Home For Christmas

Butlin Road, home of Rugby Town FC, last Saturday when the home side took on Quorn in the Midland Division of the Northern Premier League.

'The Valley' are my home town team and I spent many years as I was growing up coming to Butlin Road whenever Coventry City were not in action or away from home.

These were very much the glory years in the history of the club, then called VS Rugby but now back to the name that reflects their original formation.

Jimmy Know made sure that his name would forever be a part of football's rich folklore, the Scot who had spent most of his adult life around the footballing scene in Coventry and Warwickshire, took VS to Wembley glory in the 1983 FA Vase and to within a whisker of promotion to non-league's top tier.

With the Sky Blues having left Highfield Road in 2005, that comforting familiarity, of somewhere you were happy as a youngster and that largely remains as you remember it, comes from Butlin Road nowadays in footballing terms.

While the layout is mostly the same, it now boasts an excellent main stand, comfortable bar and all-weather pitches behind one goal, improvements that have allowed the club to become more of a part of the local community and insure themselves against some fallow years on the pitch and a wider apathy in the town itself.

Despite promotion last season, attendances still tend to hover around the 200 mark and there were less than that watching as Quorn overcame the loss of an early goal to run out comfortable 4-1 winners as the 40th anniversary year of that Vase triumph draws to a close.

On a day when the retail parks were busy (the town centre retains the layout I grew up with but, alas, has been hollowed out as shops have decamped further out) I sincerely hope that the current period of stable, secure ownership can last for many more milestones to come.

From Academical To Supermarine

Two of the most interesting club names in British football with special admission offers for the Saturday before Christmas (23rd Dec).

All tickets are £5 at New Douglas Park, the home of Hamilton Academical as they welcome Kelty Hearts in Scottish League One, the hosts currently sitting just behind Falkirk at the top of the table.

And it is also football for a fiver at Swindon Supermarine (accompanied under 12's free) when they host Bracknell Town at the Webbswood Stadium.

Not only that but you will get a voucher on the gate this Saturday to come back for the same price the following weekend against Didcot Town.

Best Seat In The House

From my living room in Sheffield on Friday evening, while listening to the Sky Blues beat Birmingham City, I was transported to Kirkcaldy for a very enjoyable game between Raith Rovers and Partick Thistle, the magic of the iPlayer bringing the BBC Scotland coverage to me.

I've blogged and tweeted for nearly a decade now on the subject of affordable football, almost always in terms of going to games but it does mean something else to me and that's the way that I consume the game while at home, which usually means the Beeb.

From the excellent coverage on local radio, to Match of the Day and Sportscene (for coverage of the top leagues in England and Scotland, live football from the Women's Super League, Scottish Championship and Irish Premiership, I get most of what I need to keep in touch with the game at lots of levels and in different parts of the UK.

Everybody's different, of course, and much of the above won't float everyone's boat but, at a time when the broadcaster's future seems to under perpetual threat, I think its always worth highlighting what you get for your money.

But all too often it is hidden away and you have to seek out games like the Raith one if you want to watch it.

The excellent Sean Ingle wrote in The Guardian recently, about the kind of output a BBC Sports Channel could show.

His main concern was the lack of airtime given to those sports that come to the fore in Olympic years but are then relegated to online or the red button, but the point is valid for football coverage away from the top leagues and if it was available on Freeview or a Sky platform then I'm sure would be popular, especially as the games are being covered anyway.

Thank You

To two clubs who kindly follow @AffordableFooty on X, Dronfield Town FC and Worsborough Bridge Athletic, both currently plying their trade in Division One of the Northern Counties East League.

Dronfield host Yorkshire Amateur on Saturday 23rd December and are offering free admission to all as an early Christmas bonus while it is 'Pay What You Can' when the Briggers host Parkgate in a 1pm kick-off on Boxing Day.

Old Trafford Nights

Following on from the previous article about the FA Youth Cup, it is good to see that Manchester United will play their 3rd Round tie against Derby County at Old Trafford, rather than farming it out to Leigh Sports Village as they could have done.

The players from both teams, together with their family and friends, will remember the occasion forever no matter what their future careers hold.

Kick-off on Tuesday 19th December is at 7pm and tickets are priced at just £3 for adults and £1.50 for under-16's. 

More details on the game can be found by clicking here 

In Praise Of...The FA Youth Cup

First competed for in the 1952/53 season, The Football Association Youth Challenge Cup, to give it its full name, is something of a calm, constant presence in an ever-changing football landscape.

It may go under the radar on a national level but the FA Cup-style structure allows those youth teams affiliated to non-league or lower league clubs to enjoy moments of glory, play at some of the game's most famous grounds and also use any success they do have to attract more youngsters to play, and in many cases, study with them.

All three of those things combined, for instance, at Hemel Hempstead Town FC this week with an excellent victory over Exeter City in the second round of the competition sparking joyous scenes and earning a trip to Sheffield Wednesday and Hillsborough in the next round.

32 ties are due to take place by Saturday 16th December with home ties for the likes of Everton, Sheffield United, Wolves, Leicester City (against Chelsea) and Watford (against Manchester City) all hopefully being played at the host club's main stadium.

I'll update as many as I can on @affordablefooty over the next few weeks.

