In the club’s first appearance in the FA Cup First Qualifying Round since 2022-23, Boro have a long distance away trip to Norfolk to play Thurlow Nunn Premier Division side Harleston Town, who are new opponents, with the teams never having met before.

Back in 2022-23, Romford overcame Saffron Walden Town, Takeley, Hashtag United, and Potters Bar Town to reach the Third Qualifying Round, in which Chelmsford City proved too strong, winning 5-0 in front of 336 fans, the best crowd at Mayesbrook Park that season.

If the scores are level at the end of 90 minutes tomorrow then no extra-time is to be played and the game would go to a replay at Mayesbrook Park on Tuesday 8th September.

The prize fund for this round of the FA Cup awards £2,250 to winning clubs and £750 to losing teams.

Harleston Town: A Brief History

Formed in 1885, the club joined the East Anglian League and in 1963–64 they won the league's Knockout Cup. The league merged with the Norfolk & Suffolk League to form the Anglian Combination, with Harleston placed in Section A.

After winning the Anglian Combination Premier Division title in 2018, Harleston were promoted to the Thurlow Nunn League Division One North, finishing the season as runners-up to Swaffham Town, but were relegated back to the Anglian Combination Premier Division after the ground failed the grading criteria by not having floodlights.

In 2021 Harleston were promoted to the Thurlow Nunn League once again and in their first season back in Division One North Harleston were runners-up, qualifying for the promotion play-offs. After beating Framlingham Town 2–1 in the semi-finals, they defeated Downham Town 3–1 in the final to earn promotion to the Premier Division.

They finished third in the Premier Division in 2022-23 and have subsequently finished sixth, thirteenth, and last season ended the campaign in ninth place.

Honours:
Eastern Counties League:
Division One Knock-out Cup winners 2018–19
Anglian Combination:
Premier Division champions 2017–18
Division Two champions 1981–82, 2011–12
Division Three champions 1980–81, 2010–11
East Anglian League:
Knockout Cup winners 1963–64

Harleston Town in the FA Cup;

Harleston’s debut season in the FA Cup came in 2023-24, but they were beaten in their first game, 3-2 at home by Kempston Rovers in the Extra-Preliminary Round. They met with more success in 2024-25 however, beating Heacham and Soham Town Rangers en route to a First Qualifying Round tie against Biggleswade Town in which they lost in a replay.

In 2025-26 they again exited in the Extra-Preliminary Round, losing at home to Walsham le Willows. This season they kicked off their FA Cup campaign with a 3-1 home win over Great Yarmouth Town and then beat Dereham Town 1-0 in the Preliminary Round.

This Season:

Harleston currently sit 14th in the Thurlow Nunn League Premier Division. They started their league programme with two defeats, 2-0 at March Town United and 2-1 at home to Stowmarket Town, but bounced back with a resounding 6-1 win over Heacham. They then drew 2-2 at Thetford Town, but had no game last Saturday. On Tuesday this week they entertained Great Yarmouth Town, coming from a goal down to draw 1-1.

In the FA Vase, Harleston beat Whittlesey Athletic 5-0 in the First Qualifying Round and next face Ely City away from home. Leading goalscorer for Harleston so far this season is Joshua Durham, who has four goals to his name.

Home Ground and How to Get There:

Harleston play their home games at Wilderness Lane, Harleston, Norfolk IP20 9DD. There is a seated stand that holds around 150, and a covered standing area. The rest of the ground is open hard standing.

By road from Romford it’s between 87 and 102 miles, depending on the route taken. The simplest and shortest route is via the A12 to the Copdock Roundabout, taking the A14 exit towards Bury St Edmunds/Norwich, following the A14, A140, and A143 into Harleston.

Harleston have provided the following useful information about parking:

On-site (closest)
Recreation Ground car park: Entrance on Wilderness Lane beside the Recreation Ground. Drivers should enter the ground via the main car park entrance on Wilderness Lane and follow the signposts for football parking. Spaces are limited.

Free town car parks (5–8 min walk):
East of England Co-op car park (IP20 9AT, EV chargers). Walk from car park to Bullock Fair Close/The Thoroughfare, head west to Swan Lane, then follow London Road south and turn right onto Wilderness Lane (ground on your left).

St John’s Church car park (Broad Street, IP20 9AZ). Leaving car park, walk along Broad Street/Old Market Place toward London Road, then right onto Wilderness Lane.

Short-stay on-street:
30-minute bays on Broad Street and The Thoroughfare (good for drop-offs).

Public Transport:

By train and bus from Romford, travelling to Harleston will take more than two and a half hours and requires getting a Greater Anglia service to Diss and then the number 81 bus for Beccles, getting off at the Shotford Road stop from where the ground is a five minute walk.

This weekend’s fixtures involving Essex Senior League clubs:

Essex Senior League:
3pm Barking v Ilford
3pm Basildon United v Clapton Community
3pm Benfleet v Sporting Bengal United
3pm Great Wakering Rovers v Harwich & Parkeston
3pm Saffron Walden Town v West Essex
3pm Soul Tower Hamlets v Halstead Town

FA Cup First Qualifying Round:
3pm Frenford v Enfield Town
3pm Harleston Town v Romford
3pm Dunstable v Woodford Town