Information checked: November 8, 2026, 1:10 PM GMT (UTC+00:00) (the same time in UTC).
Stafford Rangers vs Grimsby Town is a confirmed Emirates FA Cup first-round match scheduled for Sunday, November 8, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. in Stafford, United Kingdom — Greenwich Mean Time (GMT, UTC+00:00), or 12:00 UTC. The venue is the Stan Robinson Stadium at Marston Road. The Football Association lists the game for live television coverage on TNT Sports 1, while Stafford Rangers says the match is all-ticket and sold out. The scheduled kickoff has already passed as of this article's verification time, but an up-to-date score or final result was not established from the official pages checked; readers should use the live match links rather than assume a result.
The matchup attracts attention because an eighth-tier non-league club is hosting a Football League opponent in a nationally televised cup tie. Stafford Rangers entered the weekend after an impressive qualifying run, while League Two club Grimsby Town arrived with two consecutive league victories. The difference in league status makes Grimsby the stronger side on paper, but that is an assessment of the matchup, not a confirmed prediction of the outcome.
The match information is confirmed by the Football Association's FA Cup fixture list and both clubs' announcements. The United Kingdom switched from British Summer Time to Greenwich Mean Time before November 8, so no daylight-saving adjustment is added to the published noon kickoff.
| Match detail | Confirmed information |
|---|---|
| Fixture | Stafford Rangers vs Grimsby Town |
| Competition | 2026–27 Emirates FA Cup, first round proper |
| Date | Sunday, November 8, 2026 |
| Scheduled kickoff | 12:00 p.m. Stafford/London GMT (UTC+00:00); 12:00 UTC |
| Stadium | Stan Robinson Stadium, Marston Road, Stafford, England |
| UK broadcast | TNT Sports 1 according to the FA; Grimsby Town also names TNT Sports 3 |
| Ticket status | Sold out, according to Stafford Rangers' official match preview |
The game was moved to the Sunday midday slot after being selected for live television. The fixture was originally announced with the new TV time on October 22, so older schedules may display an outdated date or kickoff. Anyone sharing an event listing should use November 8 at noon GMT, rather than copying an earlier fixture entry.
The FA's official listing identifies TNT Sports 1 as the live channel. Grimsby Town's November 6 broadcast guide names both TNT Sports 1 and TNT Sports 3 in the United Kingdom. Since channel listings can differ by provider, viewers should check the current TNT Sports schedule and their television guide rather than assume that both channels are accessible under every package.
Stafford Rangers' official match preview says UK supporters can stream TNT Sports through HBO Max with an appropriate subscription. Availability depends on having a plan that includes the sports coverage. An ordinary entertainment subscription should not be assumed to include this match. Fans outside the UK should check territory-specific rights: Grimsby Town published a country-by-country broadcaster list, and a UK subscription may not work in another country.
For supporters unable to watch video, the home club also points readers to BBC radio coverage. The clubs' match centers and the FA Cup results page are useful for checking the official score, while the TNT Sports match page provides a match-specific coverage destination. Online scoreboards may not update simultaneously; look for a clearly marked halftime, full-time or extra-time status before citing a result.
Stafford Rangers compete in the Northern Premier League Division One West, which is at the eighth level of the English league system. Grimsby Town play in EFL League Two, the fourth tier. The gap creates a classic FA Cup storyline: the lower-ranked home club has the chance to eliminate professional-league opposition, while the visitor must prevent an upset in unfamiliar surroundings.
According to Grimsby Town's official match preview, this is the clubs' first competitive meeting. The Grimsby preview also notes that a win would take Stafford Rangers past Football League opponents for the first time since defeating Lincoln City in a first-round replay in 1992. Those historical details explain the interest without indicating what will happen during this particular match.
The home setting adds to the occasion. Stafford Rangers' confirmation that the tie is sold out means fans without tickets should not travel to Marston Road expecting admission at the gate. Grimsby Town was initially given a 450-ticket standing allocation, and its November 2 ticket update said fewer than 50 remained at that time; those older figures should not be treated as evidence that seats are still available on match day.
Stafford Rangers secured their place by overcoming National League side Gateshead. After a 1–1 away draw on October 17, Stafford won the home replay 5–0 on October 20. The result was a major step up in opposition for a club playing below the National League and helped set up the televised match against Grimsby.
Form immediately before the tie also gave Stafford supporters reason to be hopeful. The club reported four wins in its previous six matches across competitions and a 1–0 away league victory at Congleton Town on November 3. Its own match preview identified Jack Birch as the team's leading scorer with 11 goals, followed by Scott Bakkor with nine and Darrhyl Mason with six at the time of publication. These are pre-match club figures, not goals scored in the Grimsby tie.
There was a setback as well: Stafford lost 5–3 at Lower Breck on October 31. That contrast is useful context. Stafford had demonstrated attacking potential and strong cup form but had also conceded heavily in a recent match. Whether either pattern carried into the Grimsby game required evidence from the game itself, which was not confirmed at the verification time.
Grimsby Town, coached by David Artell, arrived after back-to-back League Two wins. The Mariners defeated Gillingham 4–1 away on October 24 and York City 5–2 at home on October 31. Nine goals across those two games suggested substantial attacking momentum leading into their FA Cup opener, although cup matches can be shaped by selection decisions and conditions that league results do not capture.
As the higher-division team, Grimsby would ordinarily be considered the favorite based on league position alone. That does not establish the result or margin. Stafford's Gateshead win is a reminder that a lower-tier club can beat an opponent from a higher league. The key practical distinction is between verified recent results and a conditional expectation about how those results might translate into the cup tie.
The winner advances to the Emirates FA Cup second round proper. The FA's 2026–27 round-date schedule places that round around Saturday, December 5, 2026. That is the round's scheduled weekend, not a verified kickoff date for either club's next cup match. The opponent, venue and precise kickoff will depend on the competition draw and subsequent scheduling.
A Stafford win would be a notable upset and extend a high-profile cup run for the non-league side. A Grimsby win would keep the League Two club in the competition and allow it to focus on its next round alongside league commitments. Both are possible consequences, not statements that either team has already qualified. The official result must be established before the outcome can be described as fact.
Sunday, November 8, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. GMT (UTC+00:00) in Stafford, England, which is also 12:00 UTC.
The Football Association lists TNT Sports 1 in the UK. Grimsby Town's official broadcast guide also mentions TNT Sports 3. Streaming through HBO Max requires an eligible subscription.
Stafford Rangers lists the game as sold out and all-ticket. For the verified score or final outcome, consult the FA Cup results page, the clubs' official match pages or the broadcaster's match center; a final score had not been independently established from those official sources at the time noted above.
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