BRIGHTLINGSEA IN THE FA VASE
1974/75 - Brightlingsea United played in the first ever season of the F.A.Vase with a home tie in the 1st Round against fellow Essex League side Tiptree United and won through by 2-1 on this historic occasion. The 2nd Round they again played a team from the same League as they played away to Colchester side Coggeshall Town but in an entertaining match went down by 4-2.
1975/76 - Brightlingsea United in the first Round were away to Surrey Senior League outfit Maldon Town but lost by 4-1 to a side which finished runners up in their League that season.
1976/77 - In the Preliminary Round Brightlingsea played host to Heybridge Swifts and won by 1-0 against the Maldon team who also played in the Essex League. Round 1 was another home tie and again against familiar opposition as they played Witham Town of the Essex League and they beat them by 1-0. Alma Swanley away was next and this was a tough match for Brightlingsea as the London Spartan League side were to end runners-up in their League. The Kent side won by 2-1 although Brightlingsea put up a brave fight.
1977/78 - Brightlingsea were away to Saffron Walden Town of the Eastern Counties League in the Preliminary Round and went down by 2-0.
1978/79 - Playing in the 1st Round this season Brightlingsea had a home tie against Isthmian Division 2 side Rainham Town and after extra time the score was a 1-1 draw. In the replay at Rainham near Dagenham they went down by 1-0.
1979/80 - This season Brightlingsea had a home tie against Bedfordshire team Potton United of the United Counties League in the Preliminary Round and in a cracking match went down by 4-3.
1980/81 - In a Preliminary Round match away to Cambridgeshire side Soham Town Rangers, Brightlingsea beat the Eastern Counties outfit by 3-2. Round 1 was another away tie against another Eastern Counties League side Great Yarmouth Town from Norfolk but this time they crashed out by 3-0.
1981/82 - This season Brightlingsea played a side they had played previously in the competition in Heybridge Swifts from Maldon, Essex and although they had won the first meeting in 76/77 they lost this home tie by 2-0 against a side which went on to win the Essex League this season.
1982/83 - The Preliminary Round saw an away tie against Ilford side Barkingside of the London Spartan League but Brightlingsea won by 1-0. In Round 1 it was another away tie against Ipswich side Ransomes but this time it was a defeat by 2-0.
1983/84 - In the Preliminary Round this season Brightlingsea had a home tie against London Spartan Senior team Crown & Manor but went down 2-0 to a side which finished runners-up in their League that season.
1984/85 - Diss Town from Norfolk was the destination for Brightlingsea United this season but a 5-2 loss was the outcome of this away Preliminary Round match.
1985/86 - In the Preliminary Round it was another away tie to near St.Ives, Cambridgeshire to play Somersham Town but again another defeat going down by 2-1.
1986/87 - A home match against Newmarket Town of the Eastern Counties League in the Preliminary Round and a 3-2 win. Round 1 was another home tie against another Eastern Counties League side Stowmarket Town from Suffolk but this time after extra-time it ended in a 1-1 draw. In the replay it was a resounding 5-0 win for Stowmarket.
1987/88 - Brightlingsea played in the Extra Preliminary Round this season and away tie against Isthmian Division 2 North side Aveley also from Essex but it was a 4-2 win for the Isthmian team.
1988/89 - In the Extra Preliminary Round this season it was a home tie against Eastern Counties Division 1 Huntingdon United from Cambridgeshire and a fine 4-2 win. The Preliminary Round was a match away against fellow Essex Leaguers Burnham Ramblers and a shock 4-0 defeat was the outcome. At the end of the season Burnham finished fourth in the League but Brightlingsea United ended the season as Champions.
1989/90 - A home tie against Essex League Sawbridgeworth Town from Hertfordshire and a fine 4-0 win in the Extra Preliminary Round - this is United's biggest win in the F.A.Vase. In the Preliminary Round it was another home tie against Eastern Counties League Harwich & Parkeston and a great result to win through by 2-1. The 1st Round was another Eastern Counties League side and another side they had played in 86/87, Stowmarket Town who thrashed them 5-0 in a replay but this time Brightlingsea won this away tie by 1-0 to get a bit of revenge. Round 2 was another home tie against Isthmian Division 2 Stevenage Borough but sadly they went down by 2-0 against the strong Hertfordshire side. This was Brightlingsea United's final season in the Essex League as they again ended the season as Champions and gained promotion into the Eastern Counties League.
1990/91 - Brightlingsea United now members of the Eastern Counties Division 1 played a side they had played previously in Somersham Town at home in an Extra Preliminary Round tie, the match ended in a 1-1 draw after extra-time. In the replay United got revenge winning 4-1 in Cambridgeshire against a side from the same League. The Preliminary Round saw a home tie against Peterborough League side LBC Ortonians and Brightlingsea won through by 2-1. Round 1 was an away tie to Eastern Counties Premier League outfit March Town United and it was a trip too far as they went down by 3-0.
1991/92 - In the Extra Preliminary Round it was an away tie against Eastern Counties Division 1 club Downham Town and a defeat by 1-0.
