It's FA Cup action this weekend at the ASM Stadium as Thame United enter the competition at the preliminary round, where they will play Brislington FC from the Western League. It's the first time the two teams have met in any competition. Due to Thame United's league placing last season, they avoided the Extra Preliminary round of the competition, whereas Brislington were drawn away to Thornbury United and came through the tie with a 1-0 victory, going at least one better than last season when they were eliminated in the extra preliminary round, losing 3-2 at Wokingham and Emmbrook. Brislington first entered the FA Cup in the 1996/1997 season, with their best performance coming in the 2013/2014 season, when they reached the fourth qualifying round.

Thame made their first-ever appearance in the prestigious competition during the 1976–77 season. Aside from a three-season gap between 1985 and 1988, they have participated in every single iteration of the tournament, with their best performance coming in the 2003/2004 and 2004/2005 seasons, when they reached the fourth qualifying round. Last season the club came through the preliminary round with a 3-1 away victory at Clevedon Town, before going down 2-1 at Step 3 Chertsey Town in the first qualifying round.

The visitors to the ASM Stadium this season have been at Step 5 in the Western League Premier Division since winning promotion via the playoffs in the 2023/2024 season and have maintained their place in the Premier Division since then. So far this season they have lost all four of their league matches but turned their fortunes around this week with a good victory in the FA Vase at the weekend, beating Royal Wootton Bassett 1-0 to advance to the next round, and an emphatic midweek away victory at Shepton Mallet by four goals to nil. Brislington are more advanced in their season, having played six games, with Thame having played only two games: a loss against Royston Town, then a 3-3 draw at the weekend against Ware, in which newcomer Ed Daffern scored a brace.

If the tie is all square at full time, there will be a replay on Tuesday 25 August, kick-off 19:45, at the Poplar Insulation Stadium, Ironmould Lane, Bristol, BS4 5SA, with the winner advancing to the first qualifying round to be played on Saturday 5 September.

Kick Off at the ASM Stadium 15:00

COLOURS:
Thame United will be playing in Red / Black Shirts, Black Shorts, Red Socks, GK All Orange
Brislington FC will be playing in ​Yellow Shirts, White Shorts, Yellow Socks, GK All Green

TEAM MANAGERS:
Thame Manager - Ben Williams
Brislington FC Manager - Josh Egan

MATCH OFFICIALS:
Referee: Adam Jackson
Assistant Referee: Gavin Smith
Assistant Referee: David Cox

GROUND
The ASM Stadium, Meadow View Park, Thame, Oxon OX9 3RN, 01844 214401

PRICES:
Adults £10, Concessions / Students £5, U16 £3, Under 5s Free