In a season of historic firsts AFC Portchester are set to create another one this weekend with their fixture at The OnSite Group Stadium.
The Royals will be making their debut in the FA Trophy – an added bonus in the national cup competitions thanks to being at Step 4 level of the non league pyramid system for the first time.
They’ll be hoping the switch from the FA Vase to the FA Trophy will herald in better fortunes in the national cup competitions as previous Portchester sides have not faired that well since they started competing in the FA Vase from 2010.
The Royals only progressed past the qualifying round stage of the competition six times in the 15 seasons they competed in the FA Vase, and in the last two seasons they were knocked out in their first match in the competition by Cowes Sports and Baffins Milton Rovers.
The furthest Portchester reached was the Third Round in 2013-14 and 2014-15 – still several rounds away from a Wembley final and with many a football observer believing the club was equipped on and off the field to possibly go a lot further in the competition.
Flackwell Heath are the visitors in the First Qualifying Round tie on Saturday (kick off 3pm) and this is only their third season in the FA Trophy.
They reached the Third Qualifying Round stage of the competition last season, a run which included a 2-1 win over a Farnham Town outfit who have risen quickly through the non-league system in recent years.
Flackwell were only one game away from moving up to Step 3 level last season when they reached the promotion play-offs after finishing third in the Southern League Division 1 Central.
They beat Barton Rovers in the semi finals before losing to Berkhamsted in the final. This was their first season back at Step 4 level after the club won the Combined Counties League Premier North Division title in 2023-24.
Flackwell, who are based near High Wycombe, have made a solid start to the current campaign as they are through to the Second Qualifying Round of the FA Cup and currently sit in fourth position in their league.
An historic but tough afternoon awaits the Royals this Saturday.
