The first round proper of the Emirates FA Cup gets underway on Friday 6 November, with one of the first ties of the round seeing non-League Oxford City host 2021 winners, Leicester City.
Whether Oxford City can seal a victory over the League One side remains to be seen; however, if the Hoops can defeat the Foxes, it would join an impressive list of first-round shocks over the past ten years.
In the build-up to the Emirates FA Cup first round, here’s a look back on some memorable shock results, where non-League teams have knocked out sides from the EFL.
Swindon Town 1-3 Eastleigh, 15 November 2016, First Round Replay
Having salvaged a draw against non-League Eastleigh in their initial FA Cup first-round tie, League One Swindon Town hosted the Spitfires eleven days later.
Ronnie Moore’s Eastleigh would go on to put on a stylish performance at the County Ground to cause a huge shock against Tim Sherwood’s Swindon, as goals from Jai Reason, Andy Drury and a Mikael Mandron penalty guided Eastleigh into the second round courtesy of a 3-1 victory.
It would be the third season in a row that Eastleigh would reach the second round, having previously never made a second-round appearance in the club’s history.
Brackley Town 4-3 Gillingham, 16 November 2016, First Round Replay
There must have been something in the water in the 2016-17 Emirates FA Cup, as a day after Eastleigh’s victory over Swindon, Brackley Town hosted League One side Gillingham in another first round replay.
In a game that saw seven goals scored, it would be non-League Brackley celebrating their place in the second round at the end of extra-time, thanks largely to the efforts of James Armson.
Armson struck twice to put Brackley in control of the replay; however, goals from the Gills’ Jake Hessenthaler and Scott Wagstaff sent the tie into extra-time. It was not a fixture that Gillingham goalkeeper Stuart Nelson will remember fondly, as his own-goal restored Brackley’s lead, before Armson’s stunning 20-yard effort extended the host’s lead.
While Gillingham grabbed a third goal through Cody McDonald, it was Brackley Town who would hang on for their second FA Cup win over the Kent side in four seasons, having beat them in the first round back in 2013 also.
Stockport County 5-3 Bolton Wanderers, 17 November 2021, First Round
While Stockport County are an established EFL side now, they were a National League outfit when they hosted League One Bolton Wanderers in the Emirates FA Cup first round back in 2021.
In a remarkable comeback, having trailed 3-1, Stockport scored twice to take the tie to extra-time, courtesy of goals from Scott Quigley and Ashley Palmer. Quigley scored his second – a smart finish lifted over Bolton ‘keeper Joel Dixon – to give the Hatters the lead on 95 minutes.
When Ollie Crankshaw added a fifth at the death, his goal sparked wild reactions across Edgeley Park, with the forward losing his shirt in the subsequent chaotic celebrations and the referee unable to restart the game due to a missing corner flag.
Eventually, the flag was returned prior to the final whistle, cueing more celebration from the Stockport crowd.
Barnsley 3-3 Horsham, 3 November 2023, First Round
A mere 74 places in the football pyramid separated Isthmian League Premier Division Horsham and League One Barnsley when they met at Oakwell in the FA Cup first round back in 2023.
The tie commenced as many may have expected, with the South Yorkshire side taking the lead early on through Max Watters. However, the Hornets levelled soon after, when Shamir Fenelon finished in style.
The Sussex outfit then took the lead, as James Hammond smashed a penalty beyond Ben Kilip in the Tykes goal, only for the home side to draw level on the stroke of half time courtesy of a stunning Fabio Jalo curling effort.
In the second half, Barnsley restored their lead and would go on to miss chances to seal the tie, allowing Tom Richards’ tap in to snatch an equaliser and force a shock replay in Sussex eleven days later.
AFC Wimbledon 0-2 Gateshead, 1 November 2025, First Round
It was only last season that we saw our most recent non-League victory over EFL opponents in the first round of the Emirates FA Cup, as National League side Gateshead travelled to the Cherry Red Records Stadium to take on League One team AFC Wimbledon.
Two divisions and 57 league places separated the two sides, although it was the visitors from the north east that would emerge victorious. Kain Adom put Gateshead ahead after 21 minutes following a blistering attack which allowed the forward to burst through on goal and put the ball beyond Dons ‘keeper Nathan Bishop.
Victory, and a place in the second round, was sealed after the break, as Fenton John blasted home Harry Chapman’s saved effort on the rebound, while Gateshead stopper Tiernan Books pulled off a string of impressive saves to deny Wimbledon.
