THIS week's FA Cup First Round draw has, as usual, thrown up some interesting ties on Saturday week proving again that it remains the most exciting cup competition around.
It's the day when the smaller clubs hope to cause an upset by beating a Football League outfit.
Non-league clubs like Hendon (away to Aldershot), Met Police (home to Crawley Town), Cambridge City (home to MK Dons), Dorchester Town (home to Plymouth Argyle), Arlesey Town (away to Coventry City), and Gloucester City (home to Leyton Orient) will all be hoping to pull off a shock and make the back page sport headlines on the Sunday morning.
Closer to home one of the big ties of the round, of course, will see Braintree Town take on current npower League One leaders Tranmere Rovers at the Amlin Stadium – it's only the second time in the Iron's long history they've made it to this stage of the competition.
Clearly though Rovers' manager Ronnie Moore knows that it will not be an easy game despite the huge gulf between the sides.
Moore admitted this week he'd have preferred a home draw adding: "You always want to be drawn at home but it wasn't to be.
"Braintree might be a non-league side but they'll be up for the game and in the Blue Square Bet Premier they've just beaten Luton and drawn at Hereford, who are both ex-league sides, so we know we'll have to be at our best on the day."
Iron manager Alan Devonshire is delighted with a home draw: "We have the advantage of playing at home but they are a top side and it will be a real test for my players.
"Everyone knows the FA Cup is unpredictable and upsets do happen and we'll be giving it our best go. "I hope there's a good crowd on the day because that always makes the atmosphere for the FA Cup."
The game is being played on Sunday (November 4) with a 12.30pm kick-off and will be shown live on ITV1.
It will not be an all-ticket game with only grandstand seats being reserved in advance.
Both clubs will pick up £64,000 each from the television company plus other income from ground advertising and with the £12,500 the Iron picked up for winning their fourth qualifying round tie on Saturday it means the club will collect a six-figure income from the competition, irrespective of whether they beat Tranmere or not.
