Two away wins without conceding, 5-0 and 3-0, put the Crows in the first qualifying round. They host Isthmian Premier side AFC Whyteleafe at 3pm on 5 September.

Crowborough Athletic have won two FA Cup ties away from home this month without conceding a goal, and the reward is a home tie on Saturday 5 September at 3pm against AFC Whyteleafe, a club playing a division above them. (Crowborough Athletic FC, match centre)

The Crows, formed in 1894, are in the Isthmian League South East Division. Whyteleafe are in the Isthmian League Premier Division. (AFC Whyteleafe)

How they got here

Two rounds, two away days, eight goals scored and none conceded:

  • Saturday 8 August, extra preliminary round: Guernsey 0 Crowborough Athletic 5, at Victoria Park, Guernsey. R Samuel-Smikle scored twice (5 and 71 minutes), H Forster once (7), and E Duncan twice (33 and 95).
  • Saturday 22 August, preliminary round: Epsom & Ewell 0 Crowborough Athletic 3, played at Chessington in front of 122 people. R Samuel-Smikle scored on 50 minutes and again from the penalty spot on 61, with H Forster in between on 54.

Both dates match the FA’s published round calendar for 2026-27, which puts the extra preliminary round on 8 August, the preliminary round on 22 August and the first qualifying round on 5 September. (The FA, Emirates FA Cup round dates)

The tie

The first qualifying round tie is at the Charles Century Community Stadium, Fermor Road, TN6 3FY, kick-off 3pm. Whyteleafe’s own website lists the same fixture at “Crowborough Community Stadium”.

Whyteleafe have made a hard start to their Premier Division season. The table published on their site on Wednesday morning had them 20th of 22, with one point from four games, three goals scored and ten conceded. Crowborough, meanwhile, lost 2-0 at home to South Park on Tuesday night in the league.

The cup tie has already cost the club a league fixture. Crowborough were due to host Erith Town in the Pitching In Isthmian League South East on 5 September, and that game is now listed as postponed on the club’s fixtures and results page.

What it is worth

The FA pays every club in the competition, and the sums matter at this level. From the 2026-27 prize fund: (The FA, Emirates FA Cup prize fund)

  • Extra preliminary round winners: £1,125
  • Preliminary round winners: £1,444
  • First qualifying round winners: £2,250, losers £750
  • Second qualifying round winners: £3,375

So the two August wins have already brought in £2,569. Beating Whyteleafe would add £2,250 and a second qualifying round tie on 19 September; losing still brings £750.

Before that

Two other fixtures come first, both listed on the club’s own calendar:

  • Saturday 29 August, 3pm: at home to Ashford United in the FA Trophy first qualifying round.
  • Monday 31 August, 3pm: away at Hastings United in the league, on the bank holiday.

What it means for you

If you have never been, this is the season’s obvious excuse. The club publishes admission for men’s first team league games as £10 for adults, £6 concessions and £2 for under-16s, with printed programmes at £2 and cash and card taken throughout the ground. It does not publish a separate cup price on that page, so check before you go. Dogs on leads are welcome. (Crowborough Athletic FC, visiting us)

Getting there, from the club’s own directions: turn onto Fermor Road from the A26 and follow the signs, with parking by the stadium and street parking nearby if it fills. The closest bus stop is Aldervale Cottages / Alderbrook, about two minutes’ walk, served by Brighton and Hove routes 29, 29B and 29X between Brighton, Lewes, Uckfield, Crowborough and Tunbridge Wells. From the railway station the club reckons on a 25 to 30 minute walk, up Western Road and Walshes Road, which it notes inclines all the way to Fermor Road. Crowborough’s station is at Jarvis Brook, not in the town.

One caveat worth stating plainly. Non-league fixtures move. Postponements, ground swaps and rearranged kick-offs are normal, and the club’s fixture page is the thing to check on the morning, not this article.