By Josh Bartholomew
To mark the one year anniversary of Hampton’s stunning ESFA U18 Schools’ Cup triumph last April, Hampton Sports Chronicle will be live-blogging the game as if it were today.
Follow live updates below from 12:15pm.
We're getting closer and closer to kick-off now. The teams are out, and Premier League referee Robert Jones is speaking to both captains: Hampton's George Maxwell and Repton's Matty Bowman.
As the teams prepare to come out, Hampton's merry band of travelling support are keeping us entertained as they go through their songbook. The atmosphere is absolutely buzzing in the Hampton end!
With only ten minutes until kick-off, it's time to have a look at today's teams.
Mr Mills has had some tough decisions to make, but he's opted for continuity from the semi-final. It's an unchanged team, with the impetus of QPR Academy midfielder Stathis Kalathias and experienced defender Lucas Boyle to come off the bench.
Hampton: Tim Wallace; Tom Waring, Noah Hanley, George Maxwell (c), Sami Omaar; Tom Hudson, Louis Instrall, Harry Short; Louis Rhodes, Shaun-Chris Joash, Freddy Hodgson
Substitutes: Ollie Roach, Omri Nolan, Lucas Boyle, Rohan Hobbs, Stathis Kalathias
Repton: Milan Stanojevic; Matty Bowman (c), Will Hobson, Tom Jones, Oliver Hickman; Tom Whitwell, Eno Nito, Charlie Cottis; Elijah Sawyers, Jake Raine, Tom Buffin
Substitutes: Guy Waterhouse, Mike Osterman, Harrison Birch, George Fynn, Max Barnes-Batty
ESFA TV are covering this game, and 1st XI coach and Director of Sport Mr Carlos Mills has been speaking to them.
“We’re very pleased with how things have gone,” he said.
“The journey’s been exciting, but most of all, the boys have learnt a lot on the road. We’re delighted with how things have panned out.
“We always get great support from the school in whatever sport the boys play. At senior level, we do ever so well. We’re very fortunate to have some really talented boys, on and off the field. It’s great support, and hopefully we can entertain them today.
“We’re proud of all the boys that play sport. This is the footballers’ occasion, and I’m sure they’ll grab it. What we want from them is to make the most of it and put out a performance that they’re proud of.”
In Hampton's way, though, stand Repton – the defending champions.
Repton have supreme quality across the park: full-back Matthew Bowman has had spells at Middlesbrough, Hull City and Cardiff City; midfielders Elijah Sawyers and Eno Nto have turned out for Stoke City and Derby County’s respective U18 squads.
It'll certainly be a tight clash in Shrewsbury.