The 2020 FA Trophy Final was a football match between Concord Rangers and Harrogate Town on 3 May 2021 which Harrogate won 1–0 with a goal from Josh Falkingham.[1] It was the final match of the 2019–20 FA Trophy, the 51st season of the FA Trophy.

2020 FA Trophy Final
Wembley Stadium hosted the final
Event2019–20 FA Trophy
Date3 May 2021 (2021-05-03)
VenueWembley Stadium, London
Attendance0
2019
2021

The final was rescheduled for 27 September 2020 however this was postponed as the FA hoped to have spectators in the final. The date was then agreed for 3 May 2021 behind closed doors as a suitable solution could not be reached to be played with fans.[2]

The match was broadcast live and free-to-air on BT Sport.[3] Presenter Matt Smith was joined by pundits Danny Cowley and Nicky Cowley, with Jeff Brazier as the sideline reporter.[4] The commentary team consisted of Adam Summerton and Adam Virgo.[5] Radio commentary was provided by BBC Essex and BBC Radio York.[6]

Before the match, soprano Emily Haig sang "God Save the Queen".[5] Players from both teams took a knee immediately prior to kick-off, in support of the No Room For Racism campaign.[5]

Owing to being promoted out of the National League after the postponement of the final, Harrogate made history by becoming the first Football League side to win the trophy.[7] They held the cup for less than three weeks, as the 2021 final took place on 22 May.[8]

Route to the Final

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Harrogate Town

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14 December 2019 (2019-12-14) First round Harrogate Town 3–2 Hartlepool United Harrogate
15:00 GMT
Stadium: Wetherby Road
Attendance: 803
11 January 2020 (2020-01-11) Second round Darlington 0–2 Harrogate Town Darlington
15:00 GMT
Stadium: Blackwell Meadows
Attendance: 1240
8 February 2020 (2020-02-08) Third round Harrogate Town 2–0 Eastleigh Harrogate
15:00 GMT
Stadium: Wetherby Road
Attendance: 947
29 February 2020 (2020-02-29) Fourth round AFC Fylde 2–3 (a.e.t.) Harrogate Town Wesham
15:00 GMT
Stadium: Mill Farm
Attendance: 803
22 September 2020 (2020-09-22) Semi-Final Notts County 0–1 Harrogate Town Nottingham
15:00 GMT
Stadium: Meadow Lane
Attendance: 0

Concord Rangers

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23 November 2019 (2019-11-23) Third round qualifying Concord Rangers 0–0 Slough Town Canvey Island
15:00 GMT Stadium: Thames Road
26 November 2019 (2019-11-26) Third round qualifying Replay Slough Town 2–3 Concord Rangers Slough
19:45 GMT
  • Harris   38', 54'
Stadium: Arbour Park
14 December 2019 (2019-12-14) First round Maidstone United 2–3 Concord Rangers Maidstone
15:00 GMT
Stadium: Gallagher Stadium
11 January 2020 (2020-01-11) Second round Concord Rangers 1–1 Bath City Canvey Island
15:00 GMT
Stadium: Thames Road
28 January 2020 (2020-01-28) Second round replay Bath City 1–2 Concord Rangers Twerton, Bath
19:45 GMT
Stadium: Twerton Park
8 February 2020 (2020-02-08) Third round Concord Rangers 2–2 (a.e.t.)
(4–3 p)
Leamington Canvey Island
15:00 GMT
Stadium: Thames Road
Attendance: 417
Penalties
  • Storer  
  • Morley  
  • Lane  
  • Gittings  
  • Edwards  
3 March 2020 (2020-03-03) Fourth round Concord Rangers 2–1 (a.e.t.) Royston Town Canvey Island
19:45 GMT
  • Warner-Eley   54'
Stadium: Thames Road
5 September 2020 (2020-09-05) Semi-Final Concord Rangers 2–1 Halesowen Town Canvey Island
15:00 GMT
  • Gregory   7'
Stadium: Thames Road

Match

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Details

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Concord Rangers0–1Harrogate Town[a]
Report
Attendance: 0
Referee: Peter Bankes
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
GK 1   Chris Haigh
RB 2   Aron Pollock
CB 4   Billy Roast   83'
CB 5   Tyrone Sterling (c)
CB 6   Jack Cawley
LB 3   Joe Payne
CM 7   James Blanchfield   79'
CM 8   Sam Blackman
CM 10   Lewis Simper
FW 17   Lamar Reynolds
FW 11   Ryan Charles   59'
Substitutes:
GK 13   Dan Wilks
DF 2   Archie McFadden
MF 14   Odei Martin Sorondo   83'
FW 9   Alex Wall   79'
FW 15   Ben Search
FW 18   Alex Hernandez
FW 19   Temi Babalola   59'
Manager:   Danny Scopes
GK 13   Joe Cracknell
RB 6   Warren Burrell
CB 5   Will Smith
CB 20   Connor Hall
LB 3   Dan Jones   62'
RM 7   George Thomson
CM 17   Lloyd Kerry
CM 4   Josh Falkingham (c)
LM 28   Josh McPake   67'
FW 18   Jack Muldoon
FW 16   Jon Stead   61'
Substitutes:
GK 1   James Belshaw
DF 2   Ryan Fallowfield   62'
DF 22   Ed Francis
DF 26   Kevin Lokko
DF 27   Jay Williams
MF 14   Brendan Kiernan   67'
FW 9   Mark Beck   61'
Manager:   Simon Weaver

Man of the match: Chris Haigh (Concord Rangers)

Match officials

  • Assistant referees:

James Mainwaring
Timothy Wood

  • Fourth official:

Marc Edwards

Match rules

  • 90 minutes.
  • 30 minutes of extra-time if necessary.
  • Penalty shoot-out if scores still level.
  • Seven named substitutes.
  • Maximum of three substitutions plus one more allowed in extra time

References

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  1. ^ "The FA Trophy - Fixtures".
  2. ^ "BUILDBASE FA TROPHY AND VASE FINALS FOR 2020 AND 2021 HAVE BEEN SCHEDULED FOR WEMBLEY". www.thefa.com. 11 March 2021.
  3. ^ "BT Sport to make Non-League Finals Day free for all as the FA Vase and FA Trophy reach their conclusions". BT Sport. 27 April 2021. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  4. ^ "Live: Harrogate v Concord Rangers". FA Trophy. 3 May 2021. 1–5 minutes in. BT Sport. BT Sport 1 HD.
  5. ^ a b c "Live: Harrogate v Concord Rangers". FA Trophy. 3 May 2021. 28–30 minutes in. BT Sport. BT Sport 1 HD.
  6. ^ "Listen: FA Vase & FA Trophy finals". BBC Sport. 3 May 2021. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  7. ^ "Harrogate Town boss Simon Weaver: Double is now our platform". The Non-League Paper. 8 May 2021. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  8. ^ Law, James (3 May 2021). "FA Trophy final 2019-20: Concord Rangers 0-1 Harrogate Town". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 May 2021.

Notes

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  1. ^ Between the fourth round and the semi-finals, Harrogate were promoted to the Football League through the National League play-offs after the season had finished on an average points-per-game basis due to curtailment as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.