Buildbase FA Vase - Preview

This weekend sees no less than 22 CCL clubs embark upon the FA Vase trail, as the competitions gets under way with the 1st Qualifying Round.

Most clubs like to play opposition from other leagues but we have two all CCL ties, the first being played on Friday evening (kick-off 7.30 p.m., at Ash United) between Badshot Lea and Farnham Town, a real local derby. With neither club having quite got their season going at full steam as yet, doubtless both will look forward to kick starting their campaign by making progress in the competition.

On Saturday, when most ties are taking place, of course, there is an even closer local match between Hanworth Villa and Bedfont Sports, which will be a close one to call, both sides having made good starts to their league campaign.
A look now at all the other ties in alphabetical order of home team.

AFC Hayes will entertain Crawley Green FC, from Hertfordshire. Crawley Green are members of the Sparrtan South Midlands League, playing at Step 5, and are Luton based. They have made quite a reasonable start to their campaign sitting in 9th position as at least Saturday.

Arundel will entertain Westfield at their picturesque ground with Arundel Castle as the backdrop. With Westfield boasting an unblemished record this season, apart from a narrow FA Cup defeat, they will be hoping to do well against an Arundel side that has only managed one league win so far this campaign.

Ash United will welcome visitors from Gloucestershire in the shape of Tytherington Rocks FC. It’s a long old journey for the visitors, one of around 106 miles. They are members of the Hellenic League, Division One East, so like Ash, they play at Step 6. They have not made a good start to their league campaign being without a win so far. Last season they went out of the Vase to Abbey Rangers after a replay.

The next tie pairs Bedfont & Feltham with ex-CCL club Sandhurst Town, who opted for the Hellenic League at the end of last season, after many years in the CCL. Playing in the League’s Division One East, they currently sit in 9th place.

Next up is CB Hounslow United who make a fairly long trip to play Bedford FC, not to be confused with Bedford Town. Bedford, previously known as Bedford Valerio United, play at Step 6, in Division One of the Spartan South Midlands League, where they have so far won two an dlost five of their league games.

Our sole FA Cup survivors, Colliers Wood United are next up, as they travel to Bridon Ropes FC. Bridon did quite well last season in their first ever FA Vase campaign, beating both Holmesdale and Erith Town to reach the 1st Round Proper, before losing narrowly, 3-4, to Thame United. They were then members of the Kent Invicta League which has now evolved into Division One of the SE Combination (ex-Kent League), playing at Step 6. They are based in South East London, at Charlton.

We come to Chertsey Town who also welcome opponents from Gloucestershire, in the shape of Lydney Town who will make the 128 mile journey from almost the Welsh border to Chertsey. They gained promotion from Step 6 at the end of the 2014-2015 season and now play at Step 5 in the Premier Division of the Hellenic League. Last season they lost to Knaphill in the competition.

Chessington & Hook are also at home and will entertain Rochester United, who have made a good start in the Southern Counties East League, Step 5, sitting in 6th place.

Cove had had a miserable start to their season but got themselves going in midweek with a 3-1 win at Frimley. They entertain Buckingham Town, who have done very well in the Vase in previous years and in the early 90’s they reached the Quarter Final of the competition. They have played in the Southern League in the past but are now members of Division One of the United Counties League, playing at Step 6.

One or two CCL clubs also have long journeys, including Windsor who make their way up to the Midlands to play Daventry Town. Daventry resigned midway through last season from the Northern Premier League to drop to Step 6, playing in Division One of the United Counties League, presumably due to financial concerns. As might possibly be expected though, Daventry had made a good start to life at that level, currently in 7th place, and Windsor can expect to find a warm welcome to a club that has an excellent set-up.

The only tie involving the CCL being played on Sunday, is the match between Dorking and Beckenham Town who are in mid table in the Southern Counties East Premier Division. Last season they were one of the clubs beaten by Sutton Common Rovers in their long run in the competition.

The next tie sees Guildford City entertaining Eastbourne United, from the Premier Division of the Southern Combination League. This match will see two strong sides against each other, with Eastbourne in 5th place in their league. Three seasons ago Eastbourne made it through to the semi-final of the competition, losing on aggregate 4-6 to Sholing.

Horley Town will also entertain opposition from Sussex, namely Hassocks FC., who are in mid-table in the Southern Combination Premier Division. Possibly a good omen for Horley is that in three of the last four seasons, Hassocks have gone out of the competition to CCL clubs.

Raynes Park Vale also face Sussex opposition in the shape of Haywards Heath Town, who will provide stiff opposition for the Vale. They were promoted from Division One of their league last season after winning 30 out of 32 league matches and are now 2nd in the Premier Division of the Southern Combination.

Redhill were drawn at home to Deal Town but due to their ongoing pitch renovation, the match is to be played at Deal, who actually won the competition in the year 2000. They have been members of the Southern Counties East (kent) League for many years and are currently in mid table.

Next up is Abbey Rangers who travel to Hellenic League Shrivenham, in the Swindon area. It is a little hard on Abbey who had their fair share of travelling last season when they surprised a lot of people winning through three rounds before losing on the Isle of Wight to Newport in the 2nd Round Proper. Shrivenham are a Step 6 side playing in Division One West of the Hellenic League, in which they are currently in 3rd place. Their best run in the FA Vase was in the 2007-2008 season when they reached the 4th Round stage before travelling a long way to meet Dunston Federation from the Northern League who beat them 8-0 on the day.

Penultimately it is Spelthorne Sports, who play at home to Spartan S. Midlands club Tring Athletic, who will be meeting a CCL club for the first time ever in the competition. Tring have started well in their League, sitting in 3rd position and this could be a very well matched tie.

Finally, North Greenford United travel to Stotfold FC from the Premier Division of the Spartan South Midlands League. They are just below halfway in the table and it looks a well matched contest.