Take it to the Bridge

Spotted on the 'Special Offers and Promotions' page of the Non-League Matters forum, Uxbridge FC are not only offering free admission to their home pre-season friendlies this summer but have kept the price of season tickets at an incredible £50 for adults, £5 for concessions, £1 for 16-18 year olds and free for under-16's.

A fantastic offer for football at any level, let alone step 3 of the pyramid (Uxbridge were promoted in 2024/25 and finished 9th in the Southern Premier south division last season, their highest ever placing) and one that also allows season ticket holders to watch Southall FC, groundsharers at Honeycroft next season, for just £1 per game.

Pre-season friendlies start on Saturday 4th July against North Greenford United and will, I'm sure, feature on the brilliant London Football Guide nearer the time.

Promised Land

One of the main themes of this blog, since its inception, has been the fluctuating fortunes of Coventry City FC, the Sky Blues having spent time in Leagues One and Two as well as being exiled to both Northampton and Birmingham since the very first article on Affordable Football in July 2013.

That touched on how the idea came about for starting the blog, the Sky Blues 'football for a fiver' offer during a run to the area final of the Football League Trophy amidst a dispute over the Ricoh Arena that led to the club leaving the city for the first time.

£10 tickets were in place for the homecoming to Coventry in August 2014 but the next few years were punctuated by various crises, so much so that even over 40,000 fans heading to Wembley in March 2017 was only a temporary respite before relegation to League Two.

Community Day and £5 tickets in February 2018 meant that 28,000 watched a League Two fixture against Accrington Stanley but, even as fortunes slowly improved on the pitch, there were to be more twists in the tale as City headed to St. Andrews for a season.

Fast forward to October 2025 and City headed back to the top of the Championship with victory over Blackburn, a position they were only to relinquish very briefly before sealing promotion in style and sparking celebrations across the city.

I wrote after that game that 'the need to tempt people through the turnstiles isn't a problem at present, demand may soon exceed supply in that regard,' and, of course, that will be even more so in the Premier League next season.

Sunday Trading

 

Silverware is up for grabs in Sheffield on Sunday 10th May as Bramall Lane hosts the final of the FA Sunday Cup, to be played this year between Home Bargains and Hartlepool AFC Supporters.

Tickets for the 1pm kick-off are priced at £5. 

The previous day, Leicester City's King Power Stadium hosts the final of the FA's other main grassroots competition, the Inter-League Cup. This is also a 1pm kick-off as the Cheshire Football League and Herts Senior County League battle it out.

Week Ahead - 27th April

Start the week with some free football (club account needed to claim a ticket) at the Swansea.com Stadium as the Swans U21s host Newcastle United in a 7pm kick-off in the Professional Development League play-offs. 

There is another Premier League International Cup tie at Aldershot Town as Real Sociedad and Borussia Dortmund meet in the semi-finals on Wednesday 29th at 7pm. Tickets are priced at £4 for adults, £2 for concessions and free for under-11's.

The previous evening, Woking FC host the other semi-final between the U21s of Real Madrid and Dinamo Zagreb. Admission is priced at £4/£2 for non-season ticket holders at the club.

Back to Wednesday 29th and Kenilworth Road hosts the U18 PDL Cup Final between Luton Town and AFC Wimbledon. Tickets for the 7pm kick-off are priced at £3 and £1.

Week Ahead - 20th April

Free tickets are available to watch Chelsea Women's U21s against Manchester City at Kingsmeadow on Wednesday 22nd, kick-off 7pm.

Also free admission is the Under-18 fixture between Derby County and Burnley at Pride Park on Friday 24th (7pm).

The U18 Premier League Cup final between Crystal Palace and Manchester United is set for Selhurst Park on Wednesday 22nd. Tickets for the 7pm kick-off are priced at £5 for adults and £1 for concessions.

And Salford City have reduced prices for their big, televised, League Two clash with Bromley on Thursday 23rd at 8pm. Adult tickets are £5 and it is £1 for under-18's.

A Free Saturday

The end of the season comes around again and, as it was when this picture was taken in 2022, there is free admission at Dronfield Town FC this coming Saturday (April 18th).

Stonelow Road is the venue, just over the border into Derbyshire from here in Sheffield, for the United Counties League fixture against Pinchbeck United FC.

Week Ahead - 13th April

Cardiff City and Swansea City contest the Women's Welsh Cup Final on Sunday 19th at Rodney Parade, Newport (kick-off 5pm) with advance tickets available online at £5 for adults and £2 for juniors.

