The First Qualifying Round of the FA Vase is rapidly approaching. So, following on from the recent interview with Pinxton FC boss Kenny Shinfield (In The Ken), the second in the series of build-up articles looks at eight ties featuring previous winners of the competition. The sides concerned are Whitley Bay (4 times winners), North Shields, St Helens Town, Brigg Town (2 wins), Diss Town, Hoddesdon Town, Arlesey Town and Whickham
Whitley Bay v Barnoldswick Town
Northern League Division One v North West Counties Premier
Whitley Bay have won the competition more than any other team but that doesn't stop them having to qualify. With 5 games gone in the current season, The Seahorses sit smack bang in the middle of the Northern League Division 1 table, having won 2, lost 2 and drawn 1. They'll be hoping for a better return in the Vase than they got in the FA Cup where they went down 7-1 at home to Hebburn Town. Balrlick have started quite well in the North West Counties Premier campaign with just one defeat in four, winning their last two outings. However, they too suffered a big FA Cup defeat, going out 6-1 to Longridge Town. The two actually met in last season FA Cup, at the Preliminary Round stage, with Whitley Bay running out 6-1 winners at Hillheads.
Hillheads Park, NE25 8HR. https://whitleybayfc.com/information/club-info-2/
Sunderland Ryhope CW v North Shields
Northern League Division One v Northern League Division One
At the time of writing these two are level on points in the Northern League Division One table, although one-time FA Vase winners Shields are two places higher on the back of their superior goal difference. In the FA Cup they also suffered similar fates after both initially drawing. The Robins went out 1-0 in their replay at Guisborough whilst Ryhope lost 2-1 at home to local rivals Sunderland RCA in their return match-up. They have met in the FA Vase as recently as the 2014-15 season, the year that North Shields went on to win the competition, with The Robins cruising to a 3-0 victory. North Shields are the first of only two previous winners to be drawn away from home in the 1st Qualifying Round.
Ryhope Recreation Ground, SR2 0AB. http://www.northernfootballleague.org/team/ryhope-cw/
St Helens Town v Rossington Main
North West Counties Division One North v Northern Counties East Division One
One time winners St Helens Town have not started their North West Counties Division One season as well as they would have hoped. Just one win and three defeats from their first four games has left them in 18th place, one place worse off than they finished last season. The plus point, so far. is that their only win was a resounding one, 6-0 over Cleator Moor Celtic. They take on a Rossington side who have also only won one league same far this season.This will be the first meeting of the teams.
Ruskin Drive, WA10 6RP. http://www.sthelenstownafc.com/
Whitley Bay v Barnoldswick Town
Northern League Division One v North West Counties Premier
Whitley Bay have won the competition more than any other team but that doesn't stop them having to qualify. With 5 games gone in the current season, The Seahorses sit smack bang in the middle of the Northern League Division 1 table, having won 2, lost 2 and drawn 1. They'll be hoping for a better return in the Vase than they got in the FA Cup where they went down 7-1 at home to Hebburn Town. Balrlick have started quite well in the North West Counties Premier campaign with just one defeat in four, winning their last two outings. However, they too suffered a big FA Cup defeat, going out 6-1 to Longridge Town. The two actually met in last season FA Cup, at the Preliminary Round stage, with Whitley Bay running out 6-1 winners at Hillheads.
Hillheads Park, NE25 8HR. https://whitleybayfc.com/information/club-info-2/
Sunderland Ryhope CW v North Shields
Northern League Division One v Northern League Division One
At the time of writing these two are level on points in the Northern League Division One table, although one-time FA Vase winners Shields are two places higher on the back of their superior goal difference. In the FA Cup they also suffered similar fates after both initially drawing. The Robins went out 1-0 in their replay at Guisborough whilst Ryhope lost 2-1 at home to local rivals Sunderland RCA in their return match-up. They have met in the FA Vase as recently as the 2014-15 season, the year that North Shields went on to win the competition, with The Robins cruising to a 3-0 victory. North Shields are the first of only two previous winners to be drawn away from home in the 1st Qualifying Round.
Ryhope Recreation Ground, SR2 0AB. http://www.northernfootballleague.org/team/ryhope-cw/
St Helens Town v Rossington Main
North West Counties Division One North v Northern Counties East Division One
One time winners St Helens Town have not started their North West Counties Division One season as well as they would have hoped. Just one win and three defeats from their first four games has left them in 18th place, one place worse off than they finished last season. The plus point, so far. is that their only win was a resounding one, 6-0 over Cleator Moor Celtic. They take on a Rossington side who have also only won one league same far this season.This will be the first meeting of the teams.
