Bishops Cleeve manager Paul Collicutt has insisted it’s “business as usual” ahead of their historic first round FA Trophy match against Farnham Town.
Cleeve defeated Sholing 2-1 in the third round of qualifying and have now reached the first round proper for the first time in their history.
Farnham, at step three of non-league, represent a challenge facing a team at a level up but Collicutt has reiterated that his side will be up for the occasion.
Saturday sees us play in the 1st Round Proper of the Isuzu FA Trophy for the first time in our history, as we take on @FarnhamTownFC 🏆
— Bishops Cleeve FC (@BishopsCleeveFC) October 21, 2025
A free hit against higher league opposition, cheered on by an army of Mitres, let’s do this 💪
📆 Saturday 25 Oct
📍 Memorial Ground GU9 7DY pic.twitter.com/dEIZD9YSZh
“We’re playing a team away from home who have hit a very good form since the start of the season. They’ve come unstuck a little bit in the last two or three games but everybody and anybody that I’ve spoken to in the game that have seen them play have said what a very, very good side they are.
“They try and play the game in the right way and they play a very, very good style of football. All I’m hearing, as I said, from around people I know within the game and I’ve come across them this season, not one person has criticised them at all.
“We certainly do know that we’ve got our hands full tomorrow but it’s basically business as usual. The problem is when you’re in a position like we are and any non-league club, it’s very, very difficult to be able to spend the time between games to be able to focus that much on the opposition.
“I’ve always, always said that being a semi-professional footballer is a lot, lot harder than being a full-time pro.”
What a win 🤩
— Bishops Cleeve FC (@BishopsCleeveFC) October 18, 2025
A fine first half from the visitors but the Rockies couldn’t keep it up, a brilliant second-half turnaround gives us the win. pic.twitter.com/S0n553McIR
In the league Cleeve’s form has been impressive, unbeaten all season including most recently beating Shaftesbury 3-2 thanks to an 89th minute Will Turner winner.
On that Collicutt said humorously, “I had a friend joke to me that it use to be Fergie time, but now it’s Colly time! As long a we can carry on doing that I will be pleased.”
His club sit top of the Southern Football League on 23 points from just nine games, when most competitors have played ten or eleven.
That’s down to the club’s progression through the cup competitions, and the manager is relishing to share that opportunity with the fans.
“The club have never been this far on the FA Trophy before. We’re a village side and it’s a new venture for us to be in the first round proper of the FA Trophy.
“We’re going there with the right attitude and I know I’ve got some good players and hopefully they turn up and perform and as I said, you never know what can happen.
“We’ve got this game tomorrow and then we’ve got this game away on Tuesday evening at Winchester. We’ve got our own stuff to deal with, but first things first, we’ve got this game tomorrow.
“Hopefully this is the case, that we’re taking in the region of a good 80 to 120 supporters with us tomorrow. We’ve got 30 or 40 coming on the coach with us tomorrow and I believe there’s a good 25 to 35 people going in their cars, travelling up to the game as well.
“I know from a playing angle, it certainly gives you a big lift when you’ve got that support on board. Long may that continue. I’d like to say a big thank you to all the people that are taking time out to travel to watch us tomorrow.
“It’s not just five minutes at the road, it’s going to take us a good two and a half to three hours to get there tomorrow.
“I’ve been in the game a long time and I’ve never, ever been there before. I’m looking forward to it.”
