s been too long since we won anything, especially considering some of the players we’ve had at the club – we should have won more.”

Padiham have had a tough time of it in the league of late, getting dragged towards the bottom two in Section A, but they have performed in the cup: “We’re a youngish side, and we’ve lacked a bit of consistency.

“I don’t know if people have been thinking about the cup final, but rather than puttiing in team performances, it has been more individuals.

“But we have clicked in the cup.

“Settle have lost a couple recently as well, so whether that is a good or bad thing...

“But it shows they are beatable and gives us a little more confidence.”

By a quirk of the fixture list, Padiham host Settle in the league on Saturday, and Hitchon added: “It’s a bit of a dress rehearsal, and whatever happens won’t affect the cup final, but if we could beat them on Saturday, it would give us an extra lift.”