It's now 27 seasons ago now, since the teams walked out at the old Wembley Stadium for the FA Vase Final. St. Helens won the game 3-2 before a rather modest crowd of 4,254, due in no small part to the fact that Saints were due to meet Halifax in the Rugby League Challenge Cup Final at the same venue only seven days later.

For St. Helens Town, it was a long, hard road to Wembley that season, having to play 11 games (against Warrington's seven) to reach the Final.

Beginning in the extra-preliminary round, they were taken to extra-time before beating Colne Dynamoes (who would win the Vase themselves the following season) 5-4 at Hoghton Road. There then followed home victories over General Chemicals, Wren Rovers, Guisborough Town and Wythenshawe Amateurs, before they made the long journey to Wisbech Town, who were beaten 2-0. A 4-1 home victory over Rainworth Miners Welfare set up a home quarter-final against Falmouth Town which ended all-square at 1-1. The long trip to Cornwall for the replay produced a 1-0 victory. The two-legged semi-final against Emley began disastrously, Town losing the home leg 0-1, but a 2-0 win in West Yorkshire was enough to secure the Wembley date.

Warrington began in the Second Round, by virtue of reaching the semi-finals the previous season. A trip to Louth United yielded a 4-2 win, then there were consecutive home victories over Barrowash Victoria, Gresley Rovers and, after extra-time, Vauxhall Motors. Extra-time was required again in the 6th Round at Haverhill Rovers and Warrington won both legs of their semi-final against Collier Row.

Warrington produced a commemorative brochure to mark the occasion. They played in yellow shirts and blue shorts, whilst St. Helens appeared in blue shirts and white shorts. St. Helens Town's usual colours were blue and white, right up to their move to Knowsley Road in 2000, when the decision was taken to switch to red and white stripes. The referee was Mr. Trelford Mills of Barnsley.

St. Helens Town team was Johnston, Benson, Wilson, Lowe, Bendon, Cummins, ONeil, Collins (sub. Gledhill), Rigby, McComb and Layhe. The manager was Alan Wellens.

Warrington Town, managed by Dave Taylor, were represented by O'Brien, Gratton, Reid, Hunter, Copeland, Cook, Hughes, Kinsey, Brownbill (sub. Woodyer), Looker (sub. Hill) and Whalley. Ian Kinsey and Jimmy Woodyer were former St. Helens Town players.

The final itself began at a breathtaking pace. St. Helens captain Tommy O'Neil, ex-Manchester United and 35 years old, set up the first goal after only 4 minutes when, after chasing Barry Lowes through ball, he crossed from the left to enable Phil Layhe to head home. Layhe himself crossed from the right four minutes later for Brian Rigby to stretch the lead to 2-0.

Warrington played much better after the interval and Ian Reid reduced the arrears after 54 minutes. Phil Layhe restored the two-goal advantage shortly afterwards his ninth goal of the Vase campaign before Neil Cook scored for Warrington a minute from time to set up a tense finish. However, St. Helens hung on at the end and it was a proud Tommy O'Neil who climbed the 39 steps to receive the Vase from the FA's chief guest, the former Arsenal centre-forward and Chelsea manager, Ted Drake.