The Football Association Challenge Vase, commonly known as the FA Vase, is a knockout cup competition in English football, organised by and named after The Football Association (the FA). It was staged for the first time in the 1974–75 season, effectively replacing the FA Amateur Cup, which was discontinued after the abolition of official amateur status by the FA. While the leading teams from the Amateur Cup switched to the existing FA Trophy, the lower-level teams entered the new FA Vase. The Vase is open to all clubs in levels five to seven of the National League System, equivalent to levels nine to eleven of the overall English football league system, although clubs from other leagues may apply to enter if their stadiums meet certain requirements.

The record for the most wins is held by Whitley Bay, with four victories. Whitley Bay have also won in three consecutive seasons. Billericay Town, Halesowen Town and Tiverton Town have each won the Vase in two consecutive seasons. The Vase is currently held by A.F.C. Stoneham, who beat Cockfosters in the 2026 final.

History

The first FA Vase final was won by Hoddesdon Town of the Spartan League who, despite being regarded as underdogs, beat Epsom & Ewell of the Surrey Senior League. In three of the four following seasons, Billericay Town won the competition to become the first team to win the Vase on three occasions, a feat matched in 2010 by Whitley Bay. During the 1980s, the tournament was won by teams that represented many different leagues from all parts of the country, from Whickham of the Wearside League in the northeast to Forest Green Rovers of the Hellenic League in the south. Halesowen Town became the second team to win the Vase in consecutive seasons, with victories in 1985 and 1986.

In the 1990s, Guiseley and Tiverton Town both appeared in the final more than once. Tiverton became the third club to win consecutive finals, emerging victorious in 1998 and 1999. Two years later Taunton Town won the Vase, giving clubs from the Western League three wins in four seasons. From 2009 to 2018, all ten finals involved a team from Northern League Division One, with eight of them taking the trophy. Brigg Town of the Northern Counties East League became the fourth club to win the Vase more than once in 2003, seven years after the club's first victory, and six years later Whitley Bay became the fifth club to achieve the feat. In 2019 AFC Fylde (formerly known as Kirkham & Wesham) became the first team to have won both the FA Trophy and FA Vase.

Finals Originally, if the final finished with the scores level after extra time, the teams would play again in a replay at a later date; more recently the final has always been decided on the day, with a penalty shootout as required. The winning club receives the FA Vase itself and, as of 2010, prize money of £20,000, in addition to that accumulated for winning earlier rounds.

Key (R)Replay*Match went to extra time†Match decided by a penalty shoot-out without extra time

Results SeasonWinnersScoreRunners–upVenueHoddesdon Town2–1Epsom & EwellWembley Stadium (original)Billericay Town1–0*StamfordWembley Stadium (original)Billericay Town1–1*SheffieldWembley Stadium (original)Billericay Town2–1SheffieldCity GroundBlue Star2–1Barton RoversWembley Stadium (original)Billericay Town4–1Almondsbury GreenwayWembley Stadium (original)Stamford2–0Guisborough TownWembley Stadium (original)Whickham3–2*Willenhall TownWembley Stadium (original)Forest Green Rovers3–0Rainworth Miners WelfareWembley Stadium (original)VS Rugby1–0Halesowen TownWembley Stadium (original)Stansted3–2StamfordWembley Stadium (original)Halesowen Town3–1Fleetwood TownWembley Stadium (original)Halesowen Town3–0SouthallWembley Stadium (original)St Helens Town3–2Warrington TownWembley Stadium (original)Colne Dynamoes1–0*EmleyWembley Stadium (original)Tamworth1–1*Sudbury TownWembley Stadium (original)Tamworth3–0Sudbury TownLondon RoadYeading0–0*Bridlington TownWembley Stadium (original)Yeading1–0*Bridlington TownElland RoadGuiseley4–4*Gresley RoversWembley Stadium (original)Guiseley3–1Gresley RoversBramall LaneWimborne Town5–3GuiseleyWembley Stadium (original)Bridlington Town1–0Tiverton TownWembley Stadium (original)Diss Town2–1*Taunton TownWembley Stadium (original)Arlesey Town2–1Oxford CityWembley Stadium (original)Brigg Town3–0ClitheroeWembley Stadium (original)Whitby Town3–0North Ferriby UnitedWembley Stadium (original)Tiverton Town1–0Tow Law TownWembley Stadium (original)Tiverton Town1–0Bedlington TerriersWembley Stadium (original)Deal Town1–0Chippenham TownWembley Stadium (original)Taunton Town2–1Berkhamsted TownVilla ParkWhitley Bay1–0*Tiptree UnitedVilla ParkBrigg Town2–1A.F.C. SudburyBoleyn GroundWinchester City2–0A.F.C. SudburySt Andrew'sDidcot Town3–2A.F.C. SudburyWhite Hart LaneNantwich Town3–1Hillingdon BoroughSt Andrew'sTruro City3–1A.F.C. TottonWembley Stadium (new)Kirkham & Wesham2–1Lowestoft TownWembley Stadium (new)Whitley Bay2–0Glossop North EndWembley Stadium (new)Whitley Bay6–1WroxhamWembley Stadium (new)Whitley Bay3–2Coalville TownWembley Stadium (new)Dunston UTS2–0West Auckland TownWembley Stadium (new)Spennymoor Town 2–1 Tunbridge WellsWembley Stadium (new)Sholing 1–0West Auckland TownWembley Stadium (new)North Shields2–1*Glossop North EndWembley Stadium (new)Morpeth Town4–1HerefordWembley Stadium (new)South Shields4–0Cleethorpes TownWembley Stadium (new)Thatcham Town1–0Stockton TownWembley Stadium (new)Chertsey Town3–1*Cray Valley Paper MillsWembley Stadium (new)Hebburn Town3–2ConsettWembley Stadium (new)Warrington Rylands3–2BinfieldWembley Stadium (new)Newport Pagnell Town3–0Littlehampton TownWembley Stadium (new)Ascot United1–0Newport Pagnell TownWembley Stadium (new)Romford3–0Great Wakering RoversWembley Stadium (new)Whitstable Town2–1*AFC WhyteleafeWembley Stadium (new)A.F.C. Stoneham0–0†CockfostersWembley Stadium (new)

