FA Vase
Encyclopedia
The Football Association Challenge Vase is an annual football competition for teams playing below Step 4 of the English National League System
. For the 2008–09 season 514 entrants were accepted, with two qualifying rounds preceding the six proper rounds, semi-finals (played over two legs) and final to be played at Wembley Stadium
.
The 2011 winners were Whitley Bay
, who beat Coalville Town
3–2 on 8 May at Wembley Stadium
.
Until 1974, football players were either professionals or amateurs. Professionals were paid to play by their clubs, and the only cup competitions such clubs were allowed to enter were the FA Cup
and, for clubs outside The Football League
, the FA Trophy
. Amateurs, on the other hand, did not get paid (at least not officially) by their clubs, and such clubs had their own cup competition, the FA Amateur Cup
.
In 1974, with many of the top amateur players receiving payment for playing, The Football Association
abolished the distinction, scrapped the Amateur Cup and introduced the FA Vase for the majority of clubs who had previously played in the competition. Well over 200 clubs entered in the first season, 1974–75 and Hoddesdon Town
of the Spartan League
beat Epsom & Ewell
of the Surrey Senior League
2–1 in the final at Wembley Stadium before a crowd of 9,000.
In recent years, entry to the FA Vase has been restricted to clubs in the eighth and lower tiers of the English football league system
, (those in the three levels above qualified for the FA Trophy). Reorganization of the National League System
for 2004 onwards moved the dividing line down to the new "Step 5" (ninth tier overall). Clubs from the Channel Islands
(First Tower United
and Vale Recreation) and the Isle of Man (Douglas HSOB
) also entered the Vase in the past, though none have done so in recent years.
come from behind to beat A.F.C. Totton
3–1 at Wembley in the final.
and Tamworth
, have gone on to play in the Football Conference
at the top level of the non-league pyramid. No FA Vase winner has yet reached the Football League, although 2008–09 finalists Glossop North End
had briefly competed in the old First Division
over a hundred years earlier.
National League System
The National League System comprises the seven levels of the English football league system immediately below the level of the Premier League and The Football League. It contains 91 league competitions and more than 1,600 clubs. It comes under the jurisdiction of The Football Association...
. For the 2008–09 season 514 entrants were accepted, with two qualifying rounds preceding the six proper rounds, semi-finals (played over two legs) and final to be played at Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
.
The 2011 winners were Whitley Bay
Whitley Bay F.C.
Whitley Bay Football Club are an English football club based in the North-East of England. The present Whitley Bay Football Club was formed in 1950 and was known as Whitley Bay Athletic...
, who beat Coalville Town
Coalville Town F.C.
Coalville Town Football Club is a football club based in Coalville, Leicestershire, currently playing in the Northern Premier League Division One South.-History:...
3–2 on 8 May at Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
.
History
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
and, for clubs outside The Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
, the FA Trophy
FA Trophy
The Football Association Challenge Trophy, commonly known as the FA Trophy, is a knockout cup competition in English football, run by and named after The Football Association and competed for primarily by semi-professional teams...
. Amateurs, on the other hand, did not get paid (at least not officially) by their clubs, and such clubs had their own cup competition, the FA Amateur Cup
FA Amateur Cup
The FA Amateur Cup was an English football competition for amateur clubs. It commenced in 1893 and ended in 1974 when The Football Association abolished official amateur status.-History:...
.
In 1974, with many of the top amateur players receiving payment for playing, The Football Association
The Football Association
The Football Association, also known as simply The FA, is the governing body of football in England, and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. It was formed in 1863, and is the oldest national football association...
abolished the distinction, scrapped the Amateur Cup and introduced the FA Vase for the majority of clubs who had previously played in the competition. Well over 200 clubs entered in the first season, 1974–75 and Hoddesdon Town
Hoddesdon Town F.C.
Hoddesdon Town F.C. is an English football club based in Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire. The club are currently members of Division One of the Spartan South Midlands League and play at Lowfield.-History:...
of the Spartan League
Spartan League
The Spartan League was an English football league covering London and adjacent counties.Formed in 1907, the league was along with the Isthmian League and the Athenian League, one of the strong amateur competitions in the South, with three clubs reaching the FA Amateur Cup semi-finals...
beat Epsom & Ewell
Epsom & Ewell F.C.
