Joel Robson explores reasons to attend non-league football…
For many football fans, going to a non-league match is a good idea in principle, but getting out and actually doing so any time soon is unlikely. I went down to Ryman Premier Side East Thurrock to have a taster of non-league action.
There isn’t much Premier League about the Rocks: no Bugatti Veyrons in the car park, no millionaires on the pitch, and no media obsession. But one thing non-league clubs like East Thurrock offer is a real sense of connectedness with their fans, and a good standard of football.
Away from the glamour and theatrics in the higher leagues, non-league football offers fans a weekly affordable ticket to see their local team play.
During international breaks we have Non-League Day, which aims to get fans watching their local clubs while Premier League teams are having a break or on duty for their country. Last year’s Non-League Day was deemed a great success and the organisers hope for an even better turn-out when it comes around again this October.
But what about getting fans in the terraces more than one day of the year? Thurrock midfielder Connor Witherspoon says: “The fans that do come regularly love it, they tell me themselves. The majority of them will have their Premier League teams they follow as well as us, but the fact we are far more affordable and part of a community I think that’s what attracts those fans.”
Karen, who has been coming to East Thurrock games for the past two years, says: “I love coming to Thurrock games, you’re right on top of the action instead of being a mile up in the stands. Imagine being able to shout orders to players and they can hear them, of course they don’t pay much attention but I know they really hear my support and that’s something I could not imagine when watching my Premier League side play.”
There are plenty of fans who feel football at the top level has become money obsessed and to those I say non-league is for you. But I’ll also say to those who love everything about top tier football to give non-league a try and see how enjoyable supporting and helping your local non-league side can be.