It’s only four months since Crystal Palace overcame Man City to lift the FA Cup at Wembley Stadium, but the 2025/26 competition gets underway this weekend with the Stutes once again starting our campaign at the Extra Preliminary Round stage. Our visitors on Saturday are Thetford Town, who finished eighth in the Eastern Counties League Premier Division last season and have taken six points from their two league games this season without conceding a goal. They are therefore likely to pose a serious threat to our hopes of progressing into the next round.
Our last meeting with Thetford Town came in the 2018/19 season when a single goal by Salim Relizani was enough to give us a win which helped us on our way to lifting the Eastern Counties League Championship. But we have met the Norfolk side in the FA Cup on three other occasions, the last of which was in September 1954 when Thetford ended our involvement in the competition with a 2-1 away win. In all, we have met Thetford on 70 occasions, winning 29, losing 25 and drawing 16.
Manager Chris Nunn will have to make do without the services of Joe O’Neill for Saturday’s game after the midfielder picked up a groin injury in our win at Bugbrooke last weekend. However, Nunny will be encouraged by the performances of several of his youngsters who helped us secure a draw against a strong March Town United side in midweek. Jake Holman, Cass Abood and Jacob Dickson all made their home debuts in that one and will be eager to go again in the world’s oldest cup competition.
Entry on Saturday is at the usual rates of £10 for adults, £6 for concessions and £2 for 12 to 17 year-olds. Our award-winning matchday programme is still priced at just £2.00. Season tickets will NOT be accepted for this game. We are grateful to Sun Skips for sponsoring the tie and look forward to entertaining their representatives in the Board room before, after and during the game. If you or your company would like to sponsor any subsequent matches at Bridge Road, please contact Paul at Paul.smart@histonfc.co.uk.
Should Saturday’s game end in a draw, the replay will be at Thetford’s Mundford Road ground on Tuesday evening starting at 7.45.
Your support at Bridge Road on Saturday would be very much appreciated as we look to avenge that FA Cup defeat in 1954 and progress to the next round at Thetford Town’s expense. We’ve waited 71 years for this opportunity, so let’s not waste the chance!
