FA Cup & Vase Draws 2026/27

Rugby Town have been drawn at home to Uttoxeter Town in the Emirates FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round.

Meanwhile in the FA Vase, Valley have another home draw in the shape of Shawbury United.

The FA Cup tie against Uttoxeter will be the first competitive meeting between the sides and will be played on on Saturday 8 August a couple of weeks after the UCL Premier South league campaign has begun.

Uttoxeter have plyed their trade in the Midland Football League Premier Divison since earning promotion from level below in 2021 and finished 16th last season.

They have competed in four FA Cup campaigns with their only victory coming against Romulus at their first attempt in 2021.

Valley will be cautious about their prospects in the competition and keen to avoid a repeat of last season when they were knocked out by then-lower league and now division rivals Coton Green who were appearing in the FA Cup for the very first time.

Rugby won three ties in 2024 before bowing out to Hednesford Town at Keys Park in the a Second Qualifying Round Replay.

Meanwhile Vase opponents Shawbury now play in the North West Counties League First Divsion Southat Step 6 in the non-league pyramid.

The Shropshire-based side finished 15th last season and were in the same MFL Premier Division as Rugby in the 2017/18 when they lost their Step 5 status.

Rugby have been given a bye from the First Round Qualifying and will enter the competition in the Second Round Qualifying with the tie being played on Saturday 12 September.

FA Cup

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.

The best run in more recent years was 13 years ago when Rugby reached as far as the Third Qualifying Round before exiting to then-National League North side Worcester City in 2013.

This year's Extra Preliminary Round tie will be played at Butlin Road on Saturday 8th August 2026. If the match is drawn after 90 minutes there will be a replay at Uttoxeter's Oldfields Sports Ground, most likely on Tuesday 11th August.

The winners of the tie will host Belper Town in the Preliminary Round on Saturday 22nd August 2026.

FA Vase

This season will see a return to the FA Vase after three years competiting in the FA Trophy while Valley played in the NPL Midlands.

The FA Vase is a national competition featuring teams from the Rugby's current level at Step 5 down to Step 6 with the final played at Wembley Stadium.

In the last Vase campaign in the 2022/23 promotion campaign, Valley exited at the first hurdle against AFC Wulfrunians despite winning six ties in the previous season before being defeated by North Shields in the Fifth Round.

Valley famously won the FA Vase in 1983 with a 1-0 win over Halesowen Town at the old Wembley Stadium.

The match against Shawbury will be played at Butlin Road on Saturday 12th September 2026 with the game to be determined by a penalty shootout with no extra time and no replay.