Sixty five teams – 53 Maltese and 12 Gozitans – will be taking part in this season’s FA Trophy competition.

This season’s competition will feature a brand new trophy which was unveiled during last May’s annual Awards ceremony. It will be presented by the English FA to the Maltese FA at Wembley Stadium prior to the World Cup qualifier between England and Malta on 8 October.

Bjorn Vassallo, MFA secretary general, said the club winning the Trophy this season will be making history – they will remain known as the first winners of the Trophy.

He said only two Gozitan teams – Sannat and Zebbug R. – were not taking part.

There will be a preliminary round with just one match. This will be followed by the first and second rounds in which clubs from the first division, second division, third division and the Gozitan clubs will be taking part. Premier League teams will begin their adventure in the competition from the fourth round onwards.

The final is scheduled to be played on 20 May next year. The winner will earn a berth in the following season’s Europa League.

The following are the draws:

Preliminary Round
1. Xghajra T.-Gharb R.

First Round
2. Kirkop U-Marsaskala
3. Mdina K-Victoria H
4. Kalkara-Ghajnsielem
5. Oratory Y-Dingli Ss
6. Msida SJ-Luqa SA
7. Nadur Y-Winner Match 1 (Xghajra T.-Gharb R.)
8. Mtarfa-Xaghra U.
9. Ta’ Xbiex-Munxar F.
10. St Lucia-Kercem A
11. Qala S.-Xewkija T.
12. St. Venera L.-SK Victoria W.
13. St. Laurence S.-Zurrieq

Second Round
Winner match 2 Pieta Hotspurs
Winner match 6 Mqabba
Marsaxlokk-San Gwann
Qormi-Winner match 11
Winner match 9 Gharghur
Mellieha-Birzebbuga SP
Melita-Winner match 12
Attard-Vittoriosa S.
Zebbug R.-Fgura U.
Winner match 10 Marsa
Lija Athletic-Winner match 13
Mgarr U.-Zabbar SP
Senglea Ath.-Winner match 8
Naxxar L.-Winner match 4
Qrendi-Winner match 5
Rabat Ajax-Sirens
St. George’s-Siggiewi
Ghaxaq-Winner match 7
Swieqi U.-Gudja U.
Winner match 3-Zejtun C.

Photos Domenic Aquilina