Hinckley AFC begin their Isuzu FA Vase journey for 2024/25 with the visit to Hellenic League Division One outfit FC Stratford, kick off 2pm.
Hinckley will aim to reach the proper rounds of the competition for a third straight season with a win over Stratford in the second qualifying round.
AFC have reached the second round and first round in the previous two seasons, and will want to extend that record. Last season’s promotion means Hinckley will face lower level opposition in the Vase for the first time since 2016.
The opposition
Like Hinckley, FC Stratford had a bye through the first qualifying round so they are also beginning their Vase journey at this stage.
Stratford missed out on the Hellenic League Division One play-offs by five points last season and are currently just outside the top five again this time around.
Their league this season is led by Hinckley’s adversaries from the last two seasons, Droitwich Spa, with Stratford in sixth having won four and drawn two of their opening eight games.
They won 3-2 away to Newent Town last week, while their last home game was an entertaining 4-4 draw against Stonehouse Town.
Both sides have scored in all but one of their games this season. Dan Chaundy and Robbie Sone both have four goals so far.
From the dressing room
“You always want to try and go well in the Vase. It brings in a bit of money for the club, there’s that obvious carrot of Wembley at the end of it that only two teams out of however many can achieve.
“But we won’t look past FC Stratford. It’s a fantastic facility there and it’ll be a tough game against a side who have started well and have just signed a couple of lads from Stratford Town. We’ll have to go there and do things properly. Let’s get through this one if we can so I won’t be looking at any runs yet. It’ll be a difficult game and they’ll fancy themselves to beat us.”
Joe Conneely
Key information
If the tie is level after 90 minutes, the match will go straight to penalties. The winners of the tie will progress into Monday’s draw for the first round.
FC Stratford play at Stratford Town’s Arden Garages Stadium, Knights Lane, Tiddington, Stratford upon Avon, Warwickshire, CV37 7BZ.
Stratford play in all blue, so Hinckley will be wearing our red home kit.
Adults: £6
Concessions & Under 18s: £4
Under 12s: Free
