The FA Cup qualifying period will officially come to an end this weekend as National League sides join the competition in what is the final round before the first round proper, but which ties should you be keeping an eye on?
Throughout the 2024/25 campaign this far, hundreds of non-League sides have already taken part in the FA Cup, hoping to produce major shocks in their respective quest to earn financial income and potentially reach the first round of the competition.
This weekend will oversee the fourth and final qualification round for this season’s competition, with the winners of every tie progressing to the first round of the competition, where they will earn the chance to face either one of their fellow qualifiers or potentially a big name such as Birmingham City, Wrexham or Huddersfield Town.
Despite a handful of attractive fixtures, including a couple of all-National League matches, here are the five fixtures you should be keeping a closer eye on this weekend…
Hednesford Town Vs Gateshead
We begin with eighth-tier side Hednesford Town hosting the reigning FA Trophy winners Gateshead, who are currently manager-less after Rob Elliott left to join League One side Crawley Town.
Hednesford Town may be three divisions below Gateshead, but they do have several recognisable names including former Walsall goalkeeper Jack Rose and former Plymouth Argyle forward Jake Jervis. They also have forward Manny Doku who is the joint-third highest scorer in the competition so far with six.
Meanwhile, Gateshead will be looking for a response following their defeat against Tamworth in mid-week. Though we don’t know how many of the usual suspects will start the game, Gateshead have already proven that even their squad options are strong.
This fixture is available live via the BBC red button on Saturday, and as the FA Cup has proven time after time, there is always a strong possibility of an upset, but could this be one of those or will Gateshead prove to be too much to handle despite facing the competitions highest scorers?
Hartlepool United Vs Brackley Town
This fixture on paper has all the makings to produce a potential upset as National League outfit Hartlepool United host a strong Brackley Town side, who currently play in the league below.
Darren Sarll’s side are currently 16th in the National League, having lost four of their previous five league games, not scoring in any of their defeats. Similarly, Hartlepool have won just one of their seven home league games thus far, further fuelling the possibility of an upset.
As for the visitors, Brackley have lost just one of their five away league games so far and are currently on a three-match unbeaten run, keeping clean sheets in each of them. Former Solihull Moors forward Connor Hall and social media star Scott Pollock are on the books at the sixth-tier side and will be aiming to help produce an upset.
Despite the league difference, form would suggest that Brackley Town face a strong chance of winning this fixture and making it into the opening round of the FA Cup, which would add further pressure onto Darren Sarll’s shoulders.
Biggleswade Vs York City
Next up we have an eye-catching battle as one of the lowest-ranked sides left in the competition plays host to one of the highest-ranked sides as York City travel to Biggleswade hoping to avoid a huge banana skin.
Biggleswade currently play their football in the eighth tier of English football and faces arguably one of the biggest challenges in their history, backed by a potential record crowd of over 1,000 supporters.
Meanwhile, York City will go into the match in red-hot form having lost just one of their 13 league games so far this season and also have the fewest goals conceded with seven.
On paper, York will go into the match as clear favourites and there will be an expectation of a big result, but we all know how the FA Cup works… Could the chance of making club history allow for one of the shocks of the tournament so far?
Harborough Town Vs Bury
It has been public knowledge that Bury supporters have been through absolute turmoil over the last few years after being expelled from the EFL, but could they make a major step back to the glory days by reaching the first round of the FA Cup?
Standing in their way are Harborough Town, a side that play in the seventh tier of English football and sit 15th within the same division as the likes of Banbury United and Kettering Town and are unbeaten in their last three home matches.
Currently, Bury play in the ninth tier of English football following their merger with phoenix club Bury AFC and are back playing their football at Gigg Lane, though unfortunately, they are still some way off returning to the EFL.
A victory away from home would take Bury back to the possibility of hosting a big named side at Gigg Lane once again but they have a very tricky task ahead of them and Harborough Town will not be going down lightly if they are to lose at all.
Barnet Vs Chelmsford City
Finishing the list is a tie between the current National League leaders Barnet and a defensively strong Chelmsford City side, which (like the Hartlepool fixture), could create a potentially difficult afternoon for the Bees.
Dean Brennan’s Barnet have won ten of their opening 13 league games, scoring 28 goals and have a 100% home record thus far, winning seven times from seven attempts. They have also scored 17 goals in their last five home games, keeping three clean sheets.
However, Barnet’s highs will be tested against a compact Chelmsford City side. Chelmsford have scored 14 goals in their last four league games, picking up four straight wins including a 5-1 away win against last season’s FA Cup giant killers Maidstone United.
Though on paper this seems as though it’s Barnet’s tie to lose, both teams go into the game in superb form and neither will be willing to give their unbeaten runs up, which could make for the tie of the round this weekend.
FA Cup fourth qualifying round fixtures in full:
- AFC Fylde Vs Rochdale AFC
- Aldershot Town Vs Bath City
- Alfreton Town Vs Spennymoor Town
- Altrincham FC Vs Solihull Moors
- Barnet FC Vs Chelmsford City
- Biggleswade Vs York City
- Boreham Wood Vs Carshalton Athletic
- Braintree Town Vs Bishop’s Stortford
- Chertsey Town Vs Sutton United
- Chesham United Vs Yeovil Town
- Cray Wanderers Vs Tonbridge Angels
- Curzon Ashton Vs King’s Lynn Town
- Eastleigh FC Vs Southend United
- Farsley Celtic Vs Kettering Town
- Forest Green Rovers Vs Weymouth FC
- Gainsborough Trinity Vs Boston United
- Harborough Town Vs Bury FC
- Hartlepool United Vs Brackley Town
- Hednesford Town Vs Gateshead FC
- Horsham FC Vs Gorleston FC
- Kidderminster Harriers Vs Guiseley FC
- Leiston FC Vs Dagenham & Redbridge
- Lowestoft Town Vs Weston-Super-Mare
- Maidstone United Vs Ebbsfleet United
- Oldham Athletic Vs FC Halifax Town
- Plymouth Parkway Vs Worthing FC
- Rushall Olympic Vs Peterborough Sports
- Scarborough Athletic Vs Chester FC
- Tamworth FC Vs Macclesfield FC
- Taunton Town Vs Maidenhead United
- Wealdstone FC Vs Gosport Borough
- Woking FC Vs Slough Town
Which tie are you most looking forward too?