The dates for the 2016/17 version of the FA Vase competition have been released by the Football Association.
Hot on the heals of the dates for the 2016/17 Emirates FA Cup, we now know when the national non-league competition for step five of the football pyramid and below will take place during the current season.
The Vase will cover 11 rounds with two qualifying rounds and a two legged semi-final, with the final likely to be part of a non-league Wembley triple-header if reports in the Non-League Paper are correct.
Dates for your diary: How the 2016/17 season is panning out
Dates for the FA Vase 2016/17 in full
First Round Qualifying Saturday 10 September 2016
Second Round Qualifying Saturday 24 September 2016
First Round Saturday 22 October 2016
Second Round Saturday 12 November 2016
Third Round Saturday 3 December 2016
Fourth Round Saturday 7 January 2017
Fifth Round Saturday 28 January 2017
Sixth Round Saturday 18 February 2017
Semi-Final first leg Saturday 11 March 2017
Semi-Final second leg Saturday 18 March 2017
The Final Sunday 21 May 2017
Local success
No side from Berkshire has ever won the FA Vase since it started in 1974, let alone reached a final. That doesn’t mean local clubs haven’t had good runs in the tournament though..
The most successful side locally in recent years are Ascot United who reached the quarter finals twice between seasons 201/13 and 2014/15 and were knocked out in the third round last season by Camberley Town.
Last season Bracknell Town were beaten in the second qualifying round by Alton Town – the club have twice made the fifth round, in 1975/76 and 1982/83.
Binfield first entered the tournament in 2008 and have had several good runs, but their biggest success was reaching the fourth round in 2011/12 when they were beaten by Tividale.
New Wokingham & Emmbrook boss Clive McNelly’s side also have a short history in the tournament having entered for the first time in 2010. The club have never been past the first round although their previous incarnation Wokingham Town were in the second round three times.
Holders
The current holders are Northern Football League side Morpeth Town who beat Hereford 4-1 in the final at Wembley Stadium in May 2016.
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