Two non-league clubs will take centre stage in December after the BBC selected Dover Athletic and Salisbury for live coverage of their FA Cup second-round ties against former winners.
Dover’s home meeting with Leicester City kicks off at 5.15pm GMT on Saturday, 5 December, at the Megger Community Stadium, with the match shown on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer. The game is also available via TNT Sports 2 and HBO Max.
Salisbury host Blackpool at 12.15pm GMT on Sunday, 6 December, with that fixture also broadcast on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer. It is likewise scheduled to be streamed through TNT Sports 2 and HBO Max. For both clubs, the selections offer the chance to put their players in front of a national audience and create a match-day occasion that goes beyond the usual non-league fanbase.
Financial boost for Non-League clubs
Financially, the ties represent a significant boost. The hosting clubs will each receive a 60,000 broadcast fee, while the FA has confirmed that second-round winners earn 79,500 in prize money. The losing teams receive 21,200, ensuring that even defeat still brings an important return for lower-league sides competing against professional opposition.
Dover booked their place after beating Wealdstone 2-0 in the first round. The second round brings a very different test, with Leicester entering the tie as FA Cup winners in 2021, though their current League One position adds a further twist to the prospect of upsetting a team with recent cup history. Salisbury secured their spot with a 6-0 victory over Sholing, and now face Blackpool after the Tangerines edged past Hornchurch in extra time.
These BBC selections form part of a wider programme of eight televised second-round ties, running from Friday, 4 December to Monday, 7 December. The remaining fixtures are scheduled to be shown on TNT Sports and HBO Max.
