Two of our area's sides will have no time to waste when they kickstart their season this afternoon.
Thurlow Nunn League Premier Division new boys Great Yarmouth Town and their same-level United Counties League counterparts Wisbech Town will play their first competitive matches of the campaign today. Unfortunately they will have no second chances if they come stumbling out of the blocks because a defeat will see their hopes of embarking on a FA Cup run extinguished at the first hurdle.
As part of 736 clubs entering the competition, the duo feature in two of the 184 extra preliminary round matches that are taking place across the weekend. Yarmouth's tie is at Godmanchester Rovers while Wisbech get their programme up and running at Boston Town.
Elsewhere, Swaffham Town's second match of the term also has £1,500 prize money riding on it when they face a tricky trip to UCL Holbeach United. Kirkley & Pakefield – who matched their best-ever run in the FA Cup last term by reaching the second qualifying round – welcome Walsham-le-Willows, Gorleston travel to rapidly progressing Peterborough Sports, Thetford Town visit Harrowby United and Fakenham Town host Sleaford Town.
If teams cannot be separated after 90 minutes a replay will take place next week for another opportunity to try and join higher-level clubs like Dereham Town, Wroxham and Norwich United in the next round. King's Lynn Town, Lowestoft Town and Norwich City, obviously, arrive in the hat at a later stage.
As a result of the knockout action there will be no Thurlow Nunn League Premier Division fare. However, a string of second-tier sides will be looking to get some early-season points on the board.
Diss Town, who won their opening game, host Haverhill Borough while Wisbech St Mary – who have picked up one win from two following promotion – welcome Needham Market Reserves.
March Town United (at Coggeshall Town) and Dereham Town Reserves (home to AFC Sudbury Reserves) will aim to bounce back from losing starts while King's Lynn Town Reserves (at Framlingham Town) and Downham Town (at Cornard United) are taking to the field competitively for the first time in 2016/17.
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