WE'RE LEVELLING THE VASE SCORE

FOR many years the Northern League dominated the FA Vase – but times are changing.

- Steve Tervet

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.