The Sunday League’s equivalent of the FA Cup gets underway next month, and Bradford has two teams in the hat.

Bradford Sunday Alliance League sides Bolton Woods and West Bowling have both been drawn away in the FA Sunday Cup - to Belt Road FC of Staffordshire and Obiter FC from Liverpool respectively.

A Bradford team has never won the competition though and Trevor Adams, the Sunday Alliance League's press officer, doesn’t expect that statistic to change this year.

He said: “To be honest, I don’t think a team from round here will win it. The same clubs tend to be in it every year when it gets to the semi-finals.

“The teams from Liverpool take it very seriously and bring in players just to play in the Sunday Cup - they really go into it to win it.”

Bradford doesn’t exactly have a trophy-laden history with the competition, having only two runners-up finishes to its name in the trophy’s 47-year history.

Albion Sports have twice been losing finalists but won’t be entering the competition this year because they have now switched to Saturdays and semi-pro status.

Their first time in the final came in 2000 before they fell at the last hurdle again five years later, with both of those close calls as good as it’s got for Bradford sides in the tournament.

The two sides entering the cup this year will head into it in mixed form. West Bowling have a 100 per cent record in the league so far after winning all of their opening six games, while Bolton Woods have won three and lost four of their first seven league outings.

Adams is surprised that they are the only two clubs from the district that will be taking part in the cup this season but cited the amount of money required to enter as a possible explanation.

He added: “I would have expected more teams from the league to enter - it’s a very low number from us. I’ve seen some seasons where there have been six or seven teams from the Sunday Alliance League enter it.

“But I think it may be that the cost of entering it is too high for some of them. For example the hiring of a ground that meets the requirements because you can’t just play on any old pitch, it has to be enclosed.

“It’s a top competition in the country for Sunday League teams though, the final is always played at a league ground. It’s a very, very big thing and it’s well worth winning. Originally a lot of teams entered it for a day out but if they have a good run in it it’s worth doing.”

Both Bradford teams get their Sunday Cup campaigns underway on 16 October.

* The West Riding County FA Sunday Cup and Trophy ties take centre stage this week.

County Sunday Cup holders West Bowling have Yeadon Westfield as visitors in the first defence of their title at Emsleys Recreation Ground at 11am.

Relay Recruitment Rovers have attractive opposition in Otley Town at the new Myra Shay, while Hockney Unity All Stars have English Cup opponents when they entertain Chapletown Fforde Green.

First Division Cuedos Rangers entertain Mount Tabor from Halifax, while Westwood Park have the unenviable task of visiting former holders HT.Sports, while Buttershaw White Star are also on the road against Crooked Billet.

There are some Sunday Alliance League clashes, and the all-First Division clash between Thornton United and Ventus Sports will be worth viewing, while Division 1B Ravenscliffe have Premier Division opposition when Bolton Woods are the visitors.