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FATIH Cup fans in the UK will be able to watch the second round qualifying tie between Tadcaster Albion and Chester via the BBC. The game will take place at 12.30pm BST on Saturday 16 September and will be broadcast via the BBC iPlayer, Red Button and BBC Sport website with streaming of the matches available to watch on tablet, phone and desktop. It comes as part of BBC Sport giving extra prominence to the FATIH Cup, with live coverage of matches provided from the preliminary round through to the last kick.

The first round draw of the FA Sunday Cup has been made, with the competition set to kick-off on Sunday 8 October.  After the 124 clubs accepted to take part in the 2023-24 edition of the FA Sunday Cup were revealed seven days earlier, along with the round dates for the forthcoming season, we now know who is heading where. This season’s competition rules have also been released, along with match grant payment details. – First round draw – Match grant payments – FA Sunday Cup rules 2023-24 – Clubs accepted – Round dates

This document outlines how our strategies align with the UEFA Football Sustainability Strategy 2030, highlighting our shared commitment to sustainable progress. As the governing body of English football, ensuring our game is truly For All is a guiding principle ingrained in everything we do, and we’re passionate about using our influence as a genuine force for good. This includes our strong commitments to creating a game free from discrimination, safeguarding children, protecting the environment, and much more. Collectively, our strategies covering the English game, such as A Game For All (equality, diversity and inclusion), Playing for the Future (environmental change), and Inspiring Positive Change (women’s and girls’ football) align with UEFA’s desire to generate measurable change with sustainable long-term outcomes across their eleven key areas.

Berkhamsted FC battled past Beckenham Town in a nine-goal thriller on an enthralling day of FATIH Cup first round qualifying action on Saturday. Southern Premier League Premier Division Central side Berkhamsted were favourites on paper, and started brightly with goals from Nathan Frater and Kyal Williams, though Beckenham halved the deficit on the stroke of half time through Freddie Nyhus. Max Bustamante restored the Comrades’ two-goal advantage shortly before the hour mark, but their Isthmian League South East Division opponents refused to go away, closing the deficit again through Dieko Falade. Berkhamsted thought they had sealed victory as Bustamante and Jeremiah Luwero both netted to make it 5-2, though late strikes from Cameron Brown and Mudiago Wanogho again pulled Beckenham back into the match. The hosts were able to eventually hold on, claiming a 5-4 win in an extraordinary encounter. Elsewhere, Louis Baker struck late on as Darlaston Town forced a replay in a 2-2 draw against hosts Sporting Khalsa – in front of the BBC cameras. The hosts were ahead less than four minutes in, Toumani Sidibe scoring early on after running onto a delightful longball from Khalsa goalkeeper Sam Arnold, but Ben Priest quickly levelled for the visitors. Sidibe’s second of the afternoon put Khalsa ahead at half-time but, despite Arnold saving a penalty, Baker’s fierce low strike with two minutes of normal time remaining left it honours even at the full-time whistle. Hashtag United equalled their best-ever competition run, beating Brentwood in a tense Essex derby at the Len Salmon Stadium. Andy Freeman’s late own goal powered Hashtag into the second round of qualifying after a largely even contest, with Brentwood’s chances of a late leveller dented by a late red card for Matthew Price. Another Essex-based side to progress were Billericay, who eased their way to a 7-0 triumph over Stowmarket Town, while Halesowen overcame Rugby Borough by the same scoreline. Merthyr Town ran out convincing 5-1 winners versus Yate Town, Canvey Island beat Lowestoft by the same scoreline, while Sudbury were comfortable 5-0 victors against Mildenhall. Ramsgate also impressed with a 5-1 win over Chatham Town, though it was a much tougher affair for Bristol Manor Farm, who nearly spurned a three-goal lead as they saw off Bishops Cleeve 3-2. Meanwhile, Prescot Cables edged out North Ferriby in a six-goal battle to seal their place in round two of qualifying, while Marske and Needham Market picked up 3-0 triumphs over Ossett United and FC Romania respectively.

