Friday 15 March 2024

Cumbrian Cheer

There's a very positive piece on Carlisle United in the latest edition of When Saturday Comes, not perhaps what you would expect with the team sitting at the foot of League One and set for an immediate return to the division they only left last season.

But the club's new(ish) owners have been open, engaging and forward-thinking in their time in Cumbria to date, have plans in place to redevelop Brunton Park and also turn the potential disadvantage of their relative isolation into a selling point as the focal point of an entire county.

Next Saturday (23rd March) is #OneCarlisleOneCommunity day with adult and senior tickets available from £10 for the visit of Stevebage, if purchased in advance.

Monday 11 March 2024

Focus On The Royals

Not those ones but Sutton Coldfield Town (there's a good BBC piece here on the town's royal status) of the Northern Premier League Midland Division.

This coming Saturday (16th March) brings a home game against Quorn at Coles Lane, the club's home since 1920 and the turnstiles are being thrown open to allow free entry to all spectators for the 3pm kick-off.

Also this Saturday, and also in the Northern Premier League (West), Bootle FC are offering 'pay what you want' admission for the visit of Clitheroe

For something slightly different (and potentially a chance to watch two matches in one day), Hendon FC hosts the semi-final of the FA Inter-League Cup on Saturday at 6:45pm between the Arthurian League and the Herts Senior County League. Admission is free for this one.

Updated: Wednesday 13th Bridging the gap nicely between the previous piece on Non-League Day and the title of this one, Basingstoke Town FC are offering reduced price admission to Reading FC season ticket holders for their home game on NLD, with 50% of the proceeds from the initiative being donated to the fan groups currently looking to save their own Royals.

Friday 8 March 2024

Non-League Day 2024

Just over two weeks to go until this year's Non-League Day (Saturday 23rd March), a celebration of semi-professional and grassroots football and one that has spread outside the UK to the Netherlands and Spain among others.

Keep up to date with everything that is going on by visiting Non-League Day online, where you can use the match finder to see what games are on near you.

The man behind NLD is James Doe, who also writes the wonderful London Football Guide where details of matches in and around the capital are published every week and where I'm sure there will be a bumper edition for next weekend.

Here are just some of the initiatives that I have seen...

Premier League and EFL season ticket holders are being offered free or reduced price admission at Bilston Town, Brackley Town, Redditch United, Slimbridge AFC, Sutton Common Rovers and Wealdstone FC among others. 

The Wealdstone offer is also available to anyone going to the England versus Brazil game at Wembley later on Saturday evening.

It is 'pay what you want' at Hendon FC, there's 30% off tickets purchased online at Stalybridge Celtic, half-price admission at Barton Town FC and completely free entry at Potters Bar Town.

Sunday 3 March 2024

League Two For £2 (X2)

Clearly aware that I'd backed them to be relegated from League Two this season, Crawley Town are looking up towards the play-off places rather than nervously over their shoulders as we enter the final straight of the campaign.

Always active in their ticket offers throughout the time I've been writing this blog, the Red Devils are repeating their 2@£2 offer which means that tickets for both the visit of Doncaster Rovers on 29 March and Colchester United on 13 April are priced at just £2 in all areas of the ground.

Speaking to the official club websiteGeneral Manager Tom Allman said: "The players and management have already commented internally on how much they’re looking forward to playing in front of a big crowd and we hope that the fans can play their part, as they did at last year's fixtures, in what is shaping up to be two huge fixtures in our season."

Thursday 29 February 2024

March Matches

 March

Tuesday 5th/Wednesday 6th: Free Inter-Services football at Aldershot Town as the RAF take on their Army counterparts. The women's game is a 7pm kick-off on Tuesday, the men's at the same time the following night.

Sunday 10th: Crystal Palace Women host Sheffield United at Selhurst Park in a 12pm kick-off. U-16 tickets are priced at £2 and one adult can go free with each under 16.

Tuesday 19th: The Wales 'C' squad, made up of players from the Cymru Premier, take on their England counterparts (drawn from the National Leagues) in Llanelli. Adance tickets are priced at £8/£3.

