Editing FA Vase (section)

== Eligibility ==
[[Image:FAVaseAction2008.jpg|thumb|right|[[Whitley Bay F.C.|Whitley Bay]] take on [[Abbey Hey F.C.|Abbey Hey]] in an FA Vase match in 2008.]]
In recent years, entry to the FA Vase has been restricted to clubs in the ninth and lower tiers of the [[English football league system]] (those in the four levels above the ninth qualified for the FA Trophy). Reorganisation of the [[National League System]] for 2004 onwards moved the dividing line down to the new "Step 5" (ninth tier overall). Clubs from the [[Channel Islands]] ([[First Tower United F.C.|First Tower United]], [[St. Martins A.C.|St. Martins]] and [[Vale Recreation F.C.|Vale Recreation]]) and the Isle of Man ([[Douglas High School Old Boys F.C.|Douglas HSOB]]) also entered the Vase in the past. [[Guernsey F.C.]], who were formed in 2011 and played in the "Step 5" [[Combined Counties League]], gained entry for the 2012&ndash;13 season<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thefa.com/TheFACup/News/2012/Jul/~/media/143D4349FBAF4B998147A116A1056E67.ashx |title=FA Vase 1st Qualifying Round draw |date=6 July 2012 |publisher=the FA  |access-date=18 July 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18739432 |title=FA Vase: Guernsey FC face Crowborough Athletic in FA Vase |date=6 July 2012 |work=BBC News|access-date=18 July 2012}}</ref> and reached the semi-finals.

===Exemptions===
*Eligible teams who played in the FA Vase the previous season and participated in the fourth round proper are exempt from qualifying, and start play in the second round proper of the Vase, unless they were promoted to a Step 4 league. (If they were promoted, they would play for the FA Trophy instead.)
*Those teams that lost in the third round proper the previous season are, unless promoted to the Trophy, exempt until the first round proper.