“He always scores”. As incredible as watching Ascot United lift the FA Vase was after Kai Walters scored the winning goal, Shane Cooper-Clark’s nerveless penalty as Thatcham Town beat Stockton Town 1-0 at Wembley Stadium has to be the greatest moment. Why? Prior to Thatcham reaching the Final, no side from Berkshire had ever reached the Final, let alone won it, since the competition started in 1974.
Despite over 600 teams entering the FA Vase, the competition has a remarkable knack for back-to-back finalists and winners. Billericay Town won the competition twice in a row from 1976 while Whitley Bay won three in a row from 2009 to 2011. The most unlucky finalist has to be AFC Sudbury who lost three finals in a row between 2003 and 2005 when they were beaten by Didcot Town. Sudbury Town – the forerunner to AFC Sudbury lost the 1989 final in a replay with Tamworth.
Adapting the FA Cup Road To Wembley, this is an absolute must for non-league football fans. Take in a match in every round of the competition from the First Qualifying Round in August to the Final at Wembley Stadium in May.
