Scottish Non-League Football Review

A mention for an upcoming book which may be of interest, The Scottish Non-League Senior Football Review 2021, to give it its full title, which is available to pre-order now.

Reflecting the increasingly inter-connected structure of the game below the SPFL, Niall Harkiss has brought together the North of Scotland Football Review and Lowland League Football Review into one edition for 2021.

A truncated season it may have been but there will still be plenty to pore over in the book in terms of stats while the future of the Scottish Football Pyramid will also be looked at, a hot topic after the news that Old Firm 'B' teams will be entering the Lowland League next season, supposedly for one year only.

As supporters begin (more cautiously, as has been the way in Scotland throughout the pandemic) to be allowed back into matches north of the border, it is also great to see the excellent Scottish Football Fixtures website back up and running with a daily guide to matches at all levels of the game.

It's Been a Long Time

But spectators are welcome back at football matches in England from Monday.

When everything was locked down the fact that we couldn't go to matches (those that were taking place) was a shame but the long wait has been compounded, for many, by the things that people have been able to do over the last month that seem, on the face of it, more dangerous than standing outside at a game.

I've been to Meadowhall shopping centre, a very busy holiday park and shivered outside the pub but now I can look at the upcoming fixtures and, even if I don't go, I could if I wanted to.

And, although we're in a strange period that's not quite pre-season for 2021/22 or the finale to the current season, there is lots going on, from delayed cup finals to local tournaments.

The twitter page has been very busy this week and I'll keep that updated as much as possible.

POST-LOCKDOWN FRIENDLY TOURNAMENT...
Opening night fixtures!
All games are £5 adults, £1 concessions and FREE for U16s!
Pick a game and enjoy live non-league footy again!@SheppeyUFC v @PUFC_Gravesend @Rochesterutdfc v @ChathamTownFC #May18th #backtogether@KentNLPodcast pic.twitter.com/MmJiVJTcDf

— Lordswood Football Club 🧡🖤 (@LordswoodFC) May 14, 2021

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On this day five years ago I made a first visit to the new Wembley Stadium to watch an exciting National League Promotion Final, Grimsby Town sealing a return to the Football League by beating Forest Green Rovers.

Sitting close to the halfway line that day it was clear to see how much the result meant, both to Mariners' supporters and those in official positions at the club.

Returning back to the National League will, of course, have hit people hard and it has been a dismal season, on and off the pitch.

But the man who masterminded that promotion, Paul Hurst, is back in charge and, more significantly, a takeover of the club by Andrew Pettit and Jason Stockwood has recently been completed.

The Mariners Trust continue to do great work connecting the club and the community.

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Two years ago today I joined a big crowd at the home of Radcliffe FC as they defeated Leek Town in the Evo-Stik West play-off final, earning promotion in the process.

Much has changed since then, of course, but a recent website post from Radcliffe chairman Paul Hilton painted an encouraging picture despite all of the hurdles that have been placed in the club's way since then.

All season tickets from the truncated 2020/21 season are being rolled over to the new campaign at no extra cost and the Neuven Stadium will host the final of the Bolton Hospital Cup on 17 May, the first day that spectators are allowed back into grounds.

After that Radcliffe game I took the tram into Bury where the pubs were getting busy with fans who had been at the Shakers game that afternoon, a 1-1 draw with Port Vale in the final league fixture of the campaign.

It had been an exciting season on the pitch, with promotion to League One having been secured by Ryan Lowe's side, but the club's financial issues were already well-known at this point and the game would turn out to be the last played by Bury FC.

Thanks to the hard work of many people involved at Bury AFC, a vibrant, supporter-owned club looks to be on the rise and hopeful of bringing the game back into the town, playing their games at Radcliffe in the meantime.