FA Vase Final: AFC Whyteleafe vs. Whitstable Town
After ten games across nine rounds spanning multiple counties and teams from many different leagues, Steve Sharman’s journey through the 24/25 FA Vase reaches a thrilling conclusion. The final sees him travel to Wembley following Kent side Whitstable Town, who take on AFC Whyteleafe.
All photographs are the sole property and copyright of Steve Sharman.
The season is drawing to a close, champions have been crowned, and relegations have been confirmed. Gone are those cold winter evenings where the floodlights hide the stars but barely keep the night at bay, where the cold seeps so deep into your bones that you seriously start to question your life choices. However, spring has sprung, the days are getting longer, and the flowers have begun to bloom – this is the time all the hard work pays off; this is the time for glory.
This afternoon, at least 22 players will achieve every young footballer’s dream: the opportunity to run out at Wembley, to play on the hallowed turf of England’s national stadium, to have a shot at victory under the iconic arch. They will have a chance to climb the 107 steps to the Royal Box, to stand on the balcony, and to thrust a glistening silver trophy towards the perfectly blue North London sky.
Today, well-travelled flags and specially printed t-shirts descend on the capital for, on this most splendid of London afternoons, the first game of the Non-League Finals Day double-header – is the final of the FA Vase.
This is the culmination of a journey that, for some sides, started almost ten months ago when the pitches were still immaculate, barriers freshly painted, and fans still full of hope and optimism for the coming season. 596 teams entered, and now we’re down to the last two.
Two teams that will lock horns and go to battle in an all-or-nothing, do-or-die, winner-takes-all showdown.
It’s Whitstable Town vs. AFC Whyteleafe.
A Hopper’s Route to the Final
Employing a ‘winner stays on’ technique to decide which team we followed, the route from qualifying to final for Hopper’s Guide has covered ten games and almost 1,700 miles. The games have yielded 29 goals, two penalty shootouts, one sin-binned centre-half, and (sometimes multiple) trips to five non-league stadiums (not including Wembley).
Although today we are following the Oystermen of Whitstable Town to Wembley, our route through the FA Vase this year started in the first qualifying round, all the way back on 24th August 2024. The first step on this journey took us down to Sussex and to the Brighton suburb of Mile Oak, where the Sussex side was beaten 4-2 by Glebe.
Assuming the mantle of our Vase interest, Glebe travelled to Tunbridge Wells and were beaten 2-0, before Wells carried the torch through the next two rounds, beating Pagham 3-1 and squeezing past Hassocks on penalties. Lady Luck was not smiling so sweetly on Tunbridge Wells in the third round, as they were beaten by Crawley Down Gatwick on spot-kicks, following an entertaining 2-2 draw. The support of Crawley Down was short-lived as they lost in the fourth round to Fleet Town, before Fleet themselves were sunk in the fifth round at today’s finalists Whitstable Town.
By the quarter-final stage, things were getting serious. With Wembley starting to become a real possibility, Whitstable – now carrying our hopes and dreams – were again drawn at home, this time against Whitchurch Alport of the Midland League (Premier Division).
This was probably the best game I saw in the Vase all year.
The visitors raced into a two-goal lead, and a shell-shocked Whitstable had to battle just to stay in the game. Having got a foothold in the tie, Whitstable crucially pulled one back midway through the first half before cranking up the pressure in the second period. The home side forced an equaliser and were then awarded a dramatic last-minute penalty that was saved, before striker Harvey Smith reacted quickest to scramble home the rebound and seal a stunning 3-2 comeback victory.
At this point, perhaps swept up in the fervour of the 2000-strong crowd, it started to feel like it really could be Whitstable’s year.
The two-legged semi-final pitted Whitstable against Hellenic League Premier Division leaders, Hartpury University. A record crowd at The Belmont Ground saw Whitstable put on a dominant display to win the first leg 2-0. The second leg proved a bit of a non-event as Whitstable, fairly comfortably, kept a youthful Hartpury side at arm’s length to secure the 0-0 draw required to progress to Wembley, much to the joy of the masses who had made the long journey west from the Kent coast.
And so, it is Whitstable Town we follow to Wembley.
Whitstable: A Fairytale Ending?
