EXCITEMENT is building in Porthleven and Helston as the Mayor’s Cup and Strike Memorial Trophy return to the football calendar on Boxing Day.

It will be the first time since the 1960s the silverware will be fought for by the clubs, with the reserves playing for the trophy before the senior sides battle for the cup.

In the summer the trophies were found inside Port’s clubhouse and a garden shed and the teams’ decided to bring them back into the derby fixture.

The Fishermen’s boss Dennis Annear said the excitement was already there for the game, but it has increased since the return of the cups.

Annear said: “Derby games are always the fixtures you look out for when the fixture lists come out at the start of the season and all the boys are definitely up for it.

“No matter what standard you play, these are the sort of games you want to be involved in.

“There is definitely something extra to the game this time now we are playing for the trophies again.

“Getting the bragging rights locally is always great, but to win a trophy is even better.”

Blues manager Sid Taylor also said the players at Kellaway Park are looking forward to the competition.

“It is great the cups were found and we are playing for them again,” he said.

“We have organised transport from our ground to take fans down to Gala Parc after the reserves play, so we are expecting a lot of support for both sides.

“The brilliant thing about derby fixtures is form does go out of the window and although we are probably expected to win, we know it will be a tough match.”