Epsom & Ewell Football Club is an association football club was established in 1917. They are from Epsom in Surrey and play in the Combined Counties League Premier Division. They have reached the first round of the FA Cup, been runners-up in the FA Vase, and been champions of Isthmian League...
of the Surrey Senior League
Surrey Senior League
The Surrey Senior League was an English regional football league for teams based in Surrey although teams from outside the county were often admitted as well. The league existed from 1922 until 1978, when it was rebranded as the Home Counties League in an attempt to attract teams from a wider...
2–1 in the final at Wembley Stadium before a crowd of 9,000.
Eligibility
English football league system
The English football league system, also known as the football pyramid, is a series of interconnected leagues for association football clubs in England, with six teams from Wales also competing...
, (those in the three levels above qualified for the FA Trophy). Reorganization of the National League System
National League System
The National League System comprises the seven levels of the English football league system immediately below the level of the Premier League and The Football League. It contains 91 league competitions and more than 1,600 clubs. It comes under the jurisdiction of The Football Association...
for 2004 onwards moved the dividing line down to the new "Step 5" (ninth tier overall). Clubs from the Channel Islands
Channel Islands
The Channel Islands are an archipelago of British Crown Dependencies in the English Channel, off the French coast of Normandy. They include two separate bailiwicks: the Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Bailiwick of Jersey...
(First Tower United
First Tower United F.C.
First Tower United F.C. is an amateur association football club in Jersey, Channel Islands. Their home ground is La Hague Manor and the club plays in white and blue. They are the second most successful club in the island after Jersey Wanderers, having won the Jersey League 19 times.-History:The...
and Vale Recreation) and the Isle of Man (Douglas HSOB
Douglas High School Old Boys F.C.
Douglas High School Old Boys A.F.C. are a football club from Onchan on the Isle of Man. They compete in the Isle of Man Football League and wear a blue and white kit...
) also entered the Vase in the past, though none have done so in recent years.
Exemptions
- Eligible teams who played in the FA Vase the previous season and finished in the top 4 of a Step 5 league are exempt from qualifying and start play in the First round Proper of the Vase, unless they were promoted to a Step 4 league. (If they were promoted, they would play for the FA TrophyFA TrophyThe Football Association Challenge Trophy, commonly known as the FA Trophy, is a knockout cup competition in English football, run by and named after The Football Association and competed for primarily by semi-professional teams...
instead.) - Eligible teams who played in the FA Trophy the previous season and were relegated from a Step 4 league are exempt from qualifying and start play in the First round Proper of the Vase as well.
- Clubs that played in the 4th round or later of the previous season's FA Vase are exempt from qualifying and the first round and begin play in the Second round Proper.
Venues
The record attendance for an FA Vase match was set on Sunday 13 May 2007, when 36,232 spectators watched Truro CityTruro City F.C.
Truro City F.C. are an English professional football club based in Truro, Cornwall. They currently play in the Conference South following five promotions in six seasons. They were founding members of the South Western League in 1951 and won the title five times in their history...
come from behind to beat A.F.C. Totton
A.F.C. Totton
A.F.C. Totton is a football club based in Totton, Hampshire, England. Totton Football Club was founded in 1886 and changed its name to A.F.C. Totton in 1975. The newly established club was among the founding members of the Wessex League in 1986. They are currently members of the Southern League...
3–1 at Wembley in the final.
FA Vase winners and finalists
Only five teams have managed to win the FA Vase more than once. Two FA Vase winners, Forest Green RoversForest Green Rovers F.C.
Forest Green Rovers Football Club is an English football club based in Nailsworth, Gloucestershire, currently the longest-serving members of the Conference National. The club is affiliated to the Gloucestershire County FA.-Early years:...
and Tamworth
Tamworth F.C.
Tamworth Football Club are an English semi-professional football club based in the town of Tamworth, Staffordshire. Nicknamed 'The Lambs', they are currently members of the Conference National, the fifth highest tier in the English league system....
, have gone on to play in the Football Conference
Football Conference
The Football Conference is a football league in England which consists of three divisions called Conference National, Conference North, and Conference South. Some Football Conference clubs are fully professional, such as Luton Town, but most of them are semi-professional...
at the top level of the non-league pyramid. No FA Vase winner has yet reached the Football League, although 2008–09 finalists Glossop North End
Glossop North End A.F.C.
Glossop North End A.F.C. are an English football club based in Glossop, Derbyshire. Former members of the Football League, they are currently in the North West Counties League and are members of the Derbyshire County Football Association. They play their home matches at Surrey Street, which has a...
had briefly competed in the old First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
over a hundred years earlier.