The 2018-19 Emirates FA Cup will take in more twists and turns as Plymouth Argyle, Exeter City and Yeovil Town join Torquay United and Weston Super Mare in the competition.
All five sides will be at home over the weekend, which also marks the 100th anniversary of the end of the first world war, and each of the South West sides will want to ensure that they will be able to look back on their participation in the cup with fond memories.
Plymouth Argyle, who famously reached the semi-finals in 1984, embark on their journey in the competition against League Two side Stevenage. Despite finding themselves in the League One relegation zone, the Pilgrims have improved of late - and striker Freddie Ladapo recently won the League One Player of the Month award - and they will be hoping to continue their improved form, which has seen them win two of their last three league encounters.
Exeter City will be facing higher level opposition and will also be looking for revenge, as they host 1953 cup winners Blackpool in a repeat of the 2017 League Two play-off final which they lost 2-1 at Wembley.
Famed giant-killers Yeovil Town will be looking to avoid becoming a cup scalp as they host Stockport County of Vanarama National League North. The Hatters eliminated the Glovers from the competition in the 2008-09 season after a 5-0 replay win at Edgeley Park, following a 1-1 draw at Huish Park.
Torquay United feature in the first round for the first time since the 2013-14 season and host fellow Vanarama National League South promotion hopefuls Woking. Manager Gary Johnson, who recently won the National League South manager of the month award for October 2018, has fond memories of the competition from his spells as manager of Yeovil Town and Bristol City and will be looking to create new ones with the Gulls.
United's fellow National League South sides Weston Super Mare host National League leaders Wrexham, whose manager Sam Ricketts was named as the league's manager of the month award for October 2018. The Red Dragons have a number of players with South West connections in their ranks, including former Plymouth Argyle midfielder Luke Summerfield and ex Pilgrims and Torquay talisman Luke Young.
