Competitive football is finally back, and it all kicks off for the Acorns in the FA Cup, as we take on Hellenic League Premier side Cirencester Town, on Friday night.
The Acorns enter our fourth FA Cup campaign which has seen us reach the first qualifying round, as our furthest achievement to date.
The nation’s oldest cup competition all begins with a local trip to fellow Gloucestershire based side, Cirencester Town.
Ahead of our clash with the Centurions, here is everything you need to know about Friday night’s opposition.
THE OPPOSITION – CIRENCESTER TOWN
STADIUM – The Talent Hire Stadium
NICKNAME – The Centurions
FOUNDED – 1889
MANAGER – James Mortimer-Jones
LEAGUE – Hellenic League Premier (7th)
CURRENT FORM – D-W
ALREADY UP AND RUNNING
Whilst the Acorns were concluding their pre-season with a 1-1 draw at Milton Keynes Irish, the Centurions kicked off their Hellenic Premier campaign with a 2-1 win at Tuffley Rovers.
A first half brace from Harlie Price secured an opening day three points before his side were held to a goalless draw, at home, by Mangotsfield United on Tuesday night.
After their first two games of the 2026/27 season, the Centurions sit in seventh in the league, just outside the play-offs early doors.
FALLING SHORT
The Centurions came so close to featuring in the same division as the Acorns, but suffered heartbreak in the play-off semi-finals, last season.
In a season that saw the side pick-up 21 wins across 38 games, seeing them finish fourth in the Hellenic Premier.
Cirencester finished the campaign going six games unbeaten, setting up a play-off semi-final with Droitwich Spa.
The Centurions battled all the way but were bettered nine minutes from time when Droitwich found an 81stminute winner seeing the Centurions fall to a 1-0 defeat.
FA CUP HISTORY
Cirencester are no strangers to the FA Cup making their debut in the competition back in 1996.
In that debut campaign, the Centurions reached the third qualifying round after bettering Yate, Falmouth town and Melksham Town before eventually being knocked out by Bath City.
On two occasions in their history, Cirencester have managed to reach the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup in the 2003/04 and 2005/06 seasons.
On their first taste of the round, the Gloucestershire side suffered a 4-2 defeat to, now League Two but, then Southern League Premier side Crawley Town.
Two seasons later, it was Ramsgate who ended the Centurions pursuit of the first round proper beating Cirencester 4-0.
Last campaign, the Centurions failed to get past the extra preliminary round after a replay 2-0 defeat to Reading City.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS
The Acorns and the Centurions have met as recent as the 2024/25 Hellenic Premier season.
The Acorns came out on top in both fixtures, winning the home clash 1-0 whilst recording a 3-0 victory in the reverse fixture.
Ben Baxter’s goal was enough to secure the home victory whilst Louis Manning and a Harry Mackenzie brace sealed a rampant away victory.
IN THE DUGOUT – JAMES MORTIMER-JONES
James Mortimer-Jones joined the management team in 2017 as assistant manager after making 328 appearances for the Centurions, as a player.
He originally played second fiddle to then manager, Charlie Griffin, before becoming the second hand man to John Brough.
But in 2024, Mortimer-Jones stepped up to the manager role when Brough left the club to join Gloucester City’s coaching staff.
In his first full season as manager, the 44-year-old guided the Centurions into the play-offs and will be hoping for a similar outcome this season.
PLAYER TO WATCH – HARLIE PRICE
Last season’s top goalscorer, Harlie Price, will be one to keep an eye during this FA Cup tie.
Price bagged himself just the small number of 38 goals in 40 appearances last term and has already notched up two goals in his first two games of this season.
The forward joined the Centurions at the beginning of the 2025/26 season from fellow Hellenic Premier side, Pershore Town.
He caught the eye of many when, during his final season with Pershore, Price bagged himself 21 goals, taking him to 61 goals in his last 80 appearances.
CURRENT FORM
01.08.26 – Tuffley Rovers 1-2 Cirencester Town (Hellenic League Premier)
04.08.26 – Cirencester Town 0-0 Mangotsfield United (Hellenic League Premier)
