Emirates FA Cup: 5 most interesting first-round fixtures 

The FA Cup is one of the most exciting competitions in the world
The FA Cup is one of the most exciting competitions in the world

The FA Cup is back. Well, for fans of League One and below, at least. The draw for the first round of the FA Cup took place last night, with a total of 40 games being confirmed for the second weekend in November.

The draw featured all 48 League One and League Two sides, with 32 other sides taking the total numbers of participants in the round up to 80, though, there are still some replays left to be played.

As it always does, the FA Cup first-round draw threw up a number of fascinating ties, including several potential upsets and several non-league debutants.

Let's take a look at the five most interesting games that are going to be taking place in the FA Cup first round this year.

5: Chippenham Town or Maidenhead United Vs Portsmouth

Portsmouth won the FA Cup in 2008
Portsmouth won the FA Cup in 2008

It's not very often that non-league sides get the opportunity to host former FA Cup winners but that is exactly what will be on offer when Maidenhead host Chippenham this week.

The winner of the two sides will get to host League One pace-setters and 2008 FA Cup winners, Portsmouth.

Both Maidenhead and Chippenham play in non-league football, with United playing in the National League, and Chippenham playing in the National League South.

Whichever of these teams gets through to face Portsmouth will be guaranteed a big pay-day, with Pompey fans notoriously traveling in large numbers and while an upset seems highly unlikely, you can never rule it out in the FA Cup.

4: Port Vale Vs Sunderland

Tom Pope will be hoping to inspire an FA Cup upset
Tom Pope will be hoping to inspire an FA Cup upset

It's been quite some time since Sunderland AFC entered the FA Cup in the first round, and their fans will be hoping that this year will be the last time for the foreseeable future.

The former FA Cup winners have suffered a catastrophic slide down the football pyramid over the last two years and now find themselves in League One, the third division of English football, for the first time in over 30 years.

The Black Cats' first-round opponents are League Two side, Port Vale, who will be desperate to upset the former Premier League club and earn themselves a spot in the second-round draw.

Vale have had a rough start to their League Two campaign, but their fans will be hoping a big crowd and the magic of the FA Cup can inspire them to what would be one of the biggest upsets of the opening weekend.

3: Met Police Vs Newport County

Newport County will be hoping to avoid an upset
Newport County will be hoping to avoid an upset

Everybody's favourite football team, Met Police FC, will play host to League Two side, Newport County, after reaching the first round of the FA Cup for the first time in six years.

The Southern League Premier division side reached the first-round after defeating National League Premier side, Havant and Waterlooville this past weekend, and will be hoping to take an even bigger scalp next month.

Newport County, however, have been one of the surprise teams in League Two this year, with the South Wales club currently sitting fourth in the division's table.

Met Police were narrowly defeated last time they reached the first round of the FA Cup, going down 2-1 away to Crawley Town, and they will be hoping that they can grab the headlines and go one better this time around.

2: Haringey Borough Vs AFC Wimbledon

AFC Wimbledon have had a tough start to their League One campaign
AFC Wimbledon have had a tough start to their League One campaign

The FA Cup first round always throws up some unexpected non-league delights, and this year's smallest team, Haringey Borough, are to set to take on League One side, AFC Wimbledon.

Borough plough their trade in the Isthmian Premier Division, the seventh tier of English football.

The Tottenham based club will welcome fellow London underdogs, AFC Wimbledon in what promises to be an absolute delight for all FA Cup purists.

AFC Wimbledon currently find themselves 21st in the League One table, and are many favourites to exit the division through the trap-door this season. The Phoenix club's own rise back through the divisions has been a fairytale for their fans and while there is no doubt they would be the first to welcome a non-league club doing well in the FA Cup, they are unlikely to want it to be at their own expense.

1: Shrewsbury Town Vs Salford City

Salford City have had a meteoric rise in recent years
Salford City have had a meteoric rise in recent years

The meteoric rise of Salford City has been one of the biggest talking in non-league football over the last few years, and the Class of 92 backed-club have the perfect opportunity to make a name for themselves in the FA Cup this year as they travel to League One strugglers, Shrewsbury Town.

Last season's League One play-off finalists, Shrewsbury, have had a difficult start to the season under new manager John Askey, and this game has FA Cup upset written all over it.

Salford, managed by former Scunthorpe boss Graham Alexander, have had an excellent start to their maiden season in the National League, currently sitting top of the table having picked up 34 points from their opening 16 games.

While it has not yet been announced which games will be on TV, given the BBC's fascination with Salford, and the fact that this game has upset written all over it, there is every chance that this will be billed as one of the biggest games of the opening weekend.

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Edited by Victor R. Lopez M.