Week Ahead - 9th March

FA Youth Cup quarter final action at Villa Park on Tuesday evening (10th March, 6pm) with Aston Villa taking Crystal Palace for a place in the final four. Tickets are priced at £5 for adults and £2 for under 18's.

Swansea City U21s take on rivals Cardiff City at the Swansea.Com Stadium on Friday 13th (kick-off 5.30pm) and tickets are free.

In the Wessex Premier League on Saturday 14th it is football for a fiver (under 16's free) at Downton FC when they host Andover New Street.

Keep up to date on our X page and to support Affordable Football, online since 2013, click here.

Week Ahead - 2nd March

Free international football in the Highlands on Monday evening (March 2) as Scotland Women U23's take on the Netherlands at the home of Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC, kick-off 7pm.

The Netherlands then travel south to face England at Shrewsbury Town's Croud Meadow on Friday 6th, also a 7pm kick-off. Tickets are priced at £5, £3 and £1 for under-14's.

Keep up to date on our X page and to support Affordable Football, online since 2013, click here.

Week Ahead - 23rd February

Time is slightly against me this week but, having been in London for a few days, it seems like a good time to highlight The London Football Guide, not just because of its value in finding a game in the capital but because founder James is also the man behind Non-League Day which is fast approaching for this season.

One other line for the week ahead, which I was reminded for when seeing trains leaving for there from St Pancras, is free admission at Ramsgate FC for their Isthmian League clash against Aveley on Saturday 28th (kick-off 5.30pm).

Keep up to date on our X page and to support Affordable Football, online since 2013, click here.

Rise of the Phoenix

This season's JD Welsh Cup has already provided some great storylines, notably the progress of Bangor City 1876 and Rhyl 1879, two clubs who have risen from the ashes after the demise of Bangor City and Rhyl FC and who both defeated higher level opponents in the quarter-finals.

That leaves the final four as an all-North Wales affair with Bangor taking Flint Town United in Llandudno on Saturday 7th March at 12:45pm and Rhyl up against Caernarfon Town the following day at 1:30pm in Colwyn Bay.

Tickets for both games go on sale this coming Wednesday (Feb 18th) and will be priced at £5 for adults and £2 for concessions.

Looking further ahead and North Wales will be the venue for this summer's Euro U19 Finals which take place between 28th June and 11th July 

Week Ahead - 16th February

Tickets for the National League Cup semi-final between Tamworth FC and West Ham United U21s on Tuesday 17th, kick-off 7.30pm, are available, priced at £5 with under 10's free.

On the same evening there is football for a fiver at Eastbourne Borough FC as they host Horsham YM in the Sussex Senior Cup.

Staying in the county, Burgess Hill Town open their new fanzone on Saturday 21st and are opening the gates with free admission to the home game against Wingate & Finchley.

Keep up to date on our X page and to support Affordable Football, online since 2013, click here.

Week Ahead - 9th February

Valentine's Day football at Dundee FC with ticket prices for their SPL clash against Livingston (kick-off 3pm) reduced to £10 for adults and £2 for under-12's. Hassocks FC host Erith Town in the Isthmian League and anyone who buys a ticket for the game can bring their partner along for free.

The previous evening, Friday 13th, there is football for a fiver at Pickering Town FC of the Northern Counties East League, they kick-off at 8pm against Barton Town.

And on Thursday 12th there is a great chance to take in a game at Everton's magnificent new Hill Dickinson Stadium as the Toffees U18's play their FA Youth Cup tie against Ipswich at 7pm.

Tickets are priced at £5 for adults and £3 for under-18's. 

Keep up to date on our X page and to support Affordable Football, online since 2013, click here.

It's a Steel

 

A view of Bracken Moor, home of Stocksbridge Park Steels FC, taken during the 2024/25 season, one that ended with promotion to the top division of the Northern Premier League.

This coming Saturday, if you buy online, there is a special offer of admission, programme and a pie meal for the 3pm kick-off against Hyde United.

With Sheffield Wednesday and United not in action until Sunday and Monday respectively, hopefully there will be a decent crowd in attendance.

The number 57 Stocksbridge Flyer bus from Sheffield stops close to the ground.

Week Ahead - 2nd February

Wembley is in sight now for the 16 teams left in the FA Vase with Fifth Round ties taking place on Saturday 7th. There will be a good atmosphere at West Didsbury & Chorlton and advance tickets for their game against Winsford United are on sale, priced £8, £6 and £1 for U16's (admission will be available on the day).

The annual Daggers Celebrate Diversity Day at Dagenham & Redbridge FC is scheduled for the Chippenham Town game on Saturday 7th. Advance tickets are available from as little as £2.50 for adults and 50p for concessions and under-16's.

Keep up to date on our X page and to support Affordable Football, online since 2013, click here.

Villages and Towns

 

A cold but clear winter's day at the Stockport Sports Village, a bustling facility topped off by the home of Stockport Town FC.

The home side earned a hard-fought 1-0 victory against West Didsbury & Chorlton on Saturday afternoon, disappointing a healthy number of travelling supporters.

Admission was good value at £7 for adults and there was a friendly welcome in the bar with a good-looking range of pies to go with your drink.

If you are reading this on Sunday 25th then North West Counties Premier Division leaders Wythenshawe visit Stockport on Monday evening.