Curzon Ashton take on Cambridge United in the FA Cup First Round - Credit: Curzon Ashton FC / Biddle of Nowhere Photography
EFL clubs will enter the FA Cup First Round this weekend, with non-league sides up and down the pyramid eyeing up potential giant-killing upsets.
In one of the football calendar’s most anticipated weekends, clubs from the Football League enter the 2022/23 FA Cup for the first time this weekend.
As is the case every season, a number of non-league sides have been drawn against EFL opposition, with anticipation high for Cup upsets.
Here are three of FA Cup upsets to watch out for this weekend.
Read: Televising Wrexham's FA Cup First Round tie should not be controversial
What better way to start the FA Cup weekend than a former winner of the competition travelling away to a non-league side?
When Portsmouth won the FA Cup in 2008, Hereford were still operating under their old title of Hereford United, with the Herefordshire side going bust six years later.
Having since reformed as a phoenix club, Hereford FC are eyeing up a cup upset against the former Premier League side under the lights this weekend.
One of six non-league clubs set to be broadcast across the First Round, expect plenty of homemade tinfoil FA Cups at Edgar Street, as the National League North outfit eyes a famous victory on Friday night.
South Shields hit the headlines last season after appointing Kevin Phillips as boss and the former Sunderland striker will guide his side into a historic FA Cup First Round clash against Forest Green Rovers.
Promoted to League One last season, former non-league stalwarts Forest Green have endured a troublesome start to the campaign under ex-Notts County boss Ian Burchnall.
While clear favourites to progress at South Shields’ expense this weekend, the Gloucestershire-based outfit aren’t a dead cert for victory.
Phillips never won the FA Cup as a player, but will no doubt fancy his team’s chances against the League One side on Saturday afternoon.
It’s six years since Curzon Ashton came within 10 minutes of dumping AFC Wimbledon out of the FA Cup Second Round, with the National League North side eyeing up EFL opposition once again this weekend.
Four goals inside the final 10 minutes downed Curzon that day, but the Nash will fancy their chances against a Cambridge United side with FA Cup giant-killing pedigree of their own.
Last season Cambridge knocked Newcastle United out at the Third Round stage, but the U’s will be wary of falling victim to a shock on Sunday when they travel to the Tameside Stadium.
With all the ingredients for an FA Cup shock, watch out for Curzon as they target a place in round two.
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