Friday Freebie: Non-league is full of memories

Immerse yourself in some nostalgic thinking and add your own

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At this time of year and as we move towards the dawn of the new year it’s all about reflection and memories of the time just past. With that in mind I thought we’ll use this piece to recollect memories of non-league football, whether that be last week, last year or way back in the distance.

But, not just from me, go ahead and contribute in the comments, share what you have, share what you know, why it sticks in your memory and it can be anything connected to a game.

I’ve got so many, so I’ll pick out just a few. I’ve been going to non-league games for since I was about 8 years old, that’s some 40 odd years crammed into my head and of course some stick out more than others.

Over that time I’ve watched countless games at all levels, seen promotions won, relegations confirmed, titles secured and met some fabulous people, the latter with some more still to meet, I love to find out what makes them tick when it comes to non-league football.

My first memory is the first game I ever watched, Maidstone Utd vs Nuneaton Borough, a Wednesday night under floodlights with a 2-0 win for the Stones, Steve Butler and George Torrance the scorers, the former would crop up in my history again long after that day. That night hooked me at London Road and they were my team until they folded in 1992 having won promotion to the Football League only a few years earlier. Many a Stone also have appeared since in my timeline, that’s the kind of football it is.

Their loss was Barnet’s gain, two promotions to the Football League in my 25 odd years watching the Bees with some fantastic memories in both years for many different reasons. I’ve been extremely lucky to have shared those moments with some great friends at the time and even more lucky to have interviewed so many members from both years, most I’m now lucky to call friends and speak to often, stuff of dreams for most of us, I’m actually living it.

Wembley, two finals of the FA Vase. The first back in 2013 when Tunbridge Wells went all the way. My youngest brother played for them years earlier, my dad until he died was a prominent member off the pitch for the Wells, sadly he didn’t live long enough to see the moment.

The second just a couple of years ago, my adopted hometown of Littlehampton Town repeated the Wells journey, only I was a part of it. Local newspaper coverage has waned tremendously over the years, but this kind of occasion you couldn’t ignore.

The Littlehampton Gazette sports editor Steve Bone allowed me to contribute all the way through to and including the Final at Wembley, the biggest stage I’ve reported on and what a blast it was, the season as a whole for the Golds a treble and Wembley runners up, phenomenal and once again great friends made out of it and a memory never to be taken away from anyone who witnessed the run or the day itself.

The last memory I’m going to bring up is an ongoing one, it never stops recreating itself. I’ve met so many fabulous people across the game, whether that be locally, through social media, through Barnet FC or wherever that line never ends and most of that has been born through the power of social media, blogging and podcasting.

Depending on when you read this article I will have spent the Saturday before Xmas catching up with two of my Bromley supporting mates, Eddie Mackintosh and Rob Shirley, they came from the above and we meet up at least once a year sharing the same love for non-league football and the joy of just seeing your mates, sharing a beer and some food, and of course the football.

It's the same everywhere, I’ve too many people to mention, I’d be here all night and every time you meet with one of these people you create another memory to add to the others and none are forgettable.

In the midst of all these Super League discussions and grumbles over moving kick off times and ticket prices where the memory starts to get tarnished, remember what’s right on your doorstep.

There’s a club, there might be three just waiting for you to be a part of some memories, it might not happen overnight, Rome wasn’t built in a day, but go and read some of these blogs you see popping up on your timeline, or just the ones I retweet and feel like you’re actually within that piece of writing, you won’t regret it.

Now it’s your turn! I don’t care how long the reply is in the comments, get in there and share them all with everyone, I bet you’d be surprised to find that one of those memories are the same or quite similar as one you remember, the floor is yours……….