In Brief...

Paris Match
I'd not long finished reading the editorial in this month's When Saturday Comes, which contrasts the initiative of Fortuna Dusseldorf to offer free football to all supporters with the seemingly ever-increasing cost of watching games in the Premier League, Fulham in particular being picked out, when I caught sight of this press release from Paris FC. Admission to the Charlety Stadium will be free for all men's games in Ligue 2 and women's matches, from the visit of Bastia on November 11 until the end of the 2023/24 season. Each game will be tied in to a wider social initiative as the club look to make, in their own words: 'the sporting spectacle offered on the pitch to be made accessible to everyone, families or groups of friends, football fan or not, regardless of their age or social category.'

Go For A Mo

As part of their support for Movember, Hampton & Richmond FC are offering £10 adult admission to the National League South game against St. Albans on Tuesday 14 November for anyone with, or wearing, a moustache, even a stick-on one!

Capital Idea

Free tickets are available for the Women's Edinburgh Derby at Easter Road on Saturday 18th November, as Hibs and Hearts battle to lift the Capital Cup. 

Donations can be made at the same time as securing a ticket, with the full amount being reinvested back into supporting the Hibernian Girls and Women’s Academy.

Millers Night

 

The New York Stadium, around 45 minutes or so before kick-off in Wednesday evening's EFL Championship game between Rotherham United and Coventry City.

10,553 were in attendance,including 2,174 travelling supporters but it was they who went home disappointed as the Sky Blues struggled to make anything meaningful out of their 66% share of the ball and conceded the all-important first goal of the game to Lee Peltier's flicked header from a corner shortly after half-time.

Pushing for an equaliser, Coventry allowed the hosts more and more opportunities on the break and the Millers wrapped up three important points with a second goal late on to end the night in good spirits and looking forward to a local derby at Hillsborough on Sunday lunchtime that Rotherham will go into with a strong belief that they can make it two wins on the spin.

For City, heightened expectations after last season's run to the play-off final and a summer transfer spree funded by the sales of Gus Hamer and Viktor Gyokeres hasn't quite matched up to the reality so far as Mark Robins tries to achieve what may yet prove an impossible task - another year of finishing in a higher position than the one before.

I paid £25 for my ticket and £8 for my son who is 12 and I think that's more than fair at this level of the game.

Rotherham are a club with local owners, a club that works well in the local community and one that offers a simple pricing structure for their home league matches with advance adult tickets for non-platinum games costing £25 or £27 and platinum matches priced at £27 and £29.

Gate receipts will remain an important part of their turnover as they try and battle against the financial odds themselves and secure another season in the second-tier of English football.

Park Life

How many people over the last hundred-plus years have made their way to famous old grounds such as Brunton Park, Prenton Park and Edgeley Park, frequenting the local pubs whose continued existence may largely be due to the presence of those stadiums that have always been, and remain, rooted in their local communities.

If it is a game under the lights then even better and the First Round of the FA Youth Cup provides an affordable opportunity to do so.

Carlisle United host Barnsley on Tuesday 31 October (kick-ff 6pm) with admission priced at £3 and £2 for over/under 18's respectively.

The following evening Tranmere Rovers take on Bradford City in a 7pm start. Tickets are priced at £5 and £2 and are available both on line and on the gate.

Then Stockport County welcome Farsley Celtic on Wednesday 8th November, also at 7pm. Tickets are priced at £3 for adults and £1 concessions.

Merry Christmas!

Well, with the weather how it has been in Sheffield today we might as well look forward to something.

Non-stop rain has put paid to plans to watch Hallam FC against Coventry United in the FA Vase on Saturday but hopefully I'll get to the re-arranged game.

Coventry United make the short trip to Racing Club Warwick on Boxing Day this year and the Racers are offering free admission to all for the 3pm kick-off.

Stand Together

Given that this blog is peppered with pictures of the famous grandstand at Great Yarmouth Town FC it will be no surprise that my interest is always piqued by a glimpse of a stand that has stood the test of time or offers something different.

My dad was at a game at Gala Fairydean the other week, home of Peter Womersley's category A listed beauty, now happily open to supporters again.

And thanks to Harwich & Parkeston FC for allowing me to use this picture of the main grandstand at their Royal Oak ground which celebrates its 75th birthday shortly.

To celebrate, the home game against Dussindale & Hellesdon Rovers on Saturday 18 November has been designated as a 'Groundhopper Day' with a ground tour at 2pm.

Admission will be £6 adults, £4 concessions and free for under 16's with a printed programme for £1.

Happy Birthday...

Happy returns to The London Football Guide which is twelve today and, fittingly, this week's guide covers an international break given James' founding of Non-League Day which generally takes place when the top divisions are not in action.

This season's official NLD is not until 23 March but there are still usually some good offers out there for season ticket holders at Premier League or EFL clubs whose teams are not in action. 

Five Alive

 

It's been too long since I was at Moss Lane, or the J.Davidson Stadium as it is now known, the home of Altrincham FC and a cracking place to watch football with the perfect blend, for me, of a big enough crowd to create an atmosphere while still being to move around to different vantage points if you so desire.

