Emil's Blog
Thu 2nd October 2014 | Atherton Collieries | By Ian Templeman
THE FA TOBY JUG
It’s FA Vase action on Saturday and I love the competition – the name of it anyway. I think the FA Vase has a classy ring to it.
The competition was founded in 1974 as a replacement seemingly for the FA Amateur Cup. The FA Trophy competition for the crème de la crème of the non league world started in 1969. My vivid imagination sees a sub committee of FA blazers based at the old Lancaster Gate headquarters retiring to a local hostelry to discuss a name for the fledgling competition, whilst tucking into pie and mash washed down with a couple of pints of Watney’s Red Barrel.
The names also in the frame are the FA Punch Bowl and FA Toby Jug. The Vase title was adopted after a recount.
This prestigious competition allows the lower ranked teams in the pyramid the chance to pit their wits against other sides in their geographic areas. Then as they progress through to the later rounds the draw becomes national.
Teams from Cornwall and Northumberland have been matched up in recent years; I envisaged these games to be a logistical nightmare as well as a good jolly for the travelling supporters.
The biggest coup for the competition is that the final is played at Wembley. It is currently anyway as year after year you hear rumours that if the final is not better supported then an alternative venue may be to be found. This really gets on my goat.
For one day only two sets of players can live out their dreams and play at our home of elite football. Is it too much to ask to forget about money for the day and let the lads play out their fantasies? If I was in charge the Trophy and Vase finals would be played on the same day!
It wouldn’t be understating it much to say my team Atherton Colls haven’t had much success in the competition. Our best year was in the 1992/93 campaign. Worsborough Bridge MW were beaten at our place in a Wednesday afternoon 2nd round 2nd replay by 2-1 with Dave ‘Chuck’ Berry scoring the goals. The afternoon kick off was because the club didn’t have floodlights.
The dream was vanquished in the 3rd round just 4 days later with a 4-0 tatering at Bridgnorth Town. Our friends from up the road LR almost got to the final a season later. Their best team ever suffered heartbreak in a semi final replay defeat to eventual winners Diss Town. It was a sad day for LR and the NWCFL.
The 2013/14 season started out with 535 entrants and the final was contested between Sholing (from Southampton) and West Auckland Town with the former winning 1-0. Two teams have to get to the Twin Towers. Could it be us or Saturday’s opponents AFC Liverpool?
The odds are stacking against it, but I would really love it to see a lad dressed in a black'n'white striped jersey pick up The FA Toby Jug!
Emil's Blog
Thu 2nd October 2014 | Atherton Collieries
By Ian Templeman
THE FA TOBY JUG
It’s FA Vase action on Saturday and I love the competition – the name of it anyway. I think the FA Vase has a classy ring to it.
The competition was founded in 1974 as a replacement seemingly for the FA Amateur Cup. The FA Trophy competition for the crème de la crème of the non league world started in 1969. My vivid imagination sees a sub committee of FA blazers based at the old Lancaster Gate headquarters retiring to a local hostelry to discuss a name for the fledgling competition, whilst tucking into pie and mash washed down with a couple of pints of Watney’s Red Barrel.
The names also in the frame are the FA Punch Bowl and FA Toby Jug. The Vase title was adopted after a recount.
This prestigious competition allows the lower ranked teams in the pyramid the chance to pit their wits against other sides in their geographic areas. Then as they progress through to the later rounds the draw becomes national.
Teams from Cornwall and Northumberland have been matched up in recent years; I envisaged these games to be a logistical nightmare as well as a good jolly for the travelling supporters.
The biggest coup for the competition is that the final is played at Wembley. It is currently anyway as year after year you hear rumours that if the final is not better supported then an alternative venue may be to be found. This really gets on my goat.
For one day only two sets of players can live out their dreams and play at our home of elite football. Is it too much to ask to forget about money for the day and let the lads play out their fantasies? If I was in charge the Trophy and Vase finals would be played on the same day!
It wouldn’t be understating it much to say my team Atherton Colls haven’t had much success in the competition. Our best year was in the 1992/93 campaign. Worsborough Bridge MW were beaten at our place in a Wednesday afternoon 2nd round 2nd replay by 2-1 with Dave ‘Chuck’ Berry scoring the goals. The afternoon kick off was because the club didn’t have floodlights.
The dream was vanquished in the 3rd round just 4 days later with a 4-0 tatering at Bridgnorth Town. Our friends from up the road LR almost got to the final a season later. Their best team ever suffered heartbreak in a semi final replay defeat to eventual winners Diss Town. It was a sad day for LR and the NWCFL.
The 2013/14 season started out with 535 entrants and the final was contested between Sholing (from Southampton) and West Auckland Town with the former winning 1-0. Two teams have to get to the Twin Towers. Could it be us or Saturday’s opponents AFC Liverpool?
The odds are stacking against it, but I would really love it to see a lad dressed in a black'n'white striped jersey pick up The FA Toby Jug!
