The tournament was for the under-20 age group, to complement current youth development strategies, having formerly been an under-19 competition.
The remaining thirty-eight clubs enter the first round and are initially divided into three regional groups to reduce travelling.
The tournament becomes an all-in national competition from the third round onwards.
[1] Three ties was drawn in this group with the following clubs receiving a bye to the second round: Two ties were drawn in this group with all the following clubs receiving byes to the second round.
One tie were drawn in this group with all the following club receiving a bye to the second round.