Tickets for the National League game at home to Kidderminster Harriers on Tuesday 24th October have been reduced to £5 for adults, £2.50 for children aged 5-11 and £1 for under-5's.

The Harriers themselves are offering £10 terrace tickets (purchased in advance) when they host Wealdstone on Saturday 7th October.

In Brief

Mentions to three clubs who have featured often on these pages over the years...

Bath City host their annual Community Day on Saturday 23rd September when Dover Athletic are the visitors in National League South.

Admission is on a 'Pay What You Like' basis with lots of activities going on in addition to the match itself, including face painting and a Beat-the-Goalie.

With a busy run of home fixtures coming up at Top Field over the next few weeks, Hitchin Town have made the league clash against Barwell on Saturday 23rd September a Pay What You Want fixture (tickets available online with a minimum of £1).

And Bradford City have made all tickets for their League Cup Third Round tie with Middlesbrough available for £5 (when purchased before midnight on the day of the game, Tuesday 26th September) with these on general sale now.

Nearly 19,000 watched today's League Two game against Grimsby Town, testament to the great work the Bantams have done with season tickets over the years.

Highland Games

 

A view from the touchline last Saturday as Lossiemouth and Strathspey Thistle battle it out in the Highland League Cup, a late penalty giving the visitors the victory.

I can't quite put my finger on why I enjoy watching football in this part of the world so much but there is something about it, perhaps the way that clubs such as Lossie, Keith, Rothes and others are at the heart of their local communities, or perhaps by knowing that in having a pint in the social club a couple of streets away and then walking across to Grant Park you are doing what many have done before.

Strathspey Thistle's history begins later but, as at Lossiemouth, a hard-working group of volunteers are working full-time to improve year-on-year and put foundations in place for a brighter future.

The threat of relegation out of the league, due to the expansion of the Scottish pyramid system, is a new one, however, and one that both these clubs are fighting hard to avoid this season, Strathspey's victory, as welcome as it was, would have been sweeter if it had brought three points with it.

Football goes back even further at Forres Mechanics, founded in 1884 and founder members of the Highland League, although not quite at this exact spot as Mosset Park was moved to accomodate the A96 on which traffic was pretty constant during Wednesday night's North of Scotland Cup victory against Strathspey.

A Shawe Thing

 

It's been a while since I have been to Shawe View, home of Trafford FC, but it's a nice place to watch a match with a knowledgeable Manchester crowd in attendance.

The club are offering free admission to all for Saturday's (2nd Sep) home game against Bootle FC in the Northern Premier League.

Seaside Special

A mixed bag of weather over the summer holidays it has to be said but hopefully it will be fine for Monday 28th when Weston-super-Mare AFC host their Community Day.

The Seagulls 100% start to the season was ended today by Slough Town but they will be looking to bounce back at Farnborough next Saturday prior to the Bank Holiday action at the Optima Stadium.

Admission for the home game against Hemel Hempstead Town in the National League South is on a 'Pay What You Want' basis with a minimum donation of £2 and all match day entry profits going to Weston Hospicecare to help with the fantastic work that they do.

Or maybe you're in Norfolk over the Bank Holiday weekend and fancy some free football at Carrow Road on Friday 25th? If so, Norwich City U21's are in Premier League 2 action against Chelsea for which tickets are free of charge.

Just A Glimpse

I caught a glimpse of the Estadio Algarve while lucky enough to be in Portugal last week, not realising that on the first night I was there a friendly was taking place between Sporting Lisbon and Real Sociedad.

If you're on holiday in the area next month then Portugal play their Euro 2024 qualifier against Luxembourg on the 11th and tickets to see Cristiano Ronaldo and colleagues are good value at €10-20.

The Darlington Arena is another stadium I've seen from a window on my travels and, perhaps fittingly for a ground with a slightly bizarre history, this coming Friday evening (11th August) at 7.30pm the 25-000 seat venue will host Step 7 action as newly-formed Darlington United host Fishburn Park in the North Riding League.

Admission is free to the game.

Dons Double

Two to look forward to at the Cherry Red Records Stadium in September as AFC Wimbledon are offering Football for a Fiver for Crewe Alexandra's visit in EFL League Two on Saturday 16th and a couple of weeks earlier there's this...

What better way to start the week than to secure your tickets for our first league game of the season at the Cherry Red Records Stadium? 😍

🆚 @QPRWFC
📅 3 September 2023, 2pm
🎟️ Adults £5, U18s FREE: https://t.co/KGbJo8m4YL #AFCW #AFCWWomen 💛💙 @AFCWimbledon pic.twitter.com/ADbO7ESzf9

— AFC Wimbledon Women (@afcw_women) July 31, 2023

New Season, New Links

The following sites have been invaluable to me in writing this blog and for the Affordable Football page on twitter as a source of potential matches coming up.

The London Football Guide - James Doe is the man behind Non-League Day and set up TLFG to provide a comprehensive guide to football (at all levels) in the capital and its suburbs. On a weekly basis he runs through all of the fixtures of note and is also happy to answer queries from anyone coming to London and looking to catch a match.

With its focus on a similar patch geographically, The Cold End combines news and match previews with reports, highlights and some great photographs of Non-League football in London, Hertfordshire & Beyond.