Football is full of scripts that pave the way for the perfect fairytale ending to a game, a season, and in some cases, a career. In this case, the FA Vase final – the 57th competitive game of a long and gruelling season for The Oystermen – is the closing chapter in the lengthy and successful career of Whitstable player-manager Jamie Coyle.
Coyle joined Whitstable towards the end of last season and stepped into the manager’s role in the summer of 2024. Boasting a 25-year playing career, the centre-back’s previous clubs include Sittingbourne, Dulwich Hamlet, Dartford, Welling United, Maidstone United, Margate, and Ramsgate. Coyle was also part of the England Senior team that was crowned World Champions in 2024 in Thailand, captaining the side in the opening game against Australia.
Although intending to hang up his boots last summer, circumstances conspired to tempt the former Crystal Palace academy prospect back onto the pitch, and now he has the chance to finish his playing career at Wembley.
Route to Wembley
Whitstable and Coyle’s run to Wembley started back in the first qualifying round at Combined Counties League Premier Division South side Corinthian Casuals, where a late Harvey Smith hat-trick sealed a comprehensive-looking 4-1 triumph. Consecutive 1-0 home victories against Hollands & Blair and Virginia Water put Whitstable into the second round, where a late own goal sealed a 2-1 victory against Lydd Town.
In the third round, Whitstable were paired against a strong Jersey Bulls side and were staring defeat in the face before two late goals helped the Oystermen net a 2-1 win. A fourth round tie at Walsham-Le-Willows finished 1-1 with goalkeeper Dan Colmer performing heroics in the shootout to propel his side into the fifth round, where we picked up The Oystermen’s march to the final.
Whitstable finished the league season in fine form, as the Kent side won seven of their final eight league games to finish third in the table and secure a place in the play-offs. Alas, promotion was not to be; following a tense 1-1 draw, The Oystermen lost on penalties against Fisher FC.
However, the fairytale ending of promotion didn’t happen for player-manager Jamie Coyle, the football gods have another chance to write the script. The Oystermen make the trip to Wembley full of hope, although there is another team heading to Wembley with Vase dreams of their own.
As One Story Comes to an End, Another is Just Beginning
Also seeking FA Vase glory is AFC Whyteleafe, of the Combined Counties League Premier Division South. Whyteleafe was formed in 2021, a phoenix club rising from the ashes of predecessor Whyteleafe FC, which was dissolved shortly before AFC was formed.
In their short existence, AFC Whyteleafe has had an eventful few years. In their first season, the club played in the Surrey South Eastern Combination League before moving over to the Southern Counties East League for the 22/23 campaign. After an initial season of consolidation, the 23/24 season saw ‘Leafe storm to the title, earning promotion to the Combined Counties League Premier Division South.
The upward momentum has been maintained, although the season has ended amidst administrative chaos; following a monumental three-way battle for the title, ‘Leafe finished third on 95 points, just a point behind Jersey and Redhill. However, both of the top two sides have faced points deductions and lodged appeals. As Whyteleafe prepares for the final, the destiny of the title is still unconfirmed.
Prior to the formation of AFC Whyteleafe, the team’s previous incarnation was Whyteleafe FC. Formed in 1946, Whyteleafe initially joined the Surrey Senior League, then moved across as founder members to the London Spartan League for the 75/76 season, before spending time in both the Athenian and Isthmian Leagues. In 2012/13, the club joined the Kent League, and a year later romped to the title, winning 26 of 32 games and scoring 111 goals in the process to earn promotion to the Isthmian League Division One South.
Whyteleafe narrowly missed out on consecutive promotions, finishing fifth the following season and only losing to Folkestone Invicta in the playoffs. ‘Leafe were moved across to the South-East Division for the 18/19 season before COVID forced the abandonment of the 19/20 and 20/21 seasons. The ensuing loss of income, coupled with ownership issues of the club’s Church Road ground, resulted in the dissolution of the club in 2021 and the birth of AFC.
Whyteleafe: Vase History
Given their short existence, it perhaps comes as no surprise that AFC Whyteleafe’s Vase history is short. Prior to this season, ‘Leafe’s best performance (as AFC) came in the 22/23 season, where they reached the second round before losing 3-2 at North Greenford.
