Friday Freebie: What to read in 2024

Last week podcasts, this week bloggers.

Welcome to the Friday Freebie, this is the free post coming at you every Friday as a taster of what you can find behind the paywall. Please share these posts far and wide, something for both paid and free subscribers to my site.

If you like what you see and enjoy what you read please consider becoming a paid subscriber for just £5 a month (£1.16 per week) which gets you 8 paid for blogs as a minimum and the 4 free ones also, not bad for your money!

Or if you prefer subscribe annually which works out cheaper at £4 a month or 93p a week, just an absolute bargain especially adding in the relaunched ‘Trev Talks’ podcast, no price rises, no inflation, just great non-league content.

Alternatively you can ‘buy me a coffee’ or make a donation at the link here, anything is much appreciated to support me and my work throughout the year.

Blogging has been a part of my life for five years, originally a place just for me to share my thoughts, ramblings and other such notes, something I think a lot of bloggers can resonate with.

Over that time period, I’ve evolved and moved onto charging for my work on this very platform, I always wanted to be a sports journalist but not by following the conventional methods, I’ve never been one bound by boundaries and I like to push the limits, if you don’t ask you don’t get and if you don’t try you’ll never know.

I could go on with plenty of these quotes and the likes but let’s get into the thick of the article. We’re here for the love of non-league football and being such a vast thing from the south to the north and vice versa there’s plenty of it out there.

Last week I featured some of the best non-league podcasts I listen to; spread the word and it might just add a few more listeners to their counts. This week I’ve chosen to highlight a few bloggers I read regularly and have found over the last five years; some are free and some like me charge for their work.

I’m always on the lookout for more information, more things to learn, you can never have enough nuggets. I suppose in effect I am endorsing these guys and their work so join me on a Friday evening journey and discover something new as you read on.

Now, these are in no particular order nor are they confined to a step order in the non-league pyramid, some write daily, some only after they’ve been to a game, some head to a game at least once a week if not more so sit back and peruse at your leisure.

First up for me is Gareth Thomas (@Gareth19801 on Twitter/X) and his site www.garethsfootballtravels.wordpress.com, it is one of the most diverse sites I know from match reports to programme reviews, a minefield of information going back to previous years up to the present day, a great addition.

Next up is Drew Kendall (@DKendallMedia) and www.21-22endofseason.blogspot.com. Like Gareth, Drew is a blogger I’ve known for a good number of years and this site is centred around Needham Market FC who have been an outstanding side for the last few years. Drew doesn’t stop there producing great work, he also dabbles with a few of the local sides around that area and also covers some Under 18 football as well.

David Fuller (@08DavidFuller) down in Sussex is another I’ve known for a few years, a published author with the www.alfie-jones.co.uk books for kids, he also blogs on Southern Combination Premier Division side Newhaven, you can find his site here www.comeonyoudockers.blogspot.com. An ever gracious host whenever I head along the coast , worth a midweek visit just for the ferry coming in to dock lights ablaze.

The next one for me is Kie Harper (@kieharper1986) and you’ll find him at www.kiesfootball1986.wordpress.com. Kie groundhops around the Midland and a lot of his blogs are full of interviews with various players and managers from all around the country.

Matthew Britt (@xcxccvc) runs the excellent www.teacakefootballgroundsofthe.uk.  This man gets about a fair bit I have to warn you, often there’s a double game report always loaded with plenty of pictures if he can find one, I’m pretty sure Chatham Town is the go to venue for this guy.

Up next, Peter’s (@DmitrusOld) site www.lordcanislupus778.wordpress.com. Following the fortunes of a few non-league clubs he visits including his love for Phoenix Sports but now exiled away in a different part of the country, this is very much a heart on your sleeve blog, the raw emotion non-league can bring to anyone is captured so well wherever he goes, and I love his tagline ‘love non-league and it will love you back’, just superb.

Ian King (@twoht) is my penultimate choice, www.unexpecteddelirium.substack.com is where you’ll find him. An absolute mix of football opinion, nostalgic lookbacks and plenty of non-league content thrown in as well across the board.

My final one is Lee Wellings (@LeeW_Sport) and his place of work, www.leewellings.substack.com. Lee I’ve known for a few years, also a published author and has worked for the big boys as well, but having fallen out of love with those he’s down here with the sensible stuff whilst a following for Horsham FC along the way.

Like the podcasts I featured last week there hopefully is something for everyone in the little list above and it shines a little light on some people  who do it for their love of the game and others who like me hugely appreciate being paid to write about something we are very passionate about.

Whilst on that subject please feel free to drop me a donation or ‘buy me a coffee’ for the time taken to produce these free pieces for you, it’s enjoyable to do and there’s no pressure for any of you to contribute but if you’d like to you can here.

Are there some fantastic blogs, free or paid for, out there that you consistently read? Or is there a non-league blogger out there you think deserves a little shoutout? Let me know in the comments below.