EVEN 12 months ago it would have been fanciful to imagine Bildeston Rangers facing Ipswich Town in the CNet Training Suffolk Senior Cup.

This weekend’s first-round tie see the village club host Ipswich Town Under-18s in one of the biggest matches in their history.

This will be Bildeston’s first foray into the Senior Cup, after winning promotion from Division One of the SIL last season. Bildeston players are pictured above celebrating after Dale Munson (arm raised) gave them an early lead against Bacton United 89 in last season's KBB NEFF Suffolk Junior Cup Final at Portman Road. Bildeston went on to win 4-2.

Bildeston will face an Ipswich Town Under-18 side who will also be playing in the competition for the first time, although the club have a proud history in the competition.

Ipswich Town have won the Senior Cup 16 times – more than any other club – although the most recent was as long ago as the 1929-30 season.

Holders Achilles entertain higher-league Lakenheath in arguably the tie of the round.

Achilles, who won the cup for the second time in three seasons last May, have had an indifferent start to the season in the Senior Division of the Suffolk & Ipswich League.

However, they will not want to relinquish their hold on the trophy without a fight, but face one of the other fancied sides to win this season’s competition.

Lakenheath, the 2014-15 winners, had an impressive debut season in Division One North of the Thurlow Nunn League last season, and have started this campaign well with five wins in six matches.

This season’s first round ties kick-off with Ipswich Wanderers, losing semi-finalists last season, in action at home to Claydon on Friday night.

Cornard United, the side who knocked out Wanderers, face a tricky trip to another SIL side, Capel Plough, the following afternoon.

Old Newton United, who will be playing in the competition for the first time in several seasons after winning SIL Division One last season, welcome Waveney.

The draw for the second round will be broadcast on BBC Radio Suffolk on the afternoon of Saturday, September 28th.

Attention on Sunday switches to the Crown Imperial Boys’ Cups, with first-round matches scheduled across all five age groups.

There are also three ties in the first round of the Suffolk Boys’ Under-18 Sunday Cup, with holders Bacton United 89 travelling to Framlingham Town Knights.

The draws for the second-round matches will be announced via the Suffolk FA Twitter feed next week as follows:

Tuesday: 12.30pm – Boys’ U12 Cup; 5pm – Boys’ U13 Cup

Wednesday: 12.30pm – Boys’ U14 Cup

Thursday: 12.30pm – Boys’ U16 Cup

Both the Boys' Under-15 Cup and Boys' Under-18 Cup will not have a second-round draw. Winning teams will go forward to the quarter-final draw to be held in the New Year.

Weekend Fixtures

Friday

CNet Training Suffolk Senior Cup First Round: Ipswich Wanderers v Claydon (7.45pm).

Saturday

Kick-offs 2.30pm unless otherwise stated:

CNet Training Suffolk Senior Cup First Round: Achilles v Lakenheath, AFC Sudbury Res v Felixstowe & Walton Res (12 noon), Benhall St Mary v Bourne Vale Utd - being played at Bourne Vale, Bungay Town v Framlingham Town, Capel Plough v Cornard Utd, Coplestonians v Beccles Town, Crane Sports v East Bergholt Utd, Debenham LC v Brantham Athletic Res (3pm), Henley Athletic v Haverhill Borough, Ipswich Town Under-18s v Bildeston Rangers - being played at Bildeston Rangers, Leiston Res v Bramford Utd, Needham Market Res v Leiston St Margarets, Old Newton Utd v Waveney, Trimley Red Devils v Westerfield Utd.

Sunday

Kick-offs 10.30am unless otherwise stated:

Crown Imperial Boys’ Under-12 Cup First Round: Brandon Town CFC v Capel Plough Panthers (12.30pm), Bungay Town v Stowmarket Town Wasps, Haverhill Rovers White v Long Melford White, Ransomes Sports v Kirkley & Pakefield Royals.

Crown Imperial Boys’ Under-13 Cup First Round: AFC Sudbury EJA v Brandon Town Community (11.45am), Beccles Town v Waveney Pumas, Bury Town Bulldogs v Lakenheath (12.15pm), Bury Town Colts v Stowmarket Town Bees, Bury Town EJA v Moreton Hall Youth (1.30pm), Capel Plough v Whitton Utd, Cornard Dynamos Blue v Holbrook Hornets, Footstars v Kirkley & Pakefield Dukes, Haverhill Rovers Black v Haverhill Rovers EJA (12.30pm), Haverhill Rovers Red v Needham Market EJA, Kesgrave Kestrels v Stowmarket Town EJA, Kirkley & Pakefield v Stowupland Falcons, Long Melford Colts v Waveney Tigers, Lowestoft Town EJA v Leiston EJA (1pm).

Crown Imperial Boys’ Under-14 Cup First Round: AFC Sudbury EJA v Needham Market EJA (10am), Brandon Town CFC v Bury Town EJA, Bury Town Colts v Long Melford Colts, Capel Plough Cobras v Moreton Hall Athletic, Haverhill Rovers EJA v Haverhill Rovers Blue (2.15pm), Haverhill Rovers Red v Moreton Hall Dynamo, Stowmarket Town EJA v Haverhill Rovers Black, Whitton Utd v Footstars.

Crown Imperial Boys’ Under-15 Cup First Round: Beccles Caxton v Needham Market EJA, Bourne Vale v Leiston EJA – Away Win Walkover, Brandon Town CFC v Bury Town Rams, Bury Town EJA v Cornard Utd, Cornard Dynamos Blue v Stowmarket Town, Holbrook Hornets v AFC Sudbury EJA – Away Win Walkover, Kirkley & Pakefield Wildcats v Ipswich Valley Rangers, Mildenhall Town v Haverhill Rovers White.

Crown Imperial Boys’ Under-16 Cup First Round: Lowestoft Town EJA v Kirkley & Pakefield Kings.

Suffolk Boys’ Under-18 Sunday Cup First Round: Clare Town Lions v Stanton, Framlingham Town Knights v Bacton Utd, Stowupland Falcons v Stowmarket Town Wasps.

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