The 2025/26 FA Cup starts this weekend. I thought that it could possibly be interesting if a thread starts with a game then follows the winner each round until we reach the final. I looked at the fixtures and couldn’t decide which game to choose so I have chosen two. Bury vs South Liverpool, because Bury are a former winner of the cup, and Edgware & Kingsbury vs British Airways because they are relatively close to Watford. Bury FC Bury play in the Northern Premier League Division One West following promotion as Champions from the North West Counties League Premier Division. The history of the club since expulsion from the Football League involved the amalgamation of two fans’ groups and participation at level 10 of the League pyramid In the North West Counties League Division One North. Bury have won the cup twice, the last time being 1902/03. South Liverpool South Liverpool is a phoenix club founded in 1992. Last season was South’s first in the North West Counties League Premier Division. They finished 20th. Last season was also (I think) the first season that the phoenix club played in the FA Cup. They beat Handsworth after a replay in the Extra Preliminary Round before losing to Witton Albion, a league above them, again after a draw. Bury won last season’s league fixture 2-0 at Gigg Lane between the clubs, and must be favourites in this cup tie. Edgware & Kingsbury Edgware & Kingsbury play at Silver Jubilee Park, Kingsbury. The ground has a capacity of 1,990. They play in the Combined Counties League Premier Division North and finished 16th of 20 last season. Their best FA Cup run was to the Fourth Qualifying Round in 1978/79. British Airways FC British Airways FC groundshare with North Greenford Utd. They also play in the Combined Counties League Premier Division North and finished one point behind and one place below Edgware & Kingsbury last season. Their best cup performance, to date, is an extra preliminary round replay. This game could be a tight affair. Last season the corresponding league fixture was won by Edgware & Kingsbury 2-0.
The first football I ever watched - with my Dad was Edgware Town at The White Lion Ground. They were in the Corinthian League . Sadly no more. Early 50's when football attracted huge numbers of people relieved to be going back to normal life after the 40's. .
As Frenchie has informed us, Edgware won 2-0. Youssef Enager (52') Darell Edgar-Phillips (86') Attendance was 70 The highlights of the Bury game are here: . Qualifying round 16th August Stalybridge Celtic vs Bury Stalybridge join the competition for this round. They are in the same division as Bury. Edgware & Kingsbury vs Whitstable Town Whitstable beat Lingfield 7-2 away. They were 3-2 up at half time then ran away with the tie.
Replay Bury 0-2 Stalybridge Celtic 1st Qualifying Round 30 August Workington vs Stalybridge Celtic Dulwich Hamlet vs Whitstable Town
What small local teams to Watford enter the Cup? I remember Sun Sports have previously entered, any others?
Watford FC (Watford itself) ✅ Wealdstone FC (Ruislip – ~6 miles) ✅ Boreham Wood FC (Borehamwood – ~5 miles) ✅ Harrow Borough FC (Harrow – ~7 miles) ✅ Hendon FC (Cricklewood/Hendon – ~8 miles) ✅ Kings Langley FC (just northwest of Watford – ~4 miles) ✅ Leverstock Green FC (Hemel Hempstead – ~7 miles) ✅ London Lions FC (Rowley Lane, near Borehamwood – ~6 miles) ✅ Northwood FC (Northwood – ~6 miles) ✅ Oxhey Jets FC (South Oxhey – ~2 miles) ✅ Sun Sports / Sun FC (historically in Watford – but not on your list) ✅ Edgware & Kingsbury FC (Edgware – ~7 miles) ✅ Hadley FC (Arkley – ~7 miles) Don't you just love ChatGPT?
That’s an exhaustive list of every club within 8 miles of Watford who have entered this season’s FA Cup.
It doesn’t look good for our local teams: Tier 2 (EFL Championship) Watford FC – Saturday 10th January 2025 Tier 5 (National League) Wealdstone FC – Saturday 11th October 2025 Boreham Wood FC – Saturday 11th October 2025 Tier 8 Harrow Borough FC – Knocked out by Hastings United on 16th August 2025. Lost 1-0 at Hastings. Hendon FC – Knocked out by Steyning Town FC on 16th August 2025. Lost 2-1 at Steyning Northwood FC – Knocked oout by Egham Town on 2nd August 2025. Lost 1-0 at home. Kings Langley FC – Knocked out by Cockfosters on 5th August 2025. Lost 4-2 at home. Tier 9 Leverstock Green FC – Knocked out by Ilford FC on 2nd August 2025. Lost 2-1 at home. London Lions FC – Knocked out by Hertford Town on 2nd August 2025. Lost 3-1 at Hertford. Oxhey Jets FC – Do not appear to have entered this season. Sun Sports FC – Do not appear to have entered this season. Edgware & Kingsbury FC – Knocked out by Whistable Town on 16th August 2025. Lost 9-0 at home (as we can see above thanks to NZ!) Hadley FC – Knocked out by Maldon & Tiptree on 16th August 2025. Lost 2-1 at home.
