The FA Cup Preliminary Round takes place at the weekend with the only all-Berkshire tie a Friday night first for hosts Hungerford Town.
Whereas the likes of Ascot United and Wokingham Town often have to play Friday night games early in the season owing to events in and around their grounds – for Ascot it’s horse racing, for Wokingham it’s cricket, but both now fit nicely in to the early season tradition that often means across the FA Cup, Trophy or Vase early rounds, you fit in two or three games a weekend.
For Hungerford Town, Friday night has been a choice taken by the club, as chairman Cris Bowden explains: “We just wanted to try to do something different. Our management team went to Wokingham on the Friday night for their FA Cup game against Corsham Town and enjoyed the experience and noticed the gate seemed larger.”
“Everyone enjoys a night under the lights and with this lovely weather we thought we would try it. If it does not work then we might not do it again,” he adds.
Experience from volunteers at Wokingham Town would back up the experiment, as an early season bonus for supporters.
2026/27 FA Cup First Qualifying Round: Draw date and times – everything you need to know
The Sumas First Team Match Secretary Neil van den Dungen told Football in Berkshire: “We chose Friday nights as generally we get a bigger crowd in the summer. The main reason we do it is because we are constrained by cricket, but our Friday fixture against Corsham was very good with a large crowd and excellent bar takings.”
Wokingham will be underdogs going into the game as they play a step below their hosts in the Combined Counties League Premier Division North. But the trip to West Berkshire will be a new one for many Sumas fans, while for Groundhoppers, the game is one of only a handful of non-league games within 150km of Hungerford according to the app Futbology, and one of only four Friday night FA Cup matches.
Fun stuff: Hang it in the.. Berkshire Museum of the FA Cup
Bowden says: “I’d like to think we will get a larger crowd. Swindon Town are at home on the Saturday against Cheltenham Town in League Two, which would normally impact our gate, and we might pick up some more casual fans and ground hoppers.
As a club, we want to increase our gates. Last year we went into the FA Cup at the round after this and got a gate of less than 250 against Stoneham. I would love a gate on Friday night 350 plus, but we will see!”
FA Cup Preliminary Round notes
Mangotsfield United vs Thatcham Town: This game features two sides who’ve been on a bit of an up-and-down trajectory in the 21st century. The Mangoes are historically a Step 5 club but played in the Southern League between 2000 and 2022 before dropping in to the Hellenic League. Thatcham have had two spells at Step 4 in that time as well as lifting the FA Vase in 2018. The match will also see Thatcham’s Kyle Tooze return to his former club!
Longest journeys: Google Maps suggests Thatcham to Mangotsfield is the longest journey by car at 62 miles one way. Coming in close though is Yateley United to Fleetlands on the South Coast between Portsmouth and Southampton is 60.3 miles.
Despite previous visits by your writer, to Fairford Town seemingly taking ‘forever’, Reading City’s trip to Gloucestershire ‘only’ clocks in at 52.5 miles.
Cupsets: Isthmian League Ascot United will need to be wary of Penn & Tylers Green, the newly promoted Combined Counties League Premier Division North side have started their first ever Step 5 campaign strongly. Likewise, Southern League Bishop’s Cleeve have a challenging home tie against Wallingford & Crowmarsh who have also started strongly in the CCL.
The 2026/27 FA Cup Preliminary Round draw
We will update this through Saturday 8th August as games are completed
Matches to be played on the weekend of Saturday 22 August 2026. Prize money: Winners – £1,125, Losers – £375.
- Ascot United vs Penn & Tylers Green
- Didcot Town vs Swindon Supermarine
- Bishop’s Cleeve vs Wallingford & Crowmarsh
- Hungerford Town vs Wokingham Town
- Reading City vs Fairford Town
- Hamble Club vs Tadley Calleva
- Mangotsfield United vs Thatcham Town
- Redhill vs Virginia Water
- Windsor & Eton vs North Leigh
- Fleetlands vs Yateley United
Full details of FA Cup round dates and prize funds round by round is here. A full list of weekend fixtures – including the FA Cup – is here.
