The FA Vase Quarter Final draw was the first national one of this season’s competition, and Western League Falmouth Town from Cornwall have a more than 700 mile round trip to face Great Wakering Rovers from the Essex Senior League.
Whilst Falmouth Town have appeared in the Quarter Finals before, way back in their debut Vase campaign in 1986-87 season, the winner of their tie will be Semi-Finalists for the first time ever. The same is true for the other tie to involve an Essex Senior League club, the only League with more than one club still involved.
Romford FC travel to North Greenford United of the Combined Counties League Premier North Division with both clubs appearing in the Quarter Finals for the very first time. Romford had at least made 5th Round before, but North Greenford United had never ventured beyond the 3rd Round in their 14 previous campaigns.
The tie between Worcester City of the Hellenic League and Emley AFC of Northern Counties East League also will result in the winner participating in the FA Vase Semi-Finals for the first time, although for Emley AFC this is since the club re-formed in 2005.
The original Emley FC were beaten FA Vase Finalists in 1988, but Deal Town of Southern Counties East League are the only former Vase winners still involved in this year’s competition. This is the first season since the club lifted the Vase in 2000 that they have ventured this far again.
They travel to Lincoln United of United Counties League Premier North Division who are also appearing in the last eight for the first time in a while. However, for them the wait to have another chance to reach the Semi-Finals has been the longest possible having last made it this far in the competition’s inaugural 1974-75 season!
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