DEBUTANTS ALL PLAYED THEIR PART IN HISTORY
FA VASE 2023-24 STATS AND FACTS
A TOTAL of 597 clubs from Steps 5 and 6 in the National League System took part in this season’s Isuzu FA Vase, including seven clubs that have entered all 50 FA Vase campaigns.
They are: Brockenhurst, Calne Town, Hoddesdon Town, Holbeach United, Saffron Walden Town, Stansted FC and Tunbridge Wells. Twenty-eight clubs were involved for the first time, including Stanway Pegasus who posted the third highest debut victory in the FA Vase in their 10-1 defeat of Haverhill Borough in the first qualifying round. Stanway Pegasus also became the last debut club standing, reaching the fourth round ‘proper’.
In the first qualifying round, Droitwich Spa 4-7 Bilston Town is only the fifth such scoreline in FA Vase history, but the first one where the away side came out on top. Albion Sports’ 3-0 second qualifying round victory over Harrogate Railway Athletic took the club into the ‘proper’ rounds of the competition for the first time at the 12th attempt. Heaton Stannington’s first round ‘proper’ 3-0 win over Darwen took the Northern League club into the second round for the first time in 42 years.
In the second round, Burnham FC and Glebe FC played out a 2-2 draw, with Burnham eventually winning 13-12 on penalties. Farnham Town were competing in FA Vase for the 42nd time this season and they appeared in the fourth round for the first time in 47 years following their 6-0 victory over Burnham. Lincoln United appeared in both the fifth round and the quarter-finals for the first time since the very first FA Vase competition 49 years ago.
The semi-finals were contested over two legs for the first time in five years, and both ties still went all the way to penalties. Great Wakering Rovers reached the final having started their campaign in the earliest round possible, winning through nine rounds in total, a feat last season’s winners Ascot United achieved.
This year’s final is only the fifth to involve two clubs from the same League, both clubs being Essex Senior League teams. It’s 40 years since the Essex Senior League was represented in an FA Vase Final and on the three previous occasions they contested finals they won each time. That perfect record will both continue and be ended this season. Clayd Roach, of Wessex League side Hamble Club. is the current top scorer in this season’s FA Vase with 10 goals but Great Wakering Rovers’ Calum Boylan is just one goal behind. As in all 49 previous FA Vase Finals, the 50th edition includes at least one club appearing in the final for the very first time. Indeed, as it happens, both Romford and Great Wakering Rovers are final first-timers.