Rushden Town alternated between the F.A. Trophy and the Vase as their league status and the qualifying criteria changed as the years progressed. They were placed in the Trophy when the competition first started in 1969.
Drawn away to Dunstable Town in the first Qualifying Round they came away with a one all draw, and won the replay at neighbours Wellingborough Town’s Dog and Duck under floodlight by the odd goal in three. The Russians were then drawn away to Southern League Folkestone and came away winning one nil at the first attempt. In the third qualifying round high-flying Barnet were the visitors to Hayden Road, and were beaten five nil before a larger than usual crowd. Barnet reached the semi finals losing by a goal to nil to Macclesfield Town at Stoke City’s old Victoria Ground.
Rushden Town first competed in the F.A. Vase in 1976 winning by two goals to one at Hayden Road to fellow United Counties League side Northampton Spencer before going out to West Midlands League side Hinckley Athletic by the only goal of the game. Their best run in the Vase was to be their final challenge when they were beaten in the quarter finals by Southern League Hythe Town. Hythe Town lost in a two leg semi final to fellow Southern League club Yeading. Yeading drew with Bridlington Town at Wembley stadium before lifting the Vase by a single goal at Leeds United’s Elland Road ground.
Rushden Town complete record in both competitions are listed below
|
F.A. Trophy
|
|
1969-70
|
1Q
|
DUNSTABLE |
A
|
1-1
|
|
|
1Qr
|
DUNSTABLE |
H
|
3-0
|
|
|
2Q
|
FOLKESTONE |
A
|
1-0
|
|
|
3Q
|
BARNET |
H
|
0-5
|
|
1970-71
|
1Q
|
WELLINGBOROUGH TOWN |
A
|
1-1
|
|
|
1Qr
|
WELLINGBOROUGH TOWN |
H
|
1-2
|
|
1971-72
|
1Q
|
BOURNE TOWN |
A
|
1-2
|
|
1972-73
|
1Q
|
MAIDSTONE UNITED |
H
|
0-1
|
|
1973-74
|
1Q
|
SUTTON TOWN [ASHFIELD] |
H
|
0-0
|
|
|
1Qr
|
SUTTON TOWN [ASHFIELD] |
A
|
0-3
|
|
1974-75
|
PRE
|
WELLINGBOROUGH TOWN |
A
|
1-0
|
|
|
1Q
|
SUDBURY TOWN |
H
|
1-3
|
|
1975-76
|
1Q
|
LOUTH UNITED |
A
|
1-2
|
|
1990-91
|
1Q
|
BISHOP'S STORTFORD |
A
|
1-2
|
|
1991-92
|
1Q
|
BARKING |
A
|
2-4
|
|
F.A. VASE
|
|
1976-77
|
2
|
NORTHAMPTON SPENCER |
H
|
2-1
|
|
|
3
|
HINCKLEY ATHLETIC |
A
|
0-1
|
|
1977-78
|
1
|
ROYSTON TOWN |
H
|
2-2
|
|
|
1r
|
ROYSTON TOWN |
A
|
1-1
|
|
|
1r2
|
ROYSTON TOWN |
H
|
4-1
|
|
|
2
|
HODDESDON TOWN |
H
|
1-1
|
|
|
2r
|
HODDESDON TOWN |
A
|
2-1
|
|
|
3
|
BARTON ROVERS |
A
|
0-1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1978-79
|
1
|
ELY CITY |
H
|
2-0
|
|
|
2
|
NEWFOUNDPOOL W M C |
H
|
5-1
|
|
|
3
|
BICESTER TOWN |
H
|
0-3
|
|
1979-80
|
2
|
ST NEOTS TOWN |
H
|
4-2
|
|
|
3
|
DESBOROUGH TOWN |
H
|
1-2
|
|
1980-81
|
2
|
CHALFONT ST PETER |
A
|
2-1
|
|
|
3
|
CHIPPING NORTON TOWN |
H
|
1-2
|
|
1981-82
|
2
|
HINCKLEY ATHLETIC |
A
|
1-1
|
|
|
2r
|
HINCKLEY ATHLETIC |
H
|
1-2
|
|
1982-83
|
1
|
DESBOROUGH TOWN |
H
|
1-0
|
|
|
2
|
V S RUGBY |
H
|
2-5
|
|
1983-84
|
1
|
HINCKLEY ATHLETIC |
A
|
2-2
|
|
|
1r
|
HINCKLEY ATHLETIC |
H
|
0-3
|
|
1984-85
|
PRE
|
BILSTON TOWN |
A
|
2-0
|
|
|
1
|
EVESHAM UNITED |
A
|
0-2
|
|
1985-86
|
PRE
|
FRIAR LANE OLD BOYS |
H
|
1-4
|
|
1986-87
|
PRE
|
COVENTRY SPORTING |
H
|
0-0
|
|
|
PREr
|
COVENTRY SPORTING |
A
|
1-3
|
|
1987-88
|
PRE
|
FRIAR LANE OLD BOYS |
A
|
1-2
|
|
1988-89
|
PRE
|
BRACKLEY TOWN |
A
|
2-2
|
|
|
PREr
|
BRACKLEY TOWN |
H
|
3-0
|
|
|
1
|
WEDNESFIELD SOCIAL |
H
|
4-0
|
|
|
2
|
WISBECH TOWN |
A
|
1-2
|
|
1989-90
|
PRE
|
CHASETOWN |
H
|
3-0
|
|
|
1
|
WOLVERHAMPTON CASUALS |
H
|
6-1
|
|
|
2
|
SANDWELL BOROUGH |
H
|
5-1
|
|
|
3
|
WISBECH TOWN |
H
|
3-0
|
|
|
4
|
HEANOR TOWN |
A
|
2-1
|
|
|
5
|
EMLEY |
H
|
2-0
|
|
|
QF
|
HYTHE TOWN |
H
|
0-1
|
|
