SHOWPIECE NON-LEAGUE FINALS ON THE ROAD TO WEMBLEY
17 July 2003
THE TITLE-HOLDERS of the nation’s top non-league cup competitions were today treated to a tantalising taste of the new Wembley Stadium where their finals will be staged.
The climax to The FA Trophy, The FA Vase and The FA Sunday Cup, all in partnership with Carlsberg, will be played at the state-of-the-art Venue of Legends when it opens its doors in 2006.
Frank Parr, chairman of FA Trophy winners Burscough FC, Mike Harness, chairman of FA Vase holders Brigg Town FC, and Neil Twelftree, manager of FA Sunday Cup champions Duke of York FC, were given a tour of the fast-developing site by The FA.
The glimpse of the future home for their finals came as Burscough, Brigg Town and Duke of York geared up for the campaign to defend their titles.Whilst the finals of The FA Trophy and FA Vase will be returning to their ‘spiritual home’, the final of The FA Sunday Cup has never before been held at Wembley.
The decision is a major boost to non-league football, giving the players and fans the chance to achieve the ultimate football ambition – reaching a final at Wembley Stadium. The new design retains many of the features that made the old Wembley so special, including the presentation route up to the Royal Box, the lush pitch and the unique atmosphere.
Paul Barber, director of marketing and communications at The FA, said: ‘The clubs reaching the finals of The FA Trophy, FA Vase and FA Sunday Cup in three years will make history by being part of a new era in English football.
‘They can look forward to being amongst the first sides to play in the most spectacular football stadium in the world, built upon a glorious past and for a brilliant future.
‘The countdown to the unveiling of the new Wembley Stadium is well underway and we are delighted to be able to give the title-holders of the country’s most prestigious non-league cup competitions a taste of what is to come.’
The new 90,000-seater Wembley promises to be the most spectacular football stadium in the world, offering players and fans an unrivalled match-day experience.
The old Wembley last hosted the finals of The FA Trophy and FA Vase in May 2000, attracting crowds of more than 20,000.
Kingstonian FC won The FA Trophy for the second season running by beating Kettering Town FC 3-2, whilst Deal Town FC clinched The FA Vase with a 1-0 victory over Chippenham Town FC.
Since Wembley’s closure, the final of The FA Trophy has been played at Aston Villa FC’s Villa Park.
The final of The FA Vase was held at Villa Park for two years before moving to West Ham United FC’s Boleyn Ground last season.
The final of The FA Sunday Cup was staged at Liverpool FC’s Anfield in April.
All three finals will continue to be played at leading grounds until Wembley is unveiled. Last season was the year of the underdogs for the competitions.
Lancashire village minnows Burscough defied the odds to beat newly-promoted Conference side Tamworth FC 2-1 in a thrilling final of The FA Trophy – non-league’s equivalent of The FA Cup.
Brigg Town overcame favourites AFC Sudbury 2-1 to win The FA Vase for a second time, and Northamptonshire’s Duke of York beat local side Allerton 3-1 to lift The FA Sunday Cup.