THE Suffolk County Cups return this weekend for the 2022-23 season.

There are first-round ties scheduled in four different competitions on Sunday, with matches in the three Sunday competitions newly-sponsored by Best Badges – the Suffolk Sunday Cup, Sunday Shield and Trophy – as well as the MH Goals Suffolk Women’s Cup.

AFC Sudbury start their defence of the Suffolk Women’s Cup with a trip to Brantham Athletic, who play in the Premier Division of the Suffolk Girls’ & Women’s League.

The Eastern Region Premier Division side will be expected to progress as will last season’s runners-up Needham Market, who travel to SG&WFL Championship side Leiston St Margarets.

Newcomers to the competition Lakenheath Casuals and Ipswich Vale Exiles go head-to-head, while Ipswich Valley Rangers’ first match in the cup will be at ERWFL Division One North Haverhill Rovers.

Last season’s finalists are involved in two of the four scheduled ties in the first round of the Best Badges Suffolk Sunday Cup.

Holders Kitchener Taverners host Borussia Martlesham, the team they beat 3-2 in the semi-finals en route to winning the cup in the 2020-21 season.

Moreton Hall Ferals, the side Kitcheners beat 3-1 in last season’s final, have a bye following the withdrawal of fellow West Suffolk side Howards. Action from last season’s final at Needham Market FC between Kitchener Taverners (red shirts) and Moreton Hall Ferals (blue shirts) is pictured above.

There’s another all-Premier Logos Bury & District Sunday League clash between Barrow and Godolphin, while the other tie sees BDSL side Occold host Trimley Raiders of the Ipswich Sunday Football League.

There are six ties in the first round of the Best Badges Suffolk Sunday Shield.

AFC Claydon, losing finalists in last season’s Suffolk Sunday Trophy, make their bow in this season’s competition at Holbrook Swan, runners-up in both 2015-16 and 2018-19

Weekend Fixtures

Saturday

Parkers Pitches Suffolk Junior Cup First Round: Haverhill Town v Tuddenham Rovers (2pm).

Sunday

Kick-offs 10.30am unless stated:

Best Badges Suffolk Sunday Cup First-Round: Barrow v Godolphin, Felixstowe Harpers Utd v Elmswell Athletic – Away Win Walkover, Kitchener Taverners v Borussia Martlesham, Moreton Hall Ferals v Howards – Home Win Walkover, Occold v Trimley Raiders.

Best Badges Suffolk Sunday Shield First-Round: AFC Lattice Barn v Bungay Town, Bardwell v Bury Town Bisons, Eastern Electricity Old Boys v Ipswich Galaxy, Elmsett Utd v Ipswich Pythons, Holbrook Swan v AFC Claydon, Moreton Hall 96 v Eastbury Eagles.

Best Badges Suffolk Sunday Trophy First-Round: Athletico Once v Clapgate Lane, Breda v Bedfield Utd, Bury Wanderers v Dragonfly, Chedburgh v Stowupland Falcons, Eye Saints v Playford Res, Phoenix v Wickham Wanderers, Real Suffolk v AFC Melford, Thetford Wanderers v Bury Utd.

MH Goals Suffolk Women’s Cup First-Round: Lakenheath Casuals v Ipswich Vale Exiles (2pm), Leiston St Margarets v Needham Market (2pm).