The Non - League thread

[floyd__streete]

Indeed Floyd, a cracking day. Also special mentions to the worst ever tannoy man, Propoganda advertising in the ground and John Sellars Black n White Army. Whoever the hell that is.

Cheers to TLM for driving us down in his Vauxhall Labrador. Nice car; electric windows, power steering. Central locking.

For those of you for whom picturs of obscure football grounds are ambrosia indeed, feast your eyes on these little beauties:

[Big Foot]

Was this a more enjoyable day out than following Reading to some identikit all-seated stadium in the Championship? You betcha life it was. £6 to get in n'all.

I've tried my damnest to get into watching non league football, but no matter how many times I go and watch I struggle to find myself caring anywhere near as much as I do when sat in my plastic seat, in a plastic ground surrounded by plastics. And for that reason, I'm OUT.

I find it very enjoyable to be able to watch a game without ending up like some mouth-foaming, vein-bulging, obscenity-ridden monster. And that is just watching the warm up at the Mad Stad

Imagine a football world without rumblestix, big foam hands, flag waving tards, Play Your Shirts Right, Golden Gamble, over priced everything.

I don't see any rumblestix or big foam hands amongst the plastics at Madejski

Each to their own but I'd rather watch a team that I actually have some passion for rather than some shitty tin pot outfit (no matter how much we play like one at times). If going and watching teams supported by one man and his dog is your thing; why not save yourself the £5/6 and watch Westwood Wanderers?

[Wax Jacket]

quirky-looking ground that and a decent crowd it seems

[Four Of Clubs]

quirky-looking ground that and a decent crowd it seems

It certainly is that - no pics from the 'cosy' little bar/clubhouse - nor the covered terrace thats a sort of glorified concrete bookcase = v.high & narrow - or has it fallen over in the couple of years since I visited?

Oh and declared attendance @ Cinderford was 218 which is roughly 90 higher than their league average this season.
... last season their home average was about 90 down 10 from the season before.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tonight's local NL games - the one @ 'Stalag' Scours looks the pick of the bunch.

FA Cup 3Q Replays
Staines Town v Bury Town
Woking v Brentwood Town

SOUTHP
Hemel Hempstead Town v Didcot Town

COCOP
KO 19:30 Ash United v Cove
Bookham v Badshot Lea
Mole Valley SCR v Guildford City
Hants Senior Cup
KO 19:30 Hartley Wintney v Christchurch

Hellenic Premier
Carterton v Shrivenham
Flackwell Heath v Ascot United
Highworth Town v Abingdon Town
Reading Town v Binfield
Wokingham & Emmbrook v Kidlington

Wessex One
Whitchurch Utd v Andover New St.

[Elmer Park]

I ventured to Didcot on Saturday to see them take on Basingstoke in the F A Cup. It was the furthest Didcot have ever been in the Competition being fairly recent social climbers up the football pyramid but they were completely outclassed by Basingstoke which was surprising as there is only one division between the Clubs these days.

Plum draw for Basingstoke as already mentioned. Difficult tie for Maidenhead at Forest Green although often their best performances seem to come away from home.

[Svlad Cjelli]

went to Bracknell Town vs Woodley Town on Sat, in the whatever insurance cup.

Cracking game that finished 2-2 after 90 minutes, with a gaol for each team in the last 10 minutes.

Woodley scored quickly in extra time and BTFC heads dropped - even more so when an abject bit of refereeing robbed them of a likely equaliser. Ref was not looking as a BTFC was taken down from behind when breaking into the box, and the lino saw it (as did everyone else) and flagged furiously but the ref didn't even look at him, and later tried to make out that he'd seen the incident and decided it wasn't a foul, which was both ludicrous and obviously a blatant lie. Quite the most appalling piece of refereeing I've ever, ever, seen.

Despite that, BTFC did score in the 38th minute of extra time (a couple of injuries and loads of arguments and bookings!) - but predictably lost the penalty shoot-out 4-2. A really entertaining match, though.

