Albion Sports skipper Richard Clarke has been cleared to lead his team in the FA Sunday Cup final next month.

Clarke, whose 88th minute goal sealed a 1-0 semi-final win over Grosvenor Park on Sunday, won an appeal against a five-week ban yesterday.

A hearing at the West Riding County FA's headquarters at Woodlesford upheld his appeal against the ban imposed for a sending-off against Monk-bridge last month.

Leading scorer Taj Singh, who appeared at the same hearing to challenge a two-week suspension he received after being red carded for swearing after the final whistle in the same match, has to wait until later this week for his verdict.

The news that 31-year-old Clarke will be able to play in the prestigious FA Sunday Cup final against Hull side Prestige Brighams at Nottingham Forest FC on April 30 has delighted Albion officials.

Manager Kulwinder Singh said: "It would have been terrible if Richard had been forced to miss the final.

"The final is the biggest game in our history and we want to have our best team available."

Albion face a daunting programme before facing Prestige Brighams. They have to contend with a massive fixture backlog in the Bradford Sunday Alliance league.

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