Portman Road is set to stage four finals
IPSWICH Town FC are set to stage four Suffolk FA county cup finals this season.
The Omni Freight Services Suffolk Premier Cup, CNet Training Suffolk Senior Cup finals, the Suffolk Junior Cup and Suffolk Primary Cup finals will all take place at Portman Road, subject to Ipswich Town not being involved in the end-of-season play-offs.
The finals will be held on the four days from Tuesday, May 8th until Friday, May 11th, with all four matches kicking off at 7.30pm.
The exact date for each final will follow soon as Suffolk FA take into consideration other cup competitions held by Suffolk and other regional leagues.
Ipswich Town were only able to stage one final last season – the Senior Cup Final – due to pitch renovations and the Sir Elton John concert.
Suffolk FA Chief Executive Richard Neal said: “We’re delighted to be able to host four Suffolk FA County Cup Finals with Ipswich Town Football Club this year. Our strapline for County Cups is ‘Living the Dream’ and we thank the team at ITFC for their commitment to make that ambition a reality for the players, coaches, spectators and officials involved in these finals.
“With Felixstowe & Walton United hosting the first CNet Training Suffolk Senior Cup semi-final tonight, between Woodbridge Town and the holders Achilles, the road to Portman Road for these 16 teams starts tonight and promises to be gripping.”
Ipswich Town Secretary Stuart Hayton said: “We are thrilled to be staging these county cup finals at Portman Road. It is important that we as a club continue to support and engage with our local communities and with grassroots football.
“We look forward to watching some of the most talented amateur players from Suffolk showing their skills on the Portman Road pitch.”
The first of this season’s semi-finals for the four competitions takes place on Friday evening as Felixstowe & Walton United FC host the CNet Training Suffolk Senior Cup tie between holders Achilles and Woodbridge Town.
The date for the other semi-final has yet to be announced because of an ongoing disciplinary matter regarding one of the quarter finals.
The two Junior Cup semi-finals are taking place on Saturday – holders Bacton United 89 v Trimley Red Devils at Woodbridge Town FC and Brandon Town v AFC Kesgrave at Cornard United FC.
AFC Sudbury are hosting the Omni Freight Services Suffolk Premier Cup semi-final between Bury Town and holders Needham Market next Wednesday, while a new date is awaited for the Leiston versus Kirkley & Pakefield tie.
This was originally set to take place at Lowestoft Town FC on Tuesday evening, but the Trawlerboys have a rearranged Bostik League Premier Division match at home to Wingate & Finchley.
The Suffolk Primary Cup semi-finals are scheduled for next weekend. St Edmunds 1965 will face holders Bures United at Haverhill Rovers on Friday, March 16th, with AFC YourShirts taking on Trimley Sports & Social Club the following afternoon at Ipswich Wanderers FC.