The FA Trophy is a competition that has huge prestige within the non-league scene. All of the teams situated in the divisions between the fifth and eighth tier enter the competition each year.
While some of the leading teams in the National League will be hoping to reach the Football League soon, for the vast majority of non-league teams at Step Four and above, the FA Trophy is the ultimate form of glory they can aim for.
32 teams remain in the competition heading into the fourth round in 2024, and a clear image is starting to form of the teams most likely to achieve a Wembley triumph.
Chesterfield could become first-time champions
Chesterfield are the outright favourites to win the FA Trophy for the first time next year. Many of the major bookmakers see the Spireites as the most likely team to secure the non-league’s greatest honour, including Bet365 who offer them at 4/1 to win the competition.
The team from the North West has been remarkably dominant in their National League campaign so far this season. They recorded an impressive 56 points from the opening 22 fixtures, and that level of dominance is predicted to also be expressed in the domestic cup.
Chesterfield have summer signing Will Grigg spearheading the attack and he is supported by another player with vast Football League experience, Joe Quigley. The pair managed 18 goals between them in the opening 23 fixtures of 2023/24 in all competitions.
The former League Two outfit restructured their overall team significantly over the summer to help secure their path back to the fourth tier. This has led to them emerging as by far the most dominant team below the Football League.
Winning the FA Trophy as well as the National League title could allow Chesterfield to write themselves into history as one of the great all-time non-league teams.