As Whyteleafe FC, success on the pitch means that FA Trophy campaigns have been more common than tilts at the Vase. However, ‘Leafe were regulars in the Vase between 74/75 and 88/89, with their best performances coming when they reached the fifth round – which was achieved on two occasions. In the 1980/81 season, Whyteleafe entered at the preliminary round, beating Guildford & Worplesdon (3-0 in a replay following a 2-2 draw), Kew Association (4-1), Faversham Town (3-2), Marlow (4-1), and Pagham (2-1) before finally bowing out 2-1 at home to Basildon United.
In the 85/86 season, the men in green entered the first round and beat Wick (2-1), today’s opponents Whitstable Town (2-0), Steyning Town (3-2), and Moreton Town (2-0), before losing 4-1 at home to Stevenage Borough.
The FA Vase meeting in the 1985/86 season, where Whyteleafe triumphed 2-0, is not the only previous meeting between the sides. In the 1993/94 season, the clubs were drawn together in the FA Cup 1st Qualifying Round. Whyteleafe travelled down to Kent and were beaten 2-1, meaning that the sides are locked at one victory each in the head-to-head record.
Route to the Final
For AFC Whyteleafe this year, the road to Wembley has rarely veered far from home; the semi-final second leg was the first away game the Surrey side faced in the Vase all season. Entering in the second qualifying round, Whyteleafe against Southern Counties East Football League Division One team SOUL Tower Hamlets, where a second-half goal from Gus Ward was enough to secure a 1–0 victory.
The draw for the first round proper paired Whyteleafe with Saltdean United of the Southern Combination Football League Premier Division. Saltdean has endured a tough season, finishing bottom of the league, and the Vase provided little respite, Whyteleafe running out 4-0 winners.
In the 2nd Round, Whyteleafe faced Combined Counties Football League Premier Division North side Harefield United. Harefield – Middlesex’s oldest football club – took an early lead; however, a strong second half from Whyteleafe secured a 3-1 victory.
The 3rd Round saw league-mates Tadley Calleva visit Church Road. The visitors narrowly missed out on the Premier South playoffs, but were no match for Whyteleafe in the Vase, the home side securing a second consecutive 3-1 Vase win.
Interest was now starting to grow, and the visit of Dereham Town of the Thurlow Nunn League Premier Division in the next round was watched by 458 people – an attendance almost three times bigger than the previous round. The large crowd was duly rewarded with a five-star show, goals from Jamie Mascoll (2), Daniel Bennett, Max Melanson, and Aaron Watson sealing a comprehensive 5-0 win.
The fifth round saw Whyteleafe face their toughest draw so far, in the shape of Combined Counties League Premier Division North side, Egham Town. Egham finished the season as champions, accruing 90 points and finishing with an impressive goal difference of +85. The Sarnies also won 15 of 19 away league games, demonstrating superb form on the road. However, roared on by over 750 supporters, a second-half goal from the prolific Aaron Watson was enough to earn ‘Leafe a close-fought 1-0 victory.
The town of Whyteleafe was now starting to believe. When United Counties Football League Premier Division North team Bourne Town took to the Church Road pitch in the quarter-final, over 1500 fans were there to roar on the home side. Bourne finished second in their league and secured promotion through the playoffs, but a stubborn rearguard action and an early goal ensured Whyteleafe emerged triumphant, a 1-0 win enough to put them into the semis.
So to the Semi-Finals, where ‘Leafe met Wessex Premier Division side Andover New Street. Drawn to play at home in the first leg, Whyteleafe turned in a superb performance. A brace from Daniel Bennett, either side of a Gaspar Mico strike, secured a 3-1 lead to take down to Andover, and on the road for the first away game of the Vase season. Any potential nerves were settled through an early Bennet strike, and that was enough to secure a 1-0 win, a 4-1 aggregate victory, and a place at Wembley.
And Then There Were Two
After four games, across two semi-finals – all played out in front of the respective home sides’ record attendance – Whitstable and Whyteleafe are set to make the trip to Wembley. For both clubs, it’s a first appearance at the famous national stadium, and supporters are expected to travel in impressive numbers. Although I have a ticket in the neutral zone and am supposedly watching from an unbiased perspective, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel in my heart that I’ll be rooting for one side more than the other.