Football in Berkshire is an excellent not for profit site that doesn't leave a stone unturned when reporting on football at all levels in the county.

The excellent She Kicks website has features, stats and regular fixture updates covering all levels of the women's game in the UK with Scottish Women's Football performing a similar function in its area.

The official FA site also has an easy-to-navigate fixture list with ticket info and links.

Non-League Matters is a good resource for fixtures, tables and stats from all levels of the game below the Football League and the Forum part of the site has a section where special ticket offers, free and reduced admission and ‘Pay What You Want’ fixtures can be publicised.

The Northern Counties East Football League is my local Step 5 league and the home of Hallam FC who have featured regularly on the site. The NCEFL website is an excellent resource for results and fixtures.

I've always enjoyed Neil Jensen's writings in the Non-League Paper (the print edition of which is a great source for upcoming fixtures) but they are just the tip of the iceberg of his wonderful Game of the People website which has features and views on football in all corners of the globe.

Groundhopper 2000 showcases Stephen Lang's excellent photographs of the game in the Scottish borders while Scottish Football Fixtures does exactly what it says on the tin with a comprehensive guide to matches taking place north of the border. 

Highland League Opening Day

Just over two weeks until the opening day of the Highland League season, with nine fixtures taking place on Saturday 29th July.

Champions Brechin City begin their defence of the title at home to Formartine United while it is a trip to Inverness for runners-up Buckie Thistle who begin at Clachnacuddin.

The lovely seaside town of Nairn is home to Nairn County FC and they have a home opener against Brora Rangers while there are also games at Banks o' Dee, Deveronvale, Forres, Fraserburgh, Rothes and Turriff (below)

If you're in the Highlands over the summer holidays then it is a great time to catch a match, you'll pay no more than £10 for admission, watch some very competitive football and likely have some glorious backdrops as well.

In Brief...

Good luck to Wombwell Town FC as they approach their debut season in the Northern Counties East League.

The Wellers have set admission prices for the coming campaign at £3 adults and £1 concessions with home friendlies against Sheffield FC (4th July, 7pm), Pontefract Colls (6th, 7.30pm) and Silkstone Utd (15th, 2pm) will be 'pay what you wish' on the gate.

 A nice twist on the usual pre-season scenario sees Cardiff City of the EFL hosting two Cymru Premier clubs at their home stadium as Penybont FC (Saturday 1st July, 3pm) and The New Saints (Tuesday 4th, 7.30pm) warm up for their matches in the UEFA Conference and Champions Leagues respectively.

Admission to each is £5 adults, £3 concessions or go to both for £8/£5. 

And it is nice to see the Olympic Legacy Park in Sheffield becoming a real hub for sport of all kinds but especially football.

Sheffield City FC host Darwen FC on Saturday 8th July at 3pm (£5 for a seat in the stand, under 16's free) while Barnsley Women's FC will play their matches at the OLP this coming season.

40 Friendlies For A Fiver Or Less

Bashley FC have home friendlies lined up against Winchester City FC (Tue 18th July), Weston-super-Mare (Sat 22nd) and Eastleigh (Sat 29th) with entry for each game £5 and free for under-16's.

Keys Park will be hosting football again next season after some doubt over the future of Hednesford Town FC and there are three pre-season friendlies lined up (11th, 15th and 29th of July), all priced at £5 adults, £4 concessions and £2 under 16's. 

Margate FC host a double-header of women's and men's games against their Deal Town counterparts on Saturday 8th July (kick-off's 12pm and 3pm). Admission is free to all.

Football for a fiver (£2 under-16's) in pre-season at Needham Market, who host four home friendlies starting with Felixstowe & Walton on Saturday 15th July (2pm) 

Also at Haywards Heath Town - three home games beginning with the visit of Tunbridge Wells on Tuesday 11th July - concessions £2 and under-16's free 

And at Kidlington FC (concessions & students £2.50, under-16's £1 or free with an adult) for their three home matches.

Two home matches for Emley AFC in the week beginning 17th July with admission to each costing adults £4, concessions £2 and free for under-13's.

Saffron Walden Town FC want you to enjoy pre-season with a cold beer at their six home friendlies, from 4th-22nd July, with admission for each priced at £5.

Six of the best at Barnoldswick Town where it is £5 adults, £3 concessions, including for the visit of a Fleetwood Town XI on the 25th July.

The opening day of July kicks-off Peckham Town's build-up to the new season with five games during the month and entrance to each costing £4 for adults. 

And there's a trio of games for Carlisle City between 15th and 22nd July, admission to each being £3 adults and £2 concessions.

As One Season Closes...

Good luck to Scotland's men this evening as they look to maintain their 100% start to Euro 2024 qualifying by beating Georgia at Hampden Park.

A well-earned short break beckons for those involved after a long season but the 2023/24 campaign in Scotland is up and running this week with plenty of friendlies taking place ahead of the League Cup group stages starting in mid-July.

Football for a fiver this Saturday at Linlithgow Rose of the Lowland League when they host Raith Rovers in a 2:30pm kick-off and on Tuesday 27th at Civil Service Strollers where Falkirk are the visitors for a 7:45pm start.

Scottish Football Fixtures is a superb website and twitter page that will keep you up to date with everything going on at all levels of the game north of the border.

