A Hunger for the Game

Over the weekend I followed on social media as both Hallam FC and North Ferriby of the Northern Counties East League sold out of tickets in just 15 minutes for their respective home matches this midweek.

Both clubs are currently permitted 300 spectators inside their grounds and the demand to see live football, in a secure, friendly environment, is being replicated it seems across England at non-league levels.

Since then, however, Hallam have been forced to postpone the game due to a Covid-related issue, indicative of the new challenges being faced by clubs (in addition to Hallam now being in a Tier 3 area) but the reaction to it also reflects the generosity being shown by fans of clubs both big and small as many of those who had bought tickets then donated their refund to the Sheffield Children's Hospital.

That support for good causes is also being reflected up and down the country, from the campaigns that have made headlines, such as Marcus Rashford's or the pay-per-view boycott, to countless smaller examples like the money raised this week by Bradford City fans for their FA Cup opponents Tonbridge Angels as spectators have not been permitted to attend the match.

Fans Enjoy Their Non-League Fix...But Restrictions Start to Bite

Reflective, perhaps, of the country as a whole at this moment but there is a very mixed picture across the non-league scene at present.

Two clubs who have featured heavily on these pages over the years show how the current situation can be turned into a positive.

Hitchin Town secretary Roy Izzard writes an informative weekly bulletin on the club website and this week's update brought positive news about attendances with 523 at the recent game against Leiston, a fixture that Roy estimates would have brought in 350 last season as supporters of local Premier League, EFL and National League clubs look for live football to watch.

The benefits to the club of selling tickets online are also made clear.

My local club, Hallam FC, are also experiencing sell-out crowds of 300 with tickets for this Tuesday evening's visit of AFC Emley being snapped up in under an hour as I write this on Sunday evening.

But, and it is possibly a bridge for Hallam to cross if here in Sheffield we are placed under Tier 3 restrictions, the season in the North West is becoming more fragmented.

The FA Trophy tie between City of Liverpool FC and Cleethorpes Town did not take place on Saturday as the visitors made a decision not to travel for the fixture, a situation that may become more commonplace over the weeks and months to come with more areas coming under the highest set of restrictions. 

A statement on the City of Liverpool FC website explains how last week's changes to the government guidance affect who can attend games but as their landlords Bootle FC make clear, in a piece on their website about what facilities they are allowed to offer, 'operating the club with these limitations is not sustainable forever'.

The £14.95 Question

Sometimes you have to read something twice to check that it really does say what you thought it did and I think that will have been true for many people when learned about plans to charge nearly £15 to watch Premier League games that have not already been chosen for live broadcast.

At a time when the top-flight clubs have just finished spending a collective £1bn in the transfer window it has been criticised by people involved in the game as well as supporters' groups and it was a social media gift for many non-league clubs as they highlighted what you could get at your local ground at 3pm on a Saturday afternoon for the same money.

It may be preaching to the converted in many ways but, with major doubts as to how the rest of the season will pan out and whether it will finish at all, even ten extra people through the turnstiles can make a huge difference and, anecdotally, the absence of crowds higher up the leagues seems to have resulted in a numbers boost further down.

Coming up this week it is the next stage of the FA Cup in England for both men (in midweek with another live BBC option if you can't get to a game as Christchurch against Dulwich Hamlet is being screened on Tuesday evening) and women (next Sunday).

No Non-League Day But...

Non-League Day 2020 would have taken place this coming weekend, coinciding with the international break and no Premier League or Championship matches.

Given the uncertainty over whether or when the season would begin, however, there won't be an organised event taking place this year.

But clubs across England are still working hard to get games on and provide a safe environment for spectators to enjoy an afternoon in the fresh air, amidst plenty of uncertainty and bumps in the road.

Fixtures being called off for positive tests will continue to cause some disruption but the bigger picture is the effect of local restrictions and how they will effect clubs.

Bootle FC, for instance, have taken the tough decision to close all club activities for two weeks, concerned about rising numbers of cases locally and doubtless grappling with a huge administrative effort being placed on volunteers.

There won't be a season for Merthyr Town, their Southern League place mothballed for a year due to the current rules in Wales and the requirements for quarantine have delayed FC Isle of Man's debut campaign in the North West Counties Football League.

Hundreds of matches are still scheduled, however, and there is some great value on offer, Redcar Athletic, for instance, are celebrating their first ever home match in the FA Vase with a £10 deal that includes admission, programme and a pie.

The London Football Guide, by the man behind Non-League Day, will be a great source of games for the weekend in and around the capital.

I'll look to tweet as many details as possible about what's coming up over on @affordablefooty