FA competition draws announced
Draws for the early rounds of the 2025-26 Emirates FA Cup and Isuzu FA Vase have now been released. And for Royal Wootton Bassett Town league rivals stand in the way of progress. Previews of who Bassett are set to face in these two prestigious national competitions are detailed below.
Emirates FA Cup
In each of the past two seasons, Bassett have been paired with league rivals Mangotsfield United at the FA Cup extra preliminary round stage, winning 2-1 at home in 2024-25 after a 2-0 away defeat a season earlier.
Having faced the same opposition two seasons in a row, this year marks a welcome change, with Bassett handed an away trip to Lydney Town.
Jonny Aitkenhead's first foray as a manager in the competition will therefore be a tough test against Hellenic League Premier Division rivals. It also sets up a repeat of a 2018-19 preliminary round tie that saw Lydney win 5-3 in a replay. That victory secured Lydney's best ever run in the competition. Since then the Severnsiders have won just once in the FA Cup - 5-1 preliminary round victory against Thornbury Town last season.
The FA Cup has been generous to Bassett in recent years. In the last seven seasons, Bassett have lost just two times in the extra preliminary round (2019-20 and 2023-24), with three preliminary round exits, one loss in the first qualifying round and another in the second qualifying round.
A win against Lydney will continue that impressive stretch of form in what is the most prestigious cup competition in which Bassett compete - and set up a preliminary round tie at home against Cinderford Town or Amersham Town.
Cinderford, who beat Bassett 4-0 in the Hellenic League Premier Division final two seasons ago, are back in the Hellenic Premier after relegation from the Southern League. The Foresters' best ever run saw them reach the second round proper in 1995-96. But they have not advanced past the preliminary round since 2020-21 - a year that Bassett beat them on the penalties in the first qualifying round. Combined Counties League Premier Division North side Amersham would represent new opponents for Bassett. They impressively reached the third qualifying round last season, losing narrowly against step three Taunton Town, before finishing third in the league
Emirates FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round: Lydney Town v Royal Wootton Bassett Town (Saturday 2 August)
Emirates FA Cup Preliminary Round: Lydney Town or Royal Wootton Bassett Town v Cinderford Town or Amersham Town (Saturday 16 August)
Isuzu FA Vase
A hat-trick of runs to the third round meant that for each of the past three seasons Bassett have been exempt from the qualifying rounds of the FA Vase. However, last year's heavy 3-0 first round loss away at AFC Stoneham - who would go on to reach the fifth round - means that for the 2025-26 campaign Bassett's interest in the Vase will begin earlier than the club have gotten used to.
The draw for the early rounds means that Bassett will enter at the first qualifying round stage, with an away tie against Cinderford.
A club who have mainly competed in the FA Trophy, Cinderford do have precious Vase experience, reaching the third round in 1991-92. Their last entry in two seasons ago saw them fall at the first hurdle, losing to Reading City in the second qualifying round. Victory against Cinderford would give Bassett another away tie against either Bitton or Wokingham Town. Western League Division One Bitton, who Bassett have never met before competitively, have plenty of Vase pedigree having reached the semi finals in 2019-20, with four further trips to the fourth round and two fifth round visits. They were eliminated in round one last year. Wokingham, who play in the Combined Counties League Premier Division North, are a former Hellenic League side (when playing under the name Wokingham and Emmbrook). Their best run in the Vase has been to the second round - which they have reached on three occasions. Last year they exited at the first qualifying round stage against Cheltenham Saracens.
Isuzu FA Vase First Qualifying Round: Cinderford Town v Royal Wootton Bassett Town (Saturday 23 August)
Isuzu FA Vase Second Qualifying Round: Bitton or Wokingham Town v Cinderford Town or Royal Wootton Bassett Town (Saturday 20 September)
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Historical details of Royal Wootton Bassett Town's participation in various national cup competitions are available in the history section of our website.
For each competition, details of all results are listed, as well as - where information is available - line-ups and match reports.
See the following pages for details: