How To Watch Non-League Football
A beginners' guide to the game outside the 92 league clubs (Page 1)
Contents:
Introduction
As stated elsewhere within this website, much noise is made about my favourite non league side Stalybridge Celtic. For once, I intend to write a (fairly) neutral article on supporting non league football. The object of this article is to not only share my experiences of watching the 'Bridge, but also to 'sell' the experience of non league to potential fans. These include people new to their local areas, or persons fed up of watching Premiership football, live or on television.
Why watch non league football?
Football in the eyes of the public is often perceived as a most boring sport played by the overpaid for the underpaid. Major teams have been associated more with matters off the pitch rather than on the pitch. These include high ticket prices, numerous changes of team strips and the odd scandal here and there.
In national journals, football coverage has 99% of its pagination focused on 0.1% of all clubs. This gives the perception that there are no teams below the Conference National league. Not so, as over 95% of football is played outside the 92 league clubs from the Conference leagues to the Reading Sunday League.
Some are tired of the other things peripheral to supporting their favourite team. These include psychoanalysis of each team's performance, extensive television coverage and pay-per-view fixtures. Other annoyances include traffic to and from the grounds, sterile stadia, and exorbitant ticket prices with credit card only bookings.
Outside the Football League and the FA Premier League, it is possible to avoid these annoyances and support a team within a short drive, walk or bus ride away. As opposed to being a worldwide brand or tradeable commodity, non league sides exist to serve their communities. Most non league sides are: Sunday league teams, works teams (Vauxhall Motors), local sports and social clubs (for example Worsborough Bridge Miners' Welfare) or formed by benefactors at some point (Stalybridge Celtic). Some, like the latter club stated, have previously played in the Football League, after resigning, relegation, or failing to gain re-election (other examples include Gainsborough Trinity, Workington, Darwen, Southport and Glossop North End).
A recent trend has seen the emergence of 'fans clubs' - mainly rebel sides, formed after dissatisfaction with their league clubs, or Phoenix clubs, risen from the ashes of administration, reformed by their fans. Within the former category are FC United of Manchester, AFC Wimbledon and Enfield Town. In the latter category are Gateshead (reformed twice in the 1970s), Bradford Park Avenue and Spennymoor Town (formed after Spennymoor United resigned from the Northern Premier League in 2004 - 05, merging with Evenwood Town). The most successful club in recent years to have risen from the ashes of its predecessor is Accrington Stanley, who are now playing in Coca Cola Football League Two. The second version of Accrington Stanley were formed in 1968 by supporters of the late league side.
What to expect
- Smaller stadia with character;
- Fewer seats and open terracing (some grounds have grass banking);
- A family atmosphere, akin to a local pub, social group or church;
- Lower admission prices;
- Being able to see 22 men without the need for binoculars or long sighted vision;
- Better food and drink, mainly from local businesses (including real pies);
- Being able to change ends at half time;
- Not having to book weeks in advance for most fixtures.
For anyone who has spent half their life (and earnings) watching Premiership football, expect a culture shock. Expect to familiarise yourself with more idiosyncratic stadia, and regard anything (in non league terms) over 6,000 capacity as a large ground. Most of the non league grounds I have visited have more character than the average tin box seen in league football. Of the grounds I have visited, here are some examples of non league venues which are well worth visiting.
- Bower Fold, Stalybridge Celtic: I make no apologies for my bias with this one. Bower Fold is covered on all four sides with 75% of its cover using cantilever roofs, and a generous 1,200 seats. Bower Fold is Tameside's only Football League graded ground. By the way, the pies are great and the ground is close to the Hare and Hounds public house, an Indian restaurant, and a gym (if you need to shed the pounds after a few pints, pies or lamb Bhunas);
- Richmond Park, Curzon Ashton: One of the best new grounds and rated non league ground of the season for 2005 - 06 by Groundtastic magazine;
- The New Bucks Head, AFC Telford United: One of the few non-league grounds superior to my home club's - and possibly a few Football League venues. Excellent well banked terracing, internal concourses and well appointed main stand. A special mention should also be made for its professionalism from crowd control to car parking. Better still, you could also stay overnight before a game - part of the ground includes a hotel - and the ground looks nothing like a tin shed;
