The Adobe Women’s FA Cup kicks-off on Sunday with the Preliminary Round and a debut for Windsor & Eton Women when they visit Mudeford Phoenix on the South Coast.
“What an exciting time for our club,” Royalists manager Cathy Corr told Football in Berkshire.
“This year, we will be entering the FA Cup for the very first time, a huge milestone and one that everyone involved should be incredibly proud of.”
Windsor & Eton Women was formed in the summer of 2004, a year after the name Windsor & Eton returned to men’s non-league football, and under Corr, quickly set about winning the Thames Valley Counties Women’s Football League Division Three title at the first attempt and following that up with the Division Two title last season – losing just three games in the process.
Now a Division One side (Tier 7 in the Women’s Football Pyramid), the Royalists have been accepted into the FA Cup along with division rivals Ashridge Park, Caversham United, and Wallingford & Crowmarsh.
Last season, Ashridge defied the odds, reaching the Third Qualifying Round, but they have a big task to emulate that run with a starting fixture at home to Tier 6 Slough Town.
Windsor’s chances are much more of a level playing field. Mudeford play in the equivalent division of the Hampshire County Women’s Football League alongside Wallingford’s visitors Basingstoke Town.
Corr has kept the core of her squad along with the goals of Ida Manneh and Jacqui Hanson, and is very much looking to the future: “What we have achieved as a team and as a club has been nothing short of exciting. We’ve worked hard, grown together and built something really special, with great foundations now firmly in place for the future.
“Most importantly, we have a fantastic group of girls who are ready to compete, ready to test themselves and ready to embrace the challenge. The FA Cup is a whole new chapter for us, and we can’t wait to see what we can achieve on the biggest stage yet.
“There’s plenty of hard work ahead, but that’s exactly what makes it exciting. We’ll give it everything, enjoy every moment and see just how far we can go.
“Our first-ever FA Cup journey starts here. Let’s see where it takes us!”
Meanwhile Finchampstead enjoyed some time in the Women’s FA Cup spotlight last season, and will begin this seasons run at Arbour Park. Despite being the ‘home’ side for their tie with Whitchurch United, The Memorial Ground is currently being used for cricket (source: Wokingham Paper).
Caversham United also have a Tier appropriate tie at Melksham Town. The Goats face the Wiltshire Senior League Division One side with a trip to Wallingford or Basingstoke the reward.
For all six sides, the draw for the next round, the First Qualifying Round, has already been made with some exciting ties on the horizon.
2026/27 Women’s FA Cup Preliminary Round draw
Matches to be played on the weekend of Sunday 23rd August 2026
- Ashridge Park v Slough Town
- Finchampstead v Whitchurch United
- Melksham Town or Caversham United
- Mudeford Phoenix v Windsor & Eton
- Wallingford & Crowmarsh v Basingstoke Town
2026/27 Women’s FA Cup First Qualifying Round draw
Matches to be played on the weekend of Sunday 6th September 2026
- Corsham Town v Finchampstead or Whitchurch United
- Wallingford & Crowmarsh or Basingstoke Town v Melksham Town or Caversham United
- Mudeford Phoenix or Windsor & Eton v Bournemouth Manor or Andover New Street
- Ashridge Park or Slough Town v Marlborough Town or Barton United
Full details of Women’s FA Cup round dates and prize funds round by round is here.
