Details for both of the FA Competitions we will enter in the 2025/26 season have been confirmed.

The Emirates FA Cup will begin on the weekend of Saturday 2nd August, with the extra preliminary round. We are one of 747 clubs that have been accepted into this year’s competition.

Meanwhile, the Isuzu FA Trophy will kick-off three weeks later with the preliminary round and first round qualifying.

We will enter the FA Cup at the first round qualifying, while we will begin our FA Trophy campaign at the third round qualifying.

The round dates for when we enter both competitions can be found below:

FA Cup: First Round Qualifying - Saturday 30th August 2025

FA Trophy: Third Round Qualifying - Saturday 4th October 2025

How Many Wins are Required to Reach the First Round Proper?

We will have to win four qualifying rounds to reach the first round of the FA Cup. In the FA Trophy, we need to win one game to progress past the qualification stage.

FA Cup and FA Trophy Performance - 2024/25

FA Cup:

We kicked off the 2024/25 season by falling at the first hurdle in the FA Cup. After being placed in the extra preliminary round, the Pirates fell short against St Neots Town at the Ledger Stadium.

Goals from Ben Stevens and Jack Snelus were not enough, as the visitors secured a late 3-2 victory through a Jacques Kpohomouh own goal.

Extra Preliminary Round - Real Bedford 2-3 St Neots Town

FA Trophy:

Our 2024/25 FA Trophy campaign started with a hard-fought victory against Walthamstow. Isaac Galliford’s first-half strike was cancelled out by Te Atawhai Hudson-Wihongi. In the 88th minute, Josh Setchell secured the victory for the Pirates, slotting the ball past the goalkeeper from inside the box.

Next up was a home game against Leighton Town. It ended up being a comfortable 4-0 victory for Sinclair’s side, with goals coming from Joey Evans, Setchell, Eniola Agemoh-Davies and an impressive halfway-line effort from Ben Stevens.

Our hopes of reaching the first round proper of the FA Trophy ended with a 3-0 defeat to Bowers & Pitsea. The hosts, who played in the Isthmian League Premier Division, proved to be too strong for the Pirates and progressed with goals from Alex Teniola and TQ Addy.

First Qualifying Round - Walthamstow 1-2 Real Bedford

Second Qualifying Round - Real Bedford 4-0 Leighton Town

Third Qualifying Round - Bowers & Pitsea 3-0 Real Bedford

Preparations for the 2025/26 season begin when we host Corby Town on Saturday 12th July. You can view our full pre-season schedule here