Market Drayton welcomed to Staffordshire Senior cup

Market Drayton Town may not be wanted in their own county's Senior Cup - but they are being welcomed with open arms into the Staffordshire equivalent.

The north Shropshire side have accepted an invitation to play in the Staffordshire competition next season and could be in for games against the likes of Stoke City and Port Vale.

It is a stark contrast to the situation in their own county, with Drayton having been excluded from the Shropshire Senior Cup for the third year running.

Shrewsbury Town and AFC Telford United are set to play for the trophy in November.

That decision disappointed officials of the Northern Premier League club, who in 2007 beat AFC Telford before losing to Shrewsbury in the final. But the Staffordshire opportunity has come at a perfect time.

And while the Shropshire competition is currently played between just two sides, there will be 16 teams fighting it out for the Staffordshire Senior Cup.

"We have had an official invitation from the Staffordshire FA to enter the 2010/11 Staffordshire Senior Cup competition," Drayton vice-chairman Stuart Holloway confirmed.

Criteria

"The Staffordshire FA, having only 15 teams in the competition, were looking for a 16th team of a certain level and Market Drayton filled the criteria.

"The competition includes Stoke City and Port Vale and the committee are hopeful of a favourable draw. The games will be played midweek after consultation with the clubs involved."

Drayton will still play in the Shropshire Challenge Cup, a competition first created in 1966 to cater for sides considered too strong for the Junior Cup but not of sufficient stature for the Senior Cup.

And Shropshire FA chief executive David Rowe today insisted they stood by their policy — pointing out that the likes of Stoke and Port Vale are likely to field reserve or youth sides in the Staffordshire Cup.

"We keep our Senior Cup for senior sides and it is usually contested by the strongest sides from our top local clubs," he said.

"Market Drayton are not in our Senior Cup at the moment, but they do have the Challenge Cup, which was born for teams of their calibre."

By CHRIS HUDSON