The Big 10-Year Piece

This month marks 10 years since I first starting posting here on the blog and also over on twitter as @AffordableFooty and I'm really pleased that it's still going strong and hopefully still letting people know about upcoming matches they may fancy going to.

There's been some constants throughout the years, my local club Hallam FC being one of them.

I've seen The Countrymen go from strength to strength during that time, combining their history in the origins of the game with great use of social media to increase crowds at Sandygate and then keep them coming back with admission still only a fiver for adults and a warm, friendly welcome from their army of volunteers.

And speaking of fivers it's great to see that that humble note will still get you through plenty of turnstiles around the country.

My own Sky Blues were the original inspiration for the site after the success of their football for a fiver initiative in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy during the dark days of a decade ago when only a run to the semi-finals of that competition kept spirits up.

It was hard to imagine then (and even harder after relegation to League Two in 2017) that the club could be back on the brink of a Premier League return and much more firmly established back in the city. 

Inevitably that means they probably feature slightly less on these pages than a few years ago like when 28,000 watched the League Two game against Accrington Stanley for which tickets were priced at a fiver.

Bradford City's affordable season ticket campaigns have spanned the entire lifespan of this blog and  they show no sign of stopping with over 14,500 already sold for the 2023/24 campaign, a remarkable figure especially as League Two hasn't changed in terms of how difficult it must be to run a club successfully in that division. 

I've written about more than once about new owners coming into the lower leagues with good intentions and special offers for supporters but staying the course has proved difficult for many.

Further down the pyramid it is a testament to thousands of hard-working volunteers that so many clubs have come through the past few years, not only to survive but thrive as hubs for their local community.

Speaking of constants, The Non-League Paper is still going strong, a great source of results and fixtures on a Sunday morning and Non-League Day, the brainchild of James Doe from the London Football Guide, has become part of the football calendar.

I'll also never tire of posting photos of the wooden grandstand at Great Yarmouth Town!

My first article on women's football was in September 2013 and it has been great to see the growth in interest and participation over the following decade, culminating of course in a joyous atmosphere for last year's European Championships, Sheffield enjoying the luck of having both Swedish and Dutch fans in town.

By contrast I didn't write about the Highland League until August 2019 after my parents had moved permanently to the area and I went to a game at Mackessack Park, the home of Rothes FC.

I've been back plenty of times since, to Strathspey Thistle, Keith, Turriff United and Lossiemouth with more competitive football and cracking backdrops to come.

So, a massive thanks to everyone who has ever read these pages and/or followed or liked on twitter. here's to pre-season friendlies!

Never Too Early

To give a mention to some free football in pre-season.

Liverpool's Lower Breck FC have come a long way since their formation in 2010, the first team plying their trade in the North West Counties Football League Premier Division and the club acting as a real community hub.

Home friendlies against MSB Woolton on Friday 30th June, New Mills FC on Saturday 8th July and Runcorn Linnets on Thursday 20th July are all free admission with a bucket collection at each game for the club's chosen charities.

On Saturday 1st July pre-season starts for St Neots Town FC when they entertain Biggleswade United at the Premier Plus Stadium.

In the United Counties League Premier Division South for 2023/24, the Saints are offering free admission for the Biggleswade game. 

League match admission charges will be £7 adults, £5 concessions, £2 for 16-18's and free for accompanied under 16's. 

Highland League Round-Up

Brechin City’s bid for a return to the SPFL, after two seasons in the Highland League, is over after losing a dramatic play-off against Edinburgh-based Spartans FC, champions of the Lowland League.

Trailing by a single goal from the first-leg, Brechin fell further behind at Glebe Park on Saturday but managed to take the game to penalties where Spartans progressed 4-3.

They will now meet Albion Rovers, who finished bottom of SPFL League Two, again over two legs (tickets £10 adults, £7 concessions and free for under 16's). 

The battle for the Highland League trophy itself matched anything else seen in British football this season as Brechin travelled to Buckie Thistle on the final day of the campaign needing a win to leapfrog their hosts at the top of the table.

A final day showdown had long been circled in diaries as a title decider and both sides kept their nerve in the weeks leading up to the game with some crucial victories.

And the drama went into the final five minutes at Victoria Park when Brechin broke the deadlock before adding another late goal to spark wild celebrations among their supporters.

Brora Rangers finished in third with reigning champions Fraserburgh in fifth while league newcomers Banks o ’Dee managed to finish in mid-table despite being hit with a 24 point deduction and also triumphed in the League Cup, defeating Inverurie Loco Works by a single goal.

Heading into the summer there is speculation that an extra-tier will be introduced to the Scottish pyramid from 2024, with a ‘Conference League’ of 10 clubs, potentially including four Premiership ‘B’ sides who would not be able to gain promotion to the higher level.

Although the Highland League would have some representation in the proposed league, it would fit between SPFL League Two and the current Step Five leagues and effectively relegate the majority of current clubs to a lower level.

The Race For Europe

A big game in the Cymru Premier on Saturday as Newtown AFC host Haverfordwest FC in the Europa Conference League play-off final with a place in european competition next season up for grabs.

Fair play to both clubs for mutually agreeing free admission to the game.

More details on the Newtown AFC twitter page. 