Results by team Teams shown in italics are no longer in existence. Teams shown in bold compete in the Premier League or the English Football League as of 2026 and therefore do not enter the FA Vase or FA Trophy. ClubWinsLast final wonRunners-upLast final lostWhitley Bay 42011 0—Billericay Town31979 0—Tiverton Town2199911993 Halesowen Town 21986 11983 Brigg Town 22003 0—Stamford 11980 21984 Newport Pagnell Town1202212023Taunton Town 12001 11994 Bridlington Town 1199311990 Guiseley 11991 11992A.F.C. Stoneham120260—Whitstable Town120250—Romford120240—Ascot United120230—Warrington Rylands120210—Hebburn Town120200—Chertsey Town120190—Thatcham Town120180—South Shields120170—Morpeth Town120160—North Shields 120150—Sholing 12014 0—Spennymoor Town 120130—Dunston UTS 120120—Kirkham & Wesham 12008 0—Truro City 12007 0—Nantwich Town 12006 0—Didcot Town 12005 0—Winchester City12004 0—Deal Town 12000 0—Whitby Town 11997 0—Arlesey Town 11995 0—Diss Town 11994 0—Wimborne Town 11992 0—Yeading 11990 0—Tamworth 11989 0—Colne Dynamoes 11988 0—St Helens Town11987 0—Stansted 11984 0—VS Rugby 11983 0—Forest Green Rovers11982 0—Whickham 11981 0—Newcastle Blue Star 11978 0—Hoddesdon Town 11975 0—A.F.C. Sudbury 0—32005 Glossop North End 0—22015West Auckland Town0—22014Cockfosters0—12026AFC Whyteleafe0—12025Great Wakering Rovers0—12024Littlehampton Town0—12022Binfield0—12021Consett0—12020Cray Valley Paper Mills0—12019Stockton Town0—12018Hereford0—12016Tunbridge Wells0—12013Coalville Town 0—12011Wroxham 0—12010Lowestoft Town 0—12008 A.F.C. Totton 0—12007 Hillingdon Borough 0—12006 Tiptree United 0—12002 Berkhamsted Town 0—12001 Chippenham Town 0—12000 Bedlington Terriers 0—11999 Tow Law Town 0—11998 North Ferriby United0—11997 Clitheroe 0—11996 Oxford City 0—11995 Gresley Rovers 0—11991 Sudbury Town 0—11989 Emley0—11988 Warrington Town 0—11987 Southall 0—11986 Fleetwood Town 0—11985 Rainworth Miners Welfare 0—11982 Willenhall Town 0—11981 Guisborough Town 0—11980 Almondsbury Greenway0—11979 Barton Rovers 0—11978 Sheffield 0—11977 Epsom & Ewell 0—11975

References