We love the Berks & Bucks County FA Senior Cup, but can’t help be a little jealous when the Hampshire Senior Cup draws are published.
The opportunity for bumper home crowds begins early with Premier League AFC Bournemouth and Championship sides and rivals Portsmouth and Southampton all participants in the early rounds.
Most of the professional sides in the competition will not be fielding full-strength sides for these games, but the teams aura is usually enough to bring a good crowd when matchday comes around.
Plus, the annual toy-throwing exhibition by Farnborough is always a joy with manager Spencer Day protesting a disqualification from the competition in 22/23 despite an 8-0 win over AFC Porchester. That match was played two months after the original fixture was due to be played, and Boro fell foul of player eligibility rules.
In September 2024, Farnborough were beaten 14-0 by Tadley Calleva, three divisions below them, after they fielded fringe players, players coming back from injury, fans and their media manager.
Farnborough have been drawn away this season in the first round to either Folland Sports or Army, while Baffins Milton Rovers head to AFC Bournemouth, Portsmouth host nearby Havant & Waterlooville and Southampton host Bashley.
Tadley Calleva meanwhile travel to nearby Fleet Town and holders Basingstoke Town host AFC Totton.
One thing the Berks & Bucks version of the county competition has going for it, is that all three pro-sides of MK Dons, Reading FC and Wycombe Wanderers, are automatically drawn as the away side in the competition.
