The magic of the Emirates FA Cup is set to return to television screens up and down the country – and once again, it’s the Non-League clubs taking centre stage.
The broadcast schedule for the 2025–26 FA Cup First Round Proper has now been confirmed, with eight ties selected for live coverage across TNT Sports and BBC Sport.
For clubs outside the Football League, it’s a rare and invaluable opportunity to showcase their talent, community, and ambition on the national stage.
From Chelmsford City’s Essex derby with Braintree Town to Tamworth’s Monday night test against Leyton Orient, Non-League sides will have the chance to write new chapters in the competition’s long and storied history.
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When and where can you watch the live matches?
Friday 31 October
Luton Town v Forest Green Rovers – 7.30pm GMT, TNT Sports 1 and discovery+
Saturday 1 November
Chelmsford City v Braintree Town – 12pm GMT, TNT Sports 1, 3 and discovery+
Brackley Town v Notts County – 5.30pm GMT, BBC Two, BBC iPlayer, TNT Sports 3 and discovery+
Sunday 2 November
South Shields v Shrewsbury Town – 12pm GMT, TNT Sports 1 and discovery+
Eastleigh v Walsall – 2.15pm GMT, BBC Two, BBC Sport, TNT Sports 2 and discovery+
Port Vale v Maldon & Tiptree – 3pm GMT, TNT Sports 1 and discovery+
Gainsborough Trinity v Accrington Stanley – 5.15pm GMT, TNT Sports 1, 2 and discovery+
Monday 3 November
Tamworth v Leyton Orient – 7.30pm GMT, TNT Sports 1 and discovery+
How much do clubs earn from live broadcasts?
For the first round proper, £50,000 is on offer to each club selected for live broadcast, in addition to prize money from the FA Cup fund.
In addition, winners from the first round proper will take home £47,750, while the losers will still pocket £15,800.
What about the other first round proper ties?
While these 16 clubs will appear on live TV, the remaining ties in the first round proper will proceed as normal on Saturday 1 November, with the allotted 3pm kick-off time and results available via the FA Cup website.
The Non-League Paper will have full reports and reaction from the next FA Cup round – excluding the fixtures on Sunday and Monday’s clash between Tamworth and Leyton Orient.
The draw in full
Friday 31 October
Luton Town v Forest Green Rovers – 7.30pm GMT, TNT Sports 1 and discovery+
Saturday 1 November (3pm kick-off unless stated otherwise – times subject to change)
Chelmsford City v Braintree Town – 12pm GMT, TNT Sports 1, 3 and discovery+
Weston-super-Mare v Aldershot Town
Salford City v Lincoln City
Colchester United v Milton Keynes Dons
Tranmere Rovers v Stockport County
Wigan Athletic v Hemel Hempstead Town
Newport County v Gillingham
Cheltenham Town v Bradford City
Barnsley v York City
Reading v Carlisle United
Bromley v Bristol Rovers
Peterborough United v Cardiff City
Oldham Athletic v Northampton Town
Crewe Alexandra v Doncaster Rovers
Stevenage v Chesterfield
Boreham Wood v Crawley Town
Sutton United v AFC Telford United
Bolton Wanderers v Huddersfield Town
Spennymoor Town v Barrow
Wycombe Wanderers v Plymouth Argyle
FC Halifax Town v Exeter City
Slough Town v Altrincham
Wealdstone v Southend United
Rotherham United v Swindon Town
Grimsby Town v Ebbsfleet United
Buxton v Chatham Town
Burton Albion v St Albans City
Blackpool v Scunthorpe United
Cambridge United v Chester
AFC Wimbledon v Gateshead
Mansfield Town v Harrogate Town
Macclesfield v AFC Totton
Fleetwood Town v Barnet
Brackley Town v Notts County – 5.30pm GMT, BBC Two, BBC iPlayer, TNT Sports 3 and discovery+
Sunday 2 November
South Shields v Shrewsbury Town – 12pm GMT, TNT Sports 1 and discovery+
Eastleigh v Walsall – 2.15pm GMT, BBC Two, BBC Sport, TNT Sports 2 and discovery+
Port Vale v Maldon & Tiptree – 3pm GMT, TNT Sports 1 and discovery+
Gainsborough Trinity v Accrington Stanley – 5.15pm GMT, TNT Sports 1, 2 and discovery+
Monday 3 November
Tamworth vs Leyton Orient – 7.30pm GMT, TNT Sports 1 and discovery+
READ MORE: FA Cup Rundown: What did we learn from the Fourth Round Qualifying?
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