The entire control and management of the Cup Competitions shall be vested by the Swindon & District Football League Management and Cup Committees, who shall have power to formulate the Rules of the Cup Competitions and to alter or add to the Rules from time to time.

Sponsors and Competition rules are subject to changes, but will be agreed before the Competitions start.

All 20 teams (who are members of the SDFL),,are entered in a preliminary round of matches. The winners of each tie will be entered into the 2022-23 Swindon & District League Cup, (formerly known as the Swindon Advertiser Cup).l competition.

The losers will be entered into the 2022-23 George Thomas/Don Rogers Plate Competition.

In the event of a club entering 2 teams into the preliminary round both teams will get a bye, to the next round, with the First team going into the League Cup group stages, and the second team into the Plate.

Group stages will consist of 2×2 groups of 5 teams, in a round robin, leading to semi finals for top 2 teams and 2 finals for the winners of the semi- finals.

The draw is made using the “spin the wheel” app.

Cup and Plate Competition entry was mandatory for all teams/clubs entering the Swindon & District Football League The entry fee of £25 has been paid by all clubs.

The Cup & Plate Competitions are mandatory to all member Club of the Swindon & District Football League.

Eligibility of players.

To be eligible to play a player

(i) Must be registered for the competing club in the Swindon & District Football League.

(ii) Must have been registered at least 72 hours prior to the original date fixed for the round.

(iii) Must not have played for another club in any other Cup Competition controlled by the Swindon and District Football League during the current season.

(iv) Must not have played in any Competition (Cup or League) SENIOR to this (other than a County FA Junior Cup Competition), after the start of the current season, prior to playing in any game in the Competition. .For clarity, a player can play for a senior club BEFORE the SDFL season starts.

Please Note: Wiltshire Premier League & Hellenic are the main local senior competitions. Hellenic Division 2 teams are equivalent to SDFL.

Clubs should advise players about eligibility for cup matches as soon as they sign on. The League will remind signatories to exclusions on registration forms.

(v) To have played a game, players must have taken part in a match. Being named as substitute and not having played, does not count.

(vi) Semi-Final eligibility. Subject to the above conditions a player may compete from the Semi – Finals onwards

(a) If he has taken part in at least 4 Swindon & District Cup or League games for his competing club during the current season.

(vii) Eligibility for postponed matches or replays

(a) In the case of postponed or replayed matches only players who were eligible to play on the date originally fixed for the tie shall be eligible to play.

(b) Players also excluded will be those who were under suspension by the County FA, through suspension in any competition, when the original tie was due to have taken place.

(viii) Where a team can prove to the satisfaction of the Management Committee that it has not been able to, or will not be able to, compete in at least 50% of its League fixtures up to the date of the Semi-Final, due to circumstances beyond its control, only players registered before 31st December each season and have played in at least two games in Competitions controlled by the Swindon & District Football League for that team, will be eligible to play in the Semi-Final.

(ix) Any winning teams proven to have fielded ineligible players without reasonable excuse shall be eliminated from the Competition and the tie awarded to their opponents, otherwise a replay shall be ordered with a fine in accordance with the published Tariff and match day expenses for the replay awarded against the defaulting team.

(x) Where a team is awarded a game and is found guilty of playing an ineligible player, without good reason, it shall be eliminated from the competition, and all previous results expunged.

(xi) A club entering 2 teams – once a player has taken part in a match for one of the teams he is deemed cup tied, and cannot therefore turn out for the second team.

5 substitutes can be named and used.

Any challenge of player eligibility must be made at time of team sheet exchange before start of game but is between the teams, and the SDFL Management Committee will take further action on any indiscretion based on reports and submitted team sheets.

Players having played for a club’s first or second team, in one competition cannot play for the club’s other team.

Team photos taken on the day by you and supplied with your team sheet for all cup/plate matches and for use on the Leagues Social Media pages.

If playing on a neutral ground the management Committee shall decide on the colours. The second team “drawn out of the hat” will change in clash of colours for the Final.

(i) The date for the Preliminary rounds is Saturday 24th September 2022. All matches must be played on the date fixed unless otherwise arranged by the Cups Secretary on behalf of the Management Committee.

(ii) Ground. The club first drawn shall be deemed to be the home team but allowed have the choice of ground up to the Quarter Finals, at the discretion of the Management Committee…

(iii) Duration

In the event of a MATCH BEING DRAWN AT THE END OF 90 MINUTES IN THE PRELIIMARY ROUNDS AN EXTRA 30 MINUTES (15 minutes each way) will be played. With group matches played for 90 minutes and result will stand. At end of group stages qualification for semi-finals will be determined on points first, then goal difference, and if still level a play- off will be requested by the Cup Committee. Any play off will be played on a neutral ground with all costs shared. Extra time and penalties are mandatory for Semi-Finals & Finals.

If a match is unresolved at the expiration of extra time, the match shall be decided by the taking of penalty kicks in accordance with FIFA conditions.

(iv) Match Expenses for all Cup Competitions

(a) The cost of staging each tie up to the Final will be borne equally by both competing Clubs, unless otherwise directed by the Management Committee, and must be settled on or before the day of the match.

(b) Any club found guilty of failing to reimburse its opponents with its share of the cost of staging the match, on or before the day of the match, may be fined in accordance with the published Tariff.

(c) Where the Management Committee directs that the League will pay all or part of the expenses for staging any match, up to the Final, the competing clubs must submit an application to the League, together with legitimate proof of expenditure incurred, within a time limit specified by the Management Committee.

Round robin competitions – A referee and 2 assistants will cover all knockout matches (including quarter finals), but not group matches, where a referee will be supplied only.

Referee fees – SDFL League Cup £30 + 41 p mileage, assistants £25 + 41p a mile

SDFL Plate £28 + 41p a mile, assistants £23 + 41p a mile

(v) Semi Finals will be played on Home Team ground (drawn first)