Wednesday, 7 September 2016

FA Vase First Qualifying Round / Woodbridge Town FC

Another road to Wembley begins this weekend when the First Qualifying Round of the FA Vase takes place up and down the country.

The Vase effectively replaced the FA Amateur Cup in 1974 and since then it has offered a host of clubs from small towns and villages the chance to play at Wembley with entry restricted to those teams playing at steps 5-7 of the FA National League System.

I was there in 1983 when VS Rugby defeated Halesowen Town while nearly 20,000 Hereford supporters attended last season's final, won 4-1 by Morpeth Town to continue a fine record for Northern League clubs in the competition.

That 2016 showpiece was the first to be staged as a double-header with the FA Trophy in a move that will hopefully secure the future of the final at Wembley.

Full fixtures

A special mention to Woodbridge Town FC, of the Thurlow Nunn Eastern Counties League, who host their annual Youth Day on Saturday at Notcutts Park.

Players and families from all of the club's 20 teams will all be in attendance and there is free admission for all spectators for the Vase tie with Hatfield Town which kicks off at 3pm.

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