GFSN Cup 2008/2009

The GFSN Cup was introduced for the 2006/2007 season, when the league expanded to eight teams.

It was felt that playing 14 home and away league fixtures was too much for an amatuer national league.

Accordingly, a simple "six-nations" style format was introduced, with each team playing every other team once per season, with 'home advantage' alternating from one year to the next.

This, ironically, freed up more space in the GFSN calendar - and thus a knock-out cup competition was introduced.

Format

Like the FA Cup, teams are drawn at random for each round without any seeding or ranking. The draw is made after each round, with the final played at a neutral venue, usually at a non-league ground.

Past Seasons

The inaugrual winners of the tournament were GFC Bournemouth who defeated Yorkshire Terriers 2-0 in the final which was held in Birmingham.

The following year, Village Manchester FC won the trophy, beating Leicester Wildecats 3-2 in a final played in South Yorkshire.

2008/2009 Competition

For the first time, the competition was expanded to include LGBT-friendly teams from outside the league.

With the vast number of LGBT-friendly teams forming across the UK and Ireland, the cup serves as an opportunity for fledgling sides to play matches against established teams.

For 2008/09 teams from Cardiff, Newcastle, Stonewall and Manchester entered the competition.

GFSN Cup - First Round
Sun 19 Oct	Brighton Bandits	0	6	Falcons	Cup 1
Sun 26 Oct	Yorkshire Terriers	3	2	Nottingham Ballbois	Cup 1
Sun 2 Nov	Cardiff Dragons	0	13	Birmingham Blaze	Cup 1
Sun 2 Nov	GFC Bournemouth	3	1	Leicester Wildecats	Cup 1
Sun 2 Nov	Leftfooters FC	1	6	London Titans	Cup 1
Sun 9 Nov	Stonewall Athletic	5	2	Newcastle Panthers	Cup 1

Hotscots FC and Village Manchester FC both recieved a 'bye' to the quarter-finals.

GFSN Cup - Quarter-Finals
Sun 18 Jan	Birmingham Blaze	1	2	Falcons	Cup QF
Sun 25 Jan	Hotscots FC	6	3	London Titans	Cup QF
Sun 1 Feb	GFC Bournemouth	1	0	Yorkshire Terriers	Cup QF
Sun 8 Feb	Village Manchester	2	1	Stonewall Athletic	Cup QF

Manchester 2-1 Stonewall (AET)

GFSN Cup - Semi-Final
Sun 29 Mar	Village Manchester	1	1	GFC Bournemouth	Cup SF
Sun 19 Apr	Falcons	2	3	Hotscots FC	Cup SF

Hotscots won after (AET)

GFSN Cup - Final
Sun 03 May	GFC Bournemouth	0	1	Hotscots FC	Cup F

Final to be played at Kingfield Stadium, Woking FC