Dial will make history today (15 Aug) when Steve Brown's side step out against Minster this evening in the first qualifying round of the Isuzu FA Vase at Hartsdown Park Stadium. 7:30pm k.o.

After one false start in 2025 - due to missing out on promotion from the Surrey Premier County Football League on goal difference - Dial's second application to compete in this year's FA Vase was accepted on 26 June 2026.

The Dial are one of 601 clubs (624 in the 2025/26 FA Vase competition, and 595 entrants the previous season) across steps 5 and 6 of the National League System (non-League pyramid) competing in this season's illustrious FA non-League knockout competition.

It’s also the first time that Minster, who were playing in division one of the Canterbury & District Football League only five seasons again, have been accepted into The Vase in their 115-year history.

For the Thanet village club, it’s now their second season groundsharing with Isthmian Football League South East Division side, Margate, after moving away from their Recreation Ground in Ramsgate in pursuit of a higher level of football.

The sharp rise to the fore of both Dial and Minster over the past few seasons is something to celebrate. So, it’s perhaps fitting that the two debutants have been drawn together in the opening round of this season’s FA Vase.

Like Dial, Minster gained promotion to step 6 of the National League System (non-league football pyramid) in May 2026 after they finished second to New Romney to secure promotion to division one of the Southern Counties East Football League from the Kent County Football League. It came at the same time as Dial gained promotion to division one of the Southern Combination Football League.

The Kent will be hoping to get their season back on track after losing their opening league game 4-1 at home to Croydon last Saturday (8 Aug), while Brown will be seeking a 'marked improvement' after Dial slumped to a heavy defeat against Dorking Wanderers (B) in the Peter Bentley (League) Cup at the Meadowbank Stadium on Tuesday (11 Aug).

Ahead of today's fixture, Brown managed to added ex-Wimbledon Casuals attacking midfielder Matt Hinks to the ranks, with the former Don likely to be thrust straight into the starting line up alongside former teammate Daniel Wanyonyi, with captain Jimmy Norman and vice captain George Frith both unavailable for today's cup clash.

Seventeen-year-old goalkeeper Callum Miles is also expected to make his FA Vase debut while striker-come-defender, Charlie Marshall, could also return to the fold after re-signing for The Dial in midweek.

Speaking with Dial SquareFC.com yesterday, Brown said: "I didn't learn anything from Tuesday's league cup fixture against Dorking, other than we need to play considerably better this weekend against Minster.

"As there are no replays in the FA Vase, the fixture will make for an interesting spectacle, not least of all being played in the evening under floodlights.

"It's usual these days for two clubs to be drawn against each in their first outing in the competition, but we cannot let the sentiment of the occasion nor the 196-mile round trip get the better of us.

"We need to make sure that we leave nothing on the pitch and give a good account of ourselves, so we can be in the hat for the second qualifying round draw," he added.

For those travelling to Hartsdown Park Stadium today, directions are available on the Margate F.C. website here.

Gates open at 6:30pm. Admission costs are £6 for adults and £3 for concessions. A matchday programme will be available on the gate at £2.50.

To view Dial's results and forthcoming fixtures, please click here.