Page 11 - Raynes Park Vale v Stansfeld

History of the FA Vase Originally, if the final finished with the shootout as required. The winning club

scores level after extra time, the teams receives the FA Vase itself and, as of 2010,
n 1974 The FA Council had de- worth at the old Wemb- would play again in a replay at a later prize money of £20,000, in addition to
cided to abolish the official dis- ley. Tamworth won the date; more recently the final has always that accumulated for winning earlier
Itinction between amateur and replay 3-0 at Peterbor- been decided on the day, with a penalty rounds.
professional footballers and this ough and Ian Moores,
meant the end of The Amateur Cup a former Division One
and Amateur Internationals involv- player with Tottenham
ing England. Hotspur, scored one of the goals.
Two-hundred and twenty clubs entered The 2013-14 Vase competition was the
The Vase in its first season but they did 40th in history. Wembley has hosted 34
not include those clubs which had domi- Finals, Villa Park and St Andrews two
nated in The Amateur Cup. Enfield, Hen- each, Upton Park and White Hart Lane
don, Dagenham, Skelmersdale United one each. Thirty-two different clubs
and others at their level were immediate- have got their hands on The Vase, do-
ly allocated to The FA Trophy. nated by former FA Councillor Frank
For the first time in history, small clubs Adams. Whitley Bay lead the way with
– even village clubs – had the chance of four wins. South Shields 2017 winners
playing in a national final at Wembley. Spectacular Vase journey Previous Winners of the FA Vase
The first Vase Finalists were Hoddes- Aficionados of The Vase competition
don Town from the Spartan League and tend to rate the 1992 Final between
Epsom & Ewell from the Surrey Senior Wimborne Town and Guiseley as the
League. The Hertfordshire side edged best so far. Wessex League Wimborne SEASON WINNERS RES RUNNERS-UP VENUE
home 2-1 before a crowd of 9,000. had a modest record in the competi-
Les Ferdinand led the attack tion before then, having never ven- 1974–75 Hoddesdon Town 2–1 Epsom & Ewell Wembley
Even a competition as democratic as tured beyond the Third Round, but 1975–76 Billericay Town 1–0 Stamford Wembley
The Vase had its elite clubs in the early they embarked on a spectacular Vase 1976–77 Billericay Town 1–1 Sheffield Wembley
years. Billericay Town, initially of the journey that took them all the way 1976–77 * Billericay Town 2–1 Sheffield City Grnd
Essex Senior League, won it three times from the First Round to The Final. A
in four seasons. Halesowen Town, then goal down after 14 minutes at Wemb- 1977–78 Blue Star 2–1 Barton Rovers Wembley
in the West Midlands Regional League, ley, the Dorset side fought back to win 1978–79 Billericay Town 4–1 Almondsbury G Wembley
appeared in three Finals and were suc- 5-3. 1979–80 Stamford 2–0 Guisborough T Wembley
cessful in two of them. They even beat a A record 36,232 fans
Southall side that had a young Les Ferdi- When The Vase Final returned to 1980–81 Whickham 3–2 Willenhall Town Wembley
nand leading the attack. Wembley, a record 36,232 fans saw 1981–82 Forest Green Rovers 3–0 Rainworth Miners Wembley
Until the new Wembley opened in 2007 Truro City beat AFC Totton 3-1. Whit- 1982–83 VS Rugby 1–0 Halesowen Town Wembley
the record attendance for a Vase Final ley Bay, the 2002 winners, achieved a 1983–84 Stansted 3–2 Stamford Wembley
was the 26,489 who saw the drawn 1989 sensational hat-trick of Final victories
Final between Sudbury Town and Tam- from 2009 to 2011. 1984–85 Halesowen Town 3–1 Fleetwood Town Wembley