One of the showpiece occasions in the football calendar takes place this weekend, and there are plenty of intriguing ties.
For those who still believe in the oft-quoted ‘Magic of the Cup’, this weekend is one of the highlights of the season. The FA Cup first round sees Football League teams enter the fray, joining up with those teams for whom simply reaching this stage represents a dream come true.
Stephen O’Halloran celebrates with team mates after scoring the first goal for Salford City
The games are spread across the weekend – the majority take place on Saturday afternoon, but there are also ties on Friday, Sunday and Monday. Here is the lowdown on what you need to know ahead of the encounters.
Which games can I watch?
There are three live games across the weekend, with the action beginning on Friday evening as National League side Eastleigh take on League One Swindon live on BBC2. Kick-off at the Silverlake Stadium is at 7.55pm, with build-up starting at 7.30.
Eastleigh’s Jack Midson and Jai Reason acknowledge fans after last season’s third round defeat at Bolton
On Saturday, the attention switches to Isthmian League Premier Division side Merstham, who host Oxford United of League One. The village side from Surrey play in one of the most picturesque non-league grounds around and BT Sport 1 are providing live coverage of the match, which kicks off at 12.30pm.
Sunday sees BBC1 run a special ‘Final Score’ programme focusing on the nine ties which get underway at 2pm, including teams with illustrious cup pedigree such as Sheffield United, Coventry City and Blackpool.
Sheffield United’s Billy Sharp
The curtain comes down on the first round with Fleetwood Town’s trip to Southport on Monday evening, which is being shown live on BT Sport 1. That game kicks off at 7.45pm.
Where will the shocks be?
The televised games are usually a decent bet for an upset, with both Warrington Town and Salford City causing Friday night shocks against higher division opponents in each of the past two seasons.
For that reason, all eyes will be on Eastleigh. The National League outfit reached the third round last season before being narrowly defeated in a replay by Bolton, and are being led by canny operator Ronnie Moore. Swindon are in the League One relegation zone and could come unstuck on the south coast.
General view of the Silverlake Stadium, Eastleigh
Elsewhere, Taunton Town are making their first appearance in the first round for 35 years and are expecting a bumper crowd at the Viridor Stadium for Sunday’s visit of Barrow. Having seen off higher division opponents in Hemel Hempstead in the fourth qualifying round, the Peacocks will fancy their chances of keeping their cup run going.
Newport County will be welcoming the cup as a distraction after a dreadful start to their League Two campaign, but the Welsh side face a potential banana skin at National League North outfit Alfreton.
Where are the true underdog stories?
The lowest ranked side left in this season’s FA Cup are Westfields, who play in the Midland League Premier Division – the ninth tier of English football.
They face Curzon Ashton, who themselves have giant-killing pedigree having defeated York in the previous round and knocked out Exeter City at this stage in 2008.
Meanwhile, Northern Premier League Division One outfit Stamford have the best nickname of those teams still in the tournament. The Daniels are so-called because of Daniel Lambert, once Britain’s heaviest man, who died in the town in 1809.
Having knocked out Wrexham in the last round the Daniels will be confident of claiming another notable scalp on Sunday when they head to Hartlepool, who were famously humbled by non-league Blyth Spartans two seasons ago.
Hartlepool United’s Michael Duckworth (L) in action with Bournemouth’s Tyrone Mings
I’ve forgotten who my team are playing – where can I see all the fixtures?
A full list of this weekend’s first round fixtures can be found on the FA website here.
Who do you think will cause the shocks? Are your team set for a cup run? Leave your thoughts below.
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