Wembley dreams

For non-league teams, the road to Wembley starts now.

Well, okay, technically that’s not true. Technically it starts next month. But the draws for the opening rounds of the FA Vase and FA Cup competitions were held earlier today, so I’m going to stand by what I originally wrote!

Of course, I’m being somewhat hyperbolic here. Of these two competitions, it is the Vase that offers the only realistic route to Wembley for non-league clubs.

Let’s face it, come May, the two FA Cup finalists are almost certain to have finished in the top ten of the Premier League (probably the top six).

Yet, in spite of this, the FA Cup is arguably far more important for non-league teams than it is for most professional ones (well, those in the top two divisions, at least).

Not only does entering the FA Cup give semi-pro players the chance to play, and score, in the world’s oldest cup competition – cue the ‘I’ve scored more goals in this year’s FA Cup than Salah’ tweets which seem to pop up on social media every August and September – but for the clubs, a decent FA Cup-run can prove hugely lucrative.

Make it through the two preliminary qualifying rounds, and just by losing in the first qualifying round a club will have its coffers swelled by £750. On top of the £1,125 and £1,444 already secured from having safely navigated through the preliminaries!

Make it through to the fourth qualifying round (the one before Round One proper; when the lower professional league teams enter the fray) and the prize money goes up substantially. The losers are awarded £3,125, the winners an eye-watering £9,375. Not to mention the possibility of drawing a ‘big’ side in the next round.

Yes, the FA Cup may have lost some its sheen from when I were a lad (the competition, that is – not the cup; I’m sure that’s still as shiny as it ever was). It’s not the big full-day televised event that it used to be. Finalists no longer produce novelty singles in the build-up (although this is probably a good thing – I still have a copy of the Anfield Rap from 1988 on cassette tape somewhere – ask your parents, kids).

But for non-league sides, winning a handful of games in the competition is simply massive. Great for team morale and even better for the all-important balance sheets.

The FA Vase, though, is a completely different beast.

For those who don’t know, the Vase is competed for by all sides at Step 5 of the non-league pyramid (Newhaven’s level) and some at Step 6. From Mousehole FC in Cornwall to Ashington FC in Northumberland; 498 miles apart and separated by an eight-and-a-half-hour drive (yes, I’ve been researching). Quite the away day that one.

Thankfully, the first few rounds are regionalised, so there’s be no risk of such petrol-burning, wallet-busting journeys until the prize money starts to get a little better (although it’s still nowhere near as good as what’s on offer in the FA Cup, somewhat bafflingly. In fact, teams that reach the third qualifying round of the FA Cup actually get more than those who reach the semi-final of the Vase! Still, it’s the FA, it’s not supposed to make sense).

However, while the financial stakes may not be as high, the possibility of a trip to Wembley is infinitely higher. As Littlehampton Town proved last season.

Let’s not forget, this is a team that Newhaven drew with twice in the league. And the Dockers had chances to win both of those games. It’s not like we’re talking about highly superior teams who are going all the way here! It can be done.

True, there was a little bit of luck involved in Littlehampton’s run to the final. They actually lost 5-0 in the Fourth Round, only to be reprieved once it turned out their opponents, Athletic Newham, had fielded an ineligible player in that match. Quite who that unregistered player was, I have no idea. He must have been some player, though, to have influenced the final scoreline to such an extent!

Still, rules are rules. Newham were rightly kicked out and Littlehampton made the most of their fortunate reprieve.

Okay, so the final may not have gone their way, but you can bet that their day out at Wembley will be one that their players, fans and management teams will never forget.

I’m sure Littlehampton’s success in reaching the final of the FA Vase will serve to be an inspiration to all the teams who are entering from the Southern Combination Football League this season; (hopefully) especially the Dockers.

This year, Newhaven start their FA Cup adventure with a lengthy away trip to Canterbury City in the Extra Preliminary Round. The tie is due to be played on 6^th August and is sure to be a tricky encounter. Canterbury finished 16th in the Southern Counties East Football League (SCEFL) last season.

Win that, and the Dockers face yet another daunting away day in the Preliminary Round (20^th August). This time they face the winners of Athletic Newham (yep, Littlehampton’s almost conquerors from last year’s Vase) and Sheppey United (who won the SCEFL last time out). Luckily the price of petrol is currently cheap, hey!

The FA Vase draw also threw up an away tie in the First Qualifying Round; albeit much closer to home this time. On 27^th August, the Dockers will travel to nearby Hailsham Town, who play a league below Newhaven.

Come through that and the reward is, wait for it, a HOME tie (finally) on 24^th September, this time against Eastbourne Town; one of the most consistent teams in the SCFL Prem in recent years.

So there you have it. Not the kindest draws I’ve ever seen (to put in mildly) but that’s the way it goes sometimes… unfortunately.

As ever, any support you can give the Dockers is always appreciated.  If you can, let’s get behind the boys. After all, who doesn’t love a good cup run?

Altogether now ‘que sera sera’…

#COYD Come on You Dockers