Eton Manor will face Clapton and Basildon in the League Cup group stage as they look to regain the trophy that they won in 2008. Manor crashed out at the group stage last season, after mistakenly playing an ineligible player in their win at Mauritius cost them 3 points. The team that went through in their place as a result was Barkingside, who went on to lift the trophy.

With the Senior League set to be an 18 team competition next season, the League Cup group stage will revert to 6 groups of 3 teams, (every team playing each other home and away) with the 6 group winners and the two best runners up getting through to the quarter finals.

Manor boss Kevin Durrant, speaking exclusively to emfc.co.uk gave his reaction to the draw saying: “I’m happy with the draw. Looking at it people will probably consider Clapton the weakest side in the group and that qualification will be between us and Basildon – however, I don’t necessarily see it like that. It will be a competitive group and our intention is to qualify for the quarter finals.”

In the Gordon Brasted Trophy Manor were one of the unlucky teams drawn out to play a preliminary game to get into the last 16. They will host Bowers & Pitsea in that game, a repeat of last season’s quarter final, with the winners scheduled to meet Sawbridgeworth in the last 16.

Durrant said: “Obviously it would have been better to avoid the preliminary game, but that is how it came out of the hat. I’m looking forward to it – we felt robbed in the Brasted semi-final last season and it is high on our list of targets this year. Bowers will be tough opposition, Colin Cook has taken over there and will be looking to get off to a good start, but we will be ready.”