THE VASE JOURNEY IS UP AND RUNNING
THE 48th running of the FA Vase kicks off with five matches on Friday night including an all Step 6 clash between Northern Counties East League Division One rivals FC Humber and Parkgate FC.
One hundred and ninety-two further ties take place on Saturday including just 25 games where the clubs have met each other in the competition before, fewer than a quarter of all ties in total.
Holyport FC will be keenest to wipe the memory of a past Vase meeting having lost 7-0 to this year’s opponents Broadfields United when they met four years ago.
Amongst the many repeat games are only two ties where there has been more than one previous Vase meeting. Maltby Main and Glasshoughton Welfare have one win apiece in their past Vase encounters, although this is their first meeting in the 21st Century, whilst Billingham Synthonia will be hoping to make it third time lucky as they travel to higher Northern League opponents Whitley Bay.
Whitley Bay are one of seven former winners involved in this first qualifying round along with North Shields, Brigg Town, Rugby Town, Hoddesdon Town, Arlesey Town and St Helens Town.
The last name on that list lifted the Vase in their debut campaign and there are 15 clubs participating for the first time this season who will be dreaming to emulate that feat.
As Warrington Rylands showed again last season, the winners of the Vase can often start their campaign in the earMost, liest round of the competition and debutant clubs such as Redcar Town, Ilkley Town, Buckhurst Hill and Staplehurst Monarchs United will be relishing the opportunity to do just that.
And the re-formed Macclesfield FC are also participating in the Vase this season and must be one of the favourites to do well in it. South Liverpool, meanwhile, have already advanced to the second qualifying round courtesy of a walkover.
There are a few clubs who have past FA Vase campaigns under their belts but are yet to record their first victory in the competition. like Golcar FC and Greenways FC, have participated just one or two times before, but Shropshire based side St Martins will hope to secure their first Vase victory at the fifth attempt as they host Hinckley AFC. Another club looking for their first Vase win is Berkshire side Langley FC who travel to fellow Combined Counties Division One side Hilltop FC, competing in the Vase for the first time, and thereby becoming the only tie of the round that guarantees a club will be in the second qualifying round for the first time ever.
West Sussex side Arundel FC have competed in all but one of the previous 47 FA Vase campaigns and have been involved in 79 matches throughout those years, but when they travel to Radstock Town in this season’s competition, it will be the first time they’ve faced opponents who’s name begins with the letter ‘R’.