On Saturday 22nd August, Grays travel to New Lodge, Billericay, to face Essex Senior League side, Hutton FC, in the FA Cup Preliminary Qualifying Round. Kick off is 3.00pm.

In the Extra Preliminary Qualifying Round, "The Tons" defeated Combined Counties Premier side, Northwood after a replay, to register their first ever win in the FA Cup.

The Opposition

Hutton gained promotion to the Essex Senior League at the end of last season by winning the Eastern Counties League Division One South (Step 6). That was the club's third promotion in the last 8 years.

We have never played them before in a competitive game, so there is no head to head record. However, a couple of Hutton's squad will be familiar to our supporters.

Callum Leahy came through our youth system back in the National League days, making a couple of appearances in 2009/10.

After playing for a number of local sides such as Basildon United, Heybridge Swifts, Aveley, and Bowers and Pitsea, Callum returned to us in 2022, forming a formidable centre half partnership with Lewis Clark. Callum left during the changes early on in the 23/24 season, having made a total of 38 appearances scoring 5 goals, the last of which was an equaliser in the FA Cup against New Salamis.

The other familiar face is Adam Vyse, an experienced centre forward who, over the years, has had the annoying knack of scoring against us. I believe he has scored for 5 different clubs against The Blues, so let's hope he doesn't extend that record to 6 on Saturday.

The Boss

Hutton are managed by Matt Rose, formerly captain at Hullbridge Sports, when he skippered the side under the management of Darren Manning, to the Essex Senior League title in 2018/19. Matt took over at The Tons in October 2025 and helped them to win their league and gain promotion for the first time to Step 5. He is assisted by Dan Williams.

Last Time Out

By coincidence, both sides suffered defeat at Wadham Lodge.

Hutton were beaten in the First Qualifying Round of The FA Vase at fellow Essex Senior League side, (and tenants of Walthamstow), West Essex. Hutton led into the break through Luca Savill, but Harvey Livings-Corbin equalised on the hour. West Essex then scored three more through Lewis Browne, Presley Evans and Chaka Barnett and it finished 4-1.

Blues travelled to Wadham Lodge on Tuesday night to play Walthamstow in an Isthmian North fixture. We started really well but just could not find the net which in turn helped Walthamstow gain confidence and their very direct game started to cause problems. Following a huge penalty shout for The Blues, Stow hit the cross bar with a long range effort. They then opened the scoring with another shot from distance from Joden Trickett, the former Woking and Sutton U21 forward.

In the second half, substitute, Denim Nnamudi got the equaliser with a peach of a goal, but we could not find a second and after a reprieve when Stow hit the inside of the post, we were punished as Zion Sinclair finished off a good passing move.

Credit must go to Stow who have had such a disrupted pre-season, with many of their players being signed in the last couple of weeks. It was a first win of the season for them and a first defeat for The Blues, but we learn from the game and move on.

Summary

Hutton are Billericay Town's tenants and therefore the game will be played on the 3G pitch at New Lodge which should hopefully suit the type of game we want to try and play.

If a replay is required this is likely to be on Wednesday 26th August and if so, would mean our scheduled league game on 25th at Buckhurst Hill would need to be postponed to a later date. Buckhurst Hill are also in FA Cup action, playing at Biggleswade, so even if we get a result at Hutton, if The Stags tie goes to a replay, then our league game will need to be rearranged.

The winners of the tie will go through to the first qualifying round to be played the weekend of 5th/6th September. We are scheduled to host Witham Town on 5th September and they are also in Cup action this weekend at home to Potters Bar Town. If one of us, (hopefully both of us), get through, then this league game will need to be rearranged.

Keep tuning into to our website and socials for updates as and when we can provide them.

Getting There

It's a while since we played at New Lodge, but most of you will know your way. The ground is on Blunts Wall Road and the postcode is CM12 9SA. There is no supporters parking at the ground itself, but you should be able to park on Tye Common Road.

Billericay Station is about a 1.5 km from the ground. (But please note that following last week's derailment, there is a much reduced service and some bus replacements). As you leave the station to your right, turn right at the mini roundabout toward the High Street and turn right again at the traffic lights into Western Road. Follow this down and straight across another set of lights into Tye Common Road, with Blunts Wall Road on the right after 200 metres.

The FA Cup may have become something of an after thought for the top professional sides, but it still retains its magic for all non league sides and their supporters. Saturday is therefore an important game for us and we really want to progress.

Please join us in Billericay and help drive us on to the next round.

COYB!