Ruskin Drive, WA10 6RP. http://www.sthelenstownafc.com/
Brigg Town v Armthorpe Welfare
Northern Counties East Division One v Northern Counties East Division One
Brigg Town are the only side in this round, apart from Whitley Bay, who have won the competition more than once, 1995-96 and 2002-03. Currently just below halfway in the Northern Counties East Division One table, thy have taken 4 points from their 4 games this season. They sit three places and two points below their Vase rivals Armthorpe Welfare.
Although this is the first FA Vase meeting between the sides, they have faced each other in the league in recent years despite Briggs brief sojourn into the Lincolnshire League last season. They also faced off in the 2011-12 FA Cup Preliminary Round with Welfare winning 2-0.
Hawthorn Avenue, DN20 8PG. https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/briggtown/contact
Diss Town v Huntingdon Town
Eastern Counties Division One North v United Counties Division One
Winners in 1994 as an Eastern Counties Premier side, Diss are now embarking on their 5th straight season in Step 6 but they have made a good start to the new season and, at the time of writing, sit in third spot with just a single defeat in four. It's a similar story for opponents Huntingdon Town who are embarking on their third consecutive season in Step 6. They too have had a good start to the league, only losing once. Incredibly, given that it will still be August when this game is played, it will be Huntingdon's 10th competitive game of a season which has already seen them play four cup matches in various competitions.
There is no previous FA Vase history between the clubs.
Brewers Green Lane, IP22 4QP. https://disstownfootballclub.wixsite.com/disstownfootballclub/contact-us
Hoddesdon Town v Stanway Rovers
Essex Senior League v Eastern Counties Premier
The first ever winners of the FA Vase, Hoddesdon have picked up since the opening day of the Essex Senior League season when they went down 2-1 at Takeley. They have since won twice in the league and progressed in the FA Cup with a 2-0 win over Brantham Athletic. Their opponents, Stanway Rovers, spent last season in the Essex Senior League but have transferred bacjk into the Eastern Counties Premier for this term. The move has gone well for them, wiunning all four games so far, including a 9-1 win at Long Melford on Wednesday evening. They have also progressed in the FA Cup with a 2-1 win at Hullbridge Sports.
There are no previous FA Vase meetings between the clubs.
Hoddesdon are currently playing games at Wodson Park, SG12 0UQ.
Flackwell Heath v Arlesey Town
Hellenic Premier v Spartan South Midlands Premier
1994-95 FA Vase winners, Arlesey Town, are of only two previous winners to be drawn away from home, the other being North Shields. Thsi will be Town's second season at Step following the relegation from the Southern League East in 2018. They have started the season with three unbeaten in the league, although two have been draws. They have also progressed in the FA Cup after a 1-0 replay win over Newmarket Town.
Flackwell's league season has been inconsistent so far. They opened with a home defeat to Lydney Town but then beat Holmer Green before drawing with newly promoted Easington Sports. The FA Cup saw them ease past Oxhey Jets with a 4-0 away win. The sides met in the 1993-94 FA Vase with Arlesey coming out on top with a 2-0 scoreline. There was also a more recent (2006-07) FA Trophy meeting which after a 0-0 draw, was won 2-1 by Arlesey in the replay at Wilks Park.
Wilks Park, HP10 9EA. https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/flackwellheath/contact
Whickham v Squires Gate (playing Sunday 1st Sept)
Northern League Division One v North West Counties Premier
Between 1979 and 1984 Whickham managed two FA Vase semi-finals and, sandwiched between them, won the competition in 1981, all whilst playing in the Wearside League. They have since progressed up the pyramid and are currently playing at Step 5. Their season has started quite well in the league where they sit fourth with 3 wins and 2 defeats from their five outings. They also racked up a thumping 10-1 away win at Harrogate Railway in the FA Cup. Their Lancashire opponents have not started their season at all well, losing their first four games, three in the league and an FA Cup exit at West Didsbury & Chorlton. However, they will take some solace from gaining their first win of the season on Tuesday evening with a 2-1 win at Padiham. There is FA Vase history between the clubs, a 2-1 2nd Qualifying Round win for Squires Gate in the 2003-04 season.
