Why do we choose non-league football? A whole host of reasons but the list is growing bigger every season with more and more disillusionment coming at topflight football.
I woke up on Sunday to a host of retweets from other people showing some who had attended their first non-league game on Saturday afternoon with the Premier League and Championship on an international break, something that was really refreshing to see and hopefully not their last game either.
Us regulars of course go for a variety of reasons as well, and while it frustrates us as much as any other game would I’m certain 99% at least wouldn’t change it.
What does draw us in then? My first point would be price, very current at the moment with a cost of living crisis but something top flight football seems immune to worrying about, suggesting the obscene amounts they have to throw around won’t be ending any time soon.
The fact gate receipts are mere pocket change these days says they could easily put a cap on pricing that everyone could afford to go if they wanted to, that reluctance and in some cases a constant high hike people are re-evaluating what they can do and afford.
I know I tweet a lot about Hungerford Town’s offer, 4 for a score, match entry, programme, food and a pint, all for £20, but why not when it shouts great value, I do the same for anything else I see at whatever level, get them in and keep them coming.
The second is VAR. The spoiler, the one thing designed to improve the game has actually made it worse. It’s gone from supposed clearing up of slight indecisions to stopping anyone celebrating a goal unless you score from almost your own penalty area without a hint of offside, but then there might have been a foul just before the swinging foot made contact so it might have to be ruled out, what a time to be alive!
None of that in non-league is there, we play by what we see and accept things even themselves out over the course of the season, like all football used to do, still what it says on the packet at this level.
Next up I’m going people. In most cases and at most levels you can sit or stand where you want and more than likely you’ll see the same people in the same spot every home game, even on a cold Tuesday November night. You’ll probably get to know them, you’ll share some words, the same elation or disappointment as the season goes on and you might even find out a name or two.
Social media helps as well now with the above line, I’ve found many a new person at a different club that I’ve actually met when I’ve gone to games or we share that same non-league passion but for different clubs and able to respect each other’s opinions, something I find lacking at times still.
Food. My Twitter followers will know I love a good burger when I go to a game, I’m not looking for gourmet but just something that tastes good and I’d happily recommend it to everyone else.
Hungerford’s Bulpit Beast is the one, I’ve had some great ones at Hampton & Richmond, Eastbourne Borough and Littlehampton Town, I’ve no doubt there are more out there and plenty who are pushing against the grain and doing something different, for instance, pie, mash and gravy at Lewes, Worthing have tried pizza’s this season. When you see a burger and chips for £21 at Arsenal over this weekend you know things are losing the plot if they haven’t already, unbelievable stuff!
The game is more honest, of course that’s not naïve to think the rules aren’t bent from time to time but what you see below the National League level are players who like you and I work a normal job and then undertake 90-180 minutes a week to entertain us on the sidelines, it doesn’t always go right but the levels are so much more improved than years ago.
There’s no break for a winter World Cup, non-league keeps playing and I hope more and more people head locally to find out what else they can watch and then keeping coming because its more affordable and not such a bad thing.
I can’t however guarantee you’ll find every single one of these things above at every game or ground you go to; you might not find more than 30 other people and the burger hut might be shut that night but give it another go somewhere else if it doesn’t take your fancy.
My first non-league game I was eight years old, some nearly 40 years later I’m still going, but I’ve met some great people running clubs, podcasters, bloggers, groundhoppers, managers, chairman etc. There’s a lot to like about non-league football, there’s even more to love.
Great piece! I hope to catch up with you one day at The Hive.
Spot on as usual Trevor.