A total of 65 clubs will compete in this season’s FA Trophy.
Gozitan team Oratory Youths and Division Three side Marsa-skala will lift the curtains on the 2015/16 KO competition when they face each other in the only preliminary round match on September 5.
The early-competition tie will take place in Gozo.
The draws of the initial rounds of the FA Trophy, involving the Gozitan teams and the Maltese clubs in the three divisions outside the BOV Premier League, were made yesterday.
Rodney Pisani, the MFA deputy general secretary who oversees the competitions department, said Sannat Lions and Zebbug Rovers, both from Gozo, were the only two clubs who opted not to take part in the 78th edition of the FA Trophy.
The top-flight teams enter the fray in the third round (between Nov. 28 and Dec. 16) but the top six in the Premier League last season will be seeded to avoid direct clashes early in the competition.
Birkirkara, who overcame Hibernians 2-0 in last season’s final, will be among the six seeded teams in the third round draw.
The FA Trophy final will be played on May 14, 2016 at the National Stadium.
Preliminary round
September 5: Oratory Youths vs Marsaskala
First round
September 11-13: Dingli vs Munxar; Għaxaq vs Marsaxlokk; Għarb vs Ta’ Xbiex; Qala vs Victoria Hotspurs; Sta Venera vs Xagħra; Xgħajra vs Għajnsielem; Nadur vs Mdina; Attard vs SK Victoria Wanderers; Kerċem vs Kalkara; Mtarfa vs Sta Luċija; Luqa vs Xewkija; St Lawrence vs Oratory/ Marsaskala.
Second round
October 23-25: Żejtun vs Għaxaq/ Marsaxlokk; Marsa vs Luqa/Xewkija; Vittoriosa vs Kerċem/Kalkara; Sta Venera/Xagħra vs Birżebbuġa; Rabat vs Msida; Kirkop vs Mtarfa/Sta Luċija; Ħamrun vs St George’s; Lija vs Mellieħa; Senglea vs Pietà; Mqabba vs Qala/Victoria Hotspurs; Siġġiewi vs Fgura; Swieqi vs Għarb/Ta’ Xbiex; Gżira vs Sirens;
Żurrieq vs Għargħur; Gudja vs San Ġwann; Xgħajra/Għajnsielem vs Dingli/Munxar; Melita vs Mġarr; Żabbar vs Nadur/Mdina; Attard/SK Victoria Wanderers vs St Lawrence Spurs/ Oratory Youths/Marsaskala; Żebbuġ vs Qrendi.