Opposition Preview | Hartpury FC (A)

This weekend we begin our Izuzu FA Trophy campaign with a short 4.6 mile trip to Hartpury University for the third qualifying round of the competition.

Hartpury FC currently play in Step 4 of the non-league pyramid, after becoming champions of the Hellenic League Premier Division last season. Saturday's hosts were also one game away from Wembley last season after they made it to the FA Vase Semi-Final, losing 3-0 on aggregate to Whitstable Town, who went on to win the trophy at the home of English football, in a 2-1 win over AFC Whyteleafe.

'The Acorns' currently play their football at the Hartpury Stadium or more recently known as the 4ED Stadium, in honour of ex-Gloucester Rugby player Ed Slater.

The Hartpury University complex is one known very well to the club due to ourselves training and also our youth teams playing fixtures there many years ago.

Hartpury currently sit in 5th place of the Southern League Division One South after eight games played having picked up 13 points so far.

Ex-coach Dr Martin Longworth was the man at the helm to achieve promotion to step 4, however he stepped down at the end of last season, after winning three league titles, three promotions and three cup triumphs during his tenure. The manager of the team now is Phil Clarke, who played for City between 2015 and 2017. Clarke is accompanied by Chris Knowles, another ex-City player who played for the club between 2014 and 2019.

Former City midfielder and son of ex-assistant manager Marc McGregor, Riley McGregor plays his football for the Acorns, however is a doubt for Saturday's game having picked up a nasty injury in a 3-1 defeat away at Larkhall AFC on Wednesday night. King Baidoo is also one who is familiar with the new look Hartpury FC, scoring 33 goals in 31 starts during a season in the Hellenic League, Baidoo was also called up to England Universities National team that season.

Club History

Hartpury Football Club has grown from strength to strength since its inception, developing talented players and achieving success at multiple levels of the game.

Hartpury FC is rooted in the same high-performance culture that has defined Hartpury’s sporting legacy.

The journey began with Hartpury’s football academy, established to provide a pathway for aspiring players to combine full-time education with elite-level coaching. The programme quickly gained recognition for its ability to develop talent, with student-athletes progressing into professional and semi-professional clubs, as well as earning scholarships abroad.

The next stage in the evolution of Hartpury FC was the formation of a senior side to compete in the English football pyramid in 2020. Built on the foundations of academy success, the team has earned multiple league titles and promotions, cementing its place among the most competitive university-affiliated football clubs in the country. 

In 2022, the club won the Herefordshire County Cup and Herefordshire FA County League double and were promoted into the Hellenic League Division One. In our first season at the level, the team finished second in the league, losing the play-off final on penalties.

In the 2023–24 season, the club bounced back superbly from the previous year's disappointment and were promoted as champions into the Hellenic Premier Division.

Hartpury graduates include graduates such as Abdul Majeed Waris (Ghana international), Mustapha Bundu (Plymouth Argyle) and Matt Smith (former Australian international). In 2023, Hartpury College student Laiith Fairnie signed a professional football contract with Birmingham City FC, just weeks after completing his course.

With a clear commitment to player development, professional standards, and competitive success, Hartpury FC maintains strong links with professional and semi-professional teams, helping players transition to higher levels of the game.

Tickets for Saturday's game are available here.