S8 Ep21: 12th January 2024 - FA Trophy & FA Vase R4: Welling United & Blyth Town

The FA Trophy and the FA Vase reach the Fourth Round this weekend. The last 32 and the clubs still involved have every right to be distant dreaming about that Wembley final.

We speak to an experienced non league manager who has enough behind him to know few will give his side a chance against visitors Chesterfield on Saturday. Welling United boss Danny Bloor is wiley enough to have a few tricks up his sleeve to make it a big day out for all involved at the club, with an outside chance of that upset.

Phil Annets is on hand with his @FAVaseFactfile hat on ,with some insight into the 16 ties featuring the Step 5 and Step 6 sides. We also speak to a lady Chair of one of those Step 6 sides. In the historic hotbed of North East non league football Blyth Town haven’t got the glorious or lengthy history of their neighbours but they are a side on the up and with former winners the visitors looking to add another chapter to their own story. Sandra Orr is one of those folk to whom non league owes so much, perhaps this is one of those magical weekends football returns the favour?

Matt Badcock returns for his first update of 2024. The Editor at Large at The Non League Paper helps cover FA Cup, FA Vase and FA Trophy news, clubs in peril and a whole host of managerial changes.