In 1969 The Football Association introduced The FA Challenge Trophy, a knock-out competition for non-League clubs with the incentive of an appearance at Wembley for the finalists.
With amateur clubs still being afforded that opportunity in The FA Amateur Cup (until 1974 when the competition was last played), it was felt that clubs with professional players, who could only enter The FA Cup, should have a more realistic chance of making it to the famed Twin Towers.
Entries for the first Trophy competition in 1969-70 included eight clubs who were destined to enter the Football League: Barnet, Cambridge United, Hereford United, Kidderminster Harriers, Macclesfield Town, Scarborough, Wimbledon and Wigan Athletic. Macclesfield beat Telford United 2-0 in the first final, watched by 28,000 at Wembley.
Three clubs have now won the Trophy two years in a row: Scarborough (1976 and 1977), Woking (1994 and 1995) and Kingstonian (1999 and 2000).
Veteran winger Clive Walker, a former professional with 500 League appearances under his belt, has collected four Trophy winners' medals, three with Woking and one with Cheltenham Town
Martin O'Neill took Wycombe Wanderers to two successful Finals and their match with Kidderminster Harriers in 1991 attracted a record 34,842 fans.
Following Wembley's closure, The Trophy Final moved to Villa Park, where in 2003 Burscough beat Tamworth 2-1.
In 2004, underdogs Hednesford Town were crowned as Trophy winners beating Canvey Island 3-2 in The Final. The Essex side had romped to the Ryman League championship but were seen off by the Dr Marten's League club who finished in the bottom three of the Premier Division.
A glorious winning goal from assistant player manager Chris Brindley with three minutes to go sealed the 3-2 win and cancelled out his earlier own-goal.
In 2005, an astonishing, resilient performance from Hucknall Town ended in tears of despair as Grays Athletic clinched The FA Trophy on penalties.
With the sides locked 1-1 at the end of extra time, and then again at 4-4 after the first round of penalties, it looked as if nothing was going to separate two sides who had fought themselves to a standstill.
But ultimately Grays prevailed which they had perhaps deserved to do on the balance of play: they produced 20 shots to Hucknall's six.
In 2006 it was Grays again who triumphed, becoming non-League football's Cup specialists after claiming their second FA Trophy in a row.
The Conference high-flyers had to battle their way past a host of fellow top sides on their way to The Final against Woking, at Upton Park, where they ran out 2-0 winners.
The Trophy returned to Wembley in 2007 and became the first final to be played under the glorious arch. Mark Stimson, who was boss of Grays for their Final victories in the previous two seasons, guided his new club Stevenage Borough to success, coming back from 2-0 down at half-time to win 3-2.
FA Trophy Records
Record Crowds for Finals
53,262 : Stevenage Borough 3-2 Kidderminister Harriers, 2007
34,842 : Wycombe Wanderers 2-1 Kidderminster Harriers, 1991
32,968 : Wycombe Wanderers 4-1 Runcorn, 1993
32,254 : Colchester United v Witton Albion, 1992
Record Winners
Three : Telford United (1971, 1983, 1989)
Three : Scarborough (1973, 1976, 1977)
Three : Woking (1994, 1995, 1997)