With Storm Babet over England and Scotland with heavy rain falling over lots of the country there are bound to be lots of postponements over the weekend - Please stay safe people. Here's a preview of the Isuzu FA Vase games that are scheduled.
FEATURED GAMES
WHITLEY BAY v BOTTESFORD TOWN
The four times winners of the competition (2001, 2009, 2010 & 2011) had their best placed finish in The EBAC Northern League Division One for a number of seasons finishing in fourth place. In the last eleven seasons The Seahorses haven't got past the Third Round of the Vase and from 2018 to 2022 they were knocked out in the qualifying rounds. Last season they got to the Third Round being knocked out by West Didsbury & Chorlton on penalty kicks after a 1-1 draw at Hillheads Park.
This season Whitley Bay are currently in fourth place of their division with only Shildon, Bishop Auckland and Birtley Town ahead of them. They are a traditionally well supported team with an average crowd of 341 in their league and cup home games so far this season.
The Poachers make the 140 mile trip to the Tyne & Wear seaside from Lincolnshire which will be a welcome break from their Toolstation Northern Counites East Premier Division campaign as they are currently bottom of the table. They have picked up their first two league wins of the season recently with 1-4 win at Goole AFC and 3-2 home win over Hallam. They won 2-1 over Rossington Main who are currently 9th in their table.
2016/17 saw Bottesford achieve their best FA Vase run so far in their history when they got to the Third Round losing 1-2 at home to Billingham Town.
BISHOP AUCKLAND v NORTHWICH VICTORIA
Two teams with a huge amount of history in national non-league competitions face off at Heritage Park. The Two Blues are ten time winners of the FA Amateur Cup with The Vics FA Trophy winners in 1984 along with being runners up in 1983 and 1996.
They lost their Victoria Ground in 2012 and off the field financial problems saw them relegated from Step 3 to Step 4 despite finishing in 2nd place of the Northern Premier League Premier Division. They had only been at the new ground since 2005 having moved out of their much loved Drill Field ground in 2002. They were further relegated to Step 5 in 2017. They currently ground share at Witton Albion.
They got one step from Wembley in 18/19 season losing to Chertsey Town on penalty kicks after a 1-1 aggregate draw over two legs of the semi-final.
A breakaway club "1874 Northwich" were formed in 2012 and currently play in the Northern Premier League Division One West. In the 17/18 they got to the Vase SF losing to Thatcham Town 2-4 on aggregate.
The Vics finished in 5th place of the North West Counties Premier Division in 21/22 and 22/23 but were moved laterally to the Midland Football League in the summer. They are currently in 13th place with 3 wins from 10 games.
Due to the move many of last season's squad left the club due to the extra travelling involved with a new Manager in Steve Pickup appointed. He had been Assistant Manager for 5 years to previous boss Steve Wilkes.
Bishop Auckland lost their Kingsway ground in 2001 and had to share at a number of local clubs before moving into their new Heritage Park ground in 2010. Since relegation from the Northern Premier League Division One in 2006 they have had some difficult seasons in the EBAC Northern League Division One but have finished in 3rd place in 18/19 and 22/23. Former Whitby Town and Guisborough Town boss Chris Hardy took over as Manager in October 2021 when the club were second bottom in the table.
The club, who also reached the QF stage of the FA Trophy on three occasions (78/79, 96/97 and 99/00), have never had much luck in the FA Vase. They have regularly been knocked out in the qualifying rounds with their best run being getting to the second round on two occasions. In 14/15 they were knocked out by 1874 Northwich and in 19/20 their local rival's West Auckland Town knocked them out.
They are set to have their best season in many a year as they are currently in 2nd place of their league with 9 wins from 12 games played scoring an impressive 36 goals in the process. They had an excellent run in the Emirates FA Cup beating Bridlington Town, Seaham Red Star and West Auckland Town (crowds of 846 and 730) before travelling to South Shields in the second qualifying round where in front of 1,081 two late goals won in for the Vanarama North side.
The Vics won 0-2 at Goole AFC with Bishop Auckland winning 0-5 at Step Six side Yorkshire Amateur to get to this stage this season.
WORCESTER CITY v SLEAFORD TOWN
City finished in the relegation zone of the Vanarama North Division in the 16/17 season and took voluntary relegation to the Step 5 Midland League for the 17/18 campaign. The club had financial difficulties having lost their St Georges Lane ground in the 2013.
Thankfully after ground sharing at Kidderminster Harriers and Bromsgrove Sporting the club have found a home ground in their own City at Claines Lane which is the home of The Worcestershire Football Association.
