The Bloods were in and amongst the play-off push last season, and when we met them in this fixture, we played out a 1-1 draw in January, with Ollie Sotoyinbo bagging our equaliser from the penalty spot.

Saturday 8th August

We will be looking to match last season’s successes in the Emirates FA Cup, kicking things off with a trip around the M25 to face Biggleswade United in the Extra Preliminary Round.

Last season, we beat Harlow in a replay at this stage. Marko Protic scored a 96th-minute penalty to send the game back to Ashton’s, where two goals off the bench from Dimi Christou secured our passage into the next round after extra-time!

During our cup run in 2025, we reached the Third Qualifying Round before being defeated 1-0 by Isthmian Premier Division side St Albans City in front of a crowd of 700+ at Ashton's, however, on our way to that tie, we claimed the scalps of Newmarket Town and Bury Town, as we created some meorbale moments that will live long in the memory.

Weekend commencing 28th August

A double-header Bank Holiday Weekend is in store for The Woods, and it also marks our first home game of the campaign!

Barking will make the short trip to Ashton’s, with the game currently scheduled for Saturday 29th August - please note, this is subject to change and will be communicated by the Club in due course.

Our first home game of the 2025/26 campaign saw us score four with no reply against Sporting Bengal United, with the goals coming from Marko Protic, James Jewers and Ollie Sotoyinbo (2).

To round off the weekend, we will make the short trip across the borough to take-on local rivals Frenford, in what is set to be an exciting clash, with the hosts boasting Imrul Gazi and Steven Carvell at their helm.

That fixture is currently scheduled for Monday, 31st August, kicking off at 15:00 BST.

Saturday 26th December

Boxing Day football will return to Ashton’s in the 2026/27 campaign, with local rivals West Essex crossing the A406 for a spot of festive football.

We met with our nearby neighbours in our final home game last season, narrowly falling to a late 2-1 defeat. Our last festive fixture at home saw us draw 2-2 with Buckhurst Hill.

Saturday 17th April 2026

The Woods will end the campaign on home soil, and from the off, it looks set to be a mouthwatering clash as Great Wakering Rovers come to town.

Both sides have been at the forefront of the promotion push and title race in recent years, with Wakering being knocked out of the play-offs by The Woods in the 2025, before losing on penalties to Buckhurst Hill last season.