Emirates FA Cup 1st Round Proper
Tie to take place Saturday 7th November 2026 – 3.00 pm Kick-Off
Leyton Orient vs Harborough Town
Brisbane Road, London E10 5NF
Author – James Lee
Image – RB Media
Harborough Town’s FA Cup journey continues following last weekend’s 3-1 victory over Spennymoor Town. The reward is a place in the First Round Proper and a trip to the BetWright Stadium to take on League One outfit Leyton Orient.
The two sides have never played each other on a competitive stage, so this occasion will be one to remember. A matchup against a League One side will bring back memories from the 2024/25 season when the Bees travelled to Reading in the Second Round, and although it ended in a 5-3 defeat after extra time, it was still a day to remember and be proud of.
Leyton Orient currently find themselves ninth in League One with four wins, two draws and four losses from their opening ten fixtures this campaign. The O’s key players include Jaze Kabia, Yusuf Akhamrich and Demetri Mitchell, who all regularly get goal involvements for their side. Managed by the former Leicester City and Doncaster Rovers player Richie Wellens since 2022, he has overseen the club being crowned champions of League Two and has now cemented their place in League One.
This is the Greater London side’s first FA Cup tie this season. However, over the past few seasons, they have had up-and-down experiences in this competition. This included last season when they travelled to National League side Tamworth in the First Round and won 1-0. However, they then travelled to League Two’s Salford City, where they fell to a disappointing 4-0 defeat. Everyone in yellow knows how tough a game this will be, but nothing is impossible when it comes to Harborough Town.
The fixture is provisionally scheduled to take place on the weekend of the 7th November, with ticket information to be announced in due course.
Elsewhere in the draw, there are a couple of ties the Bees’ fans may want to keep an eye on. AFC Rushden & Diamonds will travel to take on Burton Albion, and if Anstey Nomads can overcome Macclesfield Town in their replay, they would be rewarded with a trip to take on Mansfield Town.
The FA Cup magic has been felt around the Beehive so far this season. Let’s see if we can take it on the road with us and make it another FA Cup experience to remember.
Full Draw:
1 Dover Athletic v Wealdstone
2 Mansfield Town v Macclesfield or Anstey Nomads
3 Huddersfield Town v Exeter City
4 Luton Town v Chesham United or Forest Green Rovers
5 Bristol Rovers v Cambridge United
6 Oldham Athletic v Sheffield Wednesday
7 Kidderminster Harriers v Doncaster Rovers
8 Leyton Orient v Harborough Town
9 Accrington Stanley v Wycombe Wanderers
10 MK Dons v Swindon Town
11 Newport County v Walsall
12 Bromley v Rotherham United
13 Barnet v Tranmere Rovers
14 Fleetwood Town v Rochdale
15 Barnsley v Aldershot or Tadley Calleva
16 Plymouth Parkway v Berkhamsted
17 Chesterfield v Leatherhead or Yeovil Town
18 Gillingham v Barrow or Gloucester City
19 Bury or Harrogate Town v AFC Fylde
20 Crewe Alexandra v AFC Wimbledon
21 Oxford United v Stevenage
22 Burton Albion v AFC Rushden & Diamonds
23 Bedford Town or Cray Wanderers v Stockport County
24 Port Vale v Scunthorpe United
25 Cheltenham Town v FC Halifax Town
26 Colchester United v Chorley or Worcester City
27 Eastleigh v Shrewsbury Town
28 Peterborough United v Reading
29 Wimborne Town v Crawley Town
30 Plymouth Argyle v Spalding United or Alvechurch
31 Hornchurch v Blackpool
32 Guiseley v Sutton United
33 Gateshead or Stafford Rangers v Grimsby Town
34 Oxford City v Leicester City
35 Bradford City v Marine
36 York City v Northampton Town
37 Altrincham or FC United of Manchester v Notts County
38 Boreham Wood v Wigan Athletic
39 Carlisle United v Salford City
40 Salisbury v Sholing