The 2025/26 Emirates FA Cup competition gets underway this weekend and there’s an interesting Extra Preliminary Round clash at Beaconsfield Town of the Pitching In Southern League Division One Central as they take on their counterparts from Division One South, Larkhall Athletic.
For James Dobson, who returned to The Rams over the course of the summer, the FA Cup holds many special memories.
He was part of the Slough Town team that reached the second round proper in successive seasons in 2017/18 and 2018/19.
“That was a fantastic experience to be involved in,” he told us. “We got to play in front of the live television cameras and also pit our wits against Football League opponents.
“This is such a special competition, which is renowned all over the world. I remember going to the 2004 FA Cup Final between Manchester United and Millwall at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.
“It was a great occasion and being a United fan, seeing the team lift the Cup at the end was magical. That magic and those memories are what the FA Cup is all about.
“I am looking forward to kicking this season’s competition off at the weekend and hopefully we can make progress. Larkhall will also come here determined to get through, so it makes for a good battle ahead.
“It’s great to be back at the club because I enjoyed my time here previously and the ambitions of the club tie in nicely with my own expectations.
“I want to be up there challenging; I have to admit that I don’t know an awful lot about this League, but I have won promotion from Step 4 twice before, so hopefully my experience can help the club be as competitive as we can.
“We want to finish as high as possible; there is good quality within the group and I want to contribute goals and assists as well as helping those younger lads around me. I have previously been a team-mate of the Gaffer and I know that he’ll get this club moving in the right direction.”
IMAGE: Beaconsfield Town FC
