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, last season's champions Morpeth Town, Team Solent, 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 openly gay male footballer had taken to the pitch at Wembley, with Cleethorpes Town player Liam Davis having come out two years prior.

Route to the final

Cleethorpes Town

12 November 2016 2RAFC Emley1–2Cleethorpes TownEmley
15:00Stadium: Welfare Ground Attendance: 215
3 December 2016 3RCleethorpes Town2–1BootleGrimsby
15:00Stadium: The Bradley Football Development Centre Attendance: 196
7 January 2017 4RBillingham Town1–2Cleethorpes TownBillingham
15:00Stadium: Bedford Terrace Attendance: 364
28 January 2017 5RCleethorpes Town3–2Atherton CollieriesGrimsby
15:00Stadium: The Bradley Football Development Centre Attendance: 588
18 February 2017 6RSouthall2–5Cleethorpes TownPerivale
15:00Stadium: Reynolds Field Attendance: 348
11 March 2017 SF 1stBromsgrove Sporting1–1Cleethorpes TownBromsgrove
15:00Stadium: Victoria Ground Attendance: 3,349
18 March 2017 SF 2ndCleethorpes Town1–0 (2–1 agg.)Bromsgrove SportingGrimsby
15:00Stadium: The Bradley Football Development Centre Attendance: 1,154

South Shields

17 October 2016 2RQEsh Winning0–4South ShieldsEsh Winning
15:00Stadium: West Terrace Attendance: 266
22 October 2016 1RSouth Shields2–1Runcorn LinnetsSouth Shields
15:00Stadium: Mariners Park Attendance: 1,060
12 November 2016 2RSouth Shields2–0Marske UnitedSouth Shields
15:00Stadium: Mariners Park Attendance: 1,116
3 December 2016 3RSouth Shields3–0Staveley Miners WelfareSouth Shields
15:00Stadium: Mariners Park Attendance: 808
7 January 2017 4RSouth ShieldsA-A*Morpeth TownSouth Shields
15:00Stadium: Mariners Park Attendance: 1,545
11 January 2017 4RSouth Shields4–0Morpeth TownMorpeth
15:00Stadium: Craik Park Attendance: 826
28 January 2017 5RTeam Solent2–5South ShieldsSouthampton
15:00Stadium: Test Park Sports Ground Attendance: 638
18 February 2017 6RSouth Shields6–1Newport Pagnell TownSouth Shields
15:00Stadium: Mariners Park Attendance: 3,161
11 March 2017 SF 1stColeshill Town1–2South ShieldsColeshill
15:00Stadium: Pack Meadow Attendance: 1,755
18 March 2017 SF 2ndSouth Shields4–0 (6–1 agg.)Coleshill TownSouth Shields
15:00Stadium: Mariners Park Attendance: 3,464

* – Match abandoned after floodlight failure in the 81st minute (2–4) – rematch moved to Morpeth Town

Match

Details

Cleethorpes Town0–4South Shields
Finnigan 43' (pen.) Morse 80' Foley 86', 89'
GK 1 Liam Higton DF 2 Tim Lowe DF 5 Matt Bloomer DF 6 Matty Coleman 70' DF 3 Peter Winn MF 7 Liam Davis 19' 73' MF 4 Liam Dickens MF 8 Alex Flett (c) MF 11 Jonathan Oglesby FW 9 Marc Cooper 61' FW 10 Brody Robertson Substitutes: MF 12 Luck Mascall 70' MF 14 Jack Richardson 73' FW 15 Andy Taylor 61' FW 16 Gary King DF 17 Kieran Wressel Manager: Marcus NewellGK 1 Liam Connell DF 12 Alex Nicholson DF 5 Dillon Morse 80' DF 4 Jon Shaw DF 3 Darren Lough MF 19 Andrew Stephenson 55' MF 6 Julio Arca (c) MF 8 Wayne Phillips 83' FW 9 Gavin Cogdon 69' FW 21 Carl Finnigan 43' (pen) 70' FW 11 David Foley 86' 89' Substitutes: MF 7 Robert Briggs 55' MF 10 Michael Richardson 70' DF 16 Louis Storey DF 17 Barrie Smith 83' DF 20 Darren Holden Joint-Managers: Graham Fenton Lee Picton
GK1Liam Higton
DF2Tim Lowe
DF5Matt Bloomer
DF6Matty Coleman70'
DF3Peter Winn
MF7Liam Davis19'73'
MF4Liam Dickens
MF8Alex Flett (c)
MF11Jonathan Oglesby
FW9Marc Cooper61'
FW10Brody Robertson
Substitutes:
MF12Luck Mascall70'
MF14Jack Richardson73'
FW15Andy Taylor61'
FW16Gary King
DF17Kieran Wressel
Manager: Marcus Newell
GK1Liam Connell
DF12Alex Nicholson
DF5Dillon Morse80'
DF4Jon Shaw
DF3Darren Lough
MF19Andrew Stephenson55'
MF6Julio Arca (c)
MF8Wayne Phillips83'
FW9Gavin Cogdon69'
FW21Carl Finnigan43' (pen)70'
FW11David Foley86'89'
Substitutes:
MF7Robert Briggs55'
MF10Michael Richardson70'
DF16Louis Storey
DF17Barrie Smith83'
DF20Darren Holden
Joint-Managers: Graham Fenton Lee Picton
Man of the match: Wayne PhillipsMatch rules 90 minutes. 30 minutes of extra-time if necessary. Penalty shoot-out if scores still level. Five named substitutes. Maximum of three substitutions.