FA Vase 2026-27 1st Qualifying Round Preview
By Phil Annets (@FAVaseFactfile)
Just 601 clubs are involved in this season’s FA Vase competition, about 90% of those clubs eligible to participate from Step Five and Step Six Leagues. And 380 of them are starting their campaigns in this coming weekend’s 1st Qualifying Round.
Two Northern League Division One sides hosting Division Two sides, Whickham FC versus Newcastle University and Newton Aycliffe at home to FC Hartlepool, are the earliest two of a dozen ties taking place on Friday evening, and the round will be concluded by an all Step Five tie as Southern Combination League Roffey FC host Hollands and Blair of Southern Counties East League on Sunday afternoon.
Ten of the clubs involved are participating in the FA Vase for the first ever time with two of them facing each other on Saturday evening when Southern Counties East League Minster FC entertain Dial Square of Southern Combination League.
That all debut club tie is also one of forty ties that will guarantee Step Six clubs progress to the 2nd Qualifying Round to join the 88 other Step Six clubs exempted through to that round already.
Other debut clubs also involved in all Step Six ties are East Thurrock Community who host Letchworth Garden City Eagles, Colden Common who visit Newport (IOW), and Westfield FC (Sussex) who entertain AFC Walcountians.
All three of those debut clubs are facing opponents that have never played against a club playing their first ever game in the FA Vase. London Harts United, though, travel to May and Baker Eastbrook Community who only advanced against a previous debutant club when their opponents were disqualified.
Elsewhere, Keighley Town has won two, lost one against previous debut clubs and now travel to another debutant, Field Olympic, and Brantham Athletic visit new boys Dunmow Town having won two, lost two versus previous FA Vase first timers.
That Westfield FC (Sussex) versus AFC Walcountians tie will also result in the winner claiming their first ever victory in the competition. It’s the only tie where that is possible although both Leeds UFCA versus Ilkley Town and Stoke Gabriel & Torbay Police versus Sticker FC will see the winner either set their best Vase run or equal it.
On the flip side there are six former winners that have to begin this season’s FA Vase campaign in the earliest 1st Qualifying Round. The 1981 winners Whickham FC kick this round off against Newcastle University on Friday night, whilst 1994 winners Diss Town, now in Step Six Eastern Counties Division One North League, host Step Five Stowmarket Town from that league’s Premier Division.
Arlesey Town, who lifted the Vase in 1995, host fellow Spartan South Midlands Premier League side Biggleswade United, and another from that League, 2022 winners Newport Pagnell Town, entertain Step Six club Spelthorne Sports from Combined Counties League Division One.
The other two ties involving past winners are also two of thirty ties that have happened in the Vase before. Romford FC, who won the Vase just three years ago, have an immediate opportunity to
avenge last season’s 2-0 defeat at this stage by Ilford FC, whilst it is 45 years since Stansted FC beat Potton United 1-0, three years before they won the competition.
There are five ties in total that are happening again just one season after the two clubs first met in the competition. Bristol Telephones were beaten on penalties by AFC Aldermaston, Teignmouth FC fell to a 3-2 defeat by Ivybridge Town, Club Thorne Colliery lost 4-1 to Horbury Town, and Langford FC were beaten 5-2 by Haverhill Rovers.
Conversely, Billingham Town has waited 21 years for the opportunity to avenge a heavy 4-0 defeat by Crook Town, Epsom and Ewell has waited 10 years more than that to avenge a 2-1 defeat by Horsham YM, whilst it is 38 years since Harlow Town won 1-0 against Harwich and Parkeston.
The joint most common ties sees Marske United and Seaham Red Star meeting for the fourth time in the competition with Seaham Red Star looking to make it fourth time lucky against their higher level opponents.