There’s more Emirates FA Cup action on the way, when the second round proper takes place this weekend as 40 clubs look to seal their place in the third round draw.
Ahead of the weekend, with games taking place between 5-8 December, here are five things to look out for across the competition.
Familiar faces
EFL teams entered the cup in the first round and this weekend sees League Two side Salford City go head-to-head with League One’s Leyton Orient, marking a return to Greater Manchester for O’s boss Richie Wellens, who managed Salford between 2020 and 2021, having also had a spell playing for the club.
Another storyline developing in that particular tie is the return of former Liverpool star Fabio Borini, who made his FA Cup comeback for the Ammies in the first round, 3,210 days after his last outing in the competition for Sunderland.
Today marked Fabio Borini’s first #EmiratesFACup appearance in 3,210 days (8 years, 9 months) as he featured for @SalfordCityFC in their win over Lincoln City!
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) November 1, 2025
His previous outing in the competition came for Sunderland against Burnley back in January 2017 👌 pic.twitter.com/G9pyHzXziV
Like father, like son
There is a father-son duo competing in the FA Cup with Oldham Athletic striker Michael Mellon helping his dad’s club reach the second round, scoring a hat-trick against Northampton Town in a 3-1 win last time out in the first round, including this spectacular acrobatic effort.
A stunning overhead kick 😮💨
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) November 5, 2025
This piece of magic from on-loan @OfficialOAFC forward, Michael Mellon is your @MitreSports Goal of the First Round Proper ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/grLD3x2Dbi
The 21 year old joined the Latics – who travel to MK Dons in the next round – on loan from Burnley on deadline day, linking up with his father Micky Mellon who took charge of Oldham in October 2023, spearheading the club’s promotion charge from the National League last season.
On the brink
Slough Town are eyeing a place in the third round proper for the first time in their history, having beaten higher-ranked opposition, National League outfit Altrincham, 2-1 in the first round.
Slough have made it to the second round a total of eight times, doing so most recently in 2018-19 when they were ousted from the competition by EFL club Gillingham. But the Rebels face fellow sixth tier side Macclesfield this weekend as they look to break their duck.
Made to wait
Another non-League side looking to progress are Wealdstone who haven’t reached the third round for almost five decades. The 1977-78 season marks the last time the London-based club made it past the second round hurdle.
But did you know the club’s boss Sam Cox, in fact, manages two teams? The 35 year old, who began his playing career with Tottenham Hotspur’s academy, balances his role at Wealdstone with his head coach position at Baller League side Yanited, alongside the I'm a Celeb jungle’s Angry Ginge.
Sam Cox: Monday managing Yanited at @BallerLeagueUK, Saturday leading @WealdstoneFC to the #EmiratesFACup second round 💪
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) November 1, 2025
📸 yk.takes & @WealdstoneFC pic.twitter.com/fWNQirCxRC
Head-to-head
Two more EFL clubs who made it through to the second round are Exeter City and Wycombe Wanderers. Wycombe make the trip to Exeter’s St James Park in a first-ever FA Cup meeting between the sides.
And if previous encounters are anything to go by, the odds swing in the home team’s favour. The Grecians have lost just one of their last eleven meetings with the Chairboys in all competitions, with Exeter running out 1-0 winners over Wycombe in the league already this season.
Find out where you can watch all the action this weekend with our global broadcast schedule.
