Bank Holiday International Football

Something a little different this coming Bank Holiday Monday (May 6th) as the England C team, drawn from players outside of the EFL, take on the national side of Nepal at the home of Aldershot Town FC.

Having battled their way past Laos in the first round of Asian qualification for the 2026 World Cup, Nepal have lost all four of their matches in the next stage and won't be making it to the USA, Canada and Mexico but Italian coach Vincenzo Annese has named a strong squad for the game in England and it is clearly an occasion that the Nepalese are looking forward to, with a farewell ceremony for the players ahead of their journey.

Plenty of terrace tickets are still available for the 3pm kick-off, priced at £10 adults and £5 for juniors, from the official Aldershot FC website.

Thoughts of 2021/22 at Horndean FC

Although the 2020/21 season remains, for many, frozen in time and not yet officially over, it's inevitable as the weather bites that thoughts turn to better times ahead.

For Horndean FC, of the Wessex League,  that means getting Five Heads Park in tip-top condition for spectators and players from Under 7's to the First XI.

That means, of course, working out the best way of maximising revenue while complying with whatever rules are in place when football gets the green light to start again.

Restrictions of one kind or another are likely to be with us for a long time to come and  having seen a bewildering number of changes to what they can and cannot do over the last ten months, one of many challenges facing clubs is to how to future-proof themselves against them.

Horndean have launched a crowdunding campaign to help do just that, a £6,000 target being set.

Pledges of £20 or more will be able to claim (or donate) rewards such as match or season tickets and sponsorship packages.

Game of the Week: Bristol Manor Farm v Basingstoke Town

I've been meaning to mention the 'Farmy Army' for some time as I have always been taken by the pictures of their ground, 'The Creek', close to the river and with trains chugging past on what is meant to be quite a scenic journey from Bristol Temple Meads to the nearby Sea Mills station.

There are actually some pictures on the club's twitter account at the moment of flooding all around the area of the ground although the pitch itself is clear and Saturday's game is on as I write.

The club offer discounts for anyone arriving by train and there are also discounts on the standard admission prices this Saturday for Bristol City season ticket holders.

Basingstoke arrive just two points off the foot of the Southern League Division One South but with more pressing matters off the field having left their home at the Camrose last summer and with uncertainty over whether they will be able to return to the town next season.

The club website has a number of updates on plans to upgrade the Hampshire FA complex at Winklebury.

A Pitfall Of Pay What You Want!

Well publicised for a long period before the game took place, the offer of 'pay what you want' admission at Aldershot Town on Non-League Day drew an attendance of 2,786 to the EBB Stadium.

With the offer ending at midnight on the day of the Hartlepool game the club's last update on Friday reported the sale of 1,465 tickets on a pay what you want basis.

A £2 minimum was put in place and at the level that Aldershot play at I think that's fair enough as there is an administrative cost involved while online sales also give an indication of what sort of crowd to expect and what to put in place in terms of catering, stewarding etc.

As a rough comparison, the September Saturday fixture against a Barrow, whose supporters would also have had to travel a long distance, drew a gate of 1,163 so the initiative certainly looks to have been successful on that front.

Fans forum ShotsWeb had an excellent thread on the pay what you want offer with season ticket holders, in the main, pleased to see the club looking to attract new and lapsed supporters and those intending to buy tickets either promising to pay the going rate or make a purchase at the ground to make up the difference.

Fast forward to the end of the game and the one variable that cannot be controlled by those off the pitch, the result!

A 3-0 defeat continued a difficult start to the season for the Shots and left many on ShotsWeb lamenting a bad result in front of a big crowd.

As with so many of us who don't support the big clubs it seems Aldershot fans share the common belief that their club always freeze on such an occasion (on a par, perhaps, with the theory that your club always offers a return to form for an opposition team on a long losing run).

But let's hope some of those who came along on Saturday will have enjoyed the occasion and get back to the Recreation Ground some time soon.

We Are The Champions!

Congratulations to Sholing FC who celebrated their Sydenhams Wessex League Premier Division title on Saturday afternoon by offering free admission to all spectators for the home game against Brockenhurst.

The Southampton-based club always offer Football for a Fiver and consistently work hard both to keep people informed of what’s happening at the ground and to try and attract new supporters along.

