Maidstone United’s thrilling and courageous FA Cup run may have been brought to an end by Coventry at the last-16 stage. However, a non-league side is still destined to reach the hallowed turf of Wembley this season.
Whose quest for FA Trophy glory will continue after this weekend’s Quarter-Final clashes? Five of the eight teams left hail from the 5th tier, one from the 6th tier and two from the lowly 7th tier.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe FA Trophy Is Launched
The Football Association created the FA Trophy in the late 1960s to give semi-professional sides the opportunity of playing at Wembley. Full Amateur sides would still take part in the FA Amateur Cup, whose Final was also played at the Twin Towers.
In 1974, the notion of professional and amateur statuses was scrapped by the FA and so was the Amateur Cup. The FA Trophy would soon have a multitude of applicants wanting to sign up and enter.
For the past couple of decades, the FA Trophy has been open to clubs playing in Steps 1-4 of the non-league football pyramid. Which is equivalent to tiers 5-8 of the overall football league system.
This covers the National League, the Southern League, Isthmian League, and Northern Premier League. Following further non-league restructuring, the competition has featured a maximum of 300+ teams in recent seasons.
The FA Trophy now features three qualifying rounds and eight rounds proper. Teams from tier 8 & tier 7 enter during the qualifying phase. Those from tier 6 are introduced at the second round proper.
Those from the highest non-league level, tier 5, finally enter the fray at the third round proper (similar to Premier League clubs embarking on their FA Cup journey). Since the 2021–22 season, all drawn games are immediately settled with penalty shootouts, to avoid fixture congestion.
Embed from Getty ImagesMemorable FA Trophy Moments
28,000 were at Wembley Stadium to watch Macclesfield Town beat Telford Utd 2-0 and lift the first FA Trophy in May 1970. Macclesfield Town (who sadly dissolved in 2020) would win the competition again in 1996 and finish runners-up twice (1989 & 2017). Telford Utd (dissolved in 2004) may have lost that first ever Final, but they along with Scarborough FC (dissolved in 2007) and Woking have won the FA Trophy the most, 3 times each.
The FA Trophy Final was staged at Villa Park for five years (2001-2005) and West Ham’s Upton Park (2006) while Wembley Stadium was being rebuilt. On returning to the ‘new’ Wembley in 2007, the largest ever FA Trophy Final attendance was recorded. As 53,262 saw Stevenage Borough produce a stunning comeback from 2-0 down to beat Kidderminster 3-2.
Martin O’Neill claimed his first silverware as manager in the FA Trophy. The Northern Irish legend who would later help lead Leicester and Celtic to glory, took Wycombe Wanderers to Wembley twice. The Chairboys would be victorious on both occasions, beating Kidderminster 2-1 in 1991 and Runcorn 4-1 in 1993. In 1985, Wealdstone would become the first side to complete the ‘Non-League Double’. Lifting both the FA Trophy & Conference trophies in 1985. Two others have repeated the Stones’ feat since then, Colchester United in 1992 and Wycombe Wanderers in 1993.
While 5th tier sides have claimed their fair share of FA Trophy accolades, some relative unknowns have had their five minutes of fame too. Recent minnows who were beaming on the Wembley turf include: Hornchurch (tier 7) in 2021, Brackley Town (tier 6) in 2018 & North Ferriby United (tier 6) 2015.
Embed from Getty ImagesWho’s Aiming For FA Trophy Glory This Season?
National League sides, Bromley, Barnet and Gateshead are all vying for favouritism with eight hopefuls still eyeing up FA Trophy glory. With Bromley hosting Barnet at Hayes Lane on Saturday, one of the fancied sides is destined to drop out. Barnet are currently second in the National League table, 2pts above Bromley in third. Bromley a.k.a the Ravens have the better FA Trophy pedigree of the two though. Finishing as runners-up in 2018 and finally winning the title for the first time in 2022.
The second all-National League tie in the last-4 sees Wealdstone take on Solihull Moors. Solihull Moors were formed in 2007 when Moor Green and Solihull Borough merged. They are looking to progress past the last-8 stage of the FA Trophy for the first ever time. They beat Wealdstone 1-0 when the sides met in the league at the end of October.
Will Macclesfield Continue To Rise Like A Phoenix?
Last season’s FA Trophy runners-up Gateshead entertain 6th tier Peterborough Sports in the quarter-finals. ‘The Heed’ will be confident of progressing. They will see the Trophy as a welcome distraction as their promotion push has stalled in recent weeks. They’ve picked up just a single point from their last 3 league games.
A 7th tier side is guaranteed a spot in the semis, as Northern Premier League (Macclesfield F.C) and Southern League Premier (Coalville Town) outfits clash. Macclesfield F.C is the phoenix that rose from the flames after Macclesfield Town were dissolved four years ago.
The Silkmen have a close relationship with the FA Trophy. They reached the Final on four occasions in their previous ‘Town’ guise. Football neutrals love a fairytale story and it’s the ‘magic of the Cup’ personified if Macclesfield, the inaugural winners of the crown 54 years ago, can reach Wembley once again.
FA Trophy Quarter-Finals: (All matches are 15:00 K.Os on Saturday)
Bromley v Barnet
Gateshead v Peterborough Sports
Macclesfield v Coalville Town
Wealdstone v Solihull Moors
Also Read:
The Jeddah Corniche Circuit: Analysing the Fast and Furious Track
Football’s New Era: Athleticism Over Artistry
The Greatest European XI of All Time
Arnold Palmer Invitational Preview – Who’ll Boss It at Bay Hill?
Countdown To The 2024 Cheltenham Festival
Image Credit: Deposit Photos