Henley Forest FC vs Armada FC | Bill Hill Cup Round 1 | Saturday 01 November 2025, KO 2:00PM | Henley Sports & Social Club (B95 6AP)
Forecast: 14°C, partly cloudy, slight breeze – perfect conditions for a football redemption arc.

THE JOURNEY SO FAR
From fireworks to falters, Armada FC’s 2025/26 campaign has been a rollercoaster of learning, growth, and flashes of brilliance. After an emphatic 5–1 home win over Wake Green Amateurs B and a hard-fought 2–1 comeback against Nechells Athletic, the Division 2 season kicked off with promise. But cup competitions have tested the squad's mettle, with back-to-back defeats to Oldbury United (3–1), Redditch Borough (6–2), and a painful 1–7 home loss to Claverdon FC last weekend.

Yet, amidst the score lines are stories of resilience. With several first-teamers returning and tactical tweaks from the backroom staff, Armada are regrouped, refocused, and ready to begin a new chapter in the Bill Hill Cup.

TEAM NEWS
Armada’s latest training sessions have been intense and deliberately reflective. After the setback against Claverdon FC, Head Coach Shahid Khan placed the spotlight on defensive transitions, match tempo, and psychological resilience. Small-sided tactical drills, high-pressure rondos, and attacking overloads have been the focus, aiming to sharpen execution and rebuild confidence.

Availability is improving. A solid core returns this week with Nicholas, Francis, Uzair, Siraj, Olaolu, Arafat, Romay, Richard, Muyiwa, Harry, Abdul, Masoom, Leandre, Tomasz, and Shoaib all in contention. Absences still include key figures: Ahmadi (injury), Konateh (absent), Riaz (injury), Naqash (injury), Pardale (injury), Mubarik (absent), and Edrissa (absent). The final squad will be confirmed hours before the kick-off on Saturday.

TEAM STATS
While recent cup fixtures haven’t gone Armada’s way, league form tells a different story. With two wins from three Division 2 outings, the side has scored goals, showing lethal intent in front of goal. The team is still in its early build phase but continues to forge a new identity—one of fearless play, front-foot football, and collective ambition.

This is the first time in Division 2—a blank canvas and a fresh opportunity to re-establish momentum and belief.

OPPOSITION FORM
Henley Forest FC come into this tie with inconsistent form: 2 wins and 3 losses from their last 5 fixtures. A goal difference of just +1 tells a story of narrow margins and defensive vulnerabilities. While they do boast attacking threats like Wale Thomas and Dominic Chartrand, much of their creativity comes from Revenham and Anstey—midfielders who are yet to face the tenacity of an Armada midfield determined to prove a point.

Their record shows potential—but also exposes frailties that Armada must exploit.

PRESS CONFERENCE
“It’s easy to look at the scoreline and write off a performance, but that wouldn’t do justice to the players’ effort. Last week hurt—no question. But this group doesn’t crumble. They respond. What I saw in training this week was commitment, energy, and a hunger to improve.

We’ve taken lessons on the chin and now it’s about turning that into fuel. Saturday is another opportunity—not just to win—but to grow stronger as a team, and that’s what this journey is all about. Every setback gives us another reason to rise.

We're still building. And I believe in every single one of these players.” — Shahid Khan, Head Coach

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