FA CUP and FA VASE participation confirmed

Extra premininary round draw taking place at 1pm on Friday 4 July

The FA have today confirmed the club’s entry into the 2025/26 Emirates FA Cup, commencing at the Extra Preliminary Round. The fixture is scheduled to take place on Saturday 2 August while the draw for the round will be conducted on Friday 4 July 2025.

In addition, we will also be participating in this season’s Isuzu FA Vase and the club's journey will begin in the First Round Qualifying stage, which is set for Saturday 23 August 2025.

Last season’s competition was won by Whitstable Town, in a squad that included new Phoenix defender Jerald Aboagye.

Finally the club can also confirm our participation in the FA Youth Cup, entering the competition in the Preliminary Round on Monday 1 September 2025

Full details of all three competitions below:

The 2025-26 Emirates FA Cup

Round Dates

Extra Preliminary Round: Saturday 2 August 2025

Preliminary Round: Saturday 16 August 2025

First Round Qualifying: Saturday 30 August 2025

Second Round Qualifying: Saturday 13 September 2025

Third Round Qualifying: Saturday 27 September 2025

Fourth Round Qualifying: Saturday 11 October 2025

First Round Proper: Saturday 1 November 2025

Second Round Proper: Saturday 6 December 2025

Third Round Proper: Saturday 10 January 2026

Fourth Round Proper: Saturday 14 February 2026

Fifth Round Proper: Saturday 7 March 2026

Quarter Final: Saturday 4 April 2026

Semi-Final: Saturday 25 April 2026

The Final: Saturday 16 May 2026

The 2025-26 The Isuzu FA Vase

Round dates

First Round Qualifying: Saturday 23 August 2025

Second Round Qualifying: Saturday 20 September 2025

First Round Proper: Saturday 18 October 2025

Second Round Proper: Saturday 8 November 2025

Third Round Proper: Saturday 6 December 2025

Fourth Round Proper: Saturday 17 January 2026

Fifth Round Proper: Saturday 7 February 2026

Sixth Round Proper: Saturday 28 February 2026

Semi Final first leg: Saturday 28 March 2026

Semi-Final second leg: Saturday 4 April 2026

The Final: Sunday 17 May 2026

The 2025-26 FA Youth Cup

Round dates

Qualifying Competition – Ties to be played in the week commencing:-

Preliminary Round Monday 1 September 2025

First Round Qualifying Monday 15 September 2025

Second Round Qualifying Monday 29 September 2025

Third Round Qualifying Monday 13 October 2025

Competition Proper – Ties to be played by the following closing date:-

First Round Proper Saturday 1 November 2025

Third Round Proper Saturday 13 December 2025

Fourth Round Proper Saturday 24 January 2026

Fifth Round Proper Saturday 21 February 2026

Sixth Round Proper Saturday 14 March 2026

Semi Final Saturday 11 April 2026

Final Saturday 9 May 2026