FA Vase 2026-27 2nd Qualifying Round Preview

By Phil Annets (@FAVaseFactfile)

The FA Vase 2nd Qualifying Round kicks off with 15 ties on Friday evening and culminates with four games being played on Sunday afternoon.

Overall there are 180 ties involving 360 clubs from Steps Five and Six of the non-league pyramid all keen to take that next step towards a potential once-in-a-lifetime trip to Wembley.

Having said that, there are eight former winners and five past runners-up involved in this round some of whom like Whitley Bay and Brigg Town have experienced a Vase Final at Wembley more than once already.

The first ever Finalists are both participating in this round, too, and both face opponents they’ve met in the competition before. Runners-up in 1975, Epsom and Ewell, host Bearsted FC looking to avenge a penalties defeat by the Kent based side from three years ago. The inaugural Vase winners, Hoddesdon Town, will be looking to make it three wins out of three in the Vase when they travel to Essex Senior League opponents Woodford Town.

There are 26 ties in total in this round that have happened in the Vase before. The most common tie is Cowes Sports versus Christchurch FC who are meeting in the Vase for the fourth time since the 1996-97 season. Cowes Sports are ahead by two wins to one in past Vase games.

Both Darlington Town and Wallingford and Crowmarsh have the immediate opportunity to avenge Vase defeats from last season by Whitley Bay and Ardley United respectively, whilst Frimley Green has had to wait a competition record 51 years for the chance to avenge a 3-1 defeat by Brockenhurst FC in the competition’s second season.

That 51 year gap supersedes the previous record of waiting 49 years for a chance to avenge a past defeat set just last season, but Newport (IOW) won on penalties against Pagham FC having previously beaten them 7-0 in the 1976-77 season. The two clubs meet for the third time in this round.

Cove FC may be the keenest to avenge a past Vase defeat having lost 6-0 to Camberley Town the only previous time they met in the competition 28 years ago.

Cove FC is one of 160 Step Six clubs involved in this round and one of 84 looking to cause a Cupset, several of whom would celebrate a club record Vase run with an unlikely victory. Durham United, Dussindale and Hellesdon Rovers, Grangetown Boys Club, Thornton Cleveleys, Route One Rovers, Woolton FC, Ludlow Town, FC Parson Drove, AFC Walcountians, Netherton United, New Bradwell St Peter, Avonmouth FC and Honiton Town would all reach the 1st Round ‘Proper’ for the first time with a Cupset win.

Additionally, Hertford Heath, Uppermill FC, Crewe FC, Maidenhead Town, Nailsea United and Minster FC would do the same as they are all participating in the Vase for the first time alongside Hedge End Rangers, AFC North Kilworth, Dunstable FC, AFC Greenwich Borough, Seaton Carew and Field Olympic.

Seaton Carew travel to Holker Old Boys in one of 39 ties that guarantee a club from Step Six will be in the next round, as does the tie involving Field Olympic and Leeds Ultimate Football Coaching Academy, a tie which also guarantees the winner will appear in the 1st Round ‘Proper’ for the first time ever. Uppermill FC versus Retford FC is the only other tie that guarantees the winner will set their club best Vase run.

Newcastle Blue Star has already set their best Vase run merely by being in this 2nd Qualifying Round. However, despite this being the club’s fourth Vase campaign, they are yet to win their first Vase match.

Whilst Cirencester Town versus Corsham Town is the only Barker tie of the round, a new name needs to be determined for the quirky nature of Baffins Milton Rovers versus New Milton Town where the clubs both have three word names with only the middle of the three names matching.