From BBC Sport · · 2m
Whitley Bay Wins Three Wembley FA Vase Finals
Whitley Bay, a ninth-tier club, won three consecutive FA Vase finals at Wembley in 2009-2011.
In brief
Whitley Bay, a ninth-tier club, won three consecutive FA Vase finals at Wembley in 2009-2011. Whitley Bay, a non-league team, won three FA Vase finals in a row between 2009 and 2011, a record in non-league football. Originally reported by BBC Sport.
Whitley Bay's Record
Whitley Bay, a ninth-tier Northern Football League club, won three successive FA Vase finals between 2009 and 2011.
The FA Vase
The FA Vase, a national competition for amateur teams, was established in 1974 and Whitley Bay is the only club to win it four times.
Ian Chandler's Role
Ian Chandler, a former Whitley Bay player, became manager in 2004 and spent 10 years leading the team to success.
Chandler's Strategy
Chandler focused on hotel bookings and scouting reports instead of work meetings to build team cohesion.
2007-08 Elimination
Whitley Bay lost 4-0 to Lowestoft Town in the 2007-08 FA Vase semi-finals, motivating the team to aim for history.
Chandler's Superstition
Chandler developed a superstition of never giving pre-match interviews after the 2007-08 loss to Lowestoft Town.
Team Motivation
Players wanted to prove their worth after missing out on Wembley in 2007-08, leading to three consecutive finals.
Paul Robinson's Role
Paul Robinson, a former Newcastle United academy player, worked with Chandler both at Whitley Bay and Sage software.
2010 Semi-Final Win
Robinson scored a last-minute diving header in the 2010 FA Vase semi-final second leg to secure a 6-5 aggregate victory over Barwell.
2010 Final Victory
Whitley Bay won the 2010 FA Vase final 6-1 against Wroxham, with Paul Chow scoring the opening goal in 21 seconds.
2011 Final Win
Whitley Bay completed the three-in-a-row with a 3-2 win over Coalville Town in 2011, with Paul Chow scoring the 86th-minute winner.
Fan Impact
Whitley Bay's success brought local pride to the north-east coast, with volunteers organizing ticket sales and community events.
2010 Trophy Lift
Whitley Bay lifted the 2010 FA Vase trophy with former teammate Mark Taylor, who had been diagnosed with motor neurone disease.
Legacy
Whitley Bay's golden era ended in 2014, but the team remains a source of pride in non-league football.
In short
Whitley Bay, a non-league team, won three FA Vase finals in a row between 2009 and 2011, a record in non-league football.
