The first steps on the path to glory in the ISPS Handa Chatham Cup and NZ Football Foundation Kate Sheppard Cup have been confirmed after the official draws were conducted for the opening rounds of both competitions.

A total of 137 teams have thrown their respective hats into the ring to claim the illustrious honours in the 91^st edition of the Chatham Cup, one of the oldest competitions in New Zealand sport, while 35 clubs will compete in the rebranded Kate Sheppard Cup, formerly known as the Women’s Knockout Cup.

Over 50 of the Chatham Cup entrants will take to the field early on as the action gets underway with the preliminary round, which is set to take place across Anzac Day on April 25 and the weekend of April 28-29. The inaugural Kate Sheppard Cup will kick off soon after on May 12-13, when six matches will take place in round one.

The exact dates and kick-off times for each game will be confirmed by the clubs and federations shortly.

The official draws for both competitions were conducted today at New Zealand Football headquarters in Auckland with the Chatham Cup draw being adjudicated by Northern Football Competitions Manager Terry Hobin while the Kate Sheppard Cup draw was overseen by Northern Football Women’s Development Officer Hayley Stirling.

The final of both competitions will be held on September 9 at QBE Stadium in Auckland.

The draws for the opening rounds are as follows.

ISPS Handa Chatham Cup Preliminary Round
April 25, 28-29

Northern Region

Glen Eden United vs Clendon United
Papamoa vs Tuakau
Bohemian Celtic vs Onerahi
University-Mt Wellington vs Kawerau
Ranui Swanson vs Internationale
Auckland Wanderers vs Te Awamutu
West Hamilton United vs Papatoetoe United
Lynn-Avon United vs Kaeo-Inter
Navy vs Auckland Volcanoes
Kiwi True Blues vs Otumoetai
Plains Rangers vs HNK Auckland
University of Auckland vs West Auckland
Northern Wairoa vs Waiuku
Kerikeri vs Greenhithe
Airforce vs Warkworth
Waikato Unicol vs Mercury Tokoroa
Matamata Swifts vs Ngaruawahia United
Taupo vs Otorohanga

(Byes: All NRFL teams)

Central/Capital Region

Wanganui Athletic vs New Plymouth Rangers
North End vs Gisborne Thistle

(Byes: Palmerston North Marist, Napier City Rovers, Havelock North Wanderers, all Capital teams)

Mainland Region

Richmond Athletic vs FC Nelson
St Albans Shirley vs Western
Parklands United vs Christchurch United
Burnham vs Waimakariri United

(Byes: Nelson Suburbs, Tahuna, Rangers, Cashmere Technical, Coastal Spirit, Ferrymead Bays, Selwyn United, FC Twenty 11, Nomads United, Universities, Burwood, Halswell United)

Southern Region

Mornington vs Gore Wanderers
Thistle (Invercargill) vs Melchester Rovers

(Byes: Dunedin Technical, Queenstown Rovers, Green Island, Caversham, Mosgiel, Northern, Otago University, Roslyn Wakari, Grant Braes, Geraldine, Thistle (Timaru), West End, Queens Park, Old Boys)

Kate Sheppard Cup Round One
May 12-13

Northern Region

(Byes: Forrest Hill Milford United, Glenfield Rovers, Norwest United, Three Kings United, Eastern Suburbs, Central United, Papakura City, Ellerslie, Onehunga Sports, Western Springs, Fencibles United, Otumoetai, Hamilton Wanderers) 

Central/Capital Region

Petone vs Waterside Karori
Victoria University vs Brooklyn Northern United
Kapiti Coast United vs Stop Out

(Byes: Palmerston North Marist, Wairarapa United, Wellington United, Seatoun, Upper Hutt City)

Mainland Region

Cashmere Technical vs Waimakariri United

(Byes: Universities, Halswell United, Coastal Spirit)

Southern Region

Queenstown Rovers vs Green Island
Roslyn Wakari vs Mosgiel

(Byes: Dunedin Technical, Otago University)