The FA Vase - A Potted History

The FA Vase is the youngest national competition organised by the FA for NonLeague clubs with the first final having being played in 1975.   

The competition had been founded because of the Football Associations decision in 1974 to abolish the distinction between professionals and amateurs.  This policy change meant that the Amateur Cup was scrapped with the FA Vase taking its place for the majority of clubs. 

The first FA Vase competition was contested by over 200 clubs with Spartan League Hoddesdon Town emerging as the first winners after beating Surrey Senior League club Epsom & Ewell before a 9,000 strong crowd in the Wembley Final.   

In the early years of the FA Vase a dynasty was created by Essex Senior League club Billericay Town who won the competition three times in four years between 1976 and 1979.  Town were made to work for their silverware being taken to extra-time by Stamford in 1976 and to a replay by Sheffield FC the following season.   

A more comfortable victory was achieved in 1979 when a Dick Young hat-trick, the first in a Wembley final since the 1966 World Cup, helped Billericay to a 4-1 win over Gloucestershire County League side Almondsbury Greenway. 

Billericay remain one of only four clubs to have won the Vase on two or more occasions with Halesowen Town, Tiverton Town and Brigg Town all having two victories apiece.  Both Halesowen (84/85 & 85/86) and Tiverton (97/98 & 98/99) achieving back-to-back final victories.   

The Final of the FA Vase has traditionally being played at Wembley but during the construction of the new stadium was played on premiership grounds in either London or Birmingham.   

The biggest crowd to attend an FA Vase final was the 27,754 who filed into the new Wembley last season to see Truro City come from behind to beat AFC Totton 3-1.  The lowest crowd, barring replays, was ironically set in the last final not to be played at Wembley when just 3,286 saw Nantwich Town beat Hillingdon Borough 3-1 at Birmingham City. 

Some interesting names have being inscribed onto the FA Vase with 1980s ‘Bank of England’ club Colne Dynamoes having probably the most incredible story.   

The low profile Lancashire club was catapulted into the national spotlight when millionaire Graham White took over the club and began paying his players Football league sized wages. 

The clubs 1987/88 FA Vase win was followed by winning the Northern Premier League before White dramatically folded the club in the summer of 1990 after being refused promotion to the Conference. 

Of the other winners of the vase only three have achieved Conference level football with Forest Green (81/82) and Tamworth (88/89) reaching the top tier whilst 1989/90 winners Yeading reached the Conference South before their merger with Hayes FC. 

Colne Dynamos are one of three FA Vase winning clubs to become defunct though all three including Bridlington Town (92/93) and VS Rugby (82/83) have being reformed though only Bridlington retain their former name.