The 2016–17 FA Vase final was the 43rd final of the Football Association's cup competition for teams at levels 9–11 of the English football league system. The match was contested between Cleethorpes Town and South Shields. This was first time both teams had reached the final and their first visit to Wembley Stadium. The final of the FA Trophy was played on the same day at the same venue for the second year running. Both matches were televised in the UK on BT Sport.

Cleethorpes Town defeated AFC Emley, Bootle, Billingham Town, Atherton Collieries, Southall and Bromsgrove Sporting en route to the final.

South Shields defeated Esh Winning, Runcorn Linnets, Marske United, Staveley Miners Welfare, last season's champions Morpeth Town, Team Solent, Newport Pagnell Town and Coleshill Town en route to the final.

This match is notable in the history of English football, as it was the first time an openly gay male footballer had taken to the pitch at Wembley, with Cleethorpes Town player Liam Davis having come out two years prior.

Route to the final Cleethorpes Town

South Shields

* – Match abandoned after floodlight failure in the 81st minute (2–4) – rematch moved to Morpeth Town

Match Details

GK 1 Liam HigtonDF 2 Tim LoweDF 5 Matt BloomerDF 6 Matty Coleman DF 3 Peter WinnMF 7 Liam Davis MF 4 Liam DickensMF 8 Alex Flett (c)MF 11 Jonathan OglesbyFW 9 Marc Cooper FW 10 Brody RobertsonSubstitutes:MF 12 Luck Mascall MF 14 Jack Richardson FW 15 Andy Taylor FW 16 Gary KingDF 17 Kieran WresselManager: Marcus Newell GK 1 Liam ConnellDF 12 Alex NicholsonDF 5 Dillon Morse DF 4 Jon ShawDF 3 Darren LoughMF 19 Andrew Stephenson MF 6 Julio Arca (c)MF 8 Wayne Phillips FW 9 Gavin Cogdon FW 21 Carl Finnigan (pen) FW 11 David Foley Substitutes:MF 7 Robert Briggs MF 10 Michael Richardson DF 16 Louis StoreyDF 17 Barrie Smith DF 20 Darren HoldenJoint-Managers: Graham Fenton Lee Picton Man of the match: Wayne PhillipsMatch rules 90 minutes. 30 minutes of extra-time if necessary. Penalty shoot-out if scores still level. Five named substitutes. Maximum of three substitutions.

References