Over 360 teams ready for kick-off in The Emirates FA Cup

Arsenal celebrated their 4-0 Wembley victory over Aston Villa in the 2015 FA Cup Final on 30 May.

Fast forward 76 days and The Emirates FA Cup, with a new sponsor, gets under way with a sprinkling of extra preliminary round ties on Friday night, and many more across Saturday and Sunday.

One of the teams kicking off the 135th FA Cup is Hoddesdon Town, who won the first FA Vase Final at the old Wembley 40 years ago.

They host a Hertfordshire derby against Sawbridgeworth Town at Lowfield. 

Hoddesdon once played in the Cup’s ‘first round’ but that was way back in 1884 and they lost 8-0 at Old Foresters!

Most of the 184 Extra Preliminary Round ties, of course, are being played on Saturday.

Several of the teams involved have an impressive Cup pedigree. 

Alexis Sanchez celebrates for Arsenal at the Final on 30 May

Those include Alvechurch (home to Heath Hayes), Clapton (home to Stanway Rovers) and Whitley Bay (home to Sunderland Ryhope CW) who have reached the Third Round – and Bishop Auckland (home to Shildon) who made one round further in the 1954-55 season.

Bexhill United, whose ‘home’ tie with Loxwood will take place at Eastbourne United’s ground, will be playing their first FA Cup match for 35 years. 

But the Bexhill ‘Pirates’ cannot compare their long wait to Peterborough Sports’.

Whitley Bay have been regular Wembley visitors in The FA Vase

Their last Cup fixture, as Brotherhoods Works FC, was a 2-1 replay defeat at Desborough Town in the preliminary round 93 years ago. The original Wembley had not even been built.

There will be ten ties on Sunday featuring Greenwich Borough at home to Lordswood, Epsom & Ewell entertaining Erith & Belvedere and Cadbury Heath's visit to Christchurch.

Each of the extra preliminary round winners will pick up £1,500 from The FA’s prize fund and move one step closer to the Final at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 21 May 2016.

Let the games begin!