It's been an... interesting few years for sixth tier Billericay Town.

The non-league Essex side saw a host of former Premier League players, including Jermaine Pennant, Paul Konchesky, Kevin Foley and Jamie O'Hara, turn out for them as owner Glenn Tamplin looked to put the town on the football map.

Those days might be gone now, with Tamplin, who also had a spell as manager, leaving in September but O'Hara is still there.

The 33-year-old former Tottenham and Portsmouth midfielder is looking to mastermind a famous FA Cup victory over League Two high-fliers Forest Green from the dugout.

"We play better against better teams, so for me it's a good game. A lot of the boys I've got have played League Two football so they'll know what it's about," he told BBC Sport.

"I love the FA Cup, it's such a big thing. Now I'm managing in non-league you see the magic of it even more and how much it means."

You can read James Law's interview with O'Hara by clicking here.

The first real chance in this one goes to Sunderland, who do well to pick up possession just outside the Gillingham box as they make their first attack of the game.

Luke O'Nien works onto the ball and unleashes a shot from inside the box which is well blocked by the Gills' back line.

The Black Cats then win two corners in quick succession, both are which are well handled by the visitors.

Image source, Rex Features

Southern League Premier Division Central side Stourbridge are no stranger themselves to a cup upset in recent times. Just ask former boss Gary Hackett (pictured).

After all, who could forget their run to the third round in 2016-17 which saw them defeat Whitehawk and Northampton on their way to setting up a meeting with Wycombe?

Having beaten Bromsgrove, Coalville Town, Stafford Rangers and Whitby Town in the preliminary rounds to get to this stage, only Eastleigh stand in their way of reaching the second round once more.

In fact this is the sixth time the club have reached the first round in the past 10 years.

The last time these two sides met in the FA Cup was actually in the second round in 2015 when Eastleigh won 2-0. Can the seventh tier side exact their revenge on their National League opponents this time around?

As this game gets going, let's take a look at today's other FA Cup first round fixtures.

The hosts get this early kick-off under way at a pretty empty Stadium of Light.

Who's going to join Carlisle United in the second round of the FA Cup?

So, it's almost time for today's FA Cup action to get under way.

The players make their way out at the Stadium of Light as Sunderland prepare to take on League One rivals Gillingham.

Maidenhead boss and ex-FA Cup winner with West Ham Alan Devonshire told Football Focus:

"The boys are looking forward to it, all I want them to do is to give 100%."

"[On the four-foot slope and which end his side will aim to kick towards in the first half] I don't want to give anything away! It should be a good day though."

An added bonus for you this lunchtime - as well as following our live text coverage you can also listen to a choice of radio commentaries.

Simply scroll across the top of the page to select from BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra, BBC Newcastle and BBC Radio Kent.

Mick Chatterton, who made over 450 Maidenhead United appearances, told Football Focus:

"Go for it today why not? There will be some upsets in the cup this round, why can't this game be one of them."

That's the spriit, Mick.

Uh oh! After all the rain of the past few days we might have expected a few of this afternoon's games to fall victim to the weather.

As it stands they're all on, but Yeovil have announced there will be a pitch inspection at 13:30 GMT to see if their game with National League rivals Hartlepool can go ahead.

Image source, Rex Features

A reminder that it's not just the FA Cup we have to feast our eyes on today.

There's the usual compliment of matches in the Premier League and Championship this afternoon, too.

In the top flight, Chelsea have just got under way at home to Crystal Palace while in the Championship, Nottingham Forest are taking on East Midlands rivals Derby County.

Sunderland make one change to the side that beat Southend 1-0 in League One last week as Laurens De Bock comes in for David Hume.

Gillingham are coming off the back of a 3-0 defeat at home to Rotherham. They bring in Olly Lee, Mikael Mandron and Barry Fuller for Regan Charles-Cook, Alex Jakubiak and Jack Tucker.

Sunderland XI: McLaughlin, McLaughlin, Lynch, Willis, Power, Maguire, O'Nien, Dobson, McGeady, Grigg, De Bock.

Gillingham XI: Bonham, Fuller, Ehmer, Ogilvie, O’Connor, Byrne, Jones, O’Keefe, Lee, Hanlan, Mandron.

Maidenhead United chairman Peter Griffin told Football Focus:

"It's a great day. I know there's prize money involved but this is about the glory of the cup. Winning in front of the cameras. This one's for the fans.

"This is our fourth time in the first round in five years. This is the golden period for Maidenhead United."

Dan Walker and the gang have ventured into the Stripes Bar at York Road.

I don't blame them, it's a chilly one out there today.

We have one early game today and it's quite an away trip for Gillingham in their all-League One tie against two-time FA Cup winners Sunderland.

They make the unenviable 303-mile trip to the Stadium of Light for a 13:00 GMT kick-off. That's the best part of a six-hour trip...one way.

The Black Cats welcome the Gills in a battle of two sides with inconsistent form of late in the third tier.

Martin Keown
Former Arsenal defender on Football Focus

It’s always a pleasure; we’re not even allowed to touch the trophy. It’s great to be here.

The FA Cup embraces the whole of the football world. It starts in August, you win it in May, then it starts up again in August.

It brings the whole pyramid together.

Football Focus is taking place directly from Maidenhead United's York Road this afternoon.

Dan Walker is accompanied by Martin Keown and Dion Dublin. Two men who are no strangers to this competition.

Get yourselves a cup of tea and switch BBC One on - or click at the top of this page. Now.

Moving away from today's early 13:00 GMT kick-off between Sunderland and Gillingham, today we have the following first-round fixtures all taking place from 15:00 GMT:

• Accrington Stanley v Crewe Alexandra
• AFC Wimbledon v Doncaster Rovers
• Blackpool v Morecambe
• Bolton Wanderers v Plymouth Argyle
• Cambridge United v Exeter City
• Carshalton Athletic v Boston United
• Cheltenham Town v Swindon Town
• Colchester United v Coventry City
• Crawley Town v Scunthorpe United
• Ebbsfleet United v Notts County
• Forest Green Rovers v Billericay Town
• Grimsby Town v Newport County
• Ipswich Town v Lincoln City
• Maidenhead United v Rotherham United
• Maidstone United v Torquay United
• Mansfield Town v Chorley
• Milton Keynes Dons v Port Vale
• Nantwich Town v AFC Fylde
• Oxford City v Solihull Moors
• Salford City v Burton Albion
• Shrewsbury Town v Bradford City
• Stevenage v Peterborough United
• Stourbridge v Eastleigh
• Tranmere Rovers v Wycombe Wanderers
• Walsall v Darlington
• Yeovil Town v Hartlepool United

Image source, Rex Features

It's that time of year again. The FA Cup proper is back in force and, after Carlisle United thrashed Dulwich Hamlet last night, we have a smorgasbord of football fun to bring you.

There's a whopping 27 fixtures today alone, with Sunderland kicking us off with their tie against Gillingham taking place in an hour's time.

Are you excited? So are we. Kick-off is coming soon.