Match Preview: Highgate United (A) - FA Vase, Saturday 23rd Aug, 3pm
Date: Saturday 23rd August 2025
Time: 3pm
Competition: FA Vase 1st Qualifying Round
Opponent: Highgate United FC
Venue: The Coppice, Tythe Barn Lane, Shirley, B90 1PH (26 miles)
Admission Prices: £8 Adults, £5 Children, £2 Concessions
Weather forecast: Cloudy, 21°C
After a perfect 5 wins from 5 start in the United Counties League Premier South, Nuneaton Town take a break from the league, as they make a first foray into the FA Vase against Midland Football League Premier side Highgate United.
Highgate have made a mixed start to the season, being knocked out of the FA Cup 4-2 by Hinckley, losing heavily to Abbey Hulton United in their opening league game 5-0, before picking up their first win on Saturday against Tividale 2-1, whilst Nuneaton's only non-victory has been in the FA Cup losing 2-1 to Step 4 Coleshill Town.
Highgate is also the former club of several of the Nuneaton Town contingent. Russell Dodd is a former manager, whilst club captain Corey Currithers, player-coach Trevor Edwards, and current players Aaron Williams, Stuart Hendrie and Aaron Brown have all played for the club in the past, so they will know the venue well from their time there. An interview with the players can be found here:
History:
'The Gate' were formed in 1948, by former residents of the St Vincent's Home for Working Boys. They progressed from the South Birmingham League to the Worcestershire Combination in the 1960s.
A freak lightning strike in an FA Amateur Cup quarter final match against Enfield in the 1966-67 season, caused the death of Highgate player Tony Allden and injuries to several other players. With the game having been abandoned, over 31,000 watched the replay at Villa Park, which Enfield won 6-0. A cup competition named in Tony's honour was won twice in the 1970s by Highgate.
Highgate's other achievements have been winning the Midland Combination Division 1 three times in succession between 1973 and 1975, winning the league cup 4 times in 5 seasons in the same decade, and the Birmingham Senior Cup in 1973-74 to make that a treble winning season. Since the heyday of the 1970s, they have added a Coventry Telegraph Cup in 2007, and won the Midland League Division 1 title in 2014-15 to reach their current level, an achievement Nuneaton Town matched last season. They did make the play offs in 2023-24, but lost out to Lichfield City in the semi finals.
Highgate have played at their current ground on Tythe Barn Lane since the 1960s.
Directions from Nuneaton town centre:
Take the A444 south, joining the M6 towards Birmingham at J3, at J4A take the M42 South West. Leave the M42 at J4 and turn right towards Solihull. After going straight on at the first roundabout, go left at the second onto Dog Kennel Lane. At the end of the road turn left at the roundabout onto the B4102, turning right at the next one (Miller and Carter) on to Dickens Heath Road. At the next roundabout turn right to stay on Dickens Heath Road then take the first turning on the right onto Tythe Barn Lane. Follow the road through the housing estate and out the other side, and the ground will be on the left down a driveway.
Public transport:
The 13:09 train to Birmingham New Street arrives at 13:38, then walk across to Birmingham Moor Street to take the 14:09 train to Whitlocks End arriving at 14:29. The train station is a short walk from the ground. Trains run every hour.
Return-wise, the 17:17 train to Kidderminster from Whitlocks End arrives at Birmingham Moor Street at 17:40, and after walking across to New Street, the 18:22 to Stansted Airport arrives at Nuneaton at 18:50
