Such was their stranglehold between 2009 and 2017 that only once did the Vase trophy leave the north-east, with Whitley Bay, Dunston, Spennymoor, North Shields, Morpeth and South Shields all triumphant at Wembley.
However, with three semi-finalists in the last two seasons coming from the Southern Counties East League, we are seeing a new force emerging at Step 5.
Corinthian’s first appearance in the last four this season follows Cray Valley PM’s run to the final last year – the Millers having beaten league rivals Canterbury over two legs to get there.
Known as the Kent League until 2013, the SCEFL may not be a traditional powerhouse but they’re now making the Non-League public sit up and take notice.
“To have three semi-finalists in two years is awesome,” said league chair Denise Richmond. “It shows how strong we are as a league.
“When I think of past years, the Northern League were always stronger because they have less Step 4 and Step 3 clubs in their area so players don’t want to travel, whereas the fact there are so many Steps 4, 3, 2 and 1 clubs in our area shows we are a level of football strong players want to play at and teams are good at attracting them.
“Teams in our league are better organised now and they take these competitions more seriously than they did in the past. Seeing Tunbridge Wells get to the final in 2013, it feels achievable.”
New brand
Martin Larkin’s side were certainly trailblazers in that regard. With a long-term aim of growing their fanbase and laying the foundations for a future promotion push, Wells targeted the Vase and reached the last 64 in 2011, going one better the following year.
Denne historien er fra March 22, 2020-utgaven av The Non-League Football Paper.
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Denne historien er fra March 22, 2020-utgaven av The Non-League Football Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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SHAKERS REVEL IN MAKING HISTORY
DAVE McNabb says Bury's FA Cup heroes are proud to be writing their own chapters in club history.
WILCOX: WE FEEL COMPLETE WITH WIN
RUSS WILCOX'S verdict after watching his Gainsborough Trinity side outmuscle and outplay their hosts was that it was \"probably our most complete performance\".
CRACKER BY KABIA TOPPLES TUDORS!
ASSISTANT boss Stewart Yetton said his Truro City side were good value for their win over table-toppers Hemel Hempstead Town.
BRAKES PUT STOP ON BORO BATTLERS
SEPARATED only by goal difference before kick-off, these sides remain neck and neck in the embryonic table after playing out 90 minutes in the October sunshine that was a great advert for the division.
BOSS COTT'S GOT A REALLY GOOD THING WITH ROVERS
STEVE Cotterill hailed Forest Green Rovers’ first class performance as they produced a spirited comeback to topple fellow high-flyers Eastleigh at the Silverlake Stadium.
SKIPS STEER HEED'S SHIP
GATESHEAD captains of the past and present are playing a lead role in helping the National League club move on from the departure of FA Trophy-winning manager Rob Elliot.
FA CUP PREVIEW: SWEET! 'DREAM' DRAW IS CHANCE OF OUR LIFETIME
DAVE NORTHFIELD says minnows Biggleswade FC were like 'kids in a sweet shop' when they drew out York City in what he describes as the 'draw of a lifetime'.
PARKER'S HEART IS STILL AT HOME
FORMER England right-back Paul Parker has revealed he would never completely rule out a return to management – but says he would only do so for one of his beloved local clubs.
LOCALS RALLY TO REBUILD BRIDGE
WHEN committee members at Bamber Bridge set out to raise £30,000 to protect the club's future, they were apprehensive about the response they'd get.
RUTHLESS BEES FIND THEIR FEET
ASTERLING second-half performance resulted in league leaders Barnet brushing aside a Boston United outfit that led at the interval through Keaton Ward’s early strike.
