Category Sports News

Eighth-tier Maldon & Tiptree will travel to League One Port Vale in the FA Cup first round while 2013 winners Wigan Athletic host Hemel Hempstead Town of the National League South.

Essex-based side Maldon & Tiptree are the lowest-ranked team remaining in the competition.

The Jammers currently lead the Isthmian League North Division – 103 places below third-tier Port Vale in the English football pyramid.

Meanwhile, new Luton Town boss Jack Wilshere will come up against Robbie Savage if Forest Green Rovers beat Worthing on Monday evening.

Former Arsenal and England midfielder Wilshere, 33, was named as Matt Bloomfield’s successor at Kenilworth Road earlier on Monday.

Elsewhere, Tom Cleverley’s Plymouth Argyle will take on Wycombe Wanderers at Home Park, with Huddersfield Town travelling to Bolton Wanderers in three all-League One ties.

Vertu Trophy holders Peterborough United are at home to Cardiff City, while Oldham Athletic host Northampton Town and Crewe Alexandra will face Doncaster Rovers.

Should seventh-tier Gainsborough United beat Hartlepool United in their fourth qualifying round replay, the Lincolnshire side will welcome League Two Accrington Stanley to The Northolme.

The ties will be played across the weekend of Saturday, 1 and Sunday, 2 November.

Weston-super-Mare v Aldershot Town

Salford City v Lincoln City

Luton Town v Worthing or Forest Green Rovers

Gainsborough Trinity or Hartlepool United v Accrington Stanley

Colchester United v Milton Keynes Dons

Tranmere Rovers v Stockport County

Wigan Athletic v Hemel Hempstead Town

Newport County v Gillingham

Cheltenham Town v Bradford City

Barnsley v York City

Reading v Carlisle United

Bromley v Bristol Rovers

Peterborough United v Cardiff City

Oldham Athletic v Northampton Town

Crewe Alexandra v Doncaster Rovers

Tamworth v Leyton Orient

Stevenage v Chesterfield

Boreham Wood v Crawley Town

Farnham Town or Sutton United v AFC Telford United

Bolton Wanderers v Huddersfield Town

Chelmsford City v Braintree Town

Spennymoor Town v Barrow

Wycombe Wanderers v Plymouth Argyle

Halifax Town v Exeter City

Slough Town v Altrincham or Harborough Town

Wealdstone v Southend United

Rotherham United v Swindon Town

Grimsby Town v Ebbsfleet United

Buxton v Chatham Town

Burton Albion v Banbury United or St Albans City

Woking or Brackley Town v Notts County

Blackpool v Scunthorpe United

Cambridge United v Morecambe or Chester

AFC Wimbledon v Gateshead

Mansfield Town v Harrogate Town

Macclesfield v AFC Totton or Truro City

South Shields v Shrewsbury Town

Fleetwood Town v Barnet

Port Vale v Maldon & Tiptree

Robbie Savage’s Forest Green Rovers will visit Jack Wilshere’s Luton Town in the FA Cup first round.

Former Arsenal and England midfielder Wilshere, 33, was named as Matt Bloomfield’s successor at Kenilworth Road earlier on Monday.

Eighth-tier Maldon & Tiptree will travel to League One Port Vale, while 2013 winners Wigan Athletic host Hemel Hempstead Town of the National League South.

Essex-based side Maldon & Tiptree are the lowest-ranked team remaining in the competition.

The Jammers currently lead the Isthmian League North Division – 103 places below third-tier Port Vale in the English football pyramid.

Elsewhere, Tom Cleverley’s Plymouth Argyle will take on Wycombe Wanderers at Home Park, with Huddersfield Town travelling to Bolton Wanderers in three all-League One ties.

Vertu Trophy holders Peterborough United are at home to Cardiff City, while Oldham Athletic host Northampton Town and Crewe Alexandra will face Doncaster Rovers.

Should seventh-tier Gainsborough Trinity beat Hartlepool United in their fourth qualifying round replay, the Lincolnshire side will welcome League Two Accrington Stanley to The Northolme.

The ties will be played across the weekend of Saturday, 1 and Sunday, 2 November.

