Precisely 112 days after lifting the Combined Counties League Premier North Championship trophy, Ashford Town (Middlesex) get their 2026-27 season underway on Saturday. The Tangerines will welcome Bearsted of the Southern Counties East League to the Robert Parker Stadium for an Extra-Preliminary Round tie in the Emirates FA Cup.
This is, of course, the same stage at which we entered the world’s oldest football tournament last season, embarking on an adventure which saw Ashford eliminate Eastbourne Town, Snodland Town and AFC Whyteleafe before bowing out at Ebbsfleet United in the Second Qualifying Round.
This weekend’s match will be a challenge for a reshaped Ashford squad which combines at least a dozen of the title-winning Tangerines with twelve new signings, although one of these, Leo Decabo did play for the club as a teenager. It is striking that many of the new recruits have previous experience at Step 4 or higher and after a comprehensive programme of pre-season training and matches, supporters can be confident that the Ash Trees are ready for the season ahead.
Bearsted have already got a competitive match, and win, under their belts, having started their League campaign with a home victory over Chislehurst Green. A first half penalty by Matt Day gave the Bears the lead before a late goal by Luka Radojevic settled the issue.
We have never played Bearsted before and look forward to welcoming their players, officials and supporters to the RPS. The club was formed in 1895 and represents a village outside Maidstone. As they have progressed within the National League System and grown as a club, the club has developed their ground at Honey Lane in Otford (the next village along). They run more than 30 teams and a Bear Cubs programme for the youngest footballers at the club.
This is Bearsted’s eleventh season in the FA Cup and the Bears have yet to have a long run in the competition, which is all the more reason to be wary of the threat they pose. By contrast, this is Ashford’s thirtieth run along the Road to Wembley and while the Ash Trees have never reached the Competition Proper, they were a scuffed Gavin Smith shot away from beating Forest Green Rovers in the 2008-09 Fourth Qualifying Round. Ashford also reached that stage in 2003-04, losing to Hayes. Saturday will be our 82nd match in the competition.
In accordance with the competition rules, Season Tickets are not valid for this match and standard admission prices will apply at the turnstiles. Full details, plus our digital matchday programme, can be found at the Match Centre. This will include updates from Football Web Pages for anyone unable to be at the game.
In the event of a draw, there will be a replay at Bearsted FC on Tuesday night, kicking off at 7:30pm. The winners of the tie will be away to Egham Town in the Preliminary Round on Saturday 22 August.
