September Preview

The FA Cup continues in September, this weekend seeing the First Qualifying Round take place, followed by Second Round qualifiers on the weekend of the 17th.

Ipswich Wanderers, who had a special offer in place for their league game on Tuesday evening, admission and a pint for a tenner, have a home tie against Hornchurch this coming Saturday.

The road to Wembley also begins in the Women's FA Cup on Sunday 11 September while all paths lead to Hampden Park with the Scottish Cup First Round taking place on the weekend of the 17th.

Some interesting Lowland versus Highland League ties were drawn out of the hat on Monday, including Civil Service Strollers against last season's Highland champions Fraserburgh. BBC Scotland will show the meeting of Pollok and Huntly on Friday 16th.

The Strollers offer great value for their league fixtures, which are usually priced at £8/£5 and free for under 16's.

September 24th sees an international break in the top divisions in England and Scotland and some good opportunities to catch a match lower down the pyramid while before then there is a potentially vital World Cup qualifier for Wales Women, at home to Slovenia at the Cardiff City Stadium on Tuesday 6th. 

Tickets, priced at £8/£6 and £4 are selling fast with a record crowd already confirmed. 

There are also some interesting fixtures in the Premier League International Cup for under 21 teams, including Crystal Palace v PSG, scheduled for the 28th at Selhurst Park and Wolves v Porto two days later at Molineux (these games are sometimes subject to change).

City Are Back

Really good to see Sky Blues supporters finally getting a chance to see the side in action on home soil this season, with the pitch fiasco that has seen three Championship fixtures postponed and a League Cup tie moved now hopefully put to bed following this week's improvement work.

The midweek clash with Preston North End on Wednesday 31August has been given the go-ahead and tickets for the game will cost no more than £20 and I also like the fact that there is no increase on the day and cash turnstiles are available.

That element of deciding to go to a game on the spur of the moment has either been taken away completely or, at the very least, made more difficult at the top levels in recent years but it is something that the Sky Blues have maintained and very welcome it is too.

Thank You

Or more appropriately, Grazie, to Daniele Cinti on Twitter for tagging me in to this message.

AS Giana Erminio (Serie D) will be free entry in the season 22/23. They are based in Gorgonzola, 10 km east of Milan. pic.twitter.com/nr0knkvFdZ

— Daniele Cinti (@danifdl) August 25, 2022

The Club Is The Hub

In his columns in The Non League Paper,  Chairman of the Northern Premier League Mark Harris often provides food for thought on the challenges facing clubs at that level of the game.

This week he reflected on the cost of living and how that can be both a threat and an opportunity as we head towards the colder months of the year.

A threat for the obvious reasons; costs are going up in all areas, whether that be hiring a coach for an away trip or switching on the floodlights.

But an opportunity because, in addition to matchday itself and the escape that can offer spectators (at an affordable price), many clubs are already hubs for their local community and that will become even more vital this autumn and winter, offering a warm welcome (literally) in the clubhouse before kick-off or a range of different events and activities throughout the week.

I've seen some great things from clubs in recent weeks, such as Newtown AFC of the Cymru Premier reducing their prices to help spectators who may be struggling and this tweet from Worsbrough Bridge FC of the Northern Counties East League.

Local clubs such as @WorsbroughBFC are going to be even more vital to the community this winter. #footballforafiver https://t.co/hzZGAq5Vdk

— Affordable Football (@AffordableFooty) August 16, 2022

The Euros Bounce

Just a few short weeks after the euphoria generated by England's victory in the UEFA Women's Euros, domestic action returns this coming weekend with the opening fixtures in the FA Women's Championship, the second-tier of the club game.

And for a top price of a tenner there are some great matches to choose from in the opening two rounds as the battle begins to win a place in the WSL.

Southampton FC Women get things underway at 12.30pm on Saturday with St Mary's the venue for their game against Charlton. Tickets are priced at £8 and £2.

On Sunday there are local derbies between Durham and Sunderland and London City Lionesses and Crystal Palace, Blackburn Rovers host Sheffield United at Ewood Park and St Andrew's is the venue for Birmingham City against Lewes.

With the ongoing pitch fiasco engulfing the Sky Blues, there will at least be some football in the city this weekend as Coventry United take on Bristol City.

The official FA site has a good guide to the fixtures taking place and links to the various ticket pages.

Newtown, New Saints, New Season

The new Cymru Premier season begins this coming weekend with plenty of competitive football ahead, at affordable prices, and with good media coverage thanks to Sgorio on S4C and websites such as Y Clwb Pel-Droed.

A good article on the BBC Sport website charts the birth of the league and its development as it marks 30 years in existence.

For Newtown AFC and their opponents on Saturday, champions The New Saints, the campaign itself has been underway for some time with both having already played in European competition this summer.

They kick-off at 2.30pm and admission prices have been reduced to just £5 adults, £3 concessions, £2 for under 16's.

The #JDCymruPremier is almost back! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/a19BRNHtvw

— JD Cymru Leagues (@CymruLeagues) August 10, 2022

There May Be Trouble Ahead

Watching a game in the Highland League, especially at this time of year, offers an escape from the thought of harder times ahead.

So it was as Strathspey Thistle entertained Deveronvale on Saturday, those who had made their way to the end of Grantown-on-Spey's handsome main street and turned right towards Seafield Park perhaps looking for something to focus their minds on for 90 minutes, away from headlines which promised little in the way of good news.

The club's hard-working volunteers, my dad counting among their number, were there early, their efforts in spreading the word about the game and getting the ground match-ready rewarded somewhat with a first point of the season for the home side although they were twice pegged-back by their visitors.

A tenner on the gate is pretty much the norm across a league with some of the most stunning scenery as a backdrop to many grounds (click here for a view from the sky) and if you can make it to a game then you're guaranteed a warm welcome and competitive action.

A full fixture card takes place this coming Saturday.