For Step 5 clubs, cup prize money can quickly become one of the most valuable parts of the season. The FA Vase first round proper draw is now set, but several sides still have another potentially lucrative competition on their minds: the FA Cup.

The FA Cup can deliver bigger prize money, higher-level opposition and the prospect of a major home gate. The FA Vase offers a more realistic route to a national final at Wembley.

So which clubs are still fighting on both fronts, and what can each competition offer?

Which clubs are still in both competitions?

Five clubs in the FA Vase first round proper are also preparing for the FA Cup second round qualifying: AFC Greenwich Borough, SE Dons, Snodland Town, Pagham and Cirencester Town.

The FA Cup ties take place around September 19, with the FA Vase first round proper following on October 10. 

Club	FA Cup second round qualifying	FA Vase first round proper
AFC Greenwich Borough	Chertsey Town (A)	Tooting Bec (H)
SE Dons	Chichester City (A)	Sutton Common Rovers (A)
Snodland Town	Sheppey United (H)	Spartans Youth (H)
Pagham	Hanworth Villa (H)	AFC Aldermaston (A)
Cirencester Town	Farnham Town (H)	Bridport (A)

Greenwich’s run has already been memorable. In their debut FA Cup campaign, they came from 3-1 down to beat Sittingbourne 4-3 in the first round qualifying. SE Dons are also making their FA Cup debut this season.

FA Cup v FA Vase: what is at stake?

The two competitions overlap at Step 5, but the rewards are very different.

Measure	FA Cup	FA Vase
Current round	Second Round Qualifying	First Round Proper
Next date	September 19, 2026	October 10, 2026
Winner’s prize at that stage	£3,375	£825
Major target	First Round Proper, when League One and League Two clubs enter	A realistic route to a Wembley final
Prize at major landmark	£47,750 for winning in the First Round Proper	£30,000 for winning the final
Final	May 22, 2027	May 16, 2027

Why the FA Cup can change a season

The financial gap becomes clear as clubs progress.

A second round qualifying win is worth £3,375, followed by £5,625 in the third round qualifying and £9,375 in the fourth. A club that wins all three and then loses in the First Round Proper would still collect £34,175 from those four stages.

Win in the First Round Proper instead, and the total from those four victories reaches £66,125.

For a Step 5 club, that can be significant before gate receipts, hospitality and sponsorship are considered. The First Round Proper also brings League One and League Two clubs into the competition which creates the possibility of a tie that attracts a much larger crowd than a normal league fixture.

By the Third Round Proper, Premier League and Championship clubs enter. A small club that survives long enough can suddenly find itself at the centre of national attention.

That can change everything around a fixture. A ground used to welcoming a few hundred supporters may suddenly face demand many times its normal capacity, while media attention, hospitality and sponsorship opportunities increase with it.

It is also where ticketing moves into a completely different world. Official club allocations remain the primary route for supporters, while those researching the wider market may also encounter comparison services such as TicketSeal, which brings together listings from different third-party platforms.

Why the FA Vase still matters

The Vase cannot match the FA Cup’s financial ceiling, but it gives Step 5 and Step 6 clubs something the FA Cup rarely can: a realistic chance of reaching Wembley.

The first round proper winner receives £825, while £30,000 goes to the winner of the final. A club winning every tie from the first qualifying round through to the final would collect £47,875 in FA prize money.

More importantly, the final takes place at Wembley on Non-League Finals Day on May 16.

For players who may never come close to an FA Cup final, the chance to walk out at the national stadium and win an FA competition is a genuine target.

Can a club go deep in both?

It is difficult, but there are notable examples.

Westfields reached the FA Cup First Round Proper in 2016-17, where the ninth-tier club drew with Curzon Ashton before losing the replay. They also progressed to the FA Vase third round proper.

A season later, 1874 Northwich reached the FA Cup third round qualifying before going all the way to the FA Vase semi-finals. Club officials said the combination of FA Cup income, Vase prize money and publicity could make a major difference to the young club.

The downside is workload. Extra cup ties mean more travel, postponed league matches and added pressure on squads in which many players combine football with jobs outside the game.

Two cup dreams

For the Step 5 clubs still involved in both competitions, there is no need to choose yet.

The FA Cup offers the bigger financial upside and the chance to face clubs further up the pyramid. The FA Vase offers the clearer route to Wembley and a realistic opportunity to lift a national trophy.

One run can change a club’s finances. The other can produce the biggest day in its history.