Weston-super-Mare v Aldershot Town

Salford City v Lincoln City

Luton Town v Forest Green Rovers

Gainsborough Trinity or Hartlepool United v Accrington Stanley

Colchester United v Milton Keynes Dons

Tranmere Rovers v Stockport County

Wigan Athletic v Hemel Hempstead Town

Newport County v Gillingham

Cheltenham Town v Bradford City

Barnsley v York City

Reading v Carlisle United

Bromley v Bristol Rovers

Peterborough United v Cardiff City

Oldham Athletic v Northampton Town

Crewe Alexandra v Doncaster Rovers

Tamworth v Leyton Orient

Stevenage v Chesterfield

Boreham Wood v Crawley Town

Farnham Town or Sutton United v AFC Telford United

Bolton Wanderers v Huddersfield Town

Chelmsford City v Braintree Town

Spennymoor Town v Barrow

Wycombe Wanderers v Plymouth Argyle

Halifax Town v Exeter City

Slough Town v Altrincham or Harborough Town

Wealdstone v Southend United

Rotherham United v Swindon Town

Grimsby Town v Ebbsfleet United

Buxton v Chatham Town

Burton Albion v Banbury United or St Albans City

Woking or Brackley Town v Notts County

Blackpool v Scunthorpe United

Cambridge United v Morecambe or Chester

AFC Wimbledon v Gateshead

Mansfield Town v Harrogate Town

Macclesfield v AFC Totton or Truro City

South Shields v Shrewsbury Town

Fleetwood Town v Barnet

Port Vale v Maldon & Tiptree

Millie Bright’s international retirement is a reflection of a changing of the guard in Sarina Wiegman’s England team – but her impact on their success is unquestionable.

The 32-year-old played an instrumental role in the Lionesses’ Euro 2022 victory, starting all six matches as they claimed a first major trophy.

She wore the captain’s armband as England reached the World Cup final a year later and was a dependable leader throughout her international career.

Bright’s decision is not a surprise but still a loss for Wiegman given her years of experience and the respect she has from her team-mates.

It has been a growing possibility ever since Bright withdrew from the Euro 2025 squad – a tournament England went on to win – stating she was “not able to give 100% physically and mentally”.

Her position in the side was no longer certain, with young defenders Maya Le Tissier and Esme Morgan continuing to progress with England, as well as the emergence of fresh WSL talent such as Arsenal’s Katie Reid this season.

Wiegman also enjoyed success at Euro 2025 with Leah Williamson, Alex Greenwood, Jess Carter and Morgan all combining in centre-back roles.

It all led to question marks over whether Bright would return to the squad this month for the upcoming friendlies against Brazil and Australia.

Wiegman has relied on a trusted, core group of players during her time in charge – but she is also ruthless and will not stand still if other prospects come to the fore.

Bright is still competing at the highest level with her club, captaining Chelsea and starting all of their WSL matches this season.

They will attempt to defend the three domestic titles they won last season, as well as chasing the elusive Women’s Champions League trophy they are yet to win.

Bright’s grasp on an England starring role began when she played in five of their six matches at the 2019 World Cup en route to the semi-finals.

She was sent off after receiving a second yellow card in the semi-final defeat by the United States – a game which hinted at future success for England, albeit one that ended on a sour note for Bright personally.

As a mainstay under former manager Phil Neville, Bright was among those who had started to steer England towards a major tournament final, but had just come up short, as interest in the women’s game was slowly increasing.

They were a long way off selling out crowds at Wembley Stadium and were still battling for basic resources at club level but had formed one of the teams who were starting to ask questions of the all-conquering United States.

However, it was in 2022 when Bright cemented her place in Lionesses history and had her biggest year for her country.

Alongside captain Williamson, they formed an impenetrable partnership at the Euros, leading from the back and guiding a youthful, yet talented England team to success.

She was undoubtedly one of the stars despite not dominating the headlines in the way Chloe Kelly, Beth Mead or Mary Earps did.

A towering presence, who usually came out on top in a one-on-one duel, Bright was often Wiegman’s go-to person off the pitch, and she even did a job up front on occasions when it was needed on it – most notably finishing joint-top scorer at the inaugural Arnold Clark Cup in 2022, sharing the Golden Boot award with then-Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas.

