FA Trophy 2026-27 1st Qualifying Round Review

by Phil Annets – @FATrophyFacts on X

The 16 clubs that prevailed in the Preliminary Round join the remaining 144 Step Four Trident League clubs for this coming weekend’s FA Trophy 1st Qualifying Round, with a handful of ties taking place on Friday evening.

There are five former winners involved in the round two of which face each other as 2001 champions Canvey Island host Grays Athletic who lifted the Trophy in two successive seasons just a few years later.

Canvey Island won 3-2 in the FA Trophy 2nd Qualifying Round when the two clubs met in the competition 15 years ago. It is one of a baker’s dozen of ties that have happened in the Trophy before.

Two pairs of clubs have been drawn together for the third time. Cambridge City and Redbridge FC have won one each in past Trophy meetings whilst Corby Town will be hoping it’ll be third time lucky as they host Stafford Rangers.

Whilst Margate FC has only had to wait a couple of years for the opportunity to avenge a 1-0 defeat by Ascot United in the Trophy, Hertford Town has had to stew for a massive 48 years waiting for the chance to wipe out the memory of a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Tilbury FC.

At the other end of the Trophy experience scale there are 11 clubs participating in the FA Trophy for the very first time. Punjab United (Gravesend) versus Horley Town is a tie that guarantees at least one debut club will be involved in the next round.

Other debut clubs are involved in ties where the winner is guaranteed to be at least equalling a club record Trophy run. Debutants Winslow United host Milton Keynes Irish who exited in this 1st Qualifying Round in their debut campaign last season, whilst first-time Trophy participants, Windsor and Eton, entertain Southall FC for whom a victory would equal their best run just as they achieved last season.

Elsewhere, the winners of Stotfold FC versus Gorleston FC and London Lions against Takeley FC will be celebrating a first appearance in the 2nd Qualifying Round, whilst Padiham FC would also make the 2nd Qualifying Round for the first time if they defeated Pontefract Collieries who, themselves, would equal their best Trophy run with a victory.

Another club looking to make the 2nd Qualifying Round for the first time is Portland United who have Hungerford Town visiting them on Saturday. Whilst a victory for the Blues would be a club record run, Portland United are already setting a new record for the FA Trophy just by being involved in the competition this season.

The club has only participated in the Trophy once before, back in the competition’s inaugural campaign in the 1969-70 season, and so Portland United will set a record gap of 57 years between successive FA Trophy games! It’s a record that’s unlikely to be beaten for some time!