Friday 22nd: Wales U21's take on Lithuania in Newport at 6pm. Online prices for the Euro qualifier are £4/£2.

Saturday 23rd: Non-League Day returns with a host of special admission offers up and down the country in a celebration of the game outside of the top leagues. I'll post more about this in the next week or so.

Saturday 23rd: In the EFL there are £10 tickets available in advance at Carlisle United as their home game with Stevenage marks #OneCarlisleOneCommunity day at Brunton Park.

Sunday 24th: Glasgow moves to Edinburgh as Rangers Women and Partick Thistle Women meet at Tynecastle in the final of the Sky Sports Cup Final. Tickets are available now and cost £8 adults, £1 for concessions and £15 for a family of four. 

Sunday 24th: At Ewood Park it is Blackburn Rovers Women against Southampton at 2pm with tickets costing £2 for under-17's and £3 for students.

Tuesday 26th: England men's under-21's take on Luxembourg in a Euro qualifier at Bolton Wanderers. £10 adult tickets (£5 concessions) are available to BWFC season ticket holders and members and also to groups of 10 or more

Wednesday 28 February 2024

Something For The Weekend

Non-League Day 2024 takes place in March but there is always great value football happening somewhere near you every weekend of the season...

Monday 19 February 2024

No April Fool

Just a nice bit of working together in the United Counties League where two Easter Monday fixtures have been scheduled so that spectators can watch both, with a discounted, combined ticket also available for £8 adults and £6 concessions.

Newark & Sherwood United host Lincoln United at 12.30pm before Southwell City, entertain Newark Town at 4pm.

Sunday 18 February 2024

At The Heart Of It

 

View of Handsworth FC ground against Frickley Athletic, Saturday 17th February 2024

The players prepare for the second-half at Handsworth FC on Saturday after a goalless first 45 minutes in the Northern Counties East Premier Division game against Frickley Athletic.

If you're looking for the very definition of a community club then an afternoon at Olivers Mount is what you need.

Just a fiver for adults and free for under-16's, a busy clubhouse bar, warm welcome on the gate and a spotlight given to the mascots for the senior game, many of whom will be back at the ground today (Sunday) for various age-group matches.

Both Handsworth and Frickley currently sit in mid-table and that was reflected in a cagey affair that the hosts gradually took control of, a glancing header breaking the deadlock early on in the second-half.

Frickley hadn't offered too much by the time a downpour influenced my decision to leave a few minutes early.

Inevitably, that meant that when I checked my phone while on the 52 bus back through Sheffield I learned that the visitors had indeed earned a point with a late equaliser!

Monday 5 February 2024

Boundary Changes

Good to see some positivity back at Oldham Athletic in recent times under the chairmanship of Frank Rothwell, currently in the midst of fundraising huge amounts for Alzheimer's Research UK.

The last time I was at Boundary Park was in the inaugural season of the Premier League as Bobby Gould's Coventry edged past the Latics by a single goal.

Many years later and Oldham's ambitions are currently concerned with reaching the National League play-offs and taking that first step back towards their previously dizzy heights.

With Chairman Frank due back in town ahead of the home game against Kidderminster Harriers on Saturday 24th February, all tickets for the game have been priced at just £1 with proceeds going to his chosen charity and the option to donate more when buying your seat for the match.

Sunday 4 February 2024

Wembley In Sight

 

Steps leading up to Wembley Stadium

For the 16 teams left in the FA Vase with Fifth Round Proper ties taking place this coming Saturday, 10th February.

After a dismal weekend for both United and Wednesday, supporters of Sheffield's two big clubs may be looking forward to taking refuge in the welcoming surroundings of Sandygate, home of Hallam FC of the Northern Counties East League.

View of the main stand at Sandygate, home of Hallam FC

The Countrymen have made great strides, on and off the pitch, over the past few years and another big crowd will be in attendance for their last sixteen game at home to Lincoln United.

Tickets have been on sale in recent weeks, to help with spectator flows, but on the gate admission will also be available at just £6 adults, £4 concessions.