By Harry Nightingale, Sportsbeat

HARTPURY College football manager Marc Richards insists his troops have nothing to fear ahead of next week’s BUCS Big Wednesday final clash with the University of Stirling.

Despite lifting the trophy in 2011, Hartpury College have failed to get their hands on silverware since.

However, all that could change on Wednesday at Loughborough University after Richards’ side marched on to the showpiece.

After finishing second in the BUCS Premier South division, Hartpury produced an efficient performance in the quarter-finals secured a 2-0 win over Northumbria.

That set up a semi-final clash with Loughborough and two goals from Mitch Botfield and a strike from winger Ross Staley saw Hartpury march on with a 3-0 victory.

Standing in their way of a first title in four years is a Stirling side who beat them at the quarter-final stages back in 2013.

Although manager Richards is not about to hit the panic button any time soon.

“The group of players we have been working with this year deserve to be in a national final,” Richards said.

“However, Stirling are the reigning champions and it will be an extremely tough game against a very strong university side.

“Our performances have continually improved throughout the season and I have been pleased with how we are doing heading into the final.

“And if we can carry our form into Wednesday’s final, we will give ourselves the best possible chance of winning.”

British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS) is the governing body for Higher Education sport in the UK, representing 170 institutions and facilitating 52 sport programmes. BUCS has been shortlisted for Governing Body of the Year at the BT Sports Industry Awards 2015 and is supported by Deloitte www.bucs.org.uk