Albion Powerchair are on a quest for a second-consecutive EE Disability FA Cup title when they head to St George’s Park on Sunday (12:20 KO).
The Baggies will face long-time rivals Aspire PFC in a mammoth tie dubbed powerchair football’s ‘El Clásico’, which will be broadcast live to viewers across the globe on TNT Sports.
Albion will be fresh off the plane from their FIPFA Club World Cup campaign in Paris, having made it to the semi-final stage.
Venue
A trip to St George’s Park National Football Centre awaits our Albion side. They’ll take to The Steve Daley Hall; the very court they secured last year’s title on.
The national football venue was opened in 2012 and is the proud home to all of England's national men's, women's, and para football teams.
The opponents
Opponents Aspire PFC are the Baggies’ long-standing rivals in the English game, the two have clashed countless times and had equal measure of each other during their meetings through the years.
Aspire finished a place and four points below Albion in the Premiership in 2024/25. The two played out a goalless draw earlier in the season, before rounding off the league season with a narrow Aspire win – a result that proved decisive in the league title race.
Albion’s rivals are current EPFA Champions Cup holders, the two met in Paris in 2024 to compete for a place in the competition final where Aspire prevailed, edging them out on penalties.
The Baggies got their revenge for defeat on continental soil by reclaiming the EE Disability FA Cup in June. Former Albion starlets Valentino Zegarelli and Marcus Harrison were the difference as they secured the title at St George’s Park.
After missing out on domestic silverware, the four-time winners will be a stern test for Albion in Burton upon Trent.
Pre-match thoughts
Player/Coach Chris Gordon has his eyes firmly fixed on a fourth EE Disability FA Cup title. His pride at winning in 2024 was unmatched, he scooped the Player of the Match award in the final – and he has sights on another title this weekend.
“We’re really looking forward to it,” Gordon said. “We’re back there as reigning champs trying to defend that title.
“We’re hoping we can put on a show for the crowd and that we come away with the silverware. We've been around the block, us and Aspire, we’ve had many close games over the years and some really good games as well.
“Last year's final was a great game, I enjoyed watching that one back when we got the job done. We had bragging rights on that occasion, but I'm sure they'll be after revenge this time around.
“We lost some big players [last summer], so for us to be in a position where we were right in the league title race to the last game of the season, and we’re in back-to-back finals after losing four members of our squad. I think that's some achievement.
“This year it would be extra special, we’ve bedded players in from our second team. They've come up the pathway so it'll be extra special because they could have a first experience of winning on the big stage but also for a club that we've been able to continue our momentum and build with a new group.”
Prolific forward Brad Bates was on the losing side at St George’s Park last season having switched to Aspire earlier that summer. While he enjoyed the success of their EPFA Champions Cup victory, he’s glad to be on Albion’s side of the fence this time around.
“I can't wait,” Bates said. “We’re looking forward to being back it’s always a great occasion to be at St George’s Park and live on TNT Sports.
“I was on the receiving end of the result last season playing for Aspire, but the boys put in a great performance, and I look forward to hopefully being part of the squad that retain the title this year.
“Obviously, we’ve had a big change in the group this season from where it was last season. A lot of changes, including myself coming back, over half the squad has changed from where it was last year.
“I think we've always had the edge in terms of, preparation and the way we plan for games. I'd like to think that would give us the edge, but you never know on finals day.”
Learn more
You can watch a full preview video of Albion Powerchair’s big EE Disability FA Cup final below.
How to follow
With tickets for the event sold out, supporters can watch each EE Disability FA Cup final live on TNT Sports 1, with coverage being shown across the country.
Alternatively, coverage will be provided via The Albion Foundation’s social media channels on X, Instagram and Facebook.