As I board the first train, it occurs to me that this is the first game on this Vase adventure that I have travelled to on public transport. The journey into London from Essex is smooth, except for a momentary panic where I think I’ve miscalculated journey times and may struggle to make kick-off. I double and triple-check and, anxiety abated, relax into the seat to watch the flocks of sheep, flat green fields and bramble-infused hedgerows give way to rows of terraced houses, decaying shopping centres and graffitied brickwork.
The tube is busy – the usual mix of weekend workers, tourists, and all-night ravers just making their way home. In East London, there is not really any sign of football supporters, but as I head further west, I catch sight of the first few Whyteleafe scarves and groups of people dressed predominantly in green. There’s also a guy in a Hartpury University FC shirt, which is either a huge coincidence or someone who was very optimistic. There’s a mother and son in red Whitstable bucket hats and baseball caps, but amongst the half-and-half scarves and whole families in replica shirts, there definitely feels like there is more Whyteleafe green than any other colours.
For us fans of clubs who don’t get to come here very often, coming off the tube at Wembley Park station, heading down the big steps, under the bridge, and onto Wembley Way is an awe-inspiring experience. Fans in the colours of all four sides playing today are side by side, enjoying the bright sunshine; sellers hawk scarves, flags, and anything else that has a club badge printed or stuck on, and everyone is still full of hope and excitement. I stop for a coffee at the ‘official’ Whitstable coffee shop, but the nature of the sign – scrawled in Sharpie on a piece of cardboard – makes me think opportunistic might be more appropriate than official.
There’s only around 45 minutes until kick-off, so I decide against a scarf and join a queue to enter the stadium. Once inside, it’s all polished chrome and escalators; Wembley is very smart, however, the merch stall is woefully under-stocked, so thwarted in my efforts to pick up a programme, I decide to head to my seat.
That moment when you emerge from the bowels of a stadium and burst out into the main arena – when the luscious green of the perfect pitch and the rows upon rows upon rows of seats stretch up towards the sky – is never anything less than breathtaking.
With 15 minutes until kick-off, the Whitstable players finish their warm-up and congregate in front of the red quarter of Wembley to applaud their travelling fans, acclaim that is enthusiastically returned by those who have made the journey up from the Kent coast. I can’t help wishing I had bought a ticket in the Whitstable end.
The minutes tick down; banners are pinned and flags are waving, there might be an atmosphere building, but it’s hard to tell as the DJ is so loud. The teams come out and Whitstable are all in red, Whyteleafe are in a very smart all-dark-green kit. Both strips have a final-specific gold trim. A banner in the Whyteleafe end reads ‘Always Beleafe’ and the fans in green put on a small tifo display.
Players from both sides stand tall in the sunshine as we are encouraged to stand for the national anthem. There’s a big roar when the formalities are over and the Whitstable end looks packed full as a small remote-controlled vehicle – an Isuzu of some sort, presumably – brings the ball to the centre circle. Whyteleafe line-up and the Whitstable players stay a moment longer in a huddle, last words of wisdom being drilled into their heads and hearts.
Whitstable kick us off and force a corner within 25 seconds. As I perch on the edge of my seat, I can’t help but think how cool it is to see this through to the final, to have started at Mile Oak back in August and to now be sitting here at Wembley, watching the final.
Whyteleafe seem to settle into the game quicker and move the ball well – they are clearly a very good side. The Surrey outfit are seeing more of the ball and take a deserved lead on 17 minutes when a lovely move is rounded off with a smart finish from Daniel Bennett.
Immediately after the first drinks break, only a great stop from Whitstable’s keeper Dan Colmer prevents The Oystermen from falling further behind. Whyteleafe are piling on the pressure, and Whitstable are working hard to stay in the game. They weather the storm before slowly building some momentum themselves, forcing a flurry of corners just before half-time that fail to produce an equaliser, but serve as a reminder to Whyteleafe that their opponents won’t simply roll over. We go into half-time with the men in green leading 1-0.
It feels like Whyteleafe is the better side, but this is where Whitstable do what Whitstable do. They won’t panic, they’ll stick to their game plan, and know that chances will come; at 1-0, they are well and truly still in this.
