What is the Isuzu FA Vase?

Everything you need to know about the north east's most beloved cup competition.

This weekend, Redcar Athletic again begin the long road to Wembley in the Isuzu FA Vase, welcoming West Auckland Town to Green Lane in the biggest tie (by league position) of the round.

We’ve taken the chance to offer a breakdown of the competition, from qualifying to Wembley, and Northern success.

Sit back, relax, grab a cup of tea, and here’s the Isuzu FA Vase under wraps from Redcar Athletic’s point of view.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE?

The Isuzu FA Vase offers success to a number of non-league clubs who otherwise see no possibility, incorporating those from Step Five and Step Six of the English National League System (NLS).

This means Redcar Athletic (second in the Northern League Division One) are on of the highest ranked clubs in the competition, given a bye to the Second Qualifying Round, where we face West Auckland Town (currently placed fourth).

If promoted to Step Four, a club then enters the Isuzu FA Trophy, a competition for those in the NLS from the National League to the Northern Premier League East.

HOW IT WORKS

Much like the Emirates FA Cup, the competition begins with two rounds of Qualifying, this time pertaining to the majority of clubs, besides those rewarded for recent success.

After the Second Qualifying Round, we move on to the First Round Proper, Redcar’s joint-highest finish in the Isuzu FA Vase to date.

Ties are to be decided on the day, a penalty shootout to decide the victor should scores remain level come the end of the ninety minutes.

Should Redcar Athletic progress to the semifinal stage, the competition holds a two-legged match for a place in the prestigious final, itself to take place on Non-League Finals Day on the hallowed turf of Wembley Stadium.

NORTHERN SUCCESS

Historically, the Isuzu FA Vase has been kind to clubs in the north of England, and particularly those in the north east.

Whitley Bay boast the record for the most titles in the competition, including a hat-trick between 2009 and 2011.

Their success has been shared by a number of (at least, then) Northern League sides, including Whitby Town, Morpeth Town, Newcastle Blue Star, Whickham, North Shields and Spennymoor Town, with many more making an appearance on the hallowed turf, or reaching a semi-final.

REDCAR ATHLETIC

Unfortunately, such success for the Northern League has dipped of late, and Redcar Athletic have been no exception.

The Steelmen equalled their best run in the competition last season, albeit only to the First Round Proper: beating Esh Winning and Padiham, only to succumb to an early exit at the hands of Silsden.

A cup competition, of course Seaham Red Star have been involved, dumping the Steelmen out at the first hurdle two years ago in a shock four-goal thumping.

Defeats to Easington Colliery and Holker Old Boys round out an unimpressive showing.