How to follow FA Cup first round on the BBC

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Watch the FA Cup first round live on BBC iPlayer
Dates: 3-5 November
Coverage: Watch Bromley v Blackpool on Saturday on BBC Two, BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport website & app (kick-off: 17:45 GMT) and Charlton v Cray Valley on Sunday on BBC Two, BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport website & app (17:30).

Thirty-two non-league clubs will be dreaming big this weekend when they compete in the first round of the FA Cup.

Cray Valley Paper Mills, who play in the eighth tier of English football, are among those looking to produce an upset when they go to League One Charlton Athletic on Sunday - a match you can watch live on BBC Two (17:30 GMT).

Two other teams from the eighth tier have also qualified for the first round - Sheppey United, who host League Two Walsall on Friday (19:45), and Ramsgate who entertain National League Woking on Saturday (15:00).

There are 40 ties over three days, with at least seven non-league clubs guaranteed a place in the second round on the weekend 2-3 December.

In addition to Charlton-Cray Valley, BBC Two is also showing National League Bromley's home tie with former winners Blackpool on Saturday (17:45).

Portsmouth are the highest-ranked side at this stage. The League One leaders are at National League Chesterfield, managed by former Pompey boss Paul Cook.

First-round winning teams receive £41,000 in prize money.

Premier League clubs - including holders Manchester City - and Championship sides enter at the third round on the weekend of 6-7 January. This season's FA Cup final takes place at Wembley on 25 May 2024.

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Five ties to look out for

Sheppey United v Walsall - Friday, 19:45

Sheppey's FA Cup run started with a 3-0 win over Midhurst & Easebourne in front of 265 fans back in August. A sell-out crowd of around 1,400 is expected to pack Holm Park to see if the part-timers from the Isthmian League South East Division can upset a team from four leagues higher.

Marine v Harrogate Town - Saturday, 15:00

It is three years since Merseyside non-league side Marine embarked on a memorable FA Cup run that ended with a third-round home defeat against Jose Mourinho's Tottenham. The Northern Premier League Premier Division club have a chance to cause another surprise when they host Harrogate, who are18th in League Two.

Scarborough Athletic v Forest Green Rovers - Saturday, 15:00

Will the Seadogs produce one of the biggest upsets of the weekend? Forest Green sit 22nd in League Two and will not relish a game at Scarborough, who play two levels below in National League North and are managed by former Manchester United midfielder Jonathan Greening.

Bristol Rovers v Whitby Town - Saturday, 15:00

Saturday is a huge day for Whitby Town, from the seventh-tier Northern Premier League Premier Division, as they appear in the first round for the first time in 20 years. Will they spring a surprise? Bristol Rovers sit 13th in League One and have recently sacked manager Joey Barton.

Slough Town v Grimsby Town - Sunday, 14:00

Grimsby Town are also without a manager. They knocked out Premier League Southampton on their way to the quarter-finals last season but the League Two club face a tricky first round tie at Slough, who play in National League South.

How to follow on the BBC

As well as the two live games on Friday and Saturday, the BBC will be across all the other ties.

Final Score on BBC One on Saturday (16:30) will have news of all the upsets.

There is a 90-minute Match of the Day FA Cup highlights show on Sunday on BBC Three (20:00) and BBC Two (23:30).

In addition, the BBC Sport website will have live text commentary on this weekend's FA Cup action.

FA Cup first-round live televised games

Friday, 3 November

Sheppey United v Walsall, 19:45 - live on ITV4 and ITVX.

Saturday, 4 November

Bromley v Blackpool, 17:45 - live on BBC Two, BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport website and app.

Sunday, 5 November

Chesterfield v Portsmouth, 12.15 - live on ITV1, UTV, STV and ITVX.

Crewe Alexandra v Derby County, 14:45 - live on ITVX.

Charlton Athletic v Cray Valley Paper Mills, 17.30 - live on BBC Two, BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport website.

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