The FA Vase takes centre stage again this weekend, with 202 teams all dreaming of a Wembley Final as they battle it out in the First Round. This is often called the First Round Proper, a title that I struggle with. Referring to this as the first 'proper' round seems to belittle the efforts of the sides who have fallen along the way in the preliminary and qualifying rounds. For each of the teams involved, the first 'proper' round is the first game that they themselves have taken part in. So, I prefer to just call it the First Round.
The Vase is very much a favourite FA competition here at BotP. Don't get me wrong, the FA Cup and the FA Trophy are also fantastic (especially when Stourbridge are still in them), but there is something extra magical about the Vase. It gives small clubs the opportunity to make a mark, put their club and community on the map as well as have that, possibly, once in a lifetime chance to play in a Wembley Final. Surely the dream of every budding footballer from an early age?
One of the biggest names in the hat this year is Worcester City. It's The Blues first ever appearance in the Vase after dropping down three levels in the Summer. They have been drawn to play Step 7 side Sherwood Colliery, of the Central Midlands League South at home in the First Round. For Colliery, this is just their second FA Vase adventure. However, in their inaugural outing they reached Round 2, knocking out two Step 5 sides in Clipstone and Penistone Church, before going down 3-2 to Midland League outfit Westfields.
There are eight further Step 7 remaining in the competition:
Eastwood Community play in the Central Midlands South, alongside Sherwood Colliery. The club was formed after Eastwood Town folded in 2014 and this is just their third FA Vase outing, having never progressed past the qualifiers previously. They will be grateful for a home time as they face Step 6 side, Dunkirk.
Eastwood Community play in the Central Midlands South, alongside Sherwood Colliery. The club was formed after Eastwood Town folded in 2014 and this is just their third FA Vase outing, having never progressed past the qualifiers previously. They will be grateful for a home time as they face Step 6 side, Dunkirk.
Swanage Town & Herston have made the second round four times since their formation in 1966, the latest of which was in 1991-92 when they eventually went out at Tiverton Town, losing 2-0. This season they face a trip West for an away tie at Bodmin Town of the South West Peninsula Premier League.
Staying on the peninsula, Bovey Tracy, who currently ply their trade in Division One East, face a daunting trip to the Isle of Wight to take on five time fifth-rounders Newport in Round One. The Moorlanders have made the First Round on two previous occasions, losing to St Austell in the 2012-13 season and at home to Shepton Mallet a year later.
A little way North of Bovey Tracey lies Crediton, home of United. They also play in Division One East and are currently in second place, one place above The Moorlanders. Having played in Round One twice before, they now face a tricky trip to the New Forest to face Brockenhurst.
Cricklewood Wanderers, who were only formed in 2011, are playing their third FA Vase competition. They did make Round Two in the 2015-16 campaign, disposing of
Risborough Rangers and Welwyn Garden City before bowing out with a 1-0 defeat at Ipswich Wanderers. They face a tricky trip to Step 5 outfit Cray Valley (PM).
Risborough Rangers and Welwyn Garden City before bowing out with a 1-0 defeat at Ipswich Wanderers. They face a tricky trip to Step 5 outfit Cray Valley (PM).
Pinxton are small village side who have a Step 2 side, in Alfreton Town, on their doorstep. They fell at Round One last season but the season before progressed to the Third Round before narrowly going down 4-3 at home to Nuneaton Griff. They will be pleased to have been given a home tie, although high-flying Midland Division One side, Heather St John's, will be tough opponents.
Further down the M1, Bardon Hill of the Leicestershire Senior League have progressed into Round One for the first time in their history. In the 2015-16 qualifying stages, they lost 1-0 to eventual winners Hereford, but this was their best performance so far. They face a tough tie against fellow Leicestershire side Quorn who are currently mid-table in the Midland premier.
Finally, Westella & Willerby who were relegated from the NCEL Division One into the Humber Premier League last season, are another side who are into the First Round for the first time in their history. They will be pleased to have been drawn at home but still face a very tough game against record-breaking, four time Vase winning, Whitley Bay.
