RAF Leeming stage impressive comeback to win RAF Cup Final over RAF Wittering
RAF Leeming have won the 2026 RAF Cup Final after coming back from 0-2 down in the first half to beat RAF Wittering.
It is the first time that the North Yorkshire-based side have won the Keith Christie Trophy since 2006 – ending a 20-year wait to win the RAF's most prestigious football competition.
The game followed the RAF Plate Final, which was won by RAF Akrotiri.
As the game got underway, both teams fought hard to assert dominance over the other – but neither side could find a way out of a seemingly drawn-out deadlock.
RAF Leeming looked to have the most ball touches in the first half, but both teams failed to capitalise on a number of chances to get points on the board in the first half.
Both sides looked prepared to go into half-time stuck in a 0-0 deadlock – but with nothing to lose, RAF Wittering's Harry Nicholls picked up a loose ball from teammate Nicholas Slaye to strike it into the back of the net to finally get points on the board.
It was the Wittering opening goal that seemed to change the trajectory of this first half – and minutes after the first, Nicholls' free kick found the head of Jake Smith who headed the ball into the net, and suddenly RAF Wittering found themselves in an unlikely 0-2 lead at half-time.
RAF Leeming looked to get their second half off to a strong start – and the efforts of Michael White were rewarded after his shot on goal was saved by keeper Chris Lunn, but he bundled a loose ball into the net to give Leeming a leg up in the opening stages of the second half.
As the teams settled back into the game, it took a while until RAF Leeming got their second look-in, Bailey Vernon-Higgs coming through to score the equaliser.
As full-time neared, players and spectators were preparing themselves for a possible penalty shootout.
But in a drastic turn of events, a costly error by RAF Wittering's keeper Chris Lunn, where he brought down Greg Daken inside the penalty area, handed Leeming a penalty.
Michael White, who scored for Leeming in the opening stages of the second half, converted the penalty to give Leeming a 3-2 lead in the last minutes of the final.
At full time, the players of RAF Leeming threw their arms up in celebration as they won the Keith Christie Trophy for the first time since 2006 – after coming back 0-2 down after the first half to end a 20-year wait.
Earlier in the day, the RAF Plate Final was contested between Anglesey-based RAF Valley and Cyprus-based RAF Akrotiri.
The game was dominated by the side from Akrotiri, outplaying RAF Valley with a 6-1 win.
Liam Thornton got on the scoresheet twice, with other goals coming from Jack Debnam, Sean Wilson, Michael Johns and Luke Foss.
RAF Valley only managed one goal in the second half, with Callum Graves preventing a clean sheet for the Cyprus-based outfit.
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