Non-League and Academy football writer

The first round draw for the 2026/27 season’s very prestigious London Sunday Challenge Cup was made recently. There are some really interesting ties which will be taking place in the first round of this county cup, later on next month. A good number of sides have been given a bye into the second round of this competition, such as Highgate Albion’s first team, last season’s winners Olympia, and last season’s runners-up Mehmetcik Galatya. However, focusing on the first round draw, and in my first of the London FA Cup previews for this season, I’ll be looking at my four standout first round ties, following the draw which was published on the London FA website.

Starting with the AFC Greenwich Borough (Sundays) versus East London Ballers first round tie. AFC Greenwich Borough (Sundays) of the Woolwich and Eltham Sunday Football Alliance Premier Division, face East London Ballers, of the top division in the Essex Corinthian Sunday Football League, in round one. This promises to be a very good first round tie. It will be competitive, that’s for sure. However, I can really see last season’s FA Sunday Cup semi-finalists, East London Ballers, doing really well in this county cup during the 2026/27 season. Both sides will be aiming to go far in the competition, and this will definitely be a first round tie worth attending, in south London.

Secondly, and in my opinion one of the ties of the first round, is between Essex Corinthian Sunday Football League side Yeni Bogazici, and Hackney & Leyton Sunday Football League side, Baddoo FC. Both fine sides, this should be a quality game of football. I may well be covering this game next month. In addition, it’s north London versus south London in another quality first round tie, as a very good Barnet Sunday Football League side, in North London Athletic, face a well respected Southern Sunday Football League side, in Clapham Rovers. The south London side finished as runners-up in the Supreme Trophies Graham Dodd Premier Division, last season.

Finally, the Boundary Estate versus CSKA TM first round tie will be yet another interesting tie to follow. Stefan Swift’s Boundary Estate side play their football in the top division of the Hackney & Leyton League. They also went on a good run in last season’s FA Sunday Cup. I wish all of the teams who are competing in this season’s London Sunday Challenge Cup all the very best, and I very much look forward to following this competition’s journey, once again this season.

The first round draw for the 2026/27 season’s London Sunday Challenge Cup:

• Baiteze Squad versus Azteca
• South London United versus AC Milano 
• Westminster Wanderers versus Kingsford
• AFC Greenwich Borough (Sundays) versus East London Ballers
• Yeni Bogazici versus Baddoo
• New Salamis versus New Park CG
• Kenningwell United versus Barnehurst 
• AFC Kumazi Strikers versus FC Elmstead (1958) Sundays
• Hatcham FC versus FC Trent Park 
• North London Athletic versus Clapham Rovers 
• Boundary Estate versus CSKA TM