Their 6-2 victory against Brockenhurst took them to 90 points and 99 goals for the season and there is a similar tale of dominance one level below in the pyramid where Harefield United have already brought up their century of goals in the Spartan South Midlands League Division One and should soon have a points tally to match.

Another club who work hard to be a part of their local community, Harefield are offering ‘Pay What You Want’ admission to the home game against Hatfield Town on Saturday 27th April when the league trophy will be presented.

Barnoldswick, Bath & Sholing

A trio of matches to be played on Saturday 29th September that will all celebrate the role played by the host club in and around their local community.

In Lancashire, Barnoldswick Town FC of the North West Counties Premier Division are marking their founding in 1972 and hope to see as many people as possible who have contributed to the club's rise.

Ashton Athletic are the visitors to the Silentnight Stadium and admission will be on a 'Pay What You Want' basis.

And it is 'Pay What You Want' for National League South action at Bath City FC (against Welling United) for their annual Community Day.

There are loads of activities going on for families and the club are also looking to entice students heading to the city this month to sample the atmosphere at Twerton Park and perhaps adopt The Romans as their second team.

At Sholing FC, where manager Dave Diaper recently marked 1,000 game in charge of The Boatmen, it is also Community Day and there is free entry for the game against AFC Portchester in the wessex Premier League.

Sholing FC

We will continue to offer "Football for a Fiver" every home game for adults and cheap prices for Seniors and Children too. Discounts are also available all season for #saintsfc & #spitfires season ticket holders. #uptheboatmen pic.twitter.com/pXvdUGqBLb

— Sholing FC (@sholingfc) 11 June 2018

Early Bird Offer For England v Wales

Will it be a first competitive game in charge for Phil Neville when England Women take on Wales in a World Cup qualifier at St Mary's Stadium, Southampton on Friday 6 April, kick-off 7pm.

The venue reflects both the growing interest in the England team and the fact that this will be a key tie in a group that Wales currently lead, albeit having played a game more than a Lionesses side who have won three out of three and scored 15 unanswered goals in the process.

Neville is the unlikely name to have emerged as a candidate to be named the permanent successor to Mark Sampson and his potential appointment has led to some sharp differences of opinion, from the positive of such a high-profile figure coming in to the negative that it may be overlooking those already working in the women's game.

Whatever your view it will cost just £7.50 for an Adult ticket to the Wales game if you buy before the end of January (£10 after) while all Concessions tickets are just £1.

Winchester City FC

Consistently voted as one of the best places to live in the UK, Winchester should be looking good on New Year’s Day when the city’s football club have a big local derby to look forward to.

The Southampton area and beyond seems to be a lively place for football at all levels and a number of clubs work hard to get people through their turnstiles, especially when the Saints are away from home or not in action.

AFC Totton, for example, offered free admission to their game against Bishops Cleeve this Saturday, combining it with a host of Christmas activities (and celebrating with a 6-0 win) and I have featured Sholing FC a number of times on the blog in the past.

Totton are the visitors to Winchester on 1 January, in the Evo-Stik League South West, and the hosts have a number of offers in place. 

Anyone coming to their game against Shortwood United on 23 December can come back on New Year’s Day for £5, season ticket holders at Southampton, Portsmouth, Bournemouth and Eastleigh will pay the same price and Under 16's are free of charge.

Winchester City FC

Following on from the Hampshire theme of this recent article, Winchester City FC are offering £5 admission to Southampton, Pompey, Bournemouth (and Reading) season ticket holders for the big Friday evening clash against Salisbury in the Southern League this week.

The offer also extends to Eastleigh season ticket holders (the Spitfires are offering free admission to their game against Solihull Moors tomorrow night, Tuesday 24th) and anyone who holds a ticket from either of Winchester's recent games against Bristol Manor Farm or Paulton Rovers.

Add in a local derby, a big following from Salisbury and free entry for Under 16's and it should be a lively evening in the beautiful cathedral city.

Update - Wednesday 25th October: And the Hampshire offers keep on coming as there is free admission this coming Saturday for Sholing FC against Fareham Town, kick-off 3pm.

Eastleigh & The Saints: South Coast Special

Some matches that may be of interest in the Southampton area over the next few weeks.

Starting at Eastleigh, where there is free entry on Tuesday 24 October to the National League game against Solihull Moors at the Silverlake Stadium.