[Harpers So Solid Crew]

went to Bracknell Town vs Woodley Town on Sat, in the whatever insurance cup.

Cracking game that finished 2-2 after 90 minutes, with a gaol for each team in the last 10 minutes.

.

So they both got banged up then?

[Four Of Clubs]

Last night's scores (Tue 12th):

FA Cup 3Q Replays
Staines Town 2-0 Bury Town
Woking 1-0 Brentwood Town

SOUTHP
Hemel Hempstead Town 0-1 Didcot Town

COCOP
Ash United 1-2 Cove
Bookham 2-5 Badshot Lea
Mole Valley SCR 3-3 Guildford City
Hants Senior Cup
Hartley Wintney 1-0 Christchurch

Hellenic Premier
Carterton 2-2 Shrivenham
Flackwell Heath 3-0 Ascot United
Highworth Town 4-0 Abingdon Town
Pegasus Juniors 1-6 Wantage Town
Shortwood Utd 4-1 Wootton Bassett
Reading Town 1-1 Binfield att 97 good feisty local encounter = Personally I thought Binfield had the better of the play - certainly 2nd half - but RTFC have a bit more about them than earlier in the season. They look to have strengthened through the middle - not soleley reliant upon Seaward and Hancock - though these two did play well last night.
The others managed to keep Ian Davies pretty well shackled but Carl (Davies) got himself free of his markers and scored a good goal 2nd half.
Big Bad Marcus 'The Beast' Richardson was wheeled on to change things up front for RTFC and scored with his first touch . Threatened to unravel Binfield on his own - they then lost their keeper to a Red Card - handball outside the area - indirectly caused by the very presence of Marcus on the field. The Ascot back four were too busy looking for him and left a through ball for another RTFC forward to chase - forcing keeper (Adams) to rush out and scoop it clear.
However, Binfield are made of stern stuff managed to re-group, just about held on as 'The Marcus Effect' fizzled out - RTFC failed to trouble the sub-keeper and even with 10 men Binfield looked more likely to score in the very generous amount of injury time allowed.

Witney 0-0 Fairford
Wokingham & Emmbrook 1-2 Kidlington att 67

Wessex One
Whitchurch Utd 5-1 Andover New St.

[Rev Algenon Stickleback H]

I don't see any rumblestix or big foam hands amongst the plastics at Madejski

I agree. I've no idea idea why so many seem determined to believe that rumblestix are synonymous with the Madejski when the whole idea died a rapid death after one match when they were given away free. I'm not sure if I've ever seen a foam hand at Reading. And clubs have been doing golden gamble style half time raffles for decades. It's hardly a scourge of modern football

Each to their own but I'd rather watch a team that I actually have some passion for rather than some shitty tin pot outfit (no matter how much we play like one at times). If going and watching teams supported by one man and his dog is your thing; why not save yourself the £5/6 and watch Westwood Wanderers?

I've no problem watching games as a neutral. If I'm booking a weekend break abroad, for example, I'll try and schedule it for a weekend when the local team is at home, as I quite enjoy taking in a Spanish or German league game. It's quite pleasant to watch a game, nominally wanting the home team to win, but secretly not minding if the away team score, just enjoying the game with no stress.

As much as I want to like non-league football though, I find it hard to get into unless there's at least about 600 people there. I need something resembling an atmosphere or I find it dull.

I guess it boils down to whether to you it's just about the football, or if you take the football and the setting, and maybe the personal importance as part of the whole experience.

Saying that, I went to Bracknell a couple of times last year as you were pretty much guaranteed to see a few goals. They managed to lose one game 0-9!

I'd also rather watch a non-league match in front of 150 fans than watch a premier league game on tv.

[Tony Le Mesmer]

I like Non League Football because:

Costs £10 or less to get in (£6 to watch an FA Cup tie last weekend)
You don’t need a member card or a ticket to get in. Cash on gate.
You can stand up.
You can drink on the terrace.
You can smoke on the terrace.
You are made to feel welcome (Home, Away or Neutral).
Terrace Banter a plenty. (no segregation)
No gay music after goal is scored.
Beer and food all reasonably priced.
No queuing for either.
The players are there for the love of the game.
Great connection between players and support.
And last but not least, your average fan at a game is not completely brain washed by anything and everything associated with Sky Sports.

You will not find any of the above at a Championship Game.

[Royal Rother]

Excellent list.

[Ian Herring]

Exactly same reasons why I like to watch non-league.

Viva Le Mesmer.

[Alan Partridge]

I like Non League Football because:

Costs £10 or less to get in (£6 to watch an FA Cup tie last weekend)
You don’t need a member card or a ticket to get in. Cash on gate.
You can stand up.
You can drink on the terrace.
You can smoke on the terrace.
You are made to feel welcome (Home, Away or Neutral).
Terrace Banter a plenty. (no segregation)
No gay music after goal is scored.
Beer and food all reasonably priced.
No queuing for either.
The players are there for the love of the game.
Great connection between players and support.
And last but not least, your average fan at a game is not completely brain washed by anything and everything associated with Sky Sports.

You will not find any of the above at a Championship Game.

Gr8 list. I also like watching teams without 'holding' midfielders or one up front.

[Four Of Clubs]

... this Saturday's 'NL menu' - I've shown all the 'southern' Trophy games cos I can't be arsed to edit them!

FA Trophy 1st Round

Wealdstone v Potters Bar Town
Bury Town v Barton Rovers
Bognor Regis Town v Croydon Athletic
Harrow Borough v Hendon
Canvey Island v AFC Sudbury
Arlesey Town v Ramsgate
Enfield Town v Walton Casuals
Great Wakering Rovers v Thamesmead Town
Dulwich Hamlet v Hastings United
Sutton United v Tooting & Mitcham United
Cray Wanderers v Wingate & Finchley
Maidstone United v Burgess Hill Town
Soham Town Rangers v Grays Athletic
Needham Market v Lowestoft Town
Waltham Forest v Romford
Tonbridge Angels v Concord Rangers
Cambridge City v Aveley
Faversham Town v Kingstonian
Fleet Town v Godalming Town
AFC Hornchurch v Brentwood Town
Harlow Town v Bedford Town
Carshalton Athletic v Ilford
Margate v Whitehawk
Biggleswade Town v Billericay Town
Folkestone Invicta v Worthing
Horsham v Redbridge
Swindon Supermarine v Beaconsfield SYCOB
Uxbridge v Abingdon United
Truro City v Bishop’s Cleeve
Woodford United v Leamington
Windsor & Eton v Aylesbury
Almondsbury Town v Didcot Town
Weymouth v Bashley
Cinderford Town v Hungerford Town
Bridgwater Town v Stourbridge
Ashford Town (Middx) v North Greenford United
Burnham v Brackley Town
Banbury United v Wimborne Town
Slough Town v Chippenham Town
Cirencester Town v Halesowen Town
Evesham United v Frome Town
Paulton Rovers v North Leigh
Bideford v Tiverton Town
Chesham United v Salisbury City
Hemel Hempstead Town v Rugby Town
AFC Totton v AFC Hayes
Oxford City v Daventry Town

CONFS
Basingstoke v Bromley
Hampton & Richmond v Farnborough
Maidenhead Utd v Welling
Staines Town v Woking

COCOP
Camberley Town v Banstead Athletic
Colliers Wood United v Chertsey Town
Croydon v Ash United
Egham Town v Cove
Guildford City v Horley Town
Sandhurst Town v Wembley
Lemon Recordings Division One Challenge Cup – 1st Round
Chobham v Knaphill
Lemon Recordings Division One Challenge Cup – 2nd Round
Eversley v Farnborough North End (KO 2.00 p.m. by mutual agreement)
COCO1
Farnham Town v Hayes Gate
Frimley Green v Hartley Wintney

