Celtic legend, Arsenal cup winner and ex-Liverpool striker - Players to look out for on FA Cup first-round weekend
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Published 31/10/2025 at 10:41 GMT
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The road to Wembley has already begun with several non-league sides battling their way to reach the first round, which begins this weekend. Beyond the excitement about the prospect of first-round upsets, there is also a chance to see players who once graced the highest level now offering their services to clubs lower down. Watch and stream the Men's and Women's FA Cup on TNT Sports and discovery+.
Highlights: Forest Green thrash Worthing to book spot in FA Cup first round
Video credit: TNT Sports
The first round proper of the Men's Emirates FA Cup is here and, after sides lower down the pyramid have clawed their way through the qualifiers, it is time for the EFL clubs to enter the chat.
Starting on Friday, October 31, through to Monday, November 3, the 32 non-league sides remaining are joined by the 48 teams from Leagues One and Two in 40 ties to be played over the weekend - eight of which will be live across TNT Sports and discovery+.
With the Premier League and Championship sides not arriving at the party until the third round, the lower-ranked sides have a chance to make an impression, advance and put together an unlikely cup run before welcoming the big boys.
With Luton Town hosting Forest Green Rovers on Friday night, the home dugout at Kenilworth Road will be occupied by former Arsenal and England midfielder Jack Wilshere, while the visitors will be managed by ex-Leicester, Blackburn, Birmingham, Derby and Wales star Robbie Savage.
However, by no means will they be the only high-profile names at this stage as, although they may find themselves lower down the tree, several of the sides in action this weekend will have top-level experience to call upon.
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Savage credits impact of subs after Forest Green breeze past Worthing
Video credit: TNT Sports
Maldon cup run the Tip of the iceberg
Flying high at the top of the Isthmian League North Division this season, the lowest-ranked side left in the competition travel to Port Vale in round one having already navigated six gruelling qualifying ties.
But the eighth-tier Essex club has huge ambitions and will be looking for a shock win to put them on the map as well as match their best-ever FA Cup run, when they reached the second round in 2019.
Kevin Horlock - Maldon & Tiptree (manager)
Scorer of the first Manchester City goal in their famous Division Two play-off comeback win in 1999, Horlock previously played Premier League football for Swindon Town in their one season in the top flight.
With spells at West Ham and Ipswich to boast from his playing career, the 52-year-old is now with The Jammers on their quest for glory.
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Freddie Sears - Maldon & Tiptree
The once-highly-rated West Ham academy star, who had lengthy spells with Colchester and Ipswich, will also hope to spearhead Maldon & Tiptree’s attempts at an unlikely upset.
Gary Hooper - Maldon & Tiptree
With two Scottish league titles, an SPL golden boot, and the prestigious honour of having scored in the top four English Leagues, FA Cup, EFL Cup, Scottish Premier League, Scottish Cup, Scottish League Cup, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, the ex-Celtic and Norwich Hitman is now also helping the Isthmian North side and their rise.
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Highlights: Middlesbrough dispatch Cheadle in historic Women's FA Cup tie
Video credit: TNT Sports
Gunning for glory
Arsenal and Manchester United are the competitions most successful clubs with 14 and 13 wins respectively, and with Wilshere and, technically, Savage, both clubs will be represented - historically, at least - in that eye-catching first-round fixture.
However, the two clubs’ imprint will not be restricted to the Luton and FGR managers, with other players involved this weekend having featured in some part for the two Premier League juggernauts.
Richie Wellens - Leyton Orient (manager)
The 45-year-old former midfielder enjoyed a stellar career in the Football League representing the likes of Blackpool, Leicester and Doncaster but, like Savage, actually began his career at United.
Wellens played one game for The Red Devils in 1999 before leaving the club and will lead out the O’s when they face Tamworth.
Ben Amos – Port Vale
Another Carrington alumnus, Amos played a handful of matches for United as a perennial back-up between 2008 and 2015.
He will be hoping to feature against Maldon & Tiptree.
Donald Love – Accrington Stanley
Also passing through the Old Trafford doors, Love, whose side will look to avoid an upset at Gainsborough Trinity, is another who came through the United academy and featured briefly under Louis van Gaal in 2016.
Carl Jenkinson – Bromley
The full-back has FA Cup pedigree to call on, having featured in three matches over Arsenal’s triumphant 2014 campaign, and will hope to use this as inspiration for the South Londoners when they take on Bristol Rovers.
Jay Emmanuel-Thomas – AFC Totton
The Arsenal academy graduate lifted the FA Youth Cup with the Gunners in 2009. ‘JET’ joined AFC Totton this summer following his release from prison on parole for drug-smuggling and he could face Macclesfield this weekend.
International stars
The FA Cup will also feature players who have had the honour of representing their countries and even featured in major international tournaments.
Fabio Borini – Salford
With a career that has seen him play for Chelsea, Liverpool, AC Milan, Sunderland and sitting on the bench for Italy at the UEFA Euro 2012 final, Borini recently joined Salford on a short-term deal ahead of their meeting with Lincoln City.
Aaron Connolly – Leyton Orient
The nine-cap Ireland striker burst on the scene with Brighton, scoring an impressive brace against Spurs to register his first two goals for The Seagulls back in 2019.
Connelly has five goals so far this season for The O’s and will hope to add to that against Tamworth.
Kwesi Appiah – Ebbsfleet United
Although he did not quite establish himself at Crystal Palace following Premier League promotion in 2013, Appiah did represent his country all the way to the Africa Cup of Nations final in 2015, but was sadly on the losing side as Cote d'Ivoire beat Ghana on penalties.
His National League South side travel to Grimsby hoping to pull off a cup shock.
Albert Adomah – Walsall
Another former Ghana international, Adomah, who has made over 800 appearances in English football for the likes of Aston Villa, Middlesbrough and QPR among others, represented his country at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil – a world away from Eastleigh, where he travels with The Saddlers at the weekend.
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Honourable mentions
James Shea – Former Arsenal youth team goalkeeper now being managed by his former teammate at Luton.
Lyle Taylor – Chelmsford forward who contributed to Nottingham Forest’s Premier League promotion campaign in 2022 and only left the club a year later.
Britt Assombalonga – Ex-Peterborough, Forest and Middlesbrough goal-machine who recently joined Barnet.
Frank Nouble – Former West Ham and Ipswich football league journeyman currently at Gateshead.
Will Grigg – He of football’s most infectious chant will line up for Chesterfield against Accrington Stanley.
Brian Jensen – Shrewsbury Town’s goalkeeping coach spent a decade between the sticks at Burnley, including helping them to Premier League promotion in 2009.
What FA Cup matches are on TNT Sports?
The first-round proper matches shown on TNT Sports and discovery+ are:
| FRI, OCT 31 | LUTON TOWN v FOREST GREEN ROVERS | 19:30 |
| SAT, NOV 1 | CHELMSFORD CITY v BRAINTREE TOWN | 12:00 |
| SAT, NOV 1 | BRACKLEY TOWN v NOTTS COUNTY | 17:30 |
| SUN, NOV 2 | SOUTH SHIELDS v SHREWSBURY TOWN | 12:00 |
| SUN, NOV 2 | EASTLEIGH v WALSALL | 14:15 |
| SUN, NOV 2 | PORT VALE v MALDON & TIPTREE | 15:00 |
| SUN, NOV 2 | GAINSBOROUGH TRINITY v ACCRINGTON STANLEY | 17:15 |
| MON, NOV 3 | TAMWORTH v LEYTON ORIENT | 19:30 |
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Watch the Men's and Women's FA Cup live throughout the season on TNT Sports and discovery+
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