The Seahorses are one of seven previous winners left in the competition. Of the remaining six, Bridlington Town just about have the edge in terms of Vase qualifications, having won once and been runners-up once. They last won the competition in 1993 with 1-0 win over Tiverton Town, three years after losing a replay, by the same score, to Yeading. The Seasiders travel to Tow Law Town, runners-up in 1998, in Round One.
2015 winners, North Shields, are also into Round One and face an interesting home tie against NCEL Premier high-flyers, Handsworth Parramore.
Another Northern League side, Whickham, who won the Vase when still a Wearside League team, face an all North-East clash when they welcome Stockton Town, freshly promoted into Northern League Division One.
Moving away from the North-East for a while, both Sholing who won in 2014 and Deal Town, who were the last winners at the old Wembley Stadium in 2000, face tricky away ties. The Hoops travel to freshly promoted Combined Counties Premier side, Balham whilst The Boatmen face the daunting prospect of taking on Hellenic
League leaders, Highworth Town, who have a 100% record this season.
Finally, travelling back to the North-East, Dunston UTS who won the competition in the 2011-12 season, have been drawn at home but face a difficult task against North-West Counties Premier side Burscough, who were playing Step 4 football last season in the NPL North. The Fed's Wembley victory, 6 seasons back, came against fellow Northern League outfit, West Auckland Town, who are one of four beaten finalists still battling it out this season. The other three being Tow Law Town, Bedlington Terriers and Epsom & Ewell.
As mentioned above, Tow Law face a home tie with Bridlington Town in Round One. The Lawyers lost 1-0 in the 1998 Final to Tiverton Town. A year later, Tiverton defeated Bedlington Terriers by the same score. This season Terriers have a Round One home clash with North-West Counties side, Charnock Richard.
Epsom & Ewell were beaten 2-1 by Hoddesdon Town in the first ever FA Vase Final back in 1975. They have since been to Round Four on three occasions, the last one being in 2009-10 campaign. They face a tough away tie at newly promoted SCEL Premier side Rusthall.
From this point of the Vase onward, BotP will be following (in most case, virtually because getting to all the games is not an option) a team all the way to the Final in May. Our start point will be Pinxton FC, who feature in this weekend's Six of the Best.
2015 winners, North Shields, are also into Round One and face an interesting home tie against NCEL Premier high-flyers, Handsworth Parramore.
Another Northern League side, Whickham, who won the Vase when still a Wearside League team, face an all North-East clash when they welcome Stockton Town, freshly promoted into Northern League Division One.
Moving away from the North-East for a while, both Sholing who won in 2014 and Deal Town, who were the last winners at the old Wembley Stadium in 2000, face tricky away ties. The Hoops travel to freshly promoted Combined Counties Premier side, Balham whilst The Boatmen face the daunting prospect of taking on Hellenic
League leaders, Highworth Town, who have a 100% record this season.
Finally, travelling back to the North-East, Dunston UTS who won the competition in the 2011-12 season, have been drawn at home but face a difficult task against North-West Counties Premier side Burscough, who were playing Step 4 football last season in the NPL North. The Fed's Wembley victory, 6 seasons back, came against fellow Northern League outfit, West Auckland Town, who are one of four beaten finalists still battling it out this season. The other three being Tow Law Town, Bedlington Terriers and Epsom & Ewell.
As mentioned above, Tow Law face a home tie with Bridlington Town in Round One. The Lawyers lost 1-0 in the 1998 Final to Tiverton Town. A year later, Tiverton defeated Bedlington Terriers by the same score. This season Terriers have a Round One home clash with North-West Counties side, Charnock Richard.
Epsom & Ewell were beaten 2-1 by Hoddesdon Town in the first ever FA Vase Final back in 1975. They have since been to Round Four on three occasions, the last one being in 2009-10 campaign. They face a tough away tie at newly promoted SCEL Premier side Rusthall.
From this point of the Vase onward, BotP will be following (in most case, virtually because getting to all the games is not an option) a team all the way to the Final in May. Our start point will be Pinxton FC, who feature in this weekend's Six of the Best.
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