FA competition draws announced
Last season saw Royal Wootton Bassett Town record victory in both the FA Cup and FA Vase for a third season in a row. In the Emirates FA Cup, Bassett advanced two rounds with wins over Windsor and Reading City before bowing out in the first qualifying round against Paulton Rovers. Meanwhile, in the Isuzu FA Vase, the Men's First Team reached the third round for a second season in a row courtesy of a pair of dramatic away wins at Bridport and Wellington, missing out on a place in the last 32 after a defeat on penalties against Corsham Town. Those results continued a trend which has now seen Bassett enjoy significant success on the national stage over the course of the past three seasons. And it is hoped that will continue in 2023-24 - with draws for the early stages of both competitions – as well as the FA Youth Cup, which Bassett will again enter – now released. Details of who Bassett will have to overcome to maintain that trend are available below.
Emirates FA Cup
Victories against Windsor and Reading City in last year's competition meant that Bassett have recorded at least one win in the FA Cup in each of the last three seasons. Only once before had Bassett recorded wins in back-to-back campaigns (2008-09 and 2009-10). Now though, Sam Collier and his team will be looking to progress in the world's oldest cup competition for an unprecedented fourth year in a row. To do so though, Bassett will have to win away from home, with a tough draw against Hellenic League Premier Division rivals Mangotsfield United in the extra preliminary round (Saturday 5 August). Bassett did have the upper hand over the Mangos over the course of their three meetings last season, with a pair of narrow league wins, including a 2-1 away triumph. However, Mangotsfield got the better of Bassett in a second round Floodlit Cup tie, winning 4-2 on penalties before going on to lift the trophy. Mangotsfield have a strong history in the FA Cup too, having reached the fourth (and final) qualifying round on four occasions, most recently in 2009-10. They have not got beyond the first qualifying round since 2010-11 though and last year were eliminated in the extra preliminary round in a replay against Cadbury Heath. Should Bassett win that tie then they will face another away match in the preliminary round with a trip to either Ardley United or Ascot United - two former Hellenic League rivals (Saturday 19 August). Moved to the Combined Counties League Premier Division North for the new season, Ardley are a side against who Bassett have recent FA Cup experience, with the teams having met in the 2021-22 preliminary round. That year saw Ardley triumph 3-1 in a replay after a 2-2 draw in Wiltshire. That win earned Ardley a place in the first qualifying round for only the third time in their history. Their best run came in 2013-14 when wins over Ash United, Hartley Wintney and Slough Town saw them advance to the second qualifying round where they were narrowly beaten by Chippenham Town. Last season they suffered defeat in the preliminary round. Their best run in the FA Vase came in 2012-13 when they made the third round. Ascot, meanwhile, will be plying their trade for the first time at step four in the Isthmian League South Central Division. That follows a historical season in which they won the Combined Counties League Premier Division North and the FA Vase. They have had more limited success in the FA Cup though, reaching the first qualifying round just twice (2016-17) and (2021-22). Last season, they exited in the preliminary round, losing away at Holyport after having record an extra preliminary round win against eventual Hellenic League Premier Division champions Cribbs. Both teams would therefore represent challenging opponents – not least given Bassett's historical league record against them. 30 league contests against Ardley yielded just six Bassett wins, eight draws and 16 losses. 14 league meetings with Ascot have seen Bassett win five times, draw three and lose six. Bassett do have a winning record away from home against the Yellamen though, with three wins, two draws and two losses.
Emirates FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round: Mangotsfield United v Royal Wootton Bassett Town (Saturday 5 August)
Emirates FA Cup Preliminary Round: Ardley United or Ascot United v Mangotsfield United or Royal Wootton Bassett Town (Saturday 19 August)
Isuzu FA Vase
Having reached the third round of the FA Vase for a second season in a row, Bassett have again earned an exemption that will see them enter this year's competition at the first round proper stage. Only the second time that Bassett will not have to navigate the qualifying rounds, Sam Collier's side will take their first steps in the competition on Saturday 21 October. Having reached at least the second round in three consecutive years, the aim will once more be to advance at least a couple of rounds, with Collier keen to break the club record he and his team set and then equalled. The past two years have seen Bassett exit with narrow defeats at the hands of teams who went on to reach the semi finals (Hamworthy United and Corsham Town). Having stood toe to toe with those teams, albeit coming up just short, hopefully this is the year that Bassett can remain in the competition into the new year. It's certainly the case that expectations for the FA Vase are now much higher than they once were when Bassett struggled to advance beyond the qualifying rounds.
FA Youth Cup
After a one year absence, Bassett's Under 18 Floodlit team are set to return to the FA Youth Cup. Bassett participated in the competition in 2021-22, losing 3-1 in the preliminary round at home against Paulton Rovers. That was the first time since the 2009-10 season that the club had entered the Youth Cup - and Bassett have not won a game in the national competition since a 3-1 win away at Westbury United in the 2007-08 preliminary round. Bassett's best run was to the second qualifying round - achieved in both 2003-04 and 2005-06. Overall, the club have recorded wins in four of the eight seasons in which they have taken part in the Youth Cup, albeit never progressing more than one round. This year sees Bassett enter in the preliminary round, avoiding a potential opening tie in the middle of August. There, Nick Warren's young guns will host the Under 18s side of Bassett's long-time Hellenic League Premier Division rivals Tuffley Rovers at the Sustain Stadium (week commencing 4 September). Rovers enjoyed a stellar run in the competition in 2020-21, beating Bitton (6-3), Bath City (4-1) and Radstock Town (6-2) before a 4-2 third qualifying round defeat against Torquay United. The past two seasons have seen them suffer defeat in their first game though, losing 4-0 against Cinderford Town in the 2021-22 first qualifying round (having received a walkover a round earlier) and 2-0 against Paulton in last season's preliminary round.
FA Youth Cup Preliminary Round: Royal Wootton Bassett Town v Tuffley Rovers (week commencing 4 September)
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Historical details of Royal Wootton Bassett Town's participation in various national cup competitions are available in the history section of our website.
For each competition, details of all results are listed, as well as - where information is available - line-ups and match reports.
See the following pages for details: