Umh... Well, I'm currently still using Awesome 2.3.4 - And I do have good system tray support.

From my .xsession:

/usr/bin/trayer --edge bottom --align right --expand true --widthtype request \
    --height 20 --tint 0x000077 --transparent true --SetDockType true &

Of course, it fits quite nicely in the least used portion of my bottom statusbar.