1992/93 - In the Extra Preliminary Round again it was an away tie against Downham Town but this time it ended in a 1-1 draw after extra-time at Downham Market in Norfolk. The replay also ended in a 1-1 draw after extra-time. The Extra Preliminary Round 2nd replay was played away and this time the Norfolk club made no mistake winning by 3-0.
1993/94 - It was Clacton Town who also played in the Eastern Counties League away from home and sadly another defeat by 1-0.
1994/95 - Brightlingsea United did not compete in the F.A.Vase this season.
1995/96 - In the 2nd Qualifying Round United were due to play Long Sutton Athletic but the Eastern Counties League side left the League at the start of the season and Brightlingsea Received a bye into the next round. Round 1 and a tough match against Eastern Counties Premiere League Newmarket Town who they had beaten previously in 86/87 season but this timed there was to be no repeat as United went down by 1-0 at home.
1996/97 - In a 1st Qualifying Round it was an away tie against March Town United who had beaten Brightlingsea in 90/91 but this time it was an excellent win by 2-1 by the Essex side. The 2nd Qualifying Round was a home tie against Swaffham Town who also played in the Eastern Counties Division 1 but it was a 2-1 win for Swaffham and they finished the season as runners-up in the League at the end of the season.
1997/98 - An away tie in the Qualifying to play Isthmian Division 2 Braintree Town was not what Brightlingsea wanted this time around and so it proved as the Iron won through by 6-1 which was Brightlingsea United's worst ever defeat in the F.A.Vase at the time. Braintree finished the season as runners-up in the Isthmian Division 2.
1998/99 - The 2nd Qualifying Round was another away tie at Eastern Division 1 side Mildenhall Town and it was no surprise to lose 2-0 to Mildenhall who at the end of the season were promoted into the Eastern Counties Premier League by finishing runners-up.
1999/00 - Marlow from Buckinghamshire and in the strong Isthmian Division 2 was another away trip for Brightlingsea in the 1st Qualifying Round and sadly another big defeat by 6-0 and this is still Brightlingsea biggest ever defeat in the F.A. Vase.
2000/01 - Brightlingsea had another away trip to play Needham Market from Suffolk. Needham played in the same Eastern Counties Division 1 as Brightlingsea but it was the same outcome as previous years as United lost by 2-0 in the 2nd Qualifying Round.
2001/02 - In the 2nd Qualifying Round it was another away tie to Oxfordshire to play Hellenic Premier League Bicester Town and sadly another defeat again by 2-0. This was Brightlingsea United’s last ever match under this name.
2002/03 - Brightlingsea were due to play Clapton at home in a 1st Qualifying Round tie but the match was awarded to Clapton as most of the players and manager left the club and Brightlingsea United folded.
2005/06 - Brightlingsea United amalgamated with Regent Park Rangers to become Brightlingsea Regent and won the Essex & Suffolk Border League Division 2.
2011/12 - After several promotions the Regent club earned promotion back into the Eastern Counties Division 1 and also entry back into the F.A. Vase and Brightlingsea Regent played their first game away at Stanway Rovers from Colchester and also an Eastern Counties League side but it seemed that nothing had changed as Stanway won 2-0 in this 1st Qualifying Round.
2012/13 - The 2nd Qualifying Round saw an away tie and after 8 defeats on the bounce it was at last a win by 3-2 at Bury St. Edmunds in Suffolk defeating Team Bury of the Eastern Counties Division 1, the same League as Brightlingsea Regent. Round 1 was another away tie and again a Suffolk side in Whitton United and another win by 1-0 against the Eastern Counties Division 1 side. In Round 2 again it was away this time to play Barnet side London Lions of the Spartan South Midlands League and again a win by 3-2 with the game being played at Hemel Hempstead Town as the Lions ground was not up to standard. Round 3 and at last a home game for Regent as they hosted Brantham Athletic of the Eastern Counties Premier League but they were too strong and Brightlingsea went down by 3-2. The end of the season saw Regent promoted to the Eastern Counties Premier League.
2013/14 - A home tie against Felixstowe & Walton United of the Eastern Counties Premier League and a win by 1-0 in this 1st Qualifying Round. The 2nd Qualifying Round was a tie against a side that had beaten them previously, Stanway Rovers from Colchester but this time Regent had a home tie and also gained revenge as they won through by 3-0. Round 1 was again against a side Brightlingsea had played previously in Team Bury but this time a 5-1 win at home and Brightlingsea Regent's biggest ever win in the F.A.Vase. Round 2 was an away match against Essex Premier League Takeley and Brightlingsea won through by 2-1. Colney Heath from St. Albans was next with a home tie against the Spartans South Midlands outfit and it was tight as the match ended 2-2 after extra-time. The replay was a fine 2-0 away win. This season is the furthest any club from Brightlingsea have come and they played host to South Western League side Bodmin Town in Round 4 and recorded another great win, this time by 3-1. In Round 5 Brightlingsea travelled to Gateshead, to face the 2011/12 F.A. Vase. Winners from the Northern Premier League, Dunston UTS but Brightlingsea lost out 5-0.

Played
Won
Drawn
Lost
W/O
For
Against
Brightlingsea United
45
13
5
27
2
49
93
Brightlingsea Regent
13
9
1
3

25
18
Total
58
22
6
30
2
74
111