footballwriting.co.uk is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
It might be the middle of summer but Wembley dreams begin today (Friday). It’s one of the most anticipated dates for the true grassroot levels of the non-league game as the FA release the draw for the opening rounds of all their major cup competitions.
The Emirates FA Cup, the Isuzu FA Trophy and the Isuzu FA Vase took centre stage at lunchtime along with the FA Youth Cup. Whilst the FA Cup is more about sides being able to make a few quid along the way, grab some limelight and prestige the other pair are the real winners.
Non League Finals Day in May will no doubt provide us with two fantastic games of football in one day but today is the beginnings. The sheer amount of clubs especially in the FA Vase makes it in my opinion the toughest to win but why?
The content below was originally paywalled.
The Vase begins in mid-August and generally marries up on the same weekend as the Trophy as sides aren’t able to compete in both. With two rounds of the FA Cup in the same month there will be one or two clubs at least across the country who will get to the end of the first month having played very few league games.
Most will take the congestion that comes in time for the winter months to be able to make the cup progress.
Starting so early in the season and managing to navigate all the way to Wembley is some achievement, especially for those who are heading up a promotion campaign as well.
Not every club begins this early, however. Byes are allocated based on performance last season and previous years, the better you do the easier the path or so it should work out, football though is never that easy!
The Trophy brings it’s own conundrums every year, more so now since the evolution of the pyramid and more clubs being involved has actually limited the chances of Step 4 teams in having an impact because of the length of qualifying rounds to get through before even getting close to a National League South or North club let alone the top division.
It does get mentioned from time to time whether Steps 3 and 4 should have a competition of their own to ensure it’s worth their time in competing. The question though then comes where would the final fit in?
The Trophy and Vase are set in stone for Non League Finals Day, I’m not sure the day can cope with an extra game nor would it fit very well with supporters of six clubs trying to navigate and work logistics.
It seems more of a shame because the top division sides don’t take it as seriously as perhaps others do and would if the prize on offer was achievable.
Is it something you yourself can see happening as the game evolves and moves forward in the future? If the National League top division did ever become part of the EFL then it might be a conversation with a restructure of non-league football.
