Match preview: Knowle (A), FA Vase 2nd Qual RD, 3pm
Date: Saturday 20th September
Time: 3pm
Competition: FA Vase 2nd Qualifying Round
Opponent: Knowle FC
Venue: Draintech Stadium, Hampton Road, Knowle, West Midlands, B93 0NX
Admission Prices: £7 Adults, £4 Concessions, Under 16s free
Weather Forecast: Light rain showers 19°C
Nuneaton Town resume their journey in the FA Vase on Saturday with a place in the first round proper at stake as they make the short journey to Solihull to face Knowle.
Despite being one step below in the Midland League Division 1, Knowle like Nuneaton Town have made a flying start after promotion last season, and have won 8 of their first 10 games, drawing 1 and losing the other. So a tough match is expected.
Knowle actually play both Nuneaton teams in 72 hours as they make the visit to the Pingles on Wednesday evening to face Nuneaton Griff.
United Counties Premier League South leaders Nuneaton Town started off an important 10 days as they swept aside 2nd placed Moulton 5-0 on Saturday to keep their 6 point lead, ahead of this Saturday's FA Vase game and Tuesday's match against new 2nd placed team Aylestone Park. Knowle had their own big win on Saturday as they thrashed Allexton & New Parks 6-0 in Leicester.
Can Nuneaton go one step closer to Wembley?
History:
Knowle FC known as The Robins were formed in 1926 as Knowle Men's Institute. They became Knowle FC In 1966 as they joined the Worcestershire Combination. For two seasons in the 1980s they were known as Knowle North Star before reverting back to their previous name.
Last season they were promoted from the Midland League Division 2 after finishing 2nd, 3 points behind Northfield Town.
They won the Midland Combination Division 1 in 2003, 2006 and 2008, and were twice winners of the Midland League's Les James Challenge Cup in 2023 and 2024. Their best FA Vase run to date was in the 1981-82 season when they reached the 5th Round.
Directions from Nuneaton town centre:
Take the A444 south to the M6, then join the M6 towards Birmingham. At J4 join the M42 South West, then at J5 turn left onto the A4141 towards Knowle, and immediately after going straight on at the first roundabout turn left onto Arden Vale Road and the ground is at the end of the road at the junction with Hampton Road
(21 miles approx 30 mins)
Public transport:
The nearest train station to Knowle is Dorridge. This can be reached by taking the 12:37 to Leamington Spa, and then changing there for the 13:30 Birmingham Moor Street train arriving at Dorridge 13:49. The A8 bus to Solihull departs from outside the station at 13:55 and arrives at the Wilsons Arms (Toby Carvery) at 14:01, a short walk up Hampton Road from the ground.
Return A6 bus to Dorridge leaves at 17:20, with trains to Leamington then Nuneaton at 18:00 then 18:40 respectively.
An alternative potentially cheaper route (or if there are train strikes) is to take bus 148 or a train to Coventry and pick up the 87 bus to Solihull in Coventry city centre or outside the train station. This also goes towards the Wilsons Arms with the journey taking around 2 hours.
Return 87 bus leaves at 17:38, with the 148 from Coventry Pool Meadow at 18:35, arriving in Nuneaton at 19:20.