The Spitfires have come in for quite a bit of criticism recently over the very late postponement of a home match against Chester, the letters page of last week’s Non-League Paper containing quite a few unhappy missives.

But the offer of free football is one that has been made regularly in recent seasons as Eastleigh look to build up their supporter base.

Many of those supporters will also be regulars at St Mary’s and anyone buying a ticket for Southampton’s televised home clash with Burnley on Saturday 21 October (kick-off 5.30pm) will get 50% off a brief for the West Bromwich Albion fixture on Saturday 4 November.

And Premier League 2 matches that are played at the Saints stadium will continue to be free entry for all spectators, although a ticket will be required.

Next up for the Under-23’s is the visit of Newcastle United on Monday 16 October for a 7pm kick-off.

Done Deal! New Signing For Affordable Football

It is the season for tabloid-style transfer headlines after all.

Since I started the blog, back in 2013, it has always been the intention to put any money it generated back into the game and I'm happy to have been able to start doing so this summer.

First up is a player sponsorship...

@sholingfc player sponsorship coming along nicely @WebbTowers & @AffordableFooty both confirmed sponsorship just £25 contact @sholingfcsec

— Sholing FC Sec (@sholingfcsec) 26 May 2017

Sholing featured on the site recently with their season tickets for 2017/18 costing £66 for Adults if purchased before 21 July, Over 60's £30 and Under 16's £20.

Good luck to the Boatmen and our sponsored player, Owen Roundell, for the upcoming campaign and hopefully there will be a couple more Affordable Football sponsorships to come when finances allow.

Sholing FC Raise A Glass To The FA Cup

Southampton-based Sholing FC enjoyed the perfect post-season boost when they were chosen as the recipients of a £100,000 grant from Budweiser, FA Cup partners of the Football Association, towards improving the football facilities at the Universal Stadium.

The Boatmen can trace their history back to 1884 in one guise or another and in 2014 won the FA Vase at Wembley, a rare triumph for the South in a competition increasingly dominated by Northern League clubs.

For 2017/18, season tickets are available as follows...

Watch 21 Sholing home games for the cost of watching 1 Premier League game. Keeping football affordable #uptheboatmen pic.twitter.com/I7wrpHnMy2

— Sholing FC (@sholingfc) 24 May 2017

Alresford Town FC, Fairford Town FC

Based in the attractive Hampshire town of Alresford, the Magpies are enjoying a solid season in the Wessex League Premier Division, currently sitting in seventh place in the table after just one defeat in fourteen matches.

 

And they are inviting supporters to watch this Saturday’s match at home to Hamworthy United for free. Kick-off at Arlebury Park is at 3pm.

Speaking to the Daily Echo, manager Richard Luffman said: “Having a free gate on Saturday is to say thank you to those who come along to support us regularly and to invite new fans along to watch the resurgent Magpies.

“We came to the club with a three to five-year plan to compete with the likes of Sholing and Moneyfields at the top end of the table and this year is our building block.

In existence since 1891, Fairford Town ply their trade in the Hellenic League and are currently pushing for promotion to the Premier Division.

On Saturday 25th February they entertain the superbly-named Tytherington Rocks at Cinder Lane (the club website has an excellent matchday guide) and admission will be on a ‘Pay What You Want’ basis.

Anyone paying the usual Adult price of £5, or more, will be entered into a prize draw and the club's charity of the year, League of Friends, will be collecting around the ground.

Take Two For Hitchin Town And Eastleigh

Two very worthwhile offers that featured on the pages of Affordable Football recently but which both fell victim to the weather will still be taking place in February.

Our match at #TopField on 4 Feb v @FCKingsLangley will now be #PayWhatYouWant & we'll be collecting for @SandsUK

— Hitchin Town FC (@HitchinTownFC) 23 January 2017

Hitchin Town had originally intended for the home game against Cirencester on 21 January to be a 'Pay What You Want' fixture and also took the commendable decision to collect for Sands, the neonatal and stillbirth death charity after being unwittingly caught up in a social media 'storm' following ill-judged tweets sent by a player registered (not contracted) to the club.

The National League match between Eastleigh and Macclesfield Town, meanwhile, has been re-arranged for Tuesday 21st February at 7:45pm and the Spitfires will once again be offering free admission to all spectators.

