Tadley Calleva’s best ever FA Cup run continues next Saturday with a short trip across north Hampshire to face Aldershot Town in the fourth qualifying round.
The Romans play in the Combined Counties League Premier Division South at Step 5. They have won five ties to get this far and are now one win away from the first round proper.
The club was formed in 1989 as Tadley FC and began in the Hampshire League. It took the name Tadley Calleva in 2004 when it joined the Wessex League.
Until recently, the FA Cup had rarely gone far for them. They reached the first qualifying round in 2020, losing 1-0 to Truro City, and again in 2023, when Didcot Town beat them 5-1.
Last season changed that. Tadley drew Weymouth at home in the first qualifying round, and the tie was picked for live coverage on the BBC. They won 4-2 at Barlows Park, then went out 2-0 at Bracknell Town in the next round.
This campaign started on 8 August with a 2-1 home win over Bemerton Heath Harlequins in the extra preliminary round. Costello and Rodgers scored.
In the preliminary round they drew 0-0 at Hamble Club, then won the replay 3-1 at home, with goals from Smart, Scott and Barlow.
Laverstock & Ford were next. Tadley beat them 3-1 at Barlows Park, with Rodgers scoring from the spot alongside Lowes and Holloway.
The second qualifying round took them to Step Four Bishop’s Cleeve, where Neal’s goal settled a 1-0 away win. That took the club beyond its previous best.
The third qualifying round brought their best result of the season. They came from behind at half-time to beat Step Three Dartford 2-1, with Barlow and Passfield scoring in front of 898 at Barlows Park. Dartford have played in the National League South in recent years.
The draw paired Tadley with Aldershot Town, who come into the competition at this stage. The clubs are near neighbours, and they have met several times in the Hampshire Senior Cup.
An early meeting ended in a narrow 1-0 Aldershot win at Barlows Park, when Tadley were still in the Wessex League. A late Tadley push for an equaliser came close that night.
The most recent meeting was a Hampshire Senior Cup quarter-final at Barlows Park, which Aldershot won 6-1. The Shots fielded a strong side rather than the young team clubs often send to county cup ties. They also made a financial gesture after the match that was expected to bring Tadley a four-figure sum.
This time the game is at the Recreation Ground, and there is more at stake. The winners of fourth qualifying round ties receive £9,375 and a place in the first round draw. First round ties are played on 7 November, when League One and League Two clubs enter.
Aldershot will start as clear favourites. Tadley, though, have already beaten higher-ranked opposition this season and showed against Weymouth last year that they can handle a big occasion.
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