From the lowest-ranked team left in the competition to the return of Maidenhead United, here are five fixtures to follow
AFC Totton v Bradford Park Avenue
In terms of pedigree, Bradford Park Avenue are full blood labradors to AFC Totton's loveable mongrels. Bradford PA have reached the quarter-finals of the FA Cup three times, although admittedly the last time they managed that the second world war had just ended, and since then the club has been voted out of the Football League and have had a stadium demolished. While this tie could be seen as the beginnings of a revival for Bradford PA, AFC Totton are also on the up: they celebrate their centenary this year and it's the first time they've reached the first round proper. "The exposure has been fantastic and we need to grab hold of it," said the AFC Totton manager Stuart Ritchie. "We were a small club a few years ago and we have grown very quickly and we need to maintain this momentum."
Fleetwood Town v Wycombe Wanderers
Mark as urgent for the giant-killing department. Since losing to Newport County at the start of October, Fleetwood have won their last four league matches, scoring 13 goals in the process, and are now second in the Blue Square Bet Premier. Wycombe, meanwhile, have scored 17 goals in their entire league campaign and are currently second bottom of League Two. It may be an attempt to lull Fleetwood into a false sense of security but even Wycombe's manager, Gary Waddock, is tipping the non-league side for this one. "Fleetwood would be the favourites," he said. "They are going to be right up for the game. We have to make sure we go there with the right attitude - if we don't that's why there's cup upsets, and obviously we don't want one."
Sheffield United v Oxford United
Or Sheffield United v Sheffield United, as it's known in some parts. Oxford's manager, Chris Wilder, is a Blades fan ? "It's not like supporting Manchester United," he notes, correctly ? and made nearly 200 appearances for the club. That's nothing compared to Oxford United's goalkeeping coach though: Alan Hodgkinson spent his entire playing career with the Blades and made 675 appearances. A nice story but the visitors face a huge task, mainly because they're struggling to put together a squad of 18. Eleven of their first-team squad could be missing through injury, including the player with arguably the most big-match experience, Michael Duberry.
Redbridge v Oxford City
Just to demonstrate there's nothing in those rumours about pro-Oxford United bias in the national media, we'll have a look at City's chances against Redbridge, the lowest-ranked side left in the competition. Redbridge have half a chance too; Tony Adams's nephew Adam Rafis is the club's keeper and has yet to concede a goal in six hours of FA Cup football. Redbridge's manager Terry Spillane reckons City may struggle with the spartan facilities on offer. "[Our FA Cup opponents so far] have got lovely grounds and so have Oxford City and we haven't, but we use that to our advantage," he said. "It's not the greatest of pitches. It's bobbly, but at least we know where the bobbles are." Redbridge will need all the help they can get: Oxford are currently top of the Southern League Premier Division.
Maidenhead United v Aldershot Town
Maidenhead hosted one of the first four FA Cup fixtures ever played 140 year ago today (the Civil Service, yep all of them, had a tricky away game at Barnes in the big tie of the round if you're interested). They beat Marlow 2-0 and made the semi-finals the season afterwards but have had to wait until this Saturday to host their first home Cup tie against Football League opposition. Aldershot are without first-choice goalkeeper Ross Worner, who is suspended but striker Alex Rodman returns after time out with a shoulder injury.
Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2011/nov/11/fa-cup-first-round-watch
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