Emirates FA Cup First-round storylines: Ex-Premier League duo face off & the lowest-ranked team eye first big cupset of 2025/26 season
Updated 30/10/2025 at 22:54 GMT
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The men's Emirates FA Cup first round kicks off in style on Friday night as Luton Town host Forest Green Rovers. TNT Sports and discovery+ will be showcasing the best action from this year's competition starting this week. There will be eight matches shown live on TNT Sports and discovery+ across four days, and we take a look at the best storylines from those selected matches.
Highlights: Forest Green thrash Worthing to book spot in FA Cup first round
Video credit: TNT Sports
The men's Emirates FA Cup first round proper gets underway on Friday night as Luton Town welcome Forest Green Rovers to Kenilworth Road.
You can watch all the build-up and action from Friday's tie, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
The match will be the first of eight FA Cup ties in front of the TNT Sports cameras across four days, culminating in Tamworth's match against Leyton Orient on Monday evening.
This round of the famous competition sees clubs from the EFL join the party, while the non-league teams will set their sights on causing a shock this weekend.
Even though this round does not include the glitz and glamour of Premier League teams, there is no shortage of storylines heading into the weekend's action.
From former Premier League players going head-to-head to previous FA Cup winners facing non-league competition, the first round proper has thrown up some interesting storylines.
Savage v Wilshere
The first round kicks off with two former Premier League midfielders facing off in the dugout at Kenilworth Road as Jack Wilshere's Luton Town host Robbie Savage's Forest Green Rovers.
The two managers made over 520 Premier League appearances combined during their playing careers in the middle of the park.
Savage played for Leicester City, Blackburn Rovers, Birmingham City and Derby County during his time in the top-flight, while Wilshere showcased his qualities at Arsenal.
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Savage and Wilshere never got the opportunity to face each other in the Premier League but the duo will be looking to win the managerial battle on Friday.
Both men had contrasting stories as players in the competition as Savage played a key role in guiding Blackburn to the 2005 semi-final before they were dumped out by Arsenal.
On the other hand, Wilshere was part of the Arsenal team who won the FA Cup in back-to-back campaigns in 2014 and 2015.
Both men are enjoying their first seasons in the dugout with Savage's side sitting in fifth place in the National League while Wilshere took up his first managerial with League One Luton just two weeks ago.
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Savage credits impact of subs after Forest Green breeze past Worthing
Video credit: TNT Sports
Previous FA Cup winners travel to Brackley
Just because there are no Premier League teams in this round does not mean that previous FA Cup winners are not involved this weekend.
Notts County made history in the competition in the 19th century when they became the first club outside the top flight to get their hands on the trophy.
Three years after falling short at the last hurdle, County sealed a stunning 4-1 victory over Bolton Wanderers in 1894 thanks to a hat-trick from James 'Jimmy' Logan.
Unfortunately for The Magpies, they have not been able to replicate their FA Cup exploits since that famous day.
County's best run in recent memory saw them reach the quarter-final stage in 1991, where they were knocked out by eventual winners Tottenham Hotspur.
Brackley Town stand in County's way of going on another deep run in the competition when they host the previous winners on Saturday afternoon, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
The National League outfit will be encouraged by County's unconvincing record in the FA Cup in recent times as they have failed to reach the third round of the competition since 2018.
Is there another disappointing elimination of the cards for County?
Familiar face for Braintree
Braintree Town will see a familiar face when they travel to Chelmsford City on Saturday afternoon in the first round proper of the FA Cup, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
Chelmsford boss Angelo Harrop spent two years at Braintree before he was sacked around this time last year following a disappointing first-round exit in the competition to Brackley Town.
The 37-year-old enjoyed success at Braintree after guiding them back into the National League following a memorable 4-3 victory over Worthing in May 2024.
Following his departure, he was named the new Chelmsford first-team manager earlier this year in March and the 37-year-old could be seeking revenge as he attempts to dump his former club out of the FA Cup this weekend.
Harrop's team will head into the cup tie as underdogs with Braintree in the tier above, although the Iron have lost nine of their 13 league matches this season.
Chelmsford picked up their first league win in four matches on Tuesday and Harrop will be hopeful of building that momentum to show his former employers that they made a mistake in letting him go.
FA Cup's lowest-ranked team face uphill task
TNT Sports has been present with the lowest-ranked team during the qualifying rounds of the FA Cup this season.
We were there when ninth-tier Soul Tower Hamlets pulled off a shock result in the competition before bowing out in the next round.
Following their exit, attention turned to Whitstable Town's fairytale run in the FA Cup which unfortunately came to an end after an emphatic defeat.
All eyes are now on Maldon & Tiptree as the lowest-ranked team in the competition with the Isthmian League North Division outfit facing a tough trip to League One Port Vale on Sunday, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
The Jammers started their FA Cup journey in August in the extra-preliminary Round and continued their wonderful journey into the first round proper with six consecutive victories, scoring 16 goals and conceding only three in the process.
Maldon & Tiptree have also got off to a flying start in the league as they sit in first position with only one defeat to their name in 12 matches so far this campaign.
As they look to cause the first major cupset of the season, the club will look to the experience of former West Ham United striker Freddie Sears but will not be able to call on ex-Celtic frontman Gary Hooper, who is out with injury.
With momentum on their side and the nation always willing to back the underdog, Maldon & Tiptree have the potential to become every fan's favourite team by the end of the weekend.
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