THE boss of the Southern Amateur League representative side admits his team are feeling the pressure.

SAL won the last FA Carlsberg National League Systems Cup in 2008 and with it the big prize of representing England at the Uefa Regions Cup in Italy in October last year.

This Saturday sees them take on the island side, in the guise of the Senior County Division One representative team, at the Corbet Field in the second round of this year’s knockout competition.

SAL defeated the Gloucestershire County League 2-0 at London Lions Football Club in the first round in September.

However, their coach Bob Leeds (pictured) was none too impressed by the performance and blamed the weight of expectancy that comes with being the reigning champions and the team that many are tipping to take the honours once again.

‘There’s more pressure than last year,’ he said.

‘Last year was the first time we entered. Now we are holders and we represented England.

‘There’s a lot more pressure being champions and it showed in our last game. We didn’t play anywhere near we have been and we were fortunate.’