The 2025-26 campaign kicks-off for AFC Portchester this Saturday with an 160-mile round trip in the Emirates FA Cup.

The Road to Wembley takes the Royals on the road away to Melksham Town in the Extra Preliminary Round stage of the world’s most famous cup competition and a tough-looking assignment awaits Portchester in the west country.

Melksham reached the Third Qualifying Round stage of the competition last season – just two wins away from the First Round Proper stage when EFL League 1 and 2 clubs join the contest. This equalled their best ever run in the competition – they reached the same stage in 1954 and 1957.

Add to that the hosts finished in a strong eighth place in the Southern League’s Division 1 South last season – equalling their best ever finish in the Southern League since gaining promotion to it in 2018.

The Royals will head west hoping to rekindle some of the FA Cup form they used to regularly enjoy. Portchester reached the Second Qualifying Round stage of the competition in 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2017 but since then they have failed to make it past the Preliminary Round stage.

Victories over Dorchester Town, Bideford, AFC Totton and Bristol Manor Farm all feature in Portchester’s FA Cup record during those successful years but since a run to the Second Round of the FA Vase in 2019-20, the Royals have failed to get through more than two rounds of either national cup competition.

If Saturday’s tie ends in a draw, the replay is due to be played at The OnSite Group Stadium on Tuesday, August 5. Kick-off would be 7.45pm.