Forget the FA Cup final – Eastbourne Borough has a more important game to watch on Saturday

The FA Cup final - due this weekend when Chelsea take on Manchester City at Wembley - always used to be the Grand Finale. Whole families would cluster round the television, quite possibly standing for the National Anthem, and grandad would certainly join in with Abide With Me. And then, the season finally done, we would all turn to County Cricket and Wimbledon.

In 2026, with a World Cup coming up, football is all but a 12-month sport. And even much lower down the ladder, not even the smaller clubs will quite close down.

Sussex football may have rounded off the 25-26 season on Wednesday night, when Three Bridges FC beat Albion Under-21s on penalties in the Senior Cup final (with Eastbourne Borough looking on grudgingly from a distance, after falling in the semi-final).

Oh, and there is still the improbable saga of Peacehaven and Telscombe's play-off against Guernsey to be settled, after endless wrangling and disagreement over a venue. Perhaps they should have met in the middle and played on the Isle of Wight.

But tomorrow (Saturday), just about as the two teams at Wembley emerge for the second half, Eastbourne Borough boss Steve King will be surveying his own two assembled teams lining up for a trial game, as he builds his 26-27 squad.

Ah, a trial game: even that phrase seems a throw-back to the 60s or 70s. Keen youngster? Or out-of-contract hopeful, looking for a club. Just turn up with your boots, and we'll take a look at you.

Now, before Borough fans get too curious: our lips are sealed. The venue is unannounced and strictly closed-doors, and - not unlike some pre-season friendlies, when Player 16 is replaced by Player 33 - the players' names are certainly not public.

But this is all a part of the process. King has a mission, an agenda, and a phenomenal knowledge of the players' market: who might be available, his pedigree and fitness record, what onfield role he might fill, and whether he is affordable in budget.

Some players are already signed on, but these guys will be possibles rather than probables - but all with a chance to impress and a point to prove. The club policy - established with previous incumbents - is that the manager identifies his targets, and CEO Alan Williams then does the negotiating and the paperwork.

After last season's turbulent churn of personnel, it is promising to see that this time, the club should be getting preparations done ahead of schedule.

At any rate, that "close season" phrase at the Lane means little. Despite Borough's relegation from National South, Alan Williams reports that season ticket sales are actually ahead of last season.

Ground improvements are ongoing, with the new 4G pitch to be laid shortly, over a four-week installation period. And the club is about to interview for new staff posts including physiotherapist and kit supervisor.

Oh, and Borough Ladies' Over-40s Walking Footballers have just returned from a triumphant tournament in Mallorca.

The ultra-efficient Germans actually have a saying for it: "Nach dem Spiel ist vor dem Spiel!" - effectively, there's another game coming right up. That 2026 World Cup is really just an interlude. We football addicts know that the real game restarts in August...