2017 FA Vase final
The 2016–17 FA Vase final was the 43rd final of the Football Association's cup competition for teams at levels 9–11 of the English football league system. The match was contested between Cleethorpes Town and South Shields. This was first time both teams had reached the final and their first visit to Wembley Stadium. The final of the FA Trophy was played on the same day at the same venue for the second year running. Both matches were televised in the UK on BT Sport.
Cleethorpes Town defeated AFC Emley, Bootle, Billingham Town, Atherton Collieries, Southall and Bromsgrove Sporting en route to the final.
South Shields defeated Esh Winning, Runcorn Linnets, Marske United, Staveley [Miners Welfare F.C.|Staveley Miners Welfare], 2016 [FA Vase Final|last season's champions] Morpeth Town, Team Solent, Newport [Pagnell Town F.C.|Newport Pagnell Town] and Coleshill Town en route to the final.
This match is notable in the history of English football, as it was the first time an Homosexuality in [association football|openly gay] male footballer had taken to the pitch at Wembley, with Cleethorpes Town player Liam Davis having come out two years prior.