S7 SOCCER Academy will be bidding to become the first team to win three successive Orphanage Cups in 60 years when they kick off their defence of the competition next week.

The Academy will be looking to emulate the feats of British Northrop Loom Co Ltd who won it four years in a row between 1952-55.

Several teams have attempted and failed to complete the hat-trick – most notably Shaws of Darwen, Ultraframe, Blackburn Teachers and Red Rose Dry Lining.

Five-time winners Teachers and Red Rose did go on to lift the trophy three times in four years but both fall well short of Northrop who won it a total of 10 times in the 50s and 60s.

S7 Soccer Academy won a thrilling final at Ewood Park last year, beating Blackburn with Darwen Council ‘B’ Leisure Services 4-3.

They kick off this year’s campaign against Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council ‘A’

  • First round, Monday, April 7: Fort Vale v Chubb,Kirk Scaffolding v BRFC Staff, S7 Soccer Academy v BWDBC ‘A’ Wednesday, April 9: Senator v Tensor, ENWL v BT, Totally Wicked v ELHT ‘B’, Granby Marketing v Lancs Constabulary (Blackburn) All games to be played at Pleasington Playing Fields (KO 6pm).