At half-time, I move seats, and walking around the ground shows a fabulous array of different replica shirts, mainly from other non-league clubs; this really is a day that brings groundhoppers together from across the country!
I pick a new spot behind the goal at one end that allows me to appreciate the cavernous nature of a stadium that is, at best, quarter-full. There’s a kid sitting just in front of me wearing an Inter shirt, a Barcelona cap, and a Whitstable scarf, and I can’t help but admire his absolutely flagrant disregard for conventional supporting rules.
Before long, the second period gets underway. With substitute Robbie Rees buzzing around, making life uncomfortable for the Whyteleafe defenders, Whitstable makes a strong start to the half. Amid the increased intensity, it comes as no surprise when number nine Harvey Smith drills in an equaliser from the edge of the penalty area to draw the scores level. There’s suddenly a lot of noise from the Whitstable fans, and when ‘Leafe skipper Helge Orome is booked for diving in with little chance of winning the ball, it feels like, for the first time this afternoon, Whyteleafe are a little rattled and the Oystermen are on top.
This is what I have come to expect from Whitstable: they fight, they battle, they press with high intensity; they unsettle the opposition enough and earn the right to let their own attacking qualities shine through. It really is game on now.
Both sides miss chances around the hour mark, and it’s a really good game, with two well-matched sides both going for glory. An injury brings a break in play, and Whitstable boss Jamie Coyle takes the opportunity to go around each and every player, finding the words to summon that extra 1% that could make all the difference, before waving his arms to further rouse the travelling Whitstable faithful.
Chances come and go for both teams, both keepers are called into action, and another penalty appeal is waved away for Whyteleafe. Plenty of players start to drop to the turf with cramp, and as we enter the last ten, it’s the turn of Ronald Sithole to play cheerleader, his raised arms drawing a passionate response from those in the stands in red.
This could go either way, although a draw looks most likely until the Whitstable keeper Dan Colmer has an uncharacteristically mad moment, rushing out of his area, missing the ball, and allowing the ‘Leafe striker to roll the ball into the empty net. But the Whitstable stopper’s blushes are spared by the referee’s whistle, who had spotted an infringement moments earlier, much to the goalie’s relief.
There’s a lot of tired bodies out there, and it definitely feels like the next goal will be the winner. It’s tense, and the fourth official shows TEN minutes of added time! From a Whitstable corner, striker Smith flicks a header into the side netting, and half the Whitstable fans are on their feet – they think it’s in the back of the net, but the effort creeps just the wrong side of the post.
Moments later it’s Whyteleafe’s turn to think they’ve won it; substitute Rodney Eruotor picks up the ball just outside the box and curls a shot over the despairing glove of Colmer and the ball seems destined for the top corner but it just, just, doesn’t dip enough and the ball crashes back off the crossbar. There’s more injuries, more cramps, more substitutions, and the clock ticks past 100 minutes. With neither team able to force a winner, the game ends 1-1, and we move into extra time.
Both sides look exhausted; this is literally going to be the survival of the fittest. Before the game started, Whyteleafe were joint top scorers in this year’s competition with 22 goals – what they’d give for one more now. This will be decided by one mistake or one bit of action. By one moment of magic.
Into Extra Time
Extra time starts, and it’s Whitstable who looks the brighter, immediately forcing the Whyteleafe keeper George Hill into action. Moments later, from a dangerous ball into the box, forward Sithole hits the inside of the post when it seemed easier to score. He makes no mistake from the subsequent scramble, but the flag has already gone up for offside.
Sithole seems to have found that extra 1% his manager demanded, and Whyteleafe are struggling to contain his energy and willingness to run. Minutes later, from a long ball into space, the forward finds an extra burst of pace and gets to the ball first to force Hill into a smart save. It momentarily looks like the chance has passed, but the striker picks up the loose ball, creates a yard of space, and lashes the ball into the roof of the net to give Whitstable the lead for the first time.
The players, the staff, and the fans go wild. With their noses in front and a lead to defend, Whitstable are now where they want to be.
The rest of the half passes quickly, and both teams are faced with a massive fifteen minutes. Whyteleafe desperately needs to find something, and Whitstable just need to stand their ground. As the minutes tick by, Whitstable is on top, and to be honest, it looks like the belief has drained out of Whyteleafe. Legs look heavy, passes aren’t as crisp, whereas Whitstable, running on pure adrenaline, are throwing bodies at everything.
