The Emirates FA Cup is back and so is the magic that comes with it. Now in its 154th year, the world’s oldest and most iconic knock-out football competition is ready to write a new chapter. And we’re proud to be part of it.
This isn’t just another fixture! This is the start of a dream. With 747 teams entering this season’s FA Cup, from non-league battlers to Premier League giants, the beauty of the competition lies in its unpredictability. Anything can happen. Anyone can win. But in the end, only one will lift the trophy at Wembley.
For Simon Johnson and his Cityzens, this is more than a game! It’s a chance to make history. The road to Wembley begins with belief, passion, and 90 minutes that could change everything. Every tackle, every goal, every roar from the fans, it all matters.
There’s nothing quite like the FA Cup. From famous giant-killings to heroic last-minute winners, it’s earned its reputation as the greatest knock-out competition in the world. And now, it’s our turn to chase the dream.
ABOUT THE OPPOSITION
Founded in October 1889, Cirencester Town FC has a rich and varied footballing history. The club began in the Cheltenham League, where it secured multiple Division One titles in the 1920s and 1950s.
After periods in and out of the Gloucestershire Northern Senior League, Cirencester became a founding member of the Gloucestershire County League in 1968 before moving up to the Hellenic League. The club experienced both promotion and relegation in the 1970s but steadily progressed through the football pyramid.
In the 1990s, the team rose to the Southern League, winning the Hellenic Premier Division in 1995–96 and also lifting the Gloucestershire Senior Cup. The early 2000s saw more success, with promotion to the Southern League Premier Division in 2004.
Cirencester became known as a yo-yo club, bouncing between divisions throughout the 2000s and 2010s. Highlights include winning the Southern League Division One South & West in 2013–14 and claiming a second Gloucestershire Senior Cup in 2014–15.
Despite strong league finishes in 2018–19 and 2021–22, the club narrowly missed out on promotion via the play-offs. Following a 6th-place finish in 2023–24, Cirencester Town FC voluntarily stepped down to the Hellenic League Premier Division to restructure and build for the future.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Whilst this may be the first time the two First Teams have met, it’s not our first encounter with the Centurions. During our 2014/15 Campaign in the Uhlsport Hellenic League Premier Division which saw us finish second, we participated in the Bluefin Sports League Challenge Cup and were drawn at home to Cirencester Town’s Development side who at the time competed in Division One West of the Uhlsport Hellenic League, in the first round of the tournament and it was the Centurions who progressed as after the game finished all square, it had to be to ultimately be settled by a penalty shootout which the Gloucestershire side won 2-4.
Coming into this game, Johnson’s men will be looking to bounce back from their opening day defeat on the road to Burnham on Wednesday evening where we narrowly lost 3-2. In what could be considered a good omen, this is the First Team in two seasons that we kick off our FA Cup campaign on the road. The last time we did that was in 2023/24 when we began our FA Cup Adventure away to Slimbridge who are also based in the Emirates FA Cup and became the lowest-ranked side to be left in the competition before being knocked out in the Second Round Qualifying following a replay, the furthest in the competition the club has ever got!
Cirencester come into this game also looking for their first win of the season, having lost 2-1 away from home against Slimbridge in their Uhlsport Hellenic League Premier Division opener on Tuesday evening.
When it comes to the Emirates FA Cup, the Centurions have a very good record of reaching the Second or Third Round of Qualifying and will no doubt want to do that again this season having exited early every season since 2022/23 when they last made the Second Round Qualifying, the season before that was the last time they qualified for the Third Round Qualifying.
TICKETS
Prices are:
Adults: £8
CONCESSIONS: £6
UNDER 16S: FREE
THE TALENT HIRE STADIUM
Address: The Talent Hire Stadium, Kingshill Lane, Cirencester, Gloucestershire,GL7 1HS
GETTING HERE
By Car: From Reading take the M4 westbound for 30.5 miles, Exit at Junction 15 for A346/A419 toward Marlborough / Swindon. At Badbury Roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto Marlborough Rd (A419), Stay on A419 for 14.8 miles. Take the slip road for Cirencester Industrial Area / Stroud. At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Cirencester Rd (A419). At the next roundabout, take the 5th exit onto Swindon Rd (A419). Turn left onto Kingshill Lane in 0.5 miles Turn left, then immediate right and you’ll have reached the Talent Hire Stadium.
By Rail: The nearest railway station is Kemble. From Reading take Great Western Railway towards Cheltenham Spa which call at Kemble.
The quickest way from the Station to the Ground is by Taxi. Our hosts are linked with Two & Fro Taxis in Cirencester. Tel:01285 640088 and advise to give them a call to meet your train and they’ll do you a good deal. Dependent on the time and season of the year the rate is around £15.