They are having their best season since the relegation and are currently top of The UHLSport Hellenic League Premier Division with 11 league wins in 13 games.
Their recent victory at Worcester Raiders who play at Sixways Stadium attracted a huge crowd of 2,475 people. The Raiders were formed in 2001 and were promoted to the Hellenic Premier for the 22/23 season.
City have played two games in the Vase already this season beating AFC Bridgnorth 8-1 and beating Rugby Borough on penalty kicks after a 2-2 draw. They reached the 5th Round of the Vase in the 19/20 season losing to Atherstone Town in a replay.
Liam Lockett (12 goals) and Jamie Insall on 10 goals are top scorers for City this season. Lockett re-joined the club from Step Four side Beworth United in the summer. Insall was born in Worcester and joined in the summer after spending last season playing for Step Three sides Halesowen Town and Redditch United. He started his career on the Kidderminster Harriers academy before playing for Stourport Swifts, Pershore Town, Littleton, Westfields, Worcester Raiders, Bromyard Town and Stourbridge before a move to then Scottish Championship side Hibernian. He played on loan for East Fife before in 2017 he was banned from football for two years for a failed drug's test - Link to BBC story here.
He returned to football in April 2018 with Cymru Premier side Connah's Quay Nomads whom he helped to two Welsh title on 2020 and 2021.
Sleaford Town are currently in seventh place of the United Counties League and have beaten Ollerton Town and Rainworth MW to get to this stage.
Ryan Lennon (formerly of March Town and Parson Drove) and Jacob Fenton (formerly of Lincoln City Academy) have six goals each for player manager Tom Ward's side.
Sleaford has a great run in the competition in the 15/16 season defeating Peterborough Sports, Downham Town, Raunds Town, Sporting Bengal United and Yaxley before losing 3-2 at Sunderland Ryhope in the Fourth Round.
MILDENHALL TOWN v SHERINGHAM
An all Thurlow Nunn Premier Division tie at Recreation Way. The hosts have made an amazing start to the season winning 10 and losing just 1 of their league games played so far. Their first defeat came on Tuesday evening at Newmarket Town who won 1-0 in front of a bumper crowd of 571 people.
In the Vase The Hall have crept through two goal packed games winning 2-3 at Ely City and 3-4 at March Town United where Tanner Call netted a hat-trick.
Former Haverhill Borough, Cambridge City and Royston Town player Jarid Robson is their top scorer with 10 goals for the Suffolk side.
Sheringham are currently in 12th place and were well beaten at Mildenhall Town 4-0 earlier in the season.
Mildenhall got to the 4th Round in the 01/02 season where they had a memorable 760 mile round trip to Cornish side Porthleven who won 1-0. In the 05/06 season they went one better and lost in the 5th Round against Hillingdon Borough.
The Shannocks first entered the Vase only a few years ago in 2020. They got to the 2nd Round last season losing to St Panteleimon on penalty kicks after an action packed 3-3 draw.
They beat Diss Town 2-1 to get to this stage with Payton Swatman (former clubs Dereham Town, Norwich CBS) and and former Harleston Town midfielder Lagshan Sivakumar on the score sheet.
WHITE ENSIGN v WORMLEY ROVERS
Step 5 v Step 6 at Burroughs Park where the home side currently ground share. They lost 5-1 in midweek at Thurlow Nunn First Division side Cannons Wood in the Essex FA Thameside Trophy and are currently in 12th place in the Essex Senior League.
Rovers are in great form and are nine league and cup games unbeaten of which eight have been wins! During this impressive run they have scored 31 goals and had 4 clean sheets.
MILTON KEYNES IRISH v REAL BEDFORD
I'd say this is the tie of the round as two Spartan South Midlands League title challenger's face off for the third time this season.
The Irish warmed up for this tie with a 8-0 demolition of Potton United on Tuesday evening in the league where Andre Olukanmi netted a hat-trick.
It was 1-0 on the opening day of the season in a league games at Real Bedford which was a closely fought game followed by an FA Cup game which MK Irish won 3-4 on Saturday 19th August.
Mason Spence has scored 15 goals in 16 games for the Irish this season - The former MK Dons, Colchester United and Hitchin Town midfielder returned to the club after helping Stotfold to the SSMFL title last season.
Joe Evans who came through the MK Dons academy has 19 goals in 16 games for Real Bedford having joined the club in the summer from Division One side Moulton whom he netted 33 goals in 36 games last season.
