Ipswich Town’s Portman Road and Colchester United’s Jobserve Community Stadium to host five Suffolk FA county cup finals - but Premier Cup misses out again
Ipswich Town and Colchester United will both stage Suffolk county cup finals this season – but once again the Endeavour Automotive Suffolk Premier Cup is not one of them.
Portman Road, home of Ipswich Town, will host the finals of the CNet Training Suffolk Senior Cup (Friday, May 30), Parkers Pitches Suffolk Junior Cup (Thursday, May 29) and MH Goals Suffolk Women’s Cup (Tuesday, May 27).
These will take place after Ipswich Town’s final home Premier League match of the season, versus West Ham United on Sunday, May 25.
Before then, Colchester United’s Jobserve Community Stadium will be the venue for the McDonald’s Suffolk Primary Cup Final (Thursday, May 8) and the Veo Suffolk U18 Midweek Cup Final (Wednesday, May 7). All are 7.30pm kick-offs.
The Endeavour Automotive Suffolk Premier Cup Final, the Portable Space Suffolk Senior Reserve Cup Final and the Best Badges Sunday Cup Final will take place at local grounds.
Needham Market FC, will once again welcome the teams for four adult Sunday cup finals: the Best Badges Suffolk Sunday Shield, Sunday Trophy, Veterans’ Cup and Veterans’ Shield competitions.
Suffolk FA interim chief executive, Phil Lawler, said: “We are delighted both Ipswich Town and Colchester United are able to stage county cup finals on our behalf.
“Thank you to both clubs for their support for our county cup competitions, which we hope will be a memorable occasion for all teams, officials and supporters.
“We are looking forward to seeing everyone at the finals.”
Meanwhile, four-in-a-row holders Needham Market play their Suffolk Premier Cup semi-final against lower-level Felixstowe & Walton United at the GBS Stadium, home of Ipswich Wanderers FC next Wednesday (7.45pm).
AFC Sudbury face divisional rivals Leiston the following Tuesday at The Martello Ground, the home of Felixstowe & Walton United FC (7.45pm).
The last two seasons has seen the Premier Cup final, which is traditionally held in April to avoid clubs having to extend FA player contracts for another month, hosted by Bury Town FC.
It is understood Ipswich Town were only prepared to offer dates at the end of their season, starting in late May.
The Suffolk Premier Cup final was last held at the county’s only professional stadium back in 2018/19, when Matt Blake scored a hat-trick in Leiston’s 3-2 victory against Felixstowe & Walton United.
The Premier Cup final was held at Colchester United FC for two successive seasons after it returned from a one-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Schedule of Suffolk FA cup finals:
Wednesday, April 9: Endeavour Automotive Suffolk Premier Cup Final: Venue tbc, 7.45pm
Sunday, April 27: Best Badges Suffolk Veterans’ Shield Final: Needham Market FC, grass pitch, 10.30am; Best Badges Suffolk Sunday Trophy Final: Needham Market FC, 3G pitch, 11am; Best Badges Suffolk Veterans’ Cup Final: Needham Market FC, grass pitch, 2.30pm; Best Badges Suffolk Sunday Shield Final: Needham Market FC, 3G pitch, 3pm
Wednesday, May 7: Veo Suffolk U18 Midweek Cup Final: Colchester United FC, 7.30pm
Thursday, May 8: McDonald’s Suffolk Primary Cup Final: Colchester United FC, 7.30pm
Sunday, May 18: Best Badges Suffolk Sunday Cup Final: Bury Town FC, 10.30am
Friday, May 23: Portable Space Suffolk Senior Reserve Cup Final: Venue tbc, 7.45pm
Tuesday, May 27: MH Goals Suffolk Women’s Cup Final: Ipswich Town FC, 7.30pm
Thursday, May 29: Parkers Pitches Suffolk Junior Cup Final: Ipswich Town FC, 7.30pm
Friday, May 30: CNet Training Suffolk Senior Cup Final: Ipswich Town FC, 7.30pm
