| Non-league finals day 20:21 - May 17 with 709 views | Pendejo |
Just spent 8 hours or so at a bitterly cold Wembley Stadium for non-league finals day, the late Pimball Wizard & I had discussed doing so many times but never got around to it.
Given most of our travels together were between 2010 and 2020 it seems apt that it was cold witnessing 2 x 0-0 draws
Those of us of a certain age recall visiting Wembley with Sudbury, a great day out. In my mind was a 50,000 crowd but Wikipedia says it was just under 27,000, a record crowd for the FA Vase. But that hazy memory will be heavily affluenced bu incomplete. Oh and the 6 foot tall inflatable Grolsch bottle we took turns blowing up
Non-league finals day appeals as you get 2 finals for the price of 1 - FA Vase & FA Trophy
Today's FA Vase pitted Cockfosters against AFC Stoneham from Hampshire, for which attendance probably sub-10,000
I recall Sudbury v Tamworth being noisily supported & a decent game. Today's wasn't.
My stepson & sister in law accompanied me, they're not really football people but they could tell that this battle between step 5 & 6 was not good quality.
I guess size of pitch has a massive effect; Wembley being @5m lobgdr& 3m wider than either club's pitches.
Ipswich pitch is shorter but wider FWIW.
Despite " The Cock marching in" I can't recall a serious attempt on goal from either... until penalties, at least they didn't make them play another 30 minutes
Stoneham won on penalties, I was pleased for them and their fetching purple kit.
FA Trophy between Southend & Wealdstone also ended 0-0, but was a much better supported & engaging game.
We were sat in the Wealdstone section, high up at the side, and as the teams were read out, one player piqued my subconscious, Anthony Georgiou. Wikipedia confirmed by suspicion that he'd been a loan player for us, again aptly in 2019. We were in 3rd tier going nowhere- remember that? A lifetime ago. Martin aka Pimball would have appreciated that.
Despite the best efforts of both teams, and Georgiou himself goaless it was... blWealdstone SHOULD have won it in dying minutes. Southend won on penalties
43,000+ in attendance
So in 3 Wembley Cup Finals this weekend, London lost them all.
For those going to Edwardstone's BBQ see you there |  |
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| Non-league finals day on 21:47 - May 17 with 525 views | Pendejo |
Ooh forgot to mention the paper aeroplanes
Despite warnings that throwing anything is a criminal offence & banning orders, many paper aetoplanes were launched, most crashed seconds after launching but at least 2 made the pitch
It was interesting to watch them descend then hit a thermal and extend their flight, certainly more interesting than the first game, problem was they were being launched in the second game [Post edited 17 May 21:47]
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| Non-league finals day on 21:48 - May 17 with 518 views | Ftnfwest |
First time I’ve missed it for 5 or 6 years, always a good day although not too distressed this time! Lady F has been very poorly so couldn’t leave her today.
We usually sit in club Wembley which is neutral and obviously good view etc. usually you want the vase to go to ET to fill the gap between games but by the trophy you’re desperate for it to end on 90!
Good value though. |  | | |
| Non-league finals day on 22:09 - May 17 with 453 views | farkenhell |
I was fortunate to go two years consecutively fairly recently when my home-town club reached the final of the Vase (won it Y1, lost Y2).
The main reason for the huge disparity in the attendances for the Vase and the Trophy is down to ticket allocation. The Vase finalists each receive less than 7000, which are allocated to the lower tier along one side of the stadium. The Trophy finalists carve up the rest of the stadium between them. The Vase is played first and the game is over before the vast majority of the Trophy supporters arrive. On both occasions that I attended, there were only a handful of supporters in the non-Vase designated seats.
I didn't bother to stay for the Trophy games. After Y1, I wanted to get to the pub to celebrate (even though the Trophy finalists were Bromley and Wrexham). After Y2, I just wanted to get home. |  | | |
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