Tangerine Dream

It seems a lot longer than the beginning of August when I tuned in to watch Dundee United's Europa Conference League qualifier at home to AZ Alkmaar.

An old-school European atmosphere at Tannadice came through loud and clear as Jack Ross' vibrant home side gained a narrow victory to take to the second leg in the Netherlands.

Looking back at the BBC report for the game it says: 'The tactical discipline and positional diligence typically evident in Ross teams were there in abundance, but so too was ambition, intricate football, and attacking menace.'

The report also said that a 'dizzying' opportunity awaited but the only dizziness would come from the speed of the fall as United lost the return 7-0 before conceding two more than against Celtic ended Ross' reign before it had even begun.

On the day Celtic nearly hit double-figures at Tannadice, Aberdeen lay fourth in the fledgling SPL table after a solid enough start to the season under Jim Goodwin but he too would experience a horror show when the Dons were knocked out of the Scottish Cup by Darvel from the sixth-tier.

Fast forward to today and it is Goodwin who is enjoying some happier times as the new man in charge at United, three straight wins moving them four points clear of the relegation zone ahead of the post-split fixtures.

The first of these at Tannadice sees Ross County visit on Saturday 13 May and tickets have been reduced to £10 adults and £5 concessions while season ticket holders can bring a friend for free for Kilmarnock's visit on 24 May.

Every Day Is Like Sunday

A chilly, overcast Sunday in Sheffield today but hopefully much brighter this time week down the road at Pride Park with Derby County FC hosting the FA Sunday Cup Final.

Aigburth Arms and St. Josephs's (Luton) are the final two of the 86 teams who entered the 2022/23 competition and will kick off at 2pm in their bid to succeed Baiteze FC as champions.

Tickets are available from the DCFC website, priced at £5 for all ages and must be purchased in advance.

Choose Your Free Game

Thanks to the official Ishmian Football League twitter page for alerting me to two free matches this coming Saturday.

Haringey Borough are throwing open the turnstiles of their Coles Lane stadium for the visit of Cray Wanderers, themselves chasing a play-off place in the Premier Division.

One point and one place separate Cray Valley PM and Sheppey United in the South East division and their play-off battle at the Artic Stadium is also free entry. 

More details over on the league website.

What A Backdrop!

I couldn't resist putting this tweet from Fisher FC onto the main blog page, ahead of Tuesday night's 'Pay What You Want' home game where, if you're there, you should be rewarded with a backdrop like this.

⚽️⚫️⚪️🔦🔦🔦🔦🔦⚪️⚫️⚽️
We are back in action on Tuesday night in our last game under the lights this season.
It’s Pay What You Want on the gate!

🆚 @Sutton_Athletic
🗓️ 18th Apr
🕰️ 7:45
🏆 @SCEFLeague Premier
🏟️ St Paul’s Stadium
📍 SE16 6NT
📕 Programme
🍺 🍔 ☕️ pic.twitter.com/A2R6Ej3DXS

— Fisher FC (@FisherFC) April 16, 2023

Battle Of The Jags

Bottom versus top in the Highland League on Saturday as Strathspey and Buckie met in the battle of the Thistles on a beautiful day in Grantown-On-Spey.

League leaders Buckie needed all three points to maintain their advantage over Brechin City in the title-race and would have travelled in confident mood of getting them given that Strathspey had conceded well over 100 goals in the season to date.

But the hosts have improved dramatically in recent weeks following the arrival of a new manager and they mounted a determined rearguard action in the face of both the visitors' attacking threat and the wind which was firmly against them in the opening 45 minutes.

Goalkeeper James Kendall saved a penalty just before the break and the second-half followed a similar pattern, Strathspey having just two outfield substitutes available perhaps preventing them from making the changes they may have wanted but the home side still offered enough of a threat on the break to keep Buckie alert at the back.

90 minutes had been and gone by the time the deadlock was broken, to cheers of relief from the large visiting contingent and the sight of home players on their knees, a second goal extending that lead at the top of the table and setting up a potential title decider on the final day of the season, Saturday 22 April.

If you're in the Highlands over the next couple of weeks then it is a great time to catch a match as the weather improves, you'll pay no more than £10 for admission, watch some very competitive football and likely have some glorious backdrops as well.

Postcript: Brechin won easily on Wednesday night to maintain their hopes while Strathspey's home season ended with a 1-0 defeat to Keith but the mood around the Jags is much improved as they look to climb the table next season.

The 2022/23 campaign will be wrapped up in the excellent North of Scotland Football Review which is set for release towards the end of July and which can be pre-ordered here. 

The Montagu Cup

Time is slightly against me this week but a quick word for the final of this long-running competition, which takes place at 11am on Easter Monday.

Dearne & District take on Dog Daisy United at the Fireparts Stadium in Mexborough with admission costing £3 adults, £2 concessions and free for accompanied primary school age children.

The Montagu Cup website has a wealth of information on the history of the tournament.

A Good Friday And Saturday Night's Alright

Two clubs looking for a big finish to the season have reduced prices for upcoming matches to help get some more supporters through the turnstiles and give their team a lift.

On Good Friday at Brunton Park, Carlisle United host Tranmere Rovers and the Cumbrians are looking to get 10,000 inside and create a rocking atmosphere in their promotion push.