Turf Moor hosts the Premier League Cup semi-final between the Under-21 teams of Burnley and West Bromwich Albion on Monday 13th (kick-off 7pm). Tickets for non-season ticket holders are priced at £5 and £2.

On Wednesday 15th there is a Premier League International Cup quarter-final between Valencia and Dinamo Zagreb, hosted by Aldershot Town and kicking off at 7pm. Tickets are priced at £4 and £2 with under-11's free of charge.

The Aldershot website also has details of an interesting fixture between the club's B team and Liberia Under-20's. This takes place at the home of Bracknell Town FC on Monday 13th at 7.45pm with admission on the gate priced at £5/£3 and £1.

To support Affordable Football, online since 2013, click here.

Net Gains

 

Taking down the nets one final time after the last home game of the season, a disappointing afternoon for Strathspey Thistle as they lost 4-0 to Turriff United in the Highland League but a very positive campaign on the whole with a best ever points tally.

A scene that will be repeated around the country over the next few weeks and here's to the volunteers who have made matchdays possible during the 2025/26 season.

Week Ahead - And Into Easter

A busy period coming up with lots of football scheduled over the Easter holidays.

In the Cymru North league there is a double-header of action at Llandudno FC with games on Good Friday against Ruthin Town and Easter Monday when Guilsfield are the visitors. Prices have been reduced for both games (which are 2.30pm kick-offs) to £5 adults, £2 concessions and free for kids.

Clubs often throw open their doors to supporters during school holidays, with open training sessions on the pitch a good way for children to get close to the players and ask for autographs and pictures afterwards.

Free tickets, for instance, are available at Cardiff City for their Easter Family Fun Day between 11am and 2pm on Wednesday 8th. 

Easter Monday also sees the final of the Montagu Cup, the oldest football final still played at its original venue, which is the Hampden Road Ground in Mexborough, South Yorkshire.

This year's final, which is an 11am kick-off, is between Wickersley CC and the Gate Inn with cash admission priced at £4 adults, £2 concessions and primary school children free with a paying adult.

To support Affordable Football, online since 2013, click here.

Week Ahead - 23rd March

Non-League Day 2026 is upon us and this coming Saturday (March 28th) there are special offers and reduced prices up and down the country.

Maidenhead United of the National League South are at home to Weston-super-Mare and advance tickets to visit the historic York Road ground are priced at just £5 with under-17's in for £1. Read more about the Magpies link-up with Juventus here.

It's 'Wroxham Day' in the Norfolk Broads as the Yachtsmen host Stanway Rovers in the Isthmian League. Advance tickets (before midnight on Thursday 26th) are priced at £5 for adults, £4 concessions, £1.50 for 16-18 year olds and free for under 16s.

If you can rustle up a dog, an Premier League or EFL season ticket, a blue light card or some Kings Langley FC club merchandise to wear, then there is 50% at the gate for the home game against Biggleswade United (under 16s free with a paying adult).

Football for a Fiver at Hanworth Villa for the home game against Ascot United (adults, concessions and under-21's), £1 for under-16's accompanied by a paying adult and also just £1 for EFL/Premier League season ticket holders.

And it is 'Pay What You Like' at Bexhill United (plus you get to see or sit in their beautiful grandstand at the Polegrove ground) with 25% of the gate going to the Sussex Heart Charity.

This is just a sample of what's on offer, head to the Non-League Day website for a match finder and I'll be updating every day on X until then.

To support Affordable Football, online since 2013, click here.

The Changing of the Seasons

  

A beautiful spring day at Sandygate, home of Hallam FC, on Saturday as Bridlington Town were the visitors for a Northern Premier League (East) fixture.

The hosts took a first-half lead with a well-taken shot from just outside the area before Brid levelled after the break with a rocket. That left home goalkeeper Hugo Warhurst no chance but he preserved a point with a fabulous save shortly after.

Saturday afternoons at Sandygate have a nice feeling and it has been good to see the club grow so much over the years while still retaining that familiarity and hum of conversation.

Hallam have done well in leveraging their history, playing at the world's oldest ground, and their erstwhile rivals Sheffield FC have been much in the news, locally, nationally and even wider (I saw one piece on Reuters when searching online), over the past week after appointing Jon McClure, lead singer of Reverend and the Makers, as chairman.

The long-term aim remains to bring the world's oldest club back to Sheffield from their current home in Dronfield, just over the border into Derbyshire, but the work has started already in terms of engaging locally and getting more people through the turnstiles.

Week Ahead - 16th March

Free Inter-Services football at Aldershot Town on Wednesday 18th at 7pm as the Army host the RAF.