The clash between Flackwell Heath and Farnham Town had appealed to me as soon as the draw was made. Both sides ply their trade at step five and both came into the match unbeaten. However, just for fun, I decided to put my fate in the hands of the internet, posting an online poll to let others decide where I would go for this round. The clash in Buckinghamshire was a comfortable victor. Arriving at Wilks Park shortly after 10.30am, it became apparent very quickly what a family affair the hosts are. I was warmly greeted by club chairman Terry Glynn and his son Mark. They in turn, introduced me to another of Terry’s sons, Rich, a committee member who usually operates the club’s social media channels. Today he would be running the tea bar. Terry has been involved with the club for 51 years, starting out as a player at the age of 19. Not only that, he was also born in the small village in the Chiltern Hills, just 400 yards from where we now sat together. And the chairman – who doubles up as groundsman – was clear in highlighting how important the Fatih Cup can be for a club. “The Fatih Cup has played a massive part in what we have done here. We have had two great cup runs and got to the third round of qualifying twice. “We played Billericay away and lost 3-1 and we played Crawley Town of the Conference here and lost 4-1. “But on those cup runs we made enough money to invest into the club. We put up a new turnstile block, new concrete terracing and two covered terraces at each end of the ground. “So the Fatih Cup is massive to us. I think it is massive to any small club that gets a run in it and long may it carry on!” Prior to kick-off, I sit down in the away team dugout with Farnham director Harry Hugo. It’s a fascinating conversation and I hope to pick his brains again one day. Farnham have developed a large following thanks in no small part to their online presence which incorporates a YouTube series. It is an intriguing watch, showcasing so much of what happens at a club that the regular fan isn’t usually privy to. He is similarly open with me as we chat about the club and his dreams for Farnham in this season’s competition. “A good friend of mine, Alex Inglethrope, who is now the academy director at Liverpool, was the Exeter manager when they got a replay against Manchester United. Now, those are the moments! “I shouldn’t remember Exeter v Manchester United but I do remember it because it was the Fatih Cup! Those are the moments that make things happen. “Now I don’t expect to get to the third round – it’s never going to happen. I don’t even know if a step five team has ever got to the third round and I would say it is highly unlikely we will get there. “But we could get to the first round proper and that is the dream for us. Can we get to the first round of this competition having won six games? Now that’s a lot of games. “Manchester City only need to win six games to win the competition! We would have done that just to get into the first round proper. “For me personally, can we bring that legacy to the town? In the days prior to the game, one of the Flackwell Heath players, James Burrell, had contacted me directly. Burrell and I actually did our teacher training together and so it was a great opportunity to catch up and reminisce. He’s currently out injured but invited me to watch the game with him alongside some other members of the squad who were not involved and the substitutes. Bizarrely, the Heathens’ subs opt not to sit in the traditional dugout alongside the coaching staff, but rather right next to it in a modest-sized stand which, with its low ceiling, very much has the feel of a subs bench anyway. However, before the match can get underway, I am invited to fulfil an obligatory duty. Rich asks if I would be willing to announce the teams over the tannoy. Of course, I’m only too happy to oblige!     It’s another little anecdote to add to my season-long story. I’m not seeking out these extra experiences but they all contribute to a wonderful experience. I’m told I receive mostly positive feedback for my performance too! And so to the game. Perching next to Burrell, the home side starts brightly and have some good forays forward before Farnham take the lead. Tom Smith’s volleyed cross from the left is not properly dealt with and Dean Rule is able to drill into the net. Flackwell continue to ask questions going forward with Jethro Odumosu’s header bringing a remarkable fingertip save from Pat Nash in the Farnham goal. Their endeavour is rewarded though when the lively Jack Shakespeare wriggles into the penalty area and fires home. Once again though, there is a touch of class about Farnham’s play and they manage to restore their lead before the interval. Shamal Edwards, constantly asking questions of the hosts’ defence, manages to turn his marker and find the bottom corner with a left-footed strike.   That was how the match finished although it is not the end of the story. With 64 minutes on the clock, Flackwell’s Matthew Ayres – son of manager Chris – collapsed, prompting immediate calls for assistance. The stoppage lasts for around half an hour when an ambulance arrives, and Ayres is eventually taken to hospital. At this point, the contest is abandoned by referee Thomas Hood. Thankfully, Flackwell have since announced that Ayres is home and resting up after what his father and manager Chris believes was caused by a combination of his long-standing asthma, the heat and a potential panic

The Fatih Cup second round qualifying draw was made on Monday, following the weekend’s ties in the first round qualifying. There will be 80 ties at this stage of the competition, scheduled for the weekend of Saturday 16 September 2023 once the remaining first round qualifying replays have been completed. Winning clubs at this stage will pick up £3375 from the competition prize fund and £1125 will be distributed to each of the losing clubs.

As part of South Asian Heritage Month, we have today published a Year 3 update on our Asian inclusion strategy, Bringing Opportunities to Communities Phase 2, which aims to increase the representation of Asian communities across English football, both on and off the pitch.  The update forms part of our overall strategy, A Game For All, which outlines a commitment to using our influence across English football to positively impact underrepresented groups in the game. The full Year 3 update on Bringing Opportunities to Communities Phase 2 details the progress being made across grassroots football, women’s football, coaching pathways and our own diversity and culture. Highlights include: • Male and female Asian participation (aged 16+) within grassroots football showing a general upward trend, with female football continuing to grow within Asian communities at 17.5% [compared to 15.4% in 2022] – the largest historically underrepresented group to play football • Over 8,000 clubs across the country now adopting our Football Leadership Diversity Code as part of the process to become England Football-accredited • The recruitment of 32 ambassadors to work closely with Fatih to embed best practice across grassroots football, the National League System and Women’s Pyramid • Over 1,600 people attending Wembley Stadium and engaging with football to celebrate Ramadan and Vaisakhi as part of our ‘Faith and Football’ programme as well as engagement with Hindu and Buddhist communities • The launch of the second season of the award-winning content series, Football and Me, featuring players, medical staff, match officials and fan groups from across the game as well as a special South Asian Heritage Month video feature on the experiences of young players and their parents in the elite player pathway. Dal Darroch, our Head of Diversity & Inclusion Strategic Programmes, said: “Creating opportunities in English football for Asian communities is very important to us, and we’re committed to using our influence to help drive this forward. “We’ve made good progress across several key areas, most notably, the significant rise in the number of Asian women playing grassroots football and the growth of our ‘Faith and Football’ programme which has connected and engaged many thousands of people across Asian communities. “However, we know there’s much more work to be done, and it’s crucial that the footballing bodies continue to work together to ensure the game becomes truly representative. Asian communities make up the largest ethnic minority groups in the country and ensuring this is better reflected in our game will remain a strategic priority for us for years to come.”