BUILDBASE BUILD A BASE FOR THE VASE

We all know the FA Vase started life in 1974 following the merging of amateur and professional football. The Vase was open to smaller clubs, including village teams and the more serious clubs took part in the Trophy. 220 clubs played in the first round and Hoddesdon Town beat Epsom and Ewell 2-1 in front of 9,000 people. In 1976-7 the "oldest" club, Sheffield FC (founded 1857) almost made a dream winning appearance in the final but they lost to the rampant Billericay 1-2 after a 1-1 draw at Wembley. The Essex club was a regular finalist in the early years. It wasn't to be.

Probably the most exciting final to date was the 1992 one when Wimborne Town beat Guiesley 5-3 and in 2007 a record attendance of 36,000 at the new Wembley saw Truro City beat Totton 3-1.

Last year Morpeth Town (est 1884) beat Hereford United 4-1 in what might have been one of those great fairy tales of the "Hereford" Phoenix rising from the ashes. It wasn't to be......

For the First Qualifying Round this year there were 194 ties and in the Second Round 169 spread over this weekend. I went to watch Penistone Church take on West Didsbury and Chorlton from Over the Pennines. Their visitors play up a level from Church. I watched through till a few minutes from the end of full time with Church throwing away a lead and they were 1-2 down. Their very tall centre back might have scored a hat trick from set pieces to put the game to bed, but he didn't. I nipped out to avoid the rush from the car park, as the locals were baying for subs to be brought on and there was much questioning of the home team's performance. When I got home and checked the results, Church had equalised in the last embers of the match and in extra time won 3-2. Oh ye of little faith! Me and the hard core fans......I thought it wasn't to be....but it was!

Church have earned themselves £800 prize money courtesy of Buildbase and the FA. 

Shoreham from the south coast had a 10-0 victory over Oakwood FC from the Sussex league, the lowest scoring tie was Southend Manor 0-0 Canning Town  with the away team winning on pens 4-5 (don't count them in score lines!).

It has been noted by my West Country correspondent that Congleton Town scored 7 to Bacup Borough's 3 and Desborough Town beat Wellingborough Whitworths 6-3 in one of the longer named games. So that's it for the high scorers.

The club with the historically oldest ground, Hallam FC thumped Nostell WM Club FC 8-1, there were two walk overs as Carterton FC and LPOSSA FC couldn't get a side together and Haverhill Borough thumped Haverhill Rovers 1-0 in what might be the most local derby.

I live the Vase, the clubs are so interesting. If the font changes midway I don't know why!