Isuzu FA Trophy 3rd Round Proper
Tie to take place Saturday 13th December 2025 – 3.00pm Kick Off
Harborough Town FC vs Carlisle United
Harborough Town Community Football Ground, LE16 9HF
Author – Andy Sparrow
Image – Frame The Game Media
Harborough Town have been handed a blockbuster home fixture in the Isuzu FA Trophy Third Round after being drawn against Enterprise National League side Carlisle United, with the tie revealed live yesterday on talkSPORT2 during The Social Show by former striker Sam Parkin.
No strangers to testing themselves against higher-level opposition, this fixture will see the Bees take on the highest-ranked side they will have faced so far in the 2025/26 season.
Harborough have already proven their ability to compete with teams from above, having taken National League side Altrincham to a replay in October in the Emirates FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round, while also beating Peterborough Sports and Worksop Town during the same cup run. They then carried that momentum into the FA Trophy, defeating Enfield Town in the previous round.
Carlisle United currently sit third in the Enterprise National League, just one point off top spot, providing Mitch Austin’s side with another exciting opportunity to compete against opponents from further up the footballing pyramid.
This will be the first ever meeting between the two sides, and whilst the Third Round represents Harborough’s best-ever run in the competition, Carlisle United will be appearing in the FA Trophy for the first time since the 2004–05 season, when they exited in the Fifth Round following a 1–0 defeat to Woking — their deepest run in the competition to date.
The Cumbrians — who as recently as 2023/24 were competing in League One — are managed by Mark Hughes, a figure with immense pedigree in world football. Hughes enjoyed an illustrious playing career with Manchester United, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Chelsea, earning over 70 caps for Wales. His managerial résumé is equally distinguished, having taken charge in the Premier League with Blackburn Rovers, Manchester City, Fulham, QPR and Southampton, as well as managing the Welsh national team.
The Bees’ strong start to the season in all competitions will be matched against a Carlisle squad rich in Football League experience, with seasoned figures such as Charlie Wyke, Aaron Hayden and Callum Whelan providing proven quality at this level and above. Adding further attacking threat is the in-form Regan Linney, who joined the Cumbrians in the summer from Altrincham and has made an immediate impact — scoring 11 goals in his first 16 appearances, placing him among the National League’s leading scorers.
The fixture is provisionally scheduled to be played on Saturday 13th December 2025, with a 3.00pm kick-off. Ticket information will be announced in due course.
All media enquiries for this fixture should be directed to media@harboroughtownfc.org.
Elsewhere in the draw, fellow Leicestershire club Anstey Nomads have been rewarded for their 1–0 win against Bedford Town in the previous round with an away trip to National League side Hartlepool United. Meanwhile, Alvechurch — also of the Southern League Premier Central — will face the winners of Gainsborough Trinity vs Alfreton Town, after their tie was postponed at the weekend due to a waterlogged pitch.
With the ultimate prize of a final at Wembley on 17th May 2026, the Third Round promises another fiercely contested set of fixtures across the country next month.
The Draw in Full
NORTH (32 CLUBS, 16 TIES)
1. Solihull Moors v AFC Fylde
2. Harborough Town v Carlisle United
3. Alvechurch v Gainsborough Trinity or Alfreton Town
4. Hartlepool United v Anstey Nomads
5. South Shields v Macclesfield
6. Clitheroe v York City
7. Scunthorpe United v Peterborough Sports
8. Worksop Town v Kidderminster Harriers
9. Curzon Ashton v Marine
10. Hereford v Radcliffe
11. Leamington v Rochdale
12. Southport v Leek Town
13. Tamworth v Boston United
14. FC Halifax Town v FC United of Manchester
15. AFC Telford United v Altrincham
16. Gateshead v Morecambe
SOUTH (32 CLUBS, 16 TIES)
1. Boreham Wood v Brackley Town
2. Leatherhead v Harrow Borough
3. Yeovil Town v Maidstone United
4. Forest Green Rovers v Weston Super Mare
5. Hemel Hempstead Town v Horsham
6. Chatham Town v Plymouth Parkway
7. Wealdstone v Cheshunt
8. Dorking Wanderers v Bath City
9. Woking v AFC Totton
10. Dagenham & Redbridge v Hanwell Town
11. Eastleigh v Aldershot Town
12. Southend United v Truro City
13. Ebbsfleet United v Braintree Town
14. Walton & Hersham v Sutton United
15. Gloucester City v Worthing
16. Dover Athletic v Hornchurch