HELLP
Ascot United v Shortwood United
Binfield v Pegasus Juniors
Fairford Town v Bracknell Town
Shrivenham v Flackwell Heath
Wokingham & Emmbrook v Highworth Town
Wootton Bassett Town v Reading Town
HELL1E
Finchampstead v Newbury
Holyport v Chalfont Wasps
Milton United v Rayners Lane
Woodley Town v Didcot Town Reserves
Oxon Senior Cup Round One
Henley Town v Ardley United
Thame United v Woodcote Stoke Row

WESS1
Tadley Calleva v Shaftesbury

[Ark Royal]

I wonder what the trophy for the magnificently-named Lemon Recordings Division One Challenge Cup looks like?

[Rev Algenon Stickleback H]

I like Non League Football because:

Costs £10 or less to get in (£6 to watch an FA Cup tie last weekend)

a definite plus, although you have to drop a fair way, I'd suspect, to get in at that price. Even Bracknell charge £7 in the Hellenic League.

You don’t need a member card or a ticket to get in. Cash on gate.

IT is nice to roll up to a game without having to arrange anything in advance, defintitely, although on balance even that isn't simpler than swiping a season ticket.

You can stand up.

A big plus, unless you get a big crowd. I saw 1400 at Bracknell once, and that was a nightmare as unless you are right at the front (or tall) the view is terrible. Not exactly a problem at the vast majority on non-league games though, although I do much prefer the view up in the stands to the touchline view.

The government have also scrapped the FLA in the cull of the quangos, so maybe they'll return to league football too.

You can drink on the terrace.

Is that actually allowed, or just not checked? I have had a beer on the terraces at Maidenhead, which does make the evening more pleasant.

You can smoke on the terrace.

As a non-smoker that's of no concern either way to me, but it's not something I'd want in a seated stand. At least on terraces you can move away from that bloke with the stinking cigar.

You are made to feel welcome (Home, Away or Neutral).

I agree. Although I do like the way an away end helps the atmosphere, they can be unwelcoming places. Downright horrible in the old days, particularly when the police and stewards regarded you as a nuisance that needed to be herded up.

Terrace Banter a plenty. (no segregation)

I must have just been to the wrong non-league games then as I've always found them to be almost completely devoid of any banter, atmosphere or passion.

No gay music after goal is scored.

a big plus

Beer and food all reasonably priced.

...and another

No queuing for either.

Hmm, it depends where you go. I went to Tamworth once and managed to miss both goals in a 2-0 win while queuing up. They've cleverly located the serving hatch of their kitchen in a position which obstructs 90% of the pitch for those queuing up, whereas if it had been at the other end, it would have been no problem. Some places such as Maidenhead do have a tea bar where you can see the pitch, but many don't.

The players are there for the love of the game.
Great connection between players and support.

that's great if it's your club, but not much good for a neutral. And as committed as the players might be, what they have in enthusiasm often fails to mask what they lack in ability. I've been pleasantly surprised at the efforts to play football at some places - Windsor a couple of years ago, for example, but I've seen rather to many shapeless lumpy games as well. Actually, now I think of it, watching Reading under Porterfield was a lot like that.

And last but not least, your average fan at a game is not completely brain washed by anything and everything associated with Sky Sports.

I don't think the average fan at league football is either, although plenty of the young 'uns certainly are. Mind you, one of the more pleasant aspects of lower non-league football is the ability to feel almost youthful in the crowd, despite being 41. Sometimes I look around the crowds, seemingly devoid of people between the ages of 18 and 40, and think this is what towns must have looked liked in the 1940s when the menfolk were all at the front.

You will not find any of the above at a Championship Game.

You also won't find snarling chavs who think picking fights is all part of a day out at football, at non-league games either, which is another big selling point. I've been to other sports in other countries, such as Australia, and been to big derby games, and it's completely unsegregated without a hint of trouble. Of all the problems with professional football, nothing is worse, in my opinion, than crowd trouble.