Ticket prices have been reduced to £10 adults and £5 for under 18's (under 7's free) with no increase on the day of the game.

And on Saturday 15 April at Ewood Park there is an evening kick-off for Blackburn Rovers against Hull City.

Adult tickets in all areas are £15, seniors and 18-23's £10, 12-17's £5 and £1 for those 11 and under.

Affordable Football is approaching it's 10th year as a blog and on twitter. Thanks to everyone who has ever read, followed, retweeted or liked. You can buy me a cuppa from the tea bar by clicking here.

Non-League Day 2023 Update

Following on from the offers highlighted in the article below, here is a quick rundown of ten more I've seen advertised in the past few days, head to the twitter page for more details.

£5 admission for Premier League and EFL season ticket holders at Guiseley AFC.

Pay what you like at Frickley Athletic where Hallam FC are the visitors.

Reduced prices at Nantwich Town, £6/£4 and under 16's go free.

Pay what you want for an early kick-off (12:30) at West Essex FC against Southend Manor.

Free pie and a pint with your admission (£6, £3, £1) at Darwen FC.

Reduced prices, £10/£5 and under 11's free at Welling United for the visit of Bath City.

Bring a donation for the local Community Food Bank and watch Hassocks FC for £4/£2.

Admission just £1 at Golcar United where Knaresborough Town are the opposition.

Football for a fiver at Sevenoaks Town (£2 concessions, under 18's free).

Family ticket at Basford United (to include one under 16) just £10 for this Saturday's game.

Non-League Day 2023 - Starting XI

Just over a week to go until this year's Non-League Day, the first international break of the calendar year meaning no Premier League or Championship football on Saturday 25 March and the chance to sample the fare at your local club.

Some great offers out there already, here are eleven that I have seen so far...

Free entry at Sutton Coldfield Town for the Northern Premier League - Midlands Division - clash with Daventry Town.

If you're a fan of Reading, Wycombe Wanderers, QPR, Brentford, Fulham, Chelsea or Watford and you wear your club shirt to Windsor FC you will get free admission to the home game with Broadfields United.

Continuing the shirt theme, wear a football shirt of your choice and you will get admission for a fiver at Hendon FC when they host Hartley Wintney. That price also applies if you have a ticket for the England v Ukraine game at Wembley the following day.

There is football for a fiver at Worcester City FC when you buy tickets in advance for the visit of Studley. Adults and concessions are £5, 12-16's £2 and under-12's free.

It's also a fiver for adults at the Giant Axe, home of Lancaster City FC where Hyde United are the opposition. Adults £5, concessions, students and young adults £3 and under-14's free with a paying adult, and at Rushall Olympic against St. Ives Town. Adults and concessions £5, under-12's £1.

Radford FC are raising funds to replace their floodlights and are offering students in Nottingham admission to the game against Rainworth Miners' Welfare, a bottle of beer and a cob if they pledge a fiver towards it.

Get your admission, a pint and a pie for £10 at Silsden AFC for the visit of Goole AFC while it is £1 entry for all at Merstham FC with loads going on both before and after the game against Binfield.

And finally there are 'two for one offers' in place at both Leek Town FC (buy a ticket online for the league clash with Witton Albion and get one free for the Staffordshire Senior Cup tie with Kidsgrove Athletic on Tuesday 4 April) and Boreham Wood where your Non-League day visit for the Eastleigh game can be followed up with the Torquay United match the following Tuesday (adults £20, 65+ £18, under 16's £12 and under 12's £6).

Stick To The Script

A new series of 'Welcome to Wrexham' would perhaps be an anti-climax if this season's National League title had been won at a canter.

Every good sporting script needs a rival and Notts County are playing their part well although a defeat and a draw in their last two games have allowed Wrexham to open up a four-point gap at the time of writing.

Very much a club on the up themselves, Notts have completely re-engaged with their fanbase since being brought by Christoffer and Alexander Reedtz in 2019, initiatives such as 'football for a fiver' being a part of that and leading to some huge crowds at Meadow Lane.

The upcoming visit of Scunthorpe United on Saturday 25 March has been designated as Community Day, the Notts County Foundation having donated 1,000 tickets to local football teams and schools, and all ticket prices have been reduced, to £10 for adults, £5 for 65 and over and under 22's and £1 for under 16's.

Talking of Wrexham, the Racecourse Ground will host Wrexham AFC Women on Sunday 26 March (2pm) as they mark their title victory with a home game against Connah's Quay Nomads for which tickets are priced at just £1. 

On The Up

On the up both on and off the pitch, Hallam FC consolidated their position in the top six of the Northern Counties East League Premier Division with a 2-0 win against Bottesford Town on Saturday, three points that were ultimately comfortable despite a committed display from the struggling visitors.

With admission priced at £5 for adults and £3 for concessions, an afternoon at Sandygate is a pleasant experience on many levels, from the warm welcome offered by the volunteers on the gate to a drink from the bar.

Over 500 were in attendance, a healthy crowd despite a big game for Sheffield Wednesday not too far away.

Next home matches are on Tuesday 14th against Emley AFC and the following Saturday when Hemsworth Miners Welfare are the visitors.

