Report by Andy Thorley

It's been 11 long years since Stourbridge and Halesowen clashed in a competitive game but the wait will be over next Tuesday.

The borough rivals meet for a place in the Worcestershire Senior Cup Final and the excitement is building.

The Yeltz General Manager Colin Brookes and Stour Secretary/President Hugh Clark have given the two clubs over 60 years between them and are in prime position to explain to the importance of the game.

Hugh is hoping for an exciting match. "Games between the two sides been excellent over the last 20 years or so and this one should be no different,"

"I just hope that there it is a good game of football and there is a good crowd - and that we win of course!"

In all his years of service to the Glassboys Clark has seen many matches between the two old adversaries but says that one in particular stands out. A southern League Cup semi final back in 1993 which Stourbridge won 3-2 in the second leg at The Grove on their way to winning the competition. "I suppose that one would be my favourite, it was a great occasion and a great night," he reminisces. "The final win over Dover was special, as they were a really good side at the time, but I have really good memories of that semi final win."

For Colin Brookes the build up to the game began as soon as the draw was made. The long serving Yeltz man is close friends with his Stourbridge counterpart, Alan Webb and confirmed the banter was already flying between the two.

Colin said: "I'm already giving him some stick, don't worry about that, and he his already giving me some back. That's what these games are all about.

"The derby games mean so much to the fans and the atmosphere will spur us all on."

Brookes recalls the last competitive game between the sides - a 1-0 for Stourbridge in the FA Cup in 1995 - and added: "It was not a great game, but we had a really good season that year and they caught us on off day. It's amazing to think we haven't met each other since, except in friendlies and we are all looking forward to it so much."

One man with good reason to remember that FA Cup match was the Halesowen left winger on the day - current Glassboys boss Gary Hackett (pictured) Hackett joined the club that season from Chester and says that although both teams are challenging for promotion in their respective leagues no one will take the match lightly. "It's a semi final of a cup competition and that alone makes it a big match, but when you add in the fact that we are playing Halesowen it makes it massive."

Hackett says that the match will represent a chance for his team to measure up against higher division opposition. "They are in the league we want to be in," he reasoned. "Martin O'Connor has done a great job since he went there and it will give us an indication of the standard we need to reach."

The action takes place at The War Memorial Ground on 20 March with a 7.45pm.