As the vice-captain, she was vocal in the dressing room, an important part of Wiegman’s leadership group and someone young players often turned to for advice.

She was seen as one of the jokers of the group, usually found stood near best friend Rachel Daly or midway through a TikTok dance with Mary Earps.

In the aftermath of England’s Euro 2022 victory, she became a familiar name among casual viewers and carried the weight of responsibility going into the 2023 World Cup in Williamson’s absence, knowing external expectation had grown tenfold.

England’s transformation under Wiegman since her arrival in 2021 has been dramatic but Euro 2025 marked the start of a new era under the Dutchwoman.

Although familiar faces remain from the start of her tenure, Bright’s international retirement is the latest from a historic generation that is starting to pass on the baton.

She follows in the footsteps of goalkeeper Earps, defender Daly, record goalscorer Ellen White, midfielder Jill Scott and playmaker Fran Kirby who were all key components of England’s success in 2022.

There were new faces who shone this summer, most notably on-loan Brighton forward Michelle Agyemang and Chelsea striker Aggie Beever-Jones.

They are the names England fans expect to see at the 2027 Women’s World Cup and that will lead the country into a new era under Wiegman.

They can look at Bright’s elite career as an example of huge success and longevity, and as one of the figures who led the way for positive change in women’s football.

ICC Women’s World Cup, Visakhapatnam

Bangladesh 232-6 (50 overs): Shorna 51* (35); Mlaba 2-42

South Africa 235-7 (49.3 overs): Tryon 62 (69); Nahida 2-44

South Africa won by three wickets

Nadine de Klerk got South Africa over the line again as they recovered from another top-order collapse to beat Bangladesh by three wickets at the Women’s World Cup.

Having been set 233 to win in Visakhapatnam, the Proteas slipped to 78-5 before half-centuries from Chloe Tryon, who made 62 from 69 balls, and Marizanne Kapp, 56 from 71 balls, brought them back into contention.

Kapp fell with 70 still needed to bring De Klerk – fresh from her heroics against India – to the middle, and for a time it seemed that she and Tryon would get South Africa home comfortably.

Instead, Tryon was run out with 35 required and there were more uncomfortable moments to come as De Klerk twice miscued in the penultimate over with match in the balance.

While the first skied shot landed safely, the second went straight to long-off but Shorna Akter dropped the catch – a particularly cruel moment given it was the 18-year-old’s superb 34-ball fifty that had earlier taken Bangladesh up to a competitive total.

But having been given that life, De Klerk – who ended unbeaten on 37 from 29 balls – made sure she finished the job and a mighty six over the leg side sealed the victory with three balls to spare.

While South Africa can celebrate a third straight win, and a second in a row in which they have battled back from a losing position, Bangladesh are left to rue a number of crucial dropped catches.

Rabeya Khan put down a simple chance off her own bowling to give Proteas skipper Laura Wolvaardt a chance early on.

Bangladesh will surely feel that defeats do not come much more painful than this.

Nigar Sultana Joty’s side executed their plan near-perfectly for 75 overs of the match and even as South Africa hit back in the last 25 – the difference between victory and defeat came down to a couple of moments.

With the bat, it quickly became apparent that keeping wickets in hand took priority above all else as they crawled through the powerplay.

It was all about giving themselves a chance to go hard late on and thanks to a maiden international fifty – Bangladesh’s quickest in a women’s ODI – from the talented Shorna, they did just that.

They had a total to bowl at and a strong bowling attack soon got to work. South Africa opener Tazmin Brits gone first ball and Wolvaardt should have followed a couple of overs later.

A winning combination of discipline and guile from the spinners put Bangladesh in a great position as, for the third time in four World Cup matches, South Africa’s top-order crumbled.

But there is an inner belief within this Proteas group that previous sides have lacked and with the experienced duo of Kapp and Tryon, they gradually rebuilt.

More luck was required than against India but the scares they suffered as the finishing line got closer did not shake them, good fortune was accepted and it was onto the next ball.

The top-order will have to come to the party at some stage but, at this stage of the tournament, the fighting spirit they have shown in finding ways to win can only be a good thing.