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GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY FOR FA VASE SEMI-FINALISTS 04/03/2003
The semi-finalists of this season’s FA Vase, in partnership with Carlsberg, are within striking distance of playing at one of the leading football grounds in the country.
The golden opportunity to play in the final of the prestigious non-league cup competition at West Ham United now awaits the two sides to make it through the penultimate knockout stage.
Paul Barber, director of marketing and communications at the FA, said: "I am sure there could be no greater inspiration for the semi-finalists in this season’s FA Vase than the chance to play at such an impressive Premiership ground and one that is so steeped in history.
"West Ham United is a club that has been home to many legends of the game, most notably, England’s World Cup winning trio of Bobby Moore, Sir Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters.
"Its reputation for discovering and nurturing talented players has continued into the modern era with the likes of Joe Cole and Michael Carrick among the club’s exciting crop of young stars.
"Meanwhile, the Boleyn Ground has been undergoing a major redevelopment which has enabled it in recent months to successfully stage high-profile games such as an England under-20 international and the senior friendly international against Australia."
Preparations are now well underway to ensure that both the players and the supporters reaching the final of this season’s FA Vase on Saturday, May 10th, kick-off 3pm, will enjoy a memorable cup final.
Paul Aldridge, managing director of West Ham United, said: "This is yet another proud moment for everyone at the club. I am delighted the Football Association has given us the opportunity to stage the FA Vase final on May 10.
"The competition has grown in stature over the last few seasons and we are all looking forward to the occasion at the end of the season. The players, officials and supporters of both finalists will be sure of a warm welcome from us all at the Boleyn Ground."
The final of the FA Vase has been successfully held at Villa Park for the last two seasons. In previous years, it had been held at the Wembley Stadium.
Last season’s final added a new name to the list of winners with Whitley Bay beating Tiptree United 1-0 after extra-time.
The draw for the semi-finals of the FA Vase was made on Monday at the FA’s headquarters at Soho Square, London.
The semi-finals will be played over two legs on Saturday, March 22nd, and Saturday, March 29th.
The FA Vase is supported by Carlsberg for the eighth consecutive season and forms an integral part of their support of football in this country.
Steve Cumming, sponsorship manager of Carlsberg, said: "We have been the proud sponsors of the FA Vase since 1995 and are delighted to continue to be the Official Beer of the competition.
"Carlsberg supports football at all levels from the grassroots to the international stage, highlighting our passion for the game as a whole.
"As the FA’s partner in men’s football, we will work with the FA to ensure the FA Vase continues to be the most prestigious cup competition at this level of the game."
Carlsberg are one of four companies who currently form the new FA Partners programme for the next four years and are also the FA's partner in the FA Trophy and FA Sunday Cup, highlighting their commitment to non-League football.
League rivals AFC Sudbury and Maldon Town will come head-to-head in the semi-finals of the FA Vase, in partnership with Carlsberg.
The draw for the penultimate stage lived up to the excitement of this season’s non-League knockout cup competition by pairing the Jewson Eastern Counties League Premier sides together.
The sides have met in their league once this season with AFC Sudbury coming out on top 2-1 and were due to meet each other in the league again on the date of the first leg of the semi-final.
Having been knocked out of last seasons semi-finals by Essex side Tiptree United, title-favourites AFC Sudbury will be hoping for better luck against Maldon Town, who are 15 places behind them in the league.
The Essex side did not make it past the First Round Proper last season and have never reached the semi-finals before, a feat they achieved with a comfortable 3-0 win at Devizes Town in the quarter-finals at the weekend.
AFC Sudbury, who were losing finalists in their former guise as Sudbury Town in 1989, knocked out Mossley 2-0 away from home to reach this seasons final four for the second year running.
The draw was made by Brian Walden, chairman of the FA Vase Committee, and Ian Hannaford, Carlsberg senior brand manager, at the FA’s Soho Square headquarters.
The other semi-final will be between former winners Brigg Town and Oadby Town.
Midland Alliance front-runners Oadby Town are into the semi-finals for the first time in their history having ended Winchester City’s dream first run in the competition with a 1-0 victory in the Sixth Round Proper.
They now face a stern test against the Lincolnshire side, winners of the FA Vase in 1996, to reach a historic final at West Ham United.
Brigg Town, who will face their first away trip in the competition this season, reached the final four with a late penalty in a 2-1 win over Northern Counties East League Premier rivals Bridlington Town.
(Photo - FA Vase chairman Brian Walden about to draw the semi-final ties)
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