The clock ticks to 120 minutes, and the Whitstable fans are in fine voice, they’re on their feet, and Whyteleafe look beaten. There are three added minutes, time for one last Whyteleafe effort that is curled wide, and centre-back O’Mara pumps the air with his fists; he knows that’s it.
They Think it’s All Over…
After 125 minutes, the ref finally blows his whistle, and that’s it! It finishes 2-1, and Whitstable are 2025 FA Vase champions! The Whitstable players race to the fans, and the PA system blasts out their Vase final song featuring local resident Suggs.
Whyteleafe players collapse heartbroken to the turf, and chants of ‘Oyster Boys’ echo loudly around the Wembley seats. The players are draped in flags, there’s hugs, and some wave up into the stands. There’s tears, there’s champagne squirting everywhere, and it’s clear to see the emotional release of a long, tough season spilling out of every single player and supporter.
It’s such a privilege to watch these moments unfold in real time. These are not pampered millionaires who live the life every kid dreams of; these are not supporters for whom the magic of Wembley has long since been eroded by multiple pocket-draining trips for games with diminishing significance.
These are players with full-time jobs, supporters who have never, ever seen their boys at Wembley, and it shows in the unbridled scenes of pure joy.
Goalscorer, Harvey Smith, is presented with his man of the match award from Stuart Pearce before the Whyteleafe players head up the steps to receive their medals. I always thought it was harsh to make the losing team walk past the trophy they have just lost, forcing a very public moment of private reflection on what might have been.
The regret is soon replaced by celebration, as those in green make their way back down to the playing surface and the men in red take their turn to line up on the balcony. Captain Jake McIntyre, flanked by defensive lynchpin Finn O’Mara, player-manager Jamie Coyle, and a Go-Pro-wielding Nathan Jeche, receives the trophy and thrusts it triumphantly towards the sky, and Whitstable are officially crowned FA Vase champions for the first time in their long history.
It’s a moment for every player and every supporter to savour, a memory that will last a lifetime.
After the Final
Once the dust has settled on the post-match parties, both sides can take a well-earned break before preparations start in earnest for next season.
For Whyteleafe, the ups and downs and twists and turns of a rollercoaster season did not end with the disappointment at Wembley. Although it’s never particularly edifying to see sporting matters resolved off the pitch, points deductions for both Jersey Bulls and Redhill saw Whyteleafe jump from 3rd to 1st and subsequently be crowned champions. Promotion to the Isthmian League South East Division will, to some degree, numb the pain of Wembley disappointment.
Back in Whitstable, the glow of Wembley success will no doubt keep the cockles warm all summer long. For boss Coyle, although the Vase victory was the icing on the cake of a very successful career, the manager is not quite done with his boots just yet. Shortly after the post-final hangover had worn off, Coyle was on a plane to Thailand to represent England once more at the veteran’s World Cup. A World Cup winner’s medal would be the cherry on the icing of a very good season indeed, before he focuses fully on his managerial role at Whitstable with the primary aim of promotion.
And so, our journey through the FA Vase comes to an end. There have been great saves and super goals, penalty heroes and comeback kings, motorways and railways, sunlight and floodlights, beers with old friends and sheltering from horizontal rain, all mixed in with a healthy dose of joy and heartbreak.
Football can be brilliant, and non-league football often epitomises the very heart and soul of the sport we all love. The magic that (until Crystal Palace) has perhaps faded away from the FA Cup has certainly not left these competitions lower down the pyramid. FA Vase magic is very much alive and kicking – just ask anyone from Whitstable. I already can’t wait ‘til next season.
Bring on 2025/26!
Thanks – big thanks to Karl Gillingham (Mile Oak), David Connor (Crawley Down Gatwick), and Adam Shillcock (Whitchurch Alport) who all took the time to be interviewed over the course of this adventure, to Trevor Knell for some extra words, and to Tony Brown and especially Sasha Hartman for additional photographs. Credit to Football Club History Database for being an invaluable source for background research, and lastly to Ian at Hoppers Guide for giving me the opportunity to share this work!
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