NEWHAVEN v SPORTING BENGAL UNITED
A really exciting game in prospect on the South-Coast as two teams riding high in their respective divisions go head to head. Being the home side Newhaven will be considered favourites for the game but will find the visitors a very tough team to beat. They have only lost one league game so far and scored 36 goals in the process with former Whitehawk and Burgess Hill Town striker Alfie Rogers on 15 goals in 18 games top scoring for them.
The Dockers have never had any real luck in the competition having never gone beyond the Third Round - Maybe this year could be their year?
The East London side were promoted via the Thurlow Nunn First Division South play-offs last season and have done very well on their return to the Essex Senior League where they are currently in third place having only two league defeats so far with 30 goals scored in 14 games.
Shermadin Artmeladze is their top scorer with 13 goals scored in 11 games - The left sided attacking midfielder moved the UK from Georgi where he played in the top division.
Sporting's best run in the Vase has been to the Third Round on two separate occasions. In 11/12 they lost to local rival's Bethnal Green United (now Tower Hamlets FC) and last season they lost on penalty kicks at home to Deal Town after a 2-2 draw.
South London welcomes North London in Rotherhithe as The Fish host The Lions.
The home side have never got past the 2nd round stage of the competition - Even Fisher Athletic never got past that stage either when they entered the competition from 1976 to 1983.
Wembley's best run has been the Third Round in 99/00, 07/08 and 16/17.
Fisher are currently in 4th place of The Southern Counties East Premier with Wembley in 17th place of The Combined Counties Premier South.
FARNHAM TOWN v RISING BALLERS KENSINGTON
The home side are having a mighty impressive season so far with all nine of their Combined Counties Premier South games won where they have scored 33 goals and let in just 2!!
The home side are having a mighty impressive season so far with all nine of their Combined Counties Premier South games won where they have scored 33 goals and let in just 2!!
To get to this stage they have beaten AFC Stoneham 2-1 and Millbrook (who made the long trip up from Cornwall) 8-0.
Paul Johnson was appointed manager last November after an eight year spell in charge of Bedfont Sports ended in the summer of 2022. He led the Middlesex side to promotion from Step Five and a 3rd place finish in the Isthmian South Central Division in the 21/22 season where they lost a closely fought play-off final game at Chertsey Town who won 3-2.
With their record so far it wouldn't be a surprise to see Step Four football being played at their Memorial Ground in the 23/24 season although I'm sure a manager as experienced as Johnson will be taking each game as it comes.
It wouldn't be a shock either to record their best run in the Vase which at the moment was the 4th Round in 76/77 when they lost to Farnborough Town.
Rising Ballers Kensington are currently in fifth place of Division so Farnham Town will be big favourites for this game but with the magic of cup football you just never know?
Tyler Hales on 8 goals in 16 games and Abdelah Sahnoun (formerly of Tooting & Mitcham United and Northwood) on 7 goals in 13 games have been hitting the net for RB this season.
ST PANTELEIMON v HEACHAM
A game which should be well attended by ground hoppers and local football fans as this one kicks off at 7.45pm at Potters Bar Town where The Saints currently ground share. As The Scholars are at home to Cray Wanderers at 3pm this game has been arranged for an evening kick off.
The hosts are currently top of the Spartan South Midland League Premier with Heacham in midtable of the Thurlow Nunn Premier Division after their promotion from the First Division North last season.
The Magpies have risen from The North West Norfolk League through the Anglian Combination and to Step Five of the non-league ladder with an incredible eight promotions in as many seasons.
This is their first season in the FA Vase and they have wins against Kirkley & Pakefield (5-1) and Dussindale & Hellesdeon Rovers (2-0) to get to this stage.
The Saints have been entering the Vase since 2018 and their best performance was last season when they got to the 3rd Round being beaten by Pinchbeck United.
DUNSTABLE TOWN v WOODFORD TOWN
Woodford are top of the Essex Senior League and were unbeaten in the league up until last Friday when Tilbury caused a real shock by winning 0-4 at Ashton Playing Field. Luke Parrott has scored 15 goals in 19 games for the East Londoners.
Dunstable Town were expected to be one of the challengers for the title in the Spartan South Midlands Premier this season but 5 defeats in their opening 13 league games sees them currently in 8th position.
Town's fans will have good memories of their Vase run in the 10/11 season when they got through to the 5th Round stage and had a trip to Whitley Bay where they unfortunately lost 5-1.
