WORCESTER Raiders will play in the inaugural 'Red Recruitment Trophy' this month, as four Worcestershire clubs come together to form a new 'friendly' county competition.

Raiders join Bromsgrove Sporting, Redditch United and Alvechurch in the round-robin event that will begin this Saturday when Raiders host Alvechurch at Sixways (3pm) and will run until the early part of January.

Redditch were the catalysts for the idea in an attempt to provide much needed revenue for the four clubs, who are all currently unable to play due to their respective seasons being suspended.

United, a long with Sporting and Alvechurch, play in the Southern League Premier Division Central (step three of the non-league ladder), three higher than step six Raiders in the West-Midlands (Regional) League Premier Division.

All sides will play each other home and away and due to Worcestershire being in tier two, all games will be able to have fans in attendance.

A trophy and medals will be presented to the winning team following it's conclusion.

The feeling between the clubs is that being proactive and getting players back playing competitive football is imperative, as well as much needed ticket sales.

If the league seasons do start again, the Winter Cup will be suspended until it can be finished at a later date.

A Worcester City official confirmed to the Worcester News that they were involved in the discussions about the competition but due to the fixtures potentially clashing with the third-round of the FA Vase, they could not participate, as an answer was needed before the weekend's 3-2 defeat to Shepshed Dynamo. 

City are currently without a management team after the resignation of Ashley Vincent and his coaching staff on Sunday, meaning they would have pulled out regardless.

Worcester Raiders chairman said the challenge of facing sides at a higher level will act as a great challenge for Raiders.

"It’s great to be invited to the Winter cup tournament," he said.

"I would like to thank everyone involved for getting this together at very short notice.

"It’s been a tough time for everyone involved at the club with the covid restrictions and having the chance to play in this competition, against higher ranked teams, was something we didn’t have to think twice about.

"When the season does start again our players will be fit and ready.

"It goes without saying that games are important to all of the clubs from a financial point of view but also for physical and mental well being of our players, not to mention our respective fan bases.

"I would personally love to see all football fans in Worcestershire get behind the teams and support the clubs in these difficult times."

Full fixture list:

Saturday, December 12 - Worcester Raiders vs Alvechurch (3pm)

Tuesday, December 15 - Bromsgrove Sporting vs Redditch United (7.30pm)

Friday, December 18 - Worcester Raiders vs Redditch United (7.30pm)

Saturday, December 19 - Alvechurch vs Bromsgrove Sporting (3pm)

Monday, December 21 - Redditch United vs Alvechurch (7.30pm)

Tuesday, December 22 - Bromsgrove Sporting vs Worcester Raiders (7.30pm)

Saturday, December 26 - Bromsgrove Sporting vs Alvechurch (Midday); Redditch United vs Worcester Raiders (Midday)

Monday, December 28 - Worcester Raiders vs Bromsgrove Sporting (1pm); Alvechurch vs Redditch United (5pm)

Saturday, January 2 - Redditch United vs Bromsgrove Sporting (3pm); Alvechurch vs Worcester Raiders (3pm)