Friday Freebie: What draws you into watching non-league football?

So many different aspects to the game to entice people to watch

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As we hit mid-July pre-season games are well underway and clubs are beginning to receive their full fixture list for the season. The prolonged wait for some is pure agony with the staggered release from the Premier League right down to Step 5 and 6.

For others it’s the beginnings of the planning stages, train booking and even hotel stays in some respects as things start to hot up in anticipation of that new season being just around the corner.

As regular readers are away I get to a varied amount of games across the season, a lot to keep this blog more interesting that just heading to my club Barnet.

There are many different aspects or things that intrigue me to want to visit a particular club. With quite a decent amount of people in the contact book it’s always nice to head to watch their team play especially if they’ve changed clubs over the summer. They support me giving their time for interviews and blogs throughout the year it’s a little way to pay them back.

Some grounds have great features or just look almost majestical under the midweek lights, some more quirky and some close enough to head along where time can constrain you a little, especially on a Tuesday night with work the following morning.

Price can the draw too, in a time when pretty much everyone is mindful of what they spend more for your pound notes goes a long way, especially if the entertainment on the pitch is grabbing your eye too.

Food is another big catch, as are bar prices. Clubs certainly I think try to add as much variety as they can, and it’s a good point to remember a lot of these people are volunteers, some will be paid but a majority are not.

The standards are certainly a lot higher than ever I feel, the secondary spend is all important once you get people through the gate, a lot of that can make the difference between profit and loss.

The people you meet within the clubs and those watching as well are just so genuine, they’re keen to talk to you, they value what you say and you value what they say, it is the footballing family as so many remark.

Publicity is scarce for a lot of clubs unless something special happens or the complete opposite, there is enough room for all within the game but at some levels you get valued more than if you parted with half your mortgage for a seat just to watch one lot of 90 minutes.

So, over the course of the next few months there will be plenty to write about and lots to discuss, I always welcome any pieces you want to see written, it’s an open book and who knows your piece might just be the one that draws plaudits from all angles.