First Round Proper
Friday 20 October Hinckley AFC v Stone Old Alleynians
Saturday 21 October
Crawley Down Gatwick v Midhurst & Easebourne - 2pm
Charnock Richard v Burscough
Abbey Hey v Runcorn Town
Redcar Athletic v Silsden AFC
Stockport Georgians v Droylsden
Northallerton Town v Irlam
Blyth Town v Crook Town
Ashville v Glasshoughton Welfare
Atherton LR v Parkgate
Ryton & Crawcrook Albion v Cheadle Town
West Auckland Town v Newcastle University
Squires Gate v South Liverpool
Heaton Stannington v Darwen
Emley AFC v Guisborough Town
Seaham Red Star v Knaresborough Town
Pilkington v Ramsbottom United
Carlisle City v Longridge Town
Whitley Bay v Bottesford Town
Albion Sports v West Allotment Celtic
Bishop Auckland v Northwich Victoria
Ashton Town AFC v Whickham
Gedling MW v Loughborough Students
Brocton v Aylestone Park
Ingles v Boston Town
Pershore Town v Shirebrook Town
Hallam v Coventry United
Lutterworth Athletic v Ardley United
Lincoln United v Bugbrooke St Michaels
Kimberley Miners Welfare v Highgate United
Lichfield City v Romulus
Newark & Sherwood United v Wellingborough Town
Wolverhampton Casuals v Whittlesey Athletic
Heanor Town v Hereford Pegasus
Dudley Town v Darlaston Town
Cogenhoe United v Eastwood Community
Ashby Ivanhoe v Belper United
Stourport Swifts v Sherwood Colliery
Whitchurch Alport v Worcester Raiders
Worcester City v Sleaford Town
Wisbech Town v Tividale
Saffron Walden Town v Long Melford
Potton United v Hullbridge Sports
Sawbridgeworth Town v Tilbury
Arlesey Town v Eynesbury Rovers
Mildenhall Town v Sheringham
White Ensign v Wormley Rovers
Halstead Town v Stanway Pegasus
Barkingside v Framlingham Town
Fakenham Town v Cockfosters
Downham Town v Coggeshall Town
Shefford Town & Campton v Crawley Green
Lakenheath v Walsham Le Willows
St Neots Town v Great Wakering Rovers
Frenford v London Lions
Milton Keynes Irish v Real Bedford
Bedfont Sports Club v Hassocks
Burnham v AFC Croydon Athletic
Little Common v Tunbridge Wells
Haywards Heath Town v Eastbourne Town
Athletic Newham v Staplehurst Monarchs
Holmesdale v Corinthian
Newhaven v Sporting Bengal United
Larkfield & New Hythe v Glebe
Snodland Town v Stansfeld
Fleet Town v Amersham Town
Punjab United v Lydd Town
Virginia Water v Woodley United
Roffey v Lordswood
Steyning Town Community v Reading City
Sutton Athletic v Holyport
Greenways v Lingfield
Fisher v Wembley
North Greenford United v Hollands & Blair
Farnham Town v Rising Ballers Kensington
Hilltop v Knaphill
Horsham YMCA v Eversley & California
Cobham v Edgware & Kingsbury
Eastbourne United v Bearsted
Torpoint Athletic v Portland United
Royal Wootton Bassett Town v Elburton Villa
Brockenhurst v Tuffley Rovers
Barnstaple Town v Okehampton Argyle
Wantage Town v Hamble Club
Fairford Town v Roman Glass St George
Fareham Town v Falmouth Town
AFC St Austell v Torrington
Hamworthy Recreation v Bovey Tracey
Nailsea & Tickenham v Mangotsfield United
Laverstock & Ford v Wells City
Highworth Town v Shaftesbury
Saltash United AFC v Portishead Town
Cowes Sports v Whitchurch United
Newquay AFC v Baffins Milton Rovers
Downton v New Milton Town
Tadley Calleva v Moneyfields
Brimscombe & Thrupp v Cheltenham Saracens
Longwell Green Sports v Dobwalls
Helston Athletic v Longlevens
St Panteleimon v Heacham - 7.45pm KO
Sunday 22 October
Dunstable Town v Woodford Town
(Previous season’s Clubs playing in Fourth Round Proper (32), and not moved to FA Trophy)
AFC Liverpool
AFC Wulfrunians
Atherstone Town
Biggleswade United
Bridgwater United
Brixham AFC
Buckland Athletic
Bury
Clevedon Town
Congleton Town
Corsham Town
Deal Town
Eccleshill United
Egham Town
Erith Town
Harefield United
Hartpury University
Holker Old Boys
Horden Community Welfare
Jersey Bulls
Newport Pagnell Town
Peacehaven & Telscombe
Pinchbeck United
Romford
Tring Athletic
West Didsbury & Chorlton
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