Representatives of the Hellenic League, the Combined Counties League, the North West Counties League and the United Counties League contest the two semi-finals to determine the clubs in this year’s FA Vase Final on 21st May. Four of the last five Finals have been won by a club from those four leagues.
Newport Pagnell Town are from the United Counties League Premier South and are the current holders of the FA Vase. The Swans are looking to become the first club to reach successive FA Vase Finals since Whitley Bay completed a hat-trick of wins twelve years ago.
Defeat for the Swans in the semi-final would result in an eighth successive final contested by two clubs both appearing in the Final for the first time. Whatever happens it will definitely be the 49th Final out of 49 Finals to have at least one debutant team in the game.
Their opponents are North West Counties League Premier side Congleton Town who are appearing in the FA Vase semi-finals for the first time ever having only gone as far as the 5th Round in their previous 28 campaigns. The Bears will be looking to emulate Warrington Rylands who were the last representatives of their League to lift the Vase just two seasons ago.
The other semi-final features two clubs that both started their campaigns this season in the earliest round possible, the 1st qualifying round, and who have so far each already won through eight rounds to get this far.
Combined Counties League Premier North leaders Ascot United are by far and away the top scorers in this season’s FA Vase having already netted a total of 28 times. The Yellamen have twice been FA Vase Quarter Finalists in the past but this is their first opportunity to make the Final in what is their 13th campaign. Will it be Lucky 13 for the Berkshire side and see them go on to repeat the success of Chertsey Town from the same League back in 2019.
Their opponents are the least experienced of the semi-final quartet having never progressed beyond the 3rd Round in their previous 21 campaigns. Wiltshire based Hellenic League Premier side Corsham Town are hoping to match fellow League representatives Thatcham Town who lifted the Vase just five seasons ago.
The Final will be a special occasion this season coinciding as it does with the 100th anniversary of Wembley Stadium. But will we see the first same initial final since Chertsey Town beat Cray Valley Paper Mills, the first final containing a ‘United’ for 21 years, or the second successive ‘Town’ vs ‘Town’ Final?
If the quarter finals are anything to go by, where every single tie went to penalties, it is impossible to predict.
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