A WELCOME surprise awaited Brimscombe and Thrupp Football Club secretary John Mutton when he attended the Hellenic League AGM.

His club were awarded the Hungerford Cup which is a trophy given to the most improved club of the season and voted for by more than 50 fellow Hellenic League Member Clubs.

Brimscombe also finished top of the Fair Play League, a position they held when they were in the County League. For finishing fourth in their Hellenic League Division One West, Mutton picked up a £1,000 cheque on behalf of the club .

BRIMSCOMBE and Thrupp will see their new floodlights officially switched on when they host Blue Square Premier Forest Green Rovers in the first of eight pre-season friendlies.

The Football Stadia Improvement Fund (FSIF), supporters of the Football Foundation, and the largest funder on non league football in the country, announced a grant of £10,000 to help with the funding toward floodlights for Phil Baker’s side.

David Hockaday’s Forest Green outfit will visit The Meadow on Tuesday, July 10, 7.45pm.

Friendlies, first team: Tues, July 10 - Forest Green Rovers (h) 7.45pm; Sat, July 14 Shepton Mallet (a) 3pm; Weds, July 18 - Slimbridge (h) 7.45pm; Sat, July 21 - Bradford or Calne Town (a) 3pm; Friday, July 27 - Shortwood Utd (h) 7.45pm; Weds, Aug 1 - Bishop’s Cleeve (h) 7.45pm; Sat, Aug 4 - Chelt Saracens (a) 3pm; Tues, Aug 7 - King’s Stanley (h) 7.45pm.

Reserves: Sat, July 21 - Harrow Hill (a) 3pm; Sat, July 28 - Smiths (h) 3pm.