NEXT season’s Southampton (DFA) Senior Cup will have four notable absentees.

Holders Saints – who returned to grace last term's centenary competition with an U23 side – will not be competing and neither will the 2017/18 beaten finalists Blackfield & Langley, Eastleigh or AFC Totton.

That still leaves 50 teams battling it out for a place in the 101st final, which will once again be sponsored by Dave Creeden’s TrophyMan (Southampton).

SDFA secretary Mike Harvey admitted: “I’m disappointed that we have not been able to get Southampton, Blackfield & Langley, Eastleigh or AFC Totton in the competition for this season, but the 50 teams entered will not mean the competition is less glamorous.

"In fact it gives the lower-ranked teams an opportunity to win the silverware.”

Last season’s beaten semi-finalists Lymington Town and Sholing will be among the favourites to make the next showpiece final at St Mary’s.

Both clubs have received first round byes, with Lymington hosting AFC Stoneham or Lyndhurst in round two, while Sholing are drawn at home to the winners of the BTC Southampton Res v QK Southampton tie.

Seven of the teams taking part are also entering a reserve side.

The Centenary book is being finalised and if anyone has any programmes or photos from the past 100 SDFA Senior Cup Finals. please contact Mike Harvey on 07936 398902 or Greg Dickson on 07496 804555.

Southampton Senior Cup draw.

First round (on or before September 15): AFC Gulf Western v Chamberlayne Athletic, AFC Stoneham v Lyndhurst, BTC Southampton Res v QK Southampton, Bishops Waltham v Michelmersh & Timsbury, Colden Common Res v BTC Southampton, Comrades Sports v Compton, Fawley AFC v Braishfield, Folland Sports v Athletico Romsey, Hedge End Rangers v Folland Sports Res, Hythe & Dibden v Infinity, Locks Heath v Hedge End Town, Locks Heath Res v Bush Hill Res, Netley Central v Colden Common, Nursling v Bush Hill, Priory Rovers v Warsash Wasps, Sway v Knightwood Utd, Totton & Eling v Lyndhurst Res, Upham Res v Hamble Club Res.

Byes: Alderbury, Alresford, Bashley, Brockenhurst, Durley, FC Independence, Hamble Club, Lymington Town, Montefiore Hall, Sholing, Southampton University, Team Solent, Upham, Winchester City.

Second round: (on or before October 20): Alderbury v Locks Heath/Hedge End Town, Alresford Town v Hedge End Rangers/Folland Sports Res, Bashley v Colden Common Res/BTC Southampton, Brockenhurst v Bishops Waltham/Michelmersh & Timsbury, Comrades Sports/Compton v Sway/Knightwood Utd, Durley v Netley Central/Colden Common, FC Independence v Nursling/Bush Hill, Fawley AFC/Braishfield v Locksheath Res/Bush Hill Res, Hamble Club v Totton & Eling/Lyndhurst Res, Lymington Town v AFC Stoneham/Lyndhurst, Montefiore Hall v Priory Rovers/Warsash Wasps, Sholing v BTC Soton Res/QK Southampton, Southampton University v AFC Gulf Western/Chamberlayne, Team Solent v Upham Res/Hamble Club Res, Upham v Hythe & Dibden/Infinity, Winchester City v Folland Sports/Athletico Romsey.