Non-League Paper Programme: Key facts from the latest round of Isuzu FA Trophy & FA Vase action

Non-League statisticians have been working their fingers to the bone in recent weeks as the Isuzu FA Trophy and FA Vase gather momentum.

Not least Phil Annets and our friends at Non-League Factfile, who provide NLP readers with all the facts and figures ahead of each Trophy and Vase round, together with an astonishing array of historical facts, some of which dating back to embryonic years of each competition.

This afternoon sees the latest instalment on the road to Wembley – and already things are hotting up.

The Isuzu FA Trophy sees the remaining 80 Step 4 clubs compete in the second qualifying round with Step 3 clubs awaiting the winners.

FA Trophy

Two-time winners Grays Athletic, along with Consett FC, Sutton Coldfield Town, Leighton Town and Falmouth Town are the last five remaining clubs still standing who started this season’s competition in the preliminary round back in August, while ten Trophy debutants have also made it through. Hartpury FC versus Portishead Town guarantees at least one of those ten will be in the third qualifying round.

Malvern Town, Crowborough Athletic, Beckenham Town and AFC Portchester are all also in this second qualifying round for the first time ever, whilst six other clubs have equalled their best Trophy run. Within those six are East Grinstead Town and VCD Athletic who face each other to guarantee at least one other club will be making FA Trophy history this season.

All four former winners won through their first qualifying round ties with Stafford Rangers, champions in 1971-72 and 1978-79, drawn to travel to debut club Sporting Club Inkberrow, whilst double winners Kingstonian, from 1998 to 2000, visit 1978 runners-up and Surrey neighbours Leatherhead.

In this round, 25 of the 40 ties involve two clubs that will face each other in the League this season, although only six ties have happened in the Trophy before. Thame United v Winchester City is the only tie to be occurring for the third time with Thame having won both previous meetings over the past six seasons.

Swindon Supermarine has had the longest wait of 12 years for their chance to avenge defeat by Bideford FC, whilst both Welwyn Garden City and Deal Town have an immediate opportunity to cancel out last season’s defeats to Tilbury and Ashford United respectively.

FA Vase

This afternoon’s Isuzu FA Vase ties involves 199 Step 5 clubs and 175 from Step 6 competing in the second qualifying round.

Thirty-six of those ties guarantee a Step 6 clubs being in the hat for the first round on Monday lunchtime.

Eighteen debut clubs are involved in this round with Thornton Cleveleys, Stapleford Town, Belstone FC, Everrett Rovers and Crowle Colts all competing in all-Step 6 encounters.

The latter two clubs are also involved in games where the winner will set of equal their best Vase run, against Dearne and District and Staines and Lammas (Middx) respectively. Seven ties will result in the winner creating FA Vase history for the club.

NW London v Letchworth Garden City Eagles and Balham FC v Jarvis Brook will see clubs either equalling or setting their best run.

Aylesbury Vale Dynamos against London Samurai Rovers and Hollands and Blair versus South East Dons will see a club definitely equal their best Vase run. But AFC Welwyn versus Kings Park Rangers is the only other tie that will guarantee a club will be in the first round for the first time.

On the flip side, there are seven former winners participating in this round. Hoddesdon Town, the first ever Vase winners in 1974-75, along with Whickham (1980-81), Newport Pagnell Town (2021-22), Thatcham Town (2017-18) and the competition’s most successful club, four-time winners Whitley Bay (2001-02, 2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11), all have home ties. Two-time holders Brigg Town (1995-96, 2002-03) and Arlesey Town (1994-95) are drawn away, at Athersley Recreation and Haverhill Rovers respectively.

Incidentally, Haverhill have had to wait 32 years for the opportunity to avenge a 2-1 defeat to Arlesey, whilst it is 44 years since Paulton Rovers beat Ilminster Town by the same scoreline.

Framlingham Town will be the keenest to wipe out the memory of 7-1 defeat to Lakenheath – the only previous time they met in the Vase in 2020-21.

Just three ties have happened twice before with Tow Law Town twice beating Billingham Synthonia and Wellington defeating Penzance both previous times, whilst Ely City and Fakenham Town have one win apiece in past meetings.

That Ely versus Fakenham tie is one of 26 that involve clubs who will meet in the league this season. The three all-Wessex League Premier Division ties make that the most from one particular league.

And for you wordsmiths out there, there are 18 clubs competing this afternoon with a name containing the word ‘and’, with Laverstock & Ford v Totton & Eling the only ‘Ampersand’ derby of the round.

This largest ever FA Vase field makes the road to Non-League Finals Day longer and windier than ever – but with that, allows fans to further embrace and celebrate the competition in all its glory.