Glebe Sports Ground, NE16 4PF. http://www.northernfootballleague.org/team/whickham/
Northern Counties East Division One v Northern Counties East Division One
Brigg Town are the only side in this round, apart from Whitley Bay, who have won the competition more than once, 1995-96 and 2002-03. Currently just below halfway in the Northern Counties East Division One table, thy have taken 4 points from their 4 games this season. They sit three places and two points below their Vase rivals Armthorpe Welfare.
Although this is the first FA Vase meeting between the sides, they have faced each other in the league in recent years despite Briggs brief sojourn into the Lincolnshire League last season. They also faced off in the 2011-12 FA Cup Preliminary Round with Welfare winning 2-0.
Hawthorn Avenue, DN20 8PG. https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/briggtown/contact
Diss Town v Huntingdon Town
Eastern Counties Division One North v United Counties Division One
Winners in 1994 as an Eastern Counties Premier side, Diss are now embarking on their 5th straight season in Step 6 but they have made a good start to the new season and, at the time of writing, sit in third spot with just a single defeat in four. It's a similar story for opponents Huntingdon Town who are embarking on their third consecutive season in Step 6. They too have had a good start to the league, only losing once. Incredibly, given that it will still be August when this game is played, it will be Huntingdon's 10th competitive game of a season which has already seen them play four cup matches in various competitions.
There is no previous FA Vase history between the clubs.
Brewers Green Lane, IP22 4QP. https://disstownfootballclub.wixsite.com/disstownfootballclub/contact-us
Hoddesdon Town v Stanway Rovers
Essex Senior League v Eastern Counties Premier
The first ever winners of the FA Vase, Hoddesdon have picked up since the opening day of the Essex Senior League season when they went down 2-1 at Takeley. They have since won twice in the league and progressed in the FA Cup with a 2-0 win over Brantham Athletic. Their opponents, Stanway Rovers, spent last season in the Essex Senior League but have transferred bacjk into the Eastern Counties Premier for this term. The move has gone well for them, wiunning all four games so far, including a 9-1 win at Long Melford on Wednesday evening. They have also progressed in the FA Cup with a 2-1 win at Hullbridge Sports.
There are no previous FA Vase meetings between the clubs.
Hoddesdon are currently playing games at Wodson Park, SG12 0UQ.
Flackwell Heath v Arlesey Town
Hellenic Premier v Spartan South Midlands Premier
1994-95 FA Vase winners, Arlesey Town, are of only two previous winners to be drawn away from home, the other being North Shields. Thsi will be Town's second season at Step following the relegation from the Southern League East in 2018. They have started the season with three unbeaten in the league, although two have been draws. They have also progressed in the FA Cup after a 1-0 replay win over Newmarket Town.
Flackwell's league season has been inconsistent so far. They opened with a home defeat to Lydney Town but then beat Holmer Green before drawing with newly promoted Easington Sports. The FA Cup saw them ease past Oxhey Jets with a 4-0 away win. The sides met in the 1993-94 FA Vase with Arlesey coming out on top with a 2-0 scoreline. There was also a more recent (2006-07) FA Trophy meeting which after a 0-0 draw, was won 2-1 by Arlesey in the replay at Wilks Park.
Wilks Park, HP10 9EA. https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/flackwellheath/contact
Whickham v Squires Gate (playing Sunday 1st Sept)
Northern League Division One v North West Counties Premier
Between 1979 and 1984 Whickham managed two FA Vase semi-finals and, sandwiched between them, won the competition in 1981, all whilst playing in the Wearside League. They have since progressed up the pyramid and are currently playing at Step 5. Their season has started quite well in the league where they sit fourth with 3 wins and 2 defeats from their five outings. They also racked up a thumping 10-1 away win at Harrogate Railway in the FA Cup. Their Lancashire opponents have not started their season at all well, losing their first four games, three in the league and an FA Cup exit at West Didsbury & Chorlton. However, they will take some solace from gaining their first win of the season on Tuesday evening with a 2-1 win at Padiham. There is FA Vase history between the clubs, a 2-1 2nd Qualifying Round win for Squires Gate in the 2003-04 season.
Glebe Sports Ground, NE16 4PF. http://www.northernfootballleague.org/team/whickham/
As always, many thanks to the utterly brilliant Football Club History Database for being such a great point of reference for research.
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