THE road to county cup glory starts in earnest in two competitions this weekend.

Saturday sees the first round of the Parkers Pitches Suffolk Junior Cup which is under new sponsorship this season from the sports turf management business.

A total of seven ties are taking place, with Anglian Combination Division Two side Beccles Caxton entertaining Bacton United 89, winners of the competition in both 2009-10 and 2016-17.

There’s an intriguing west Suffolk derby as Macron SIL Division Two side Elmswell host Division One Stanton.

Melton United, who won the McDonald’s Suffolk Primary Cup in the 2019-20 season, host fellow SIL Division Two side Woolverstone United.

There are also two ties In the Suffolk Senior Reserve Cup, with the remainder taking place next Saturday.

Twenty-four hours later it is the start of the Best Badges Suffolk Veterans’ Cup.

This competition has been dominated by Whitton United in recent years, the Ipswich-based club winning the cup in each of the last three seasons.

They start their defence of the cup with a home match against Boca Norman Warriors Reserves.

That is one of 24 ties scheduled for Sunday, which sees Woodbridge Town, the side Whitton have defeated in each of those finals, also enjoy home advantage against Bramford Phoenix United.

Whitton United striker Ronaldo Wright (green & white striped shirt) is pictured above sweeping home his side’s third goal in their 5-0 victory over Woodbridge Town (black & white striped shirts) in last season’s final at AFC Sudbury. Photograph: Paul Voller 

Weekend Fixtures

Saturday

Kick-offs 2.30pm unless stated:

Parkers Pitches Suffolk Junior Cup First Round: Beccles Caxton v Bacton Utd 89, Bungay Town ‘A’ v Kirton Athletic, Clare Town v Haverhill Town Blue, Elmswell v Stanton, Hundon v Stonham Aspal, Melton Utd v Woolverstone Utd, Wenhaston Utd v Kessingland.

Suffolk Senior Reserve Cup First Round: Debenham LC Res v Lakenheath Res, Hadleigh Utd Res v Haughley Utd Res.

Sunday

Kick-offs 2.30pm unless stated:

Best Badges Suffolk Veterans’ Cup First Round: AFC Kesgrave v Barham Athletic, Aldeburgh v Ipswich Vale Exiles Res, Boca Norman Warriors v Coplestonians Res, Bungay Town v Achilles, Bury Town v Lakenheath Casuals, Cockfield Utd v Claydon, Cornard Utd v Foxhall Town, ETC Lowestoft v Westbourne Warriors – Home Win Walkover, Eye Saints v Trimley Sports & Social Club, Framlingham Town v Coplestonians, Ipswich Magpies v Henley Athletic, Ipswich Vale Exiles v Stoke By Nayland, Kedington v Hadleigh Utd, Kesgrave Kestrels v Bramford Road Old Boys, Lavenham v Ipswich Park, Lowestoft Town v Trimley Sports & Social Club Res, Martlesham Old Boys v Felixstowe Falcons, Mendlesham v West Gate Elks, Sole Bay Utd v Capel Plough, Spexhall Huntsman & Hounds v Stowupland Falcons, Suffolk Police v AFC Hoxne, Tay Old Fellas v Ipswich Revolution, Walsham-le-Willows v Somersham, Waveney v Beccles Caxton, Whitton Utd v Boca Norman Warriors Res, Woodbridge Town v Bramford Phoenix Utd.