FA Cup & Trophy Draws 2025/26

Rugby Town have been drawn away to Coton Green in the Emirates FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round.

The tie will be the first competitive game of the season on Saturday 2 August ahead of the new NPL Midland Division campaign which starts a week later.

Coton Green, who earned promotion last season from the Midland Football League Division One, will compete in the FA Cup for the first time in their history.

Last season Rugby won three ties in the FA Cup before bowing out to Hednesford Town at Keys Park in the a Second Qualifying Round Replay.

Meanwhile in the Isuzu FA Trophy, Rugby have been drawn at home to Warwickshire & division rivals Racing Club Warwick in the First Qualifying Round, having been given a bye in the Preliminary Round.

Warwick had a solid first season back in Step Four last season eventually finishing 11th although Rugby did win the league meeting at Butlin Road.

Last season Valley lost in a penalty shoot-out in the First Qualifying Round of the Trophy to Carlton Town.

FA Cup

The best run in recent years was 12 years ago when Rugby reached as far as the Third Qualifying Round before exiting to then-National League North side Worcester City in 2013.

Valley last reached the FA Cup First Round proper back in 1993-4 over 30 years ago while Rugby's best FA Cup record came in 1987-88 and 1992-93 when they reached the Second Round Proper.

This year's Extra Preliminary Round tie will be played at New Mill Lane in Fazeley, Tamworth on Saturday 2nd August 2025. If the match is drawn after 90 minutes there will be a replay at Butlin Road, most likely on Tuesday 5th August.

The winners of the tie will host either Gresley Rovers or Eastwood in the Preliminary Round on Saturday 16th August 2025.

FA Trophy

It will be our third successive competing in the FA Trophy after having a hiatus between 2017 and 2022.

The FA Trophy features teams from the National League Premier (Step 1 of non-league pyramid) down to Rugby's league and equivalent (Step 4).

Valley's record in the FA Trophy is pretty terrible - the last time won a tie in the competition was back in 2010 with wins over Leighton Town and Hemel Hempstead Town.

The match against Warwick will be played at Butlin Road on Saturday 6th September 2025 with the game to be determined by a penalty shootout with no extra time and no replay.