Like I said earlier. I do like non-league football. I just wish I liked it more. I can go to league games abroad on my own and really enjoy it. I find it really hard to do the same at non-league games.

[Four Of Clubs]

... today's NL 'local' scores plus a few other choice results:-

FA Trophy 1st Round

Fleet Town 0-2 Godalming Town
Swindon Supermarine 4-2 Beaconsfield SYCOB
Uxbridge 4-1 Abingdon United
Truro City 1-0 Bishop’s Cleeve
Windsor & Eton 1-1 Aylesbury att 156 - replay Tue 19th
Almondsbury Town 1-0 Didcot Town
Weymouth 2-1 Bashley
Cinderford Town 2-2 Hungerford Town replay Tue 19th
Burnham 0-0 Brackley Town replay Tue 19th
Slough Town 1-1 Chippenham Town replay Tue 19th
Chesham United 1-1 Salisbury City replay Tue 19th
Oxford City 1-4 Daventry Town

... and a couple from oop North

Matlock Town 10 [TEN] - 0 Bedworth United
FC United Of Manchester 5 - 0 Newcastle Town

CONFS
Basingstoke 4-1 Bromley
Hampton & Richmond 0-4 Farnborough
Maidenhead Utd 0-3 Welling
Staines Town 1-0 Woking winner on 89’
St Albans 3-4 Weston-Super-Mare – 1-0 until 76’ – then 6 goal in last 15’ - StAlebuns went 2-0 up.
COCOP
Badshot Lea 3-0 Dorking
Camberley Town 1-1 Banstead Athletic
Colliers Wood United 2-2 Chertsey Town
Croydon 1-3 Ash United
Egham Town 2-0 Cove
Guildford City 3-1 Horley Town
Sandhurst Town 7-2 Wembley
Lemon Recordings Division One Challenge Cup – 1st Round
Chobham 3-0 Knaphill
Lemon Recordings Division One Challenge Cup – 2nd Round
Eversley 2-1 Farnborough North End - aet
COCO1
Farnham Town 1-0 Hayes Gate
Frimley Green 1-2 Hartley Wintney

HELLP
Ascot United 1-3 Shortwood United
Binfield 4-2 Pegasus Juniors
Fairford Town 0-1 Bracknell Town
Shrivenham 2-2 Flackwell Heath
Wokingham & Emmbrook 4-1 Highworth Town
Wootton Bassett Town 0-3 Reading Town
HELL1E
Finchampstead 0-2 Newbury
Holyport 1-2 Chalfont Wasps
Milton United 0-2 Rayners Lane
Woodley Town 3-1 Didcot Town Reserves
Oxon Senior Cup Round One
Henley Town 0-2 Ardley United
Thame United 3-1 Woodcote Stoke Row

WESS1
Tadley Calleva 2-2 Shaftesbury

[AndyRFC]

former Maidenhead and Woking boss Colin Lippiatt died last week from Cancer

[Elmer Park]

I like to go to the occasional non league match and with respect to Elm Park it sometimes reminds me of those old days. It is football stripped back to the basic game really.

Tony's points about the merits of watching non league football are well made although in most of the games I have been to there have been too few people there for much terrace banter.

Knowing as I do a number of people that regularly watch teams in the non league the real benefits are only felt by those who very regularly watch a particular team. If that is the case, as a way of passing a Saturday afternoon there are arguments that it is more enjoyable than watching league football.

On the downside you can't always get a pint of bitter at the Social Clubs and I don't know if it because I have got older or because Reading have been playing at a higher level for a while now but I don't generally enjoy anything below Ryman or Zameretto Premier as the standard frustrates me. I am afraid two of the three matches when I have watched Reading Town have been dire and facilities poor. Not sure if they have improved the facilities now though.

[Wax Jacket]

I think the best level is more or less the Conf South - generally decent players, smaller grounds but enough crowds to still get a bit of a matchday buzz about them