Harborough Town make double appearance in new book uncovering author’s FA Cup quest
Harborough Town FC feature twice in a newly-released book which follows a football fan’s expedition through every round of last season’s Emirates FA Cup.
The author, Ian McNeilly, attended matches from every single stage of the competition, from the earliest stage in the preliminary qualifiers to the First Round Proper and, eventually, the final between Manchester City and Chelsea at Wembley Stadium.
McNeilly recalls his 14-round FA Cup adventure, with 35 teams visited in 20 games, in the book, titled: The Only Way is Cup – The FA Cup Travelogue.
In what McNeilly describes as his favourite tie of all 20, he watched Harborough dramatically rescue a 2-2 draw away at Altrincham in the fourth qualifying round before being beaten 3-0 in the replay at the Beehive.
“There is a beauty to this unique and historic competition with all its stories, and there’s a beauty to completing your own journey following it,” McNeilly said.
Cup fever is certainly building in Market Harborough ahead of the highly anticipated upcoming FA Cup First Round Proper tie away at Leyton Orient on Saturday, November 7.
To get there, the Bees saw off Rushall Olympic, St Albans City and Spennymoor Town in the second, third and fourth qualifying fixtures.
This new book only ups the excitement for what’s to come, with reminiscence of the Bees’ exploits in the 2025 instalment of the world’s oldest and most famous cup competition.
It may not have been Harborough’s most successful FA Cup campaign, that was of course rather in 2024 when the Bees lost 5-3 to Reading in extra time of the Second Round Proper, but it was still a historic title-winning year.
The FA Cup certainly played its part in the triumphant 2025/26 and author McNeilly made sure to shine a light on that.
Other non-league teams with features in the book include Albion Sports, Belper Town, Bottesford Town, Buxton, Grimsby Borough, Halesowen Town and Hallam FC.
There are also inclusions for Harrogate Town, Hereford, Kidsgrove Athletic, Lower Breck, Matlock Town, Redditch United, Sheffield FC, Sporting Khalsa, Stamford AFC and Sutton Coldfield Town.
Those interested in picking up a copy of The Only Way is Cup – The FA Cup Travelogue can do so at Bannister Publications, with the book available to buy for £14.99.