A friendly match between Amersham Town and Chesham United will be played next month.

The pre-season bout will happen at Amersham’s stadium in Spratleys Meadow on Saturday, July 10, with the fixture kicking off at 2pm.

And despite it being a friendly game, the neighbours will battle it out for the John Hearn Challenge Cup.

Amersham Chairman Simon Damery said: “This cup was donated in, we believe, the 1950s by John Hearn who played for both clubs before he emigrated to Canada.

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“It was contested regularly for the next few years but then went largely into abeyance.

“With the restart of soccer at our levels after its suspension due to lockdown it seemed to both clubs a wonderful opportunity to resurrect the competition and we are grateful to Chesham United for agreeing to the fixture.

“We will have young mascots from Kings Church Amersham FC, our associated club, leading out both teams and signifying the closer relationship between Amersham and Chesham.

“The bar in our rebuilt clubhouse will, of course, be open serving draught beer”

Chesham United Chairman, Peter Brown, added: “We are delighted to be rekindling our relationship with Amersham Town in the prestigious John Hearn Challenge Cup.

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“It has been a very tough time for non-league football in recent months and it is really important that local clubs unite to support each other and build on local rivalries that whet the appetite of the supporters.

“I hope many of our supporters will come along to the game, enjoy the local hospitality in a fantastic new clubhouse and enjoy an entertaining, competitive, early season fixture."

Both teams are looking forward with confidence to the new campaign after the last one was brought to a premature end.

Entry for the match is £5 for adults, £3 for senior citizens with free entry for under 16s.