Amid the excitement of an International Break, this weekend will also play host to English football’s Non-League Day, an annual event that encourages fans to visit their local non-professional clubs.
It is a great opportunity to watch football at the purest level,a real stark contrast to watching a Barclays Premier League or a Sky Bet Championship match. For a lot of fans it can be a very refreshing experience.
For a start, most of the leagues still remain untouched from sponsorship. For example, the Midlands Football League Division Two is named just that.
The football is more often than not direct, this does not mean hoof-ball, it means you are less likely to see it passed around the defence until it reaches the keeper, rinse and repeat, in the vein of an Aston Villa.
There are some quality goals scored too, just take a look at Tom Howard’s screamer for Paget Rangers against Earlswood Town in the Les James Cup two weeks ago. Talking about goals, there is not a lack of them in non-league football, as followers of Paget will tell you. The Bears recently thrashed their Non-League Day opposition, Knowle FC, 6-1 in the Presidents’ Cup. Not long before that they came back from a 3-0 deficit drawing the game 4-4.
It is also a lot cheaper, if you head down to the Trevor Brown Memorial Ground on Non-League Day you will get let in for just £1. That will be cheaper than the chips.
Non-League does not mean standing around a field, Paget’s home ground has a stadium and if you wish you can stand without a steward telling you off. The beer is not overpriced either and it does not come in plastic bottles.
So if you live in Britain, go out on Saturday and watch your local non-league club.
This post was written in association with Paget Rangers Football Club.
More information about Non-League Day 2015 can be found at http://www.nonleagueday.co.uk/
What are your thoughts? Let us know by dropping a comment below via our Facebook comment box. Make sure you follow us on Twitter @Outside90 and like us on Facebook.
