Righto, we are relocating to a separate pitch for all of the day's big action.

Come and join the fun here.

BBC Radio 5 live

Birmingham boss Gary Rowett: "We've worked very, very hard this week in terms of preparing the players for something that little bit different. We respect anyone we play. I've played in lower league teams who have beaten bigger teams. But our mentality is key today. We trained on a very, very poor pitch we've got at the top of our training ground to prepare them for today.

"We know if we play well and use our athleticism and quality then we should win the game. But we also know that if we don't perform we could lose. That's what the cup is all about. Today is a brilliant occasion - we all love the FA Cup. Here's hoping it's a great day for both teams."

We asked you to vote on who should be named as the next Newcastle manager, now Alan Pardew has rejoined Crystal Palace.

And it was former Swansea man Michael Laudrup who topped the running, just ahead of Tim Sherwood. Thanks as ever for your votes.

Football Focus

Former Blyth striker Alan Shoulder on the club's 1978 cup run: "The biggest memory I have of the cup run was the third round here, when I managed to score the winner. It was a fantastic time and hopefully the lads can do the same. That goal was the first time I'd ever been on TV, and I managed to get the winner so job's a good'un!

"I think the the Blyth spirit which we had in the years gone by was on display again Hartlepool in the last round. Birmingham are a polished outfit but if the fans get behind them, as they did with us in '78, then they have a great chance."

BBC Radio 5 live

Gateshead manager Gary Mills: "We'll come here today and give a good account of ourselves. We will play good football and I've got some good players who are comfortable on the ball. It's the way I was brought up in football, to play the ball on the deck. We're hoping we've got a little bit that can hurt West Brom. We're used to seeing a lot of the ball in the Conference; today we'll have to adapt to playing well without it. It's exciting, today - it's what I'm in the game for.

"I stayed in the same hotel last night as Tony Pulis, so that was interesting! I leaned from the master, Brian Clough, how to relax my players, and I've done that. Cloughie would always tell us to relax. He didn't rule by fear; he took the fear out of us. I have not spoken to the players about West Brom - we know nothing about West Brom but we know everything about ourselves."

There are 17 Cup ties this afternoon, and we will have all the biggest team news with you shortly after 14:00 GMT.

Get all of the news, reports, goals, clips and highlights throughout the weekend on our FA Cup page.

Football Focus

Former England Test cricketer Graeme Swann: "My dad's from 200 yards down the road. I'm a big Newcastle supporter but they don't try to win cups anymore! So I'm here today, hoping for a win and that Blyth can join Newcastle in the fourth round.

"The romance of the FA Cup is the whole point, the whole story. Any team that goes on a run, the whole country gets behind them. My dream is that Blyth face Newcastle in the next round."

Image source, @Oli_Collins98

Oli Collins: On the way to Brentford to see Brighton in the FA Cup!

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BBC Radio 5 live

Tom Wade, Blyth manager, on 5 live Sport: "I attended ever game of our last cup run, in 1978. I was 19 at the time - great memories. Those lads are legends in Blyth, and hopefully we can add to that today.

"A lot of friends and their kids are coming down today - we're a very family-orientated club. There will be a few thousand here today and we probably know every one of them.

"The town has gone through a bit of a bad time in recent years, so we need a good press. We're getting that now.

"We've got a secret against Birmingham today, but I'm not going to tell you. It'll be tough, we'll give it at all and even if we lose it won't be for want of trying."

Image source, Helen Wilkinson

Helen Wilkinson tweets a cracking picture of Wolves fan Andy Cooper in what can only be described as the ultimate Christmas jumper.

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Former Newcastle and England winger Chris Waddle
at Blyth Spartans for 5 live Sport

"I think the Conference is of a similar standard to League Two or even One. There are a lot of games today where they may be leagues apart but there's not a big difference between the teams. So there are quite a few upset possibilities on the cards."

The weather in the midlands is in contrast to that at Blyth, where the sun is out and illuminating Croft Park, which is crawling with the media this afternoon.

Apparently there are 50 journalists with the lucky accreditation today - and one plug socket. We've all been there chaps. Huddle round the extension lead, and pray there isn't a rewrite...

We mentioned a little earlier that there was a pitch inspection at Cambridge United ahead of their FA Cup clash with Luton and it is good news, the game is ON.

Leave the moulds in you bootbag though. Still a tad damp out there...

Image source, @LutonTown

Former Stoke and Gibraltar defender Danny Higginbotham
at Blyth Spartans for Football Focus

"Too many teams undermine the FA Cup, especially the higher up the league you go. But if you have a good cup run then the battle for places in the team intensifies. It can be huge for an individual player's season."

Image source, @5tuartLaw5

Stuart Laws: Blyth Spartans lucky socks are on! They've got a 100% record, so it's in the bag today.

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BBC Radio 5 live

Southport chairman Charlie Clapham on 5 live Sport: "There are 25 coaches of fans who have left Southport today. We've sold out our very generous allocation of 2,700 tickets. The magic of the FA Cup is that you can cause an upset.

"And why can't we dream? We go to Derby with a lot of hope in our hearts."

What a romantic...

The finest Ronnie Radford drawing we've ever seen. What a man, what an FA Cup moment.

But have you read when Ronnie met our very own Ben Dirs? Radford is such a gent that he even gave Dirsy a lift to Huddersfield train station - 30-odd miles out of his way.

You don't get that from footballers these days.

Read the meeting of minds here.

Image source, Ross James

Ross James: Ronnie Radford 05/02/1972.

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Former Newcastle and England winger Chris Waddle
at Blyth Spartans for Football Focus

"I think Gateshead will get at least a draw against West Brom. Gateshead are a good footballing side and have nothing to lose, so they could cause an upset today."

Football Focus

Blyth Spartans' Stephen Turnbull, who scored in his side's second-round win against Hartlepool, talking to Dan Walker: "Birmingham's results of late have turned their season around big time. Their boys will be flying high and confident, so it'll be a very tough game for us.

"Today, my mam and me sister are coming to this game and my dad will be at West Brom cheering on my brother, who plays for Gateshead."

What a day for the Turnbull brothers...