One Year On: AFC St Austell v Ascot (FA Vase)

[Piran]

I couldn't believe the Tweet I saw today saying that it was a year ago today that AFC St Austell were playing Ascot in the FA Vase. Here is my blog of the memorable day that includes video highlights:

http://www.piranfilms.com/fa-vase-epic-captured-by-piran-films/ 

[Tony]

Brilliant memories - that day and away at Greenwich will probably never be bettered. 

[cornishteddyboy]

Hopefully my team will go one better, Hereford FC

http://www.thefa.com/fa-vase

A year ago we didn't have a club.

Now  ..... winning goal today and how much it means

 

[Tony]

Got to hope they avoid Salisbury in the Semis!

Something special about the Vase - St.Austell won the league for the first time in nearly 50 years last season, a stunning and well deserved achievement, and also the senior cup again but the Vase run can't be beaten. There's nothing quite like it and I hope we have another decent crack at it next season and don't draw the favourites first up!

 

[midlandlilywhite]

I hate to correct you all but the Ascot match was played on February 28th ! The anniversary is next weekend not this weekend. However there were plenty of good memories to look back on, a pity we met Salisbury as early as Round 2 as we may have had another exciting run this year too . Hopefully Hereford win it this year and can move back up the Leagues. Currently they are in a two horse race with Alvechurch to win the Midland Football League. They are regularly attracting home gates of 3,000 plus in a League where 50-100 is the norm. Hope they can do it Paul. 

[Tony]

Spoilsport!  

[midlandlilywhite]

9 hours ago, Tony said:

Spoilsport!  

Ha,ha,ha. Anyway it does give us another week to reflect on the great memories of that Vase run - the superb goals, Poltair full to the rafters and the amazing level of noise and atmosphere it created. 

[cornishteddyboy]

This is surprising but with the domination of the mega-bucks TV deal, interest in higher-end football in England has never been more popular.

This has meant some tournaments have taken more of a back-seat role, but this season’s FA Vase could be a massive exception. The semi-final draw was made earlier today on talkSport and the two heavyweights were paired together, as they so often are.

Hereford FC will play Salisbury FC over two legs for the chance to walk out underneath the Wembley arch, and the tie will be a money-spinner for both sides.

But what makes this tie so special are the stories behind both of the team’s involved. Hereford FC didn’t even exist until the start of this season after the Hereford United of old were wound up in court in December 2014.

The local community came together and against all the odds, the club moved back to Edgar Street and into the ninth tier of English football – competing in the Midland Premier League.

The Bulls sit top of the League, unbeaten in 33 and have broken all Non-League attendance records along the way. It’s been a ground-breaking first season for the reformed Bulls and many have been captivated by their progress in such a short space of time.

Salisbury FC have a story of their own too. Only four years ago The Whites were playing in the Conference Premier, one division away from the Football League.

In 2014 the club were removed from the Football Conference for failing to pay their debts and reformed as a new outfit for their first season in the Wessex Premier League.

They too have been performing strongly this season and they sit eight points clear of their respective division with two games in hand of their clearest rival.

But with both clubs having historic pasts’ this tie could be one of the most popular FA Vase ties ever. The semi-finals are two-legged with the first ties taking place on Saturday 12 March and the return fixture seven days later on Saturday 19 March.

A bumper crowd is expected at Edgar Street for the first leg and media interest is expected to go into overdrive. Having a team like Hereford in this division is fantastic for non-league and grassroots football and their involvement in the FA Vase is no exception either.

The Bulls could become the first ever team to have a Wembley crown to their name in their first season in existence and it would be no coincidence either. They’ve been fantastic all year and a trip to the arch would be the cherry on the top of the cake, should they successfully get out of the Midland Premier League too.

For Salisbury FC its their first opportunity at major silverware since their reformation. It’s been a turbulent couple of years for their supporters and they too will be relishing a fixture against another Non-League heavyweight.

There’s no doubt that this could be one of the most exciting Vase fixtures ever, and with the final also on the horizon, it could be a fairytale ending for one of these phoenix clubs.

[Tony]

Hope Salisbury stock the bar a bit better for the visit of Hereford than they did St.Austell where by 5.45pm there was nothing left!