Brentford's B team take on Coventry City under-21s in the Premier League Cup with tickets at the Gtech Community Stadium costing £1-£5. The game takes place on Tuesday 17th, kick-off 7pm.

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

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.

Week Ahead - 26th January

A mention for Ramsgate FC (whose home game on 28 February is free admission) with half-price entry this Tuesday (27th) for their Velocity Cup tie against Binfield. 

If you live in the SE9 postcode then you can get free admission to the Isthmian Premier Division game between Cray Valley (PM) and Cheshunt on Saturday 31st.

Tickets are available for the final of the Women's Champions Cup at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday 1st and cover two games, kicking-offat 2.45pm and 6pm with the matches determined by the midweek semi-finals at Brentford.

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

Week Ahead - 19th January

Lincoln City have a special offer in place for their home game against Burton Albion on Thursday 22nd (kick-off 8pm) with tickets purchased before 9am on matchday available for £10 adults, £5 concessions and £2 under 18's.

In the FA Youth Cup, Coventry City take on Blackburn Rovers on Wednesday 21st with tickets for a 7pm kick-off at the CBS Arena priced at £5 adults and £1 for under 18's.

And it is Community Day at Wycombe Wanderers with tickets for the EFL League One game at home to Peterborough United on Saturday 24th available at £10 for adults and £5 for kids.

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

See Elvis on Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day 2026 falls on a Saturday this year, hopefully leading to some special ticket offers and plenty of puns from club marketing departments.

Dundee FC are early out of the blocks and asking supporters to 'bring the love' to Dens Park for an important SPL game against Livingston for which prices have been reduced to £10 for adults and £2 for under 12's.

Before Christmas this would have been earmarked as a classic six-pointer at the bottom but Dundee, managed by Steven Pressley, 'Elvis' of course and a likeable, engaged manager of Coventry City at an incredibly difficult time when the club were playing 'home' fixtures in Northampton, have pulled away from the foot of the table in recent weeks with some important victories.

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

Crowded House

Into an increasingly crowded schedule in the women's game comes the FIFA Women's Champions Cup, to be held in London at the end of January.

European champions Arsenal are joined by their continental equivalents Gotham FC from the USA, Corinthians of Brazil and Morocco's ASFAR.

Semi-finals will be held at the home of Brentford FC on Wednesday 28th January and kick-off times of 12.30 and 6pm may add to the low-key feel of the event.

However, Arsenal will host the third-place match and final on Sunday 1st February and with tickets available from £20 for adults (covering both games, 50% discount for under 18's, 25% for young adults and seniors) a good crowd should be attracted to North London. 

Week Ahead - 12th January

£3 football is back at Eastleigh FC as they host Brackley Town in the National League on Tuesday 13th at 7.45pm.

In the FA Youth Cup, Goodison Park hosts Everton's tie against West Ham on Friday 16th at 7pm. Tickets are priced at £5 for adults and £3 for juniors. 

On Wednesday 14th at 7pm it is Reading against Chelsea at the Select Car Leasing Stadium (advance tickets £4/£2) and on the same evening Bolton Wanderers host Stevenage at the Toughsheet Community Stadium (7pm, admission on the evening £5/£3/£1.

In the Football League Trophy, Luton Town take on Swindon Town at 7pm on Tuesday 13th with 'football for a fiver' at Kenilworth Road (£1 for ages 16 and under).

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

Warming Up

 

Players warming up ahead of the Northern Premier League game between Hallam FC and Lincoln United on New Year's Day, a cold one up at Sandygate in Sheffield but with a warm welcome on a gate and a nice atmosphere as 750 of us made the effort to get out of the house for a few hours.

Hallam host Garforth Town on Saturday 10th January in their next league game with adult prices £9, £6 concessions and £2 for accompanied under-12's. If you're visiting the ground for the first time then the number 51 First Bus from the city centre will drop you right outside.

Week Ahead - 5th January

Football for a Fiver is back at Hibernian FC for the Scottish Premiership game against Motherwell at Easter Road on Saturday 10th.

In the FA Cup in England, third round ties at Preston North End (Fri 9th versus Wigan Athletic), Ipswich Town (Sat 10th v Blackpool), Swansea City (Sun 11th v WBA) and Sheffield United (Sun 11th v Mansfield) each have adult tickets available at £10.

Loftus Road hosts the FA Youth Cup tie between QPR and Brighton on Saturday 10th at 12.30pm. Tickets for non-season ticket holders are £5 for adults, £3 seniors/young adults and £1 for under 18's.

Keep up to date on our X page and to support Affordable Football, now into our 13th year, click here.