Last Saturday, goals from Nathan Forbes, Ryan Damms and Oli
Ryan accompanied by music from the Ireland Colliery Band ensured comfortable
passage through to the Fa Cup First Qualifying round at the expense of Step 4
(one above us) club Rainworth Miners Welfare.
This Saturday our attention again turns to the first
qualifying round but in the Fa Vase this time where our opponents are local-ish...
6/9/14 - Home - Fa Vase - 3pm
The Penguins entered the Sheffield and Hallamshire county
Senior league in 1997 winning back to back promotions and the Premier Division
title at the first attempt in 2000. Then they finished either first or second each
year until successfully applying to join the NCL in 2012, where true
to form they promptly finished second and joined us in the Premier League in
2013 / 14. Finishing a respectable 10th.
Season so Far….
Looking at the results “Rec” have performed well in their
opening few games which, to say the least have been tough…an opening day 0-0
draw with Retford united was followed by progression in the fa cup and a 2-1
home win in the league over Nostell.
Heartbreak followed in the next game when Bridlingtons Eddie
Birch grabbed a last gasp 90th minute winner just five minutes after
Josh Moore had equalised from the spot. That was the start of a miserable week
for Athersley as they then lost to Heanor and went out of the FA cup at the
weekend losing 4-1 to Farsley AFC.
FORM - D W W L L L
Previously….
Short one this as we’ve only played them once before
competitively at inkersall Road and it’s a game I think we’d all sooner forget
as Rec had taken all three points by half time. Fortunately? The 0-4 halftime
scoreline didn’t get any worse…or better.
What is "the Vase"?…..(from Wikipedia)
Until 1974,
football players were either professionals or amateurs. Professionals were paid
to play by their clubs, and the only cup competitions such clubs were allowed
to enter were the FA Cup and after 1969, for clubs outside The
Football League, the FA Trophy. Amateurs, on the other hand, did not get
paid (at least not officially) by their clubs, and such clubs had their own cup
competition, the FA Amateur Cup.
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In 1974, with
many of the top amateur players receiving payment for playing, The
Football Association abolished the distinction, scrapped the Amateur Cup
and introduced the FA Vase for the majority of clubs who had previously played
in the competition. Well over 200 clubs entered in the first season, 1974–75
and Hoddesdon Town of the Spartan League beat Epsom
& Ewell of the Surrey Senior League 2–1 in the final atWembley
Stadium before a crowd of 9,000.
Final Thoughts
A great competition for teams like ours, and represents our
only real chance of a bit of national silverware and of course a day out at
Wembley, something the club very nearly achieved in 2012, losing to an 84
minute goal in the second leg of the semi final.
Its also “non league day” a day when all fans of local
professional clubs are encouraged to visit their local non league clubs during
the international break unfortunately because it’s the Vase we can’t offer any
discounts to fans, so its still £5 for Adults and £3 for concessions...but the beer and snacks are cheap (Abbotts Ale £2 Amstel/Fosters £2.50/pint.)
Just one last thing supporters can now vote for their player
of the month via the thing in the top right hand corner. The winner will get a
nomination in the player of the season vote and one lucky fan will get to
present the trophy to the winning player at the next home game.
Up the Welfare!
