In 1969 The Football Association introduced The FA Challenge Trophy, a knock-out competition for non-League clubs with the incentive of an appearance at Wembley for the finalists. With amateur clubs still being afforded that opportunity in The FA Amateur Cup (until 1974 when the competition was last played), it was felt that clubs with professional players, who could only enter The FA Cup, should have a more realistic chance of making it to the famed Twin Towers.
Entries for the first Trophy competition in 1969-70 included eight clubs who were destined to enter the Football League: Barnet, Cambridge United, Hereford United, Kidderminster Harriers, Macclesfield Town, Scarborough, Wimbledon and Wigan Athletic. Macclesfield beat Telford United 2-0 in the first final, watched by 28,000 at Wembley.
Three clubs have now won the Trophy two years in a row: Scarborough (1976 and 1977), Woking (1994 and 1995) and Kingstonian (1999 and 2000). Veteran winger Clive Walker, a former professional with 500 League appearances under his belt, has collected four Trophy winners' medals, three with Woking and one with Cheltenham Town
Martin O'Neill took Wycombe Wanderers to two successive finals and their match with Kidderminster Harriers in 1991 attracted 34,842 fans which is still the Trophy record
Now, since Wembley's closure, The Trophy Final has moved to Villa Park, where in 2003 Burscough beat Tamworth 2-1. This season's final will be on Sunday 18 May 2004 and will be hosted by Aston Villa for the fourth time.
