Austin’s homecoming as Harborough draw Leyton Orient in second-ever first round

Thursday 22 October 2026 · By Terence Dunwell

Harborough Town manager Mitch Austin has described the FA Cup first-round draw as “a brilliant tie for us” after the Bees were paired with League One side Leyton Orient.

For Austin, who grew up in north London, the tie has a personal significance. “For a Tottenham fan, Leyton Orient has always been our second team,” he said. “I’m a local boy with loads of family from the area.”

Players and supporters watched the draw together at the Beehive on Monday night. It is only the second time that Harborough have reached the first round. In 2024–25, they went all the way to the second round, where they lost 5–3 after extra time at Reading, according to the Harborough Mail. The club says the two sides have never met in a competitive fixture.

Orient were ninth in League One at the time of the draw, according to the Harborough Mail, which also reported that their 9,271-capacity ground can hold about 1,500 away supporters. The paper said the tie was scheduled for the weekend of 7 November, though the date was “not set in stone”. The FA has not yet confirmed individual dates, kick-off times or television selections, and ticket details are still to be announced. First-round winners receive £47,750, and losers £15,800.

Harborough booked their place with a 3–1 home win over Spennymoor Town on 17 October. Arlott-John, Assombalonga and Putman scored, and the club celebrated Eliot Putman’s winner in a report headlined “Birthday Boy Putman Seals FA Cup Progression”.

There was also a Harborough connection in another fourth qualifying round replay on Tuesday. Danny Newton, who is on loan at Alvechurch from Harborough, scored twice in Alvechurch’s 4–0 win over Spalding United, according to Lincs Online and the Bromsgrove Standard.

The focus now returns to the Enterprise National League North, where Harborough are 17th on 15 points from 11 games. They have won four, drawn three and lost four, and the Harborough Mail noted that a win over Worksop Town on Saturday could lift them into the top half.

Worksop are one point ahead of Harborough, and they come into the game on the back of a 4–0 county cup win at Emley on Tuesday. Kick-off at the Beehive is 3pm BST.

The week then continues with a trip to Buxton on Tuesday 27 October at 7.45pm, followed by another away game at Hebburn Town on Saturday 31 October at 3pm. Both kick-off times are GMT, following the clock change on Sunday 25 October.

Harborough’s home league game against Radcliffe on 7 November falls on the FA Cup weekend, and no decision on that fixture had been announced by Thursday. The Bees are also due at South Shields in a rearranged game on Tuesday 17 November.

For a promoted, part-time club, a trip to Brisbane Road is a huge occasion. Austin’s side will want to carry that excitement into the league and make the most of a busy run of fixtures.