Hassocks hit the road this weekend, making the journey to Bedfont Sports of the Isthmian League South Central Division in the preliminary qualifying round of the FA Cup.
It will be the first ever meeting between the two sides and it takes place at Bedfont’s smart little Recreation Ground, a stadium a stones throw from Heathrow Airport with a 4G pitch which holds 3,000 people.
Bedfont’s rise through the divisions has been almost as impressive as their facilities. The Eagles were only formed in 2002 to provide a Saturday side for the existing Bedfont Sunday League Club.
Their growth since then has been spectacular as they have rattled through the Hounslow & District League, the Middlesex County League and the Combined Counties League, winning promotion to the Isthmian League in 2018 – just 16 years into their existence.
Bedfont were enjoying a middling campaign in 2019-20 before the season was brought to a premature end. They sat 12th in South Central Division table with 10 wins, nine draws and 10 defeats from their 29 fixtures. That record left them a long way from the relegation zone but some distance away from the playoffs too.
The Robins’ visit on Saturday will be Sports’ first competitive game of the campaign. That may give Hassocks a slight fitness edge, given that Dave John’s side are three games into their season already and will make the journey to west London full of confidence after their dramatic 3-2 win over Lancing in midweek.
Hassocks reached this stage of competition in equally thrilling fashion to that victory over the Lancers, defeating Balham on penalties 10 days previously following a 2-2 draw at Mayfield Stadium.
A similar result would see Hassocks into the first qualifying round of the FA Cup for the first time since 2013. They have form for going to London and being difficult to beat by higher division opponents having drawn 0-0 away at Chipstead at the same stage of the competition last season.
How to get to Bedfont Recreation Ground
Getting to Bedfont Recreation Ground by car is relatively straightforward, providing the M25 is in a generous mood. Take the M23 followed by the M25 towards the M4, leaving at junction 13.
From there, join the A30 before taking London Road at the Ashford Park roundabout. At the end of London Road, head across the roundabout onto Staines Road, take a left onto Hatton Road and the ground is some way up on your right.
For those braving public transport, the journey is a little under two hours by train. Change at Clapham Junction for Feltham Station, where you can catch a H25 boss towards Hatton Cross, getting off at Cains Lane which is a two minute walk from the ground.