Sholing FC, Chipstead FC

Two clubs are throwing open their doors on Saturday 5th November for free admission to their respective matches.

Sholing FC host Brockenhurst in the Wessex Premier League, kick-off 3pm.

FA Vase winners in 2014, the Boatmen, who play in red and white stripes, will hope to attract a healthy number of Southampton supporters to the game as the Saints are not in action until an away trip to Hull the following day.

Surrey’s Chipstead FC are at home to Walton Casuals in the Ryman League Division One South. Kick-off is at 3pm with the clubhouse open to show the televised FA Cup tie between Merstham and Oxford United which kicks off at 12:30pm.

As with Sholing’s, the Chipstead club website is an indicator of how much a part of the community the club are, with football at all age levels from 7-years-old up to walking football for the over-50’s.

Chipstead also have an ongoing offer throughout the season which allows reduced price admission of £5 for season ticket holders of either Crystal Palace or Sutton United.

Free Football At Eastleigh FC

Saturday’s 2-1 victory for Eastleigh FC against Sutton United at the Silverlake Stadium was watched by an attendance of 2,853, the numbers swelled by the offer of free admission to students as they head back to university in the Southampton area.

 

Having put their faith in Ronnie Moore just a few games into the current campaign, Eastleigh look to be reaping the benefit of the veteran manager’s experience as they are now eight matches unbeaten and settled nicely among the early-season promotion candidates.

 

Progression into the Football League would be the culmination of a steady, upward curve for the Spitfires, who are offering free admission to the home fixture against Maidstone United on Tuesday 4th October.

A Double Bill of Free Football in Hampshire

Two Tuesday night matches, both very important in their own way, will be free for all spectators to attend in Hampshire later this month.

Eastleigh FC, aiming to make the play-offs in the National League, host Barrow AFC at the Silverlake Stadium on Tuesday 12th (kick-off 7:45pm) and with free admission are hoping to break the 3,000 barrier through the turnstiles.

One week later, on Tuesday 19th, there is a Portsmouth Senior Cup semi-final at Havant and Waterlooville FC where the hosts will take on Gosport Borough.

An exciting local derby could be on the cards between the National League South rivals and a decent crowd should take up the offer of free entry.

Havant are also through to the Hampshire Senior Cup Final and will play Winchester City FC under the lights at St Mary's Stadium on Tuesday April 12th at 7:45pm. Tickets (which must be purchased from the two teams involved before the game) are priced at £10 Adults and £5 Concessions (over 65's and under 16's).

And, staying in the area, a quick word on United Services Portsmouth FC, of the Wessex League, who have sent me lots of messages this season on Twitter about upcoming games and offers (such as reduced price entry for Portsmouth FC fans).

They have quite a few home matches to get through before the end of the season, starting with the visit of Hythe & Dibden on Tuesday evening.

Aldershot Town, Hartlepool United

Two home games coming up for Aldershot Town at the EBB Stadium, starting with the FA Trophy tie against Eastleigh this coming Saturday.

Admission has been reduced for the all-National League tie to £12 Adults, £10 Concessions and £4 Juniors and anyone attending will get the same prices for the league game against Guiseley the following Saturday.

Under-11’s admission remains free with a paying adult.

Hartlepool United, meanwhile, will attempt to see off Salford City at the second attempt when they replay their FA Cup tie on Tuesday 15 December at 7:45pm

Ticket prices have been reduced to £10 Adults and £5 Concessions (Over-60, Under-16 and Student) while Season Ticket Holders who travelled to the first game will be given a complimentary ticket for the replay on production of their stub.

A Chelsea Double Bill At Aldershot This Week

Two end-of-season opportunities to watch the talent coming through the ranks at Chelsea FC this week, both at the Electrical Services Stadium home of Aldershot FC.

On Thursday night it is the Under-21’s who meet Liverpool in a league fixture which kicks off at 7:05pm. Admission is £3 for Adults and £1 Concessions.

Then, a good opportunity for anyone in the area to get their Saturday football fix as Chelsea Under-18’s meet Manchester City (kick-off 1:30pm) in an Under-18 Premier League play-off.

Admission to watch the FA Youth Cup winners in a rematch of their recent final is free for all.