The 2009–10

Maltese FA Trophy The FA Trophy, currently known as the Meridianbet FA Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual football (soccer), football cup competition that takes place in Malta. The cup was founded in 1933; following a match between England national footba ...

was the 72nd season since its establishment. It featured 21 teams from the Maltese

Premier League The Premier League is a professional association football league in England and the highest level of the English football league system. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the English Football Lea ...

, the

First Division 1st Division or First Division may refer to: Military Airborne divisions *1st Parachute Division (Germany) *1st Airborne Division (United Kingdom) * 1st Airmobile Division (Ukraine) * 1st Guards Airborne Division Armoured divisions *1st Armoure ...

and the champions of the Gozo First Division. The competition started on 28 October 2009 and ended on 16 May 2010 with the Final from

Ta' Qali Stadium The National Stadium, locally also referred to as Ta' Qali, officially known as Grawnd Nazzjonali (Maltese language, Maltese for ''National Stadium''), is a stadium located in Ta' Qali, Malta. The stadium, which also contains the headquarters of ...

. The defending champions were Sliema Wanderers, having won their 20th Maltese Cup last season. Sliema Wanderers were the defending champions, but were eliminated in the quarter-finals by Hamrun Spartans.

Results and Format Change

When the draw was conducted, four teams received a bye to the Quarterfinals. Sliema Wanderers received a bye because they won the 2008–09 Maltese Cup. The other three teams qualifying directly to the Quarterfinals are Hibernians,

Valletta Valletta ( ; , ) is the capital city of Malta and one of its 68 Local councils of Malta, council areas. Located between the Grand Harbour to the east and Marsamxett Harbour to the west, its population as of 2021 was 5,157. As Malta’s capital ...

and

Birkirkara Birkirkara (abbreviated as B'Kara or BKR) is a city in the Eastern Region, Malta, Eastern Region of Malta. It is the second most populous on the Malta (island), island, with 24,356 inhabitants as of 2020. The town consists of five autonomous pari ...

, for being the three best-placed teams in last year's Premier League. Starting this year, the competition's format was changed slightly due to the inclusion into the competition of the reigning Gozo First Division champions. This is case for all future editions of this competition unless Gozo FC, a club which is based on

Gozo Gozo ( ), known in classical antiquity, antiquity as Gaulos, is an island in the Malta#The Maltese archipelago, Maltese archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea. The island is part of the Republic of Malta. After the Malta Island, island of Malta ...

but plays in the Maltese league system, is in either the

Maltese Premier League The Maltese Premier League, known as 360Sports Malta Premier for sponsorship reasons with 360Sports (colloquialism, colloquially known as ''Il-Kampjonat Premjer''), is the highest level of professional football in Malta. Managed by the Malta Foot ...

or the

Maltese First Division The Maltese Challenge League (referred to as the BOV Challenge League for sponsorship reasons) is the second-highest division in Maltese football, behind the Maltese Premier League. The First Division was the precursor of the present Premier ...

, in which case they would fill the spot reserved for the Gozo champions and the competition would feature 20 teams rather than 21. The inclusion of the Gozo champions meant that there was a single Preliminary Round match to reduce the field to 20 teams for the First Round.

Preliminary and First Round

In the Preliminary and First Round draws entered six

teams placed 4th to 10th (except Sliema Wanderers) in last year's competition, 10

teams and the reigning Gozo First Division champions, Sannat Lions. The Preliminary Round match was held on 28 October 2009, while the First Round matches were played on 31 October and 1 November 2009.

Preliminary round

, colspan="3" style="background:#fcc;", 28 October 2009

First round

, colspan="3" style="background:#fcc;", 31 October 2009 , - , colspan="3" style="background:#fcc;", 1 November 2009

Second round

In this round entered the winners from the previous round. The matches were played on 20 and 21 February 2010. , colspan="3" style="background:#fcc;", 20 February 2010 , - , colspan="3" style="background:#fcc;", 21 February 2010

Quarter-finals

In this round entered the winners from the previous round and the four teams that had received a bye. The matches were played on 3 and 5 April 2010.

Semi-finals

The four winners from the Quarterfinals entered this round. The matches were played on 17 and 18 May 2010.

Final

The two winners from the Semifinals entered this round. The final was played on 23 May 2010.

External links

Official site
{{DEFAULTSORT:2009-10 Maltese FA Trophy Maltese Cup

Cup A cup is an open-top vessel (container) used to hold liquids for drinking, typically with a flattened hemispherical shape, and often with a capacity of about . Cups may be made of pottery (including porcelain), glass, metal, wood, stone, pol ...

Maltese FA Trophy seasons