A Fan With A Pen

 

During the lockdown months off work between 2020 to 2022, Rob A. Clark, a committee member and the club historian of Grantown-on-Spey based football club Strathspey Thistle (in the Highlands of Scotland) kept himself busy by digging out his paperwork as Club match day reporter from the clubs first nine seasons of 1993-94 to 2001-02 and beginning detailed research into the history of football in his hometown.

What he discovered is an amazing few stories dating back to the late 1800’s and how Grantown-on-Spey individuals and teams played a role in the development of football.

In the next few months, the book of over 180 A5 pages entitled “A fan with a pen!” will be published by Thomson Partnership of Inverurie and Rob is inviting people to pre order a copy of the book retailing at £12.50 UK Sterling plus additional postage and packing costs depending on where the book – when it is available around late July to early August - is heading.

A donation from each copy of the book sold will be donated by Rob to the UK Charity “Teenage Cancer Trust” in memory of his cousins son who died aged just 15 years old of blood cancer.

Please contact Rob directly to order a copy or for more information by e-mail to; afanwithapen@gmail.com or by post to; 34 Cairngorm Avenue, Grantown-on-Spey, PH26-3EX, Highland, Scotland.

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Strathspey Thistle have upcoming home games against Huntly on Wednesday 8 March and Keith the following Saturday.

Admission prices at Seafield Park are £10 adults, £5 concessions and free for accompanied under-12's.

As at all grounds across the Highland League you'll find a warm welcome, hard-working volunteers, competitive football and some stunning backdrops.

Order Of The Bath

Community Day has come around again at Bath City FC with the club offering 'Pay What You Want' admission for the National League South game at home to Tonbridge Angels next Saturday (25th February).

There's lots going on around the match itself, with face painting, beat-the-goalie and more

Another date for the diary is the League Two match between Bradford City and Colchester United on Saturday 4 March, the Bantams still with hopes of a charge into the automatic promotion spots as I write this.

Supporters from both clubs can buy tickets for £5 up to midnight on the day of the game.

Deepdale hosts the FA Youth Cup quarter-final between Preston North End and Southampton at 7pm on Thursday 2 March.

Tickets will be available on the night of the game, priced at £5 for adults and £1 for all concessions with season card holders from both clubs able to get in for free.

Update: Two more 'Pay What You Want' games this coming Saturday (Feb 25th), at Steyning Town FC (against AFC Varndeanians) and Glapwell FC (against Retford United).

International Window

Good to see the England C team, representing the best players from outside of the Football League, back in action shortly as they take on their Welsh counterparts at Altrincham FC on Tuesday 21st March.

Tickets are priced at £7 for adults and £2 for under-18's with club Co-Chair, Bill Waterson telling the official website: “Altrincham FC is delighted to be hosting this fixture as our connections with the England C team go back to its inception in 1979, when club legends John Davison, Jeff Johnson & John Rogers regularly represented their country."

Some other opportunities to watch England teams in action coming up, include:

Monday 20 February: Women's Under 23's versus Belgium at Prenton Park, 7pm. Tickets £5 adults, £2.50 children.

Wednesday 22 March: Men's Under 19's versus Hungary at the Bescot Stadium, Walsall, 7.30pm. Tickets £5 adults, £2.50 children.

Saturday 25 March: Men's Under 19's versus Iceland at the New York Stadium, Rotherham, 2pm. Tickets £5 adults, £2.50 children.

Tuesday 28 March: Men's Under 19's versus Turkey at the Technique Stadium, Chesterfield, 7.30pm. Tickets £5 adults, £2.50 children.

Ticket info for all the above can be found by the FA ticket page. 

And England Under 18 Schoolboys take on Northern Ireland in the Centenary Shield on Friday 14 April. Tickets for the 7pm kick-off, to be held at Billericay Town FC, are available priced £7 adults and £3 for concessions and under 18's.

Into The Woods

Thanks to Lordswood FC for following on twitter.

Currently playing in the Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division, the club have introduced a family ticket offer for their remaining home matches this season, with Whitstable Town the next visitors on Saturday 11th February.

Two adults and up to three children (15 and under) can come to the game for just £10.

Also coming up this week there are eight scheduled ties as the FA Vase reaches the 5th Round stage and six scheduled FA Youth Cup ties as follows;

Monday 6th - Luton Town versus Preston North End (tickets to be purchased before 3pm on the day of the game, priced £5/£3) and Watford versus Arsenal (tickets for non-season ticket holders are priced at £5/£3 and £1).

Tuesday 7th - Southampton versus Fulham (tickets £3/£1) and Manchester City versus Fleetwood (tickets £3/£1, game to be held at the Academy Stadium).

Wednesday 8th - Oxford United versus Leeds United (tickets £6/£3) and Cambridge United versus Sheffield Wednesday (tickets £5/£2 for non-season ticket holders).

Further details of kick-off times can be found on the various club websites.

England Back In Town

 

Some pictures from England Under-17's match against Armenia in March last year.

International football is back at the New York Stadium on Saturday 25th March, kick-off 2pm, when England face Iceland in the UEFA U19 EURO elite round.

Tickets are on sale, priced £5 adults and £2.50 for those over 60 and under 22.