Non-League Day 2024

Just over two weeks to go until this year's Non-League Day (Saturday 23rd March), a celebration of semi-professional and grassroots football and one that has spread outside the UK to the Netherlands and Spain among others.

Keep up to date with everything that is going on by visiting Non-League Day online, where you can use the match finder to see what games are on near you.

The man behind NLD is James Doe, who also writes the wonderful London Football Guide where details of matches in and around the capital are published every week and where I'm sure there will be a bumper edition for next weekend.

Here are just some of the initiatives that I have seen...

Premier League and EFL season ticket holders are being offered free or reduced price admission at Bilston Town, Brackley Town, Redditch United, Slimbridge AFC, Sutton Common Rovers and Wealdstone FC among others. 

The Wealdstone offer is also available to anyone going to the England versus Brazil game at Wembley later on Saturday evening.

It is 'pay what you want' at Hendon FC, there's 30% off tickets purchased online at Stalybridge Celtic, half-price admission at Barton Town FC and completely free entry at Potters Bar Town.

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. 

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.

£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).

Non-League Day 2022

Great to see Non-League Day back for 2022, here's some of the things clubs are doing to mark the occasion.

Saltdean United host Pagham FC in the Southern Combination Football League (SCFL) and the gate money will be split between Prostate Cancer UK and Red Cross Ukraine. Admission prices are £5/£3 and free for under 16's.

In the SCFL Division 1 Cup, 100% of the gate from Hailsham Town against Godalming Town will go to the DEC Ukraine appeal. It's a fiver for adults, £2.50 for concessions.

Redditch United have reduced admission to £5 for the visit of AFC Rushden & Diamonds and there are also reduced prices at Chelmsford City as they entertain Hungerford Town in the National League South (£10 adults, £5 concessions, free for under 21's and a family ticket for £15).

It's free to watch Percy Main AFC against Winlaton Community in the Northern Alliance Premier Division, volunteers having been hard at work publicising the game around the local area, and free admission too at Felixstowe and Walton United where Romford FC are the visitors.

Get to Haywards Heath Town before 2pm for their game with Whitstable and entry is half-price at £5 adults and £2.50 concessions with under 18's free. There's plenty going on to make the time fly by with a Hog Roast, Gin and Cocktails and more.

Premier League and EFL season ticket holders get half-price entry at Rayners Lane FC and £5 admission at Bashley (free for all under 18's).

There is Football for a Fiver at Rushall Olympic for the visit of Stratford Town, with under-16's and accompanied under-12's costing £1 and also at Sholing FC with half-price entry of £5 for adults (concessions £3, 12-16's £2).

From Barrow To Bavaria: Non-League Day Offers

Some of the best for next Saturday's Non-League Day, follow NLD on Twitter for updates through the week...

Barrow AFC have reduced admission prices to £9 for Adults and given away thousands of free tickets to local schools for the National League game at home to Dover.

The Giant Axe is the venue for Lancaster City against Ashton United in the Northern Premier League and the Dolly Blues have reduced prices by 50% for the fixture.

Not only is there free admission at Campion AFC for the visit of Retford FC in the Northern Counties East League but there are free season tickets on offer too.

Pay What You Want at Poole Town in the Southern League Premier Division South with Beaconsfield providing the opposition, at the Victoria Pleasure Grounds for Goole AFC against Maltby Main and at Armthorpe Welfare where Skegness Town are the visitors.

It's Town for £2 at Ollerton against Rossington Main and a special mention for AFC Rushden & Diamonds who have an Oktoberfest event later on Saturday evening and will admit anyone arriving in Bavarian fancy dress a few hours earlier free entry for the game against Coalville Town.

Slough Town Pull Out All The Stops

Non-League Day 2019 is almost upon us with Saturday 12th October marking the 10th year of the day that aims to highlight all that is good about the game at lower levels.

The offers are starting to come through (keep an eye on the Non-League Day Twitter page) but Slough Town stand out at this stage and deserve a big crowd for their National League South game against Billericay Town at Arbour Park.

General admission prices have been reduced to just £5 with free entry for under 16's but there is also no charge at the turnstiles for season ticket holders from Premier League or Football League teams.

With a host of clubs on Slough's doorstep there should be plenty of potential spectators ready to take up that offer.

Non-League Day & Women's Football Weekend

With the opening international break already over, the next two gaps in the domestic top-flight calendar will see the return of an established favourite and the introduction of a new theme.

Saturday 12th October marks the 10th Non-League Day with James Doe's 2010 idea having grown into a superbly marketed platform for clubs up and down the country (and now further afield as well) to try and attract new supporters while cementing their place in the local community.

The NLD page on Twitter is a good place to catch up on everything that is happening and Merstham FC of the Isthmian League Premier Division have been quick off the mark to announce that their home game against Leatherhead will be a Family Day with loads of activities both before kick-off and after the final whistle.

There is free entry for all emergency services personnel and season ticket holders from any club can watch for a fiver.

November's international break, specifically the weekend of 15/16th November, will see the first Women's Football Weekend as the FA seek to capitalise on the positive feeling created by the World Cup and also the opening matchday of the Super League season when large crowds were in attendance at the Etihad Stadium and Stamford Bridge.

There are some big matches scheduled for the weekend, including a North London derby at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, which will clearly sell well but I like the idea of a theme that will encompass all levels of the game over the weekend and I'll give it plenty of plugs on Twitter over the next couple of months.

More Non-League Day Offers

Loads and loads going on this coming Saturday including...

£8 admission (and a free drink) at Altrincham FC, where Alfreton are the visitors, for anyone who is a season ticket holder at a Premier League or EFL club or with a ticket for either the Manchester Storm versus Coventry Blaze Ice Hockey game or the Super League Grand Final at Old Trafford on Saturday evening.

Pay What You Want entry at Cheshunt FC as they entertain Tooting & Mitcham Utd (minimum £1).

Chairman Dean Williamson told his club's website: "We are delighted to offer our first Pay What You Want game. 

"We have a fantastic club, with great facilities and a real sense of community that you do not find in the professional game. We want as many people as possible to experience the passion and excitement of non-league football, with the aim of attracting new, long-lasting fans to Cheshunt FC."

There is £2 off admission to anyone with a season ticket or ticket stub from this season at any Premier League or EFL club to watch Rushall Olympic against Lowestoft Town with food and drink offers as well and a free family ticket is available to print off on the Oxford City website ahead of their game against Concord Rangers.

And of course clubs up and down the country will be offering what they normally do week after week, good value football in a friendly environment where supporters are trusted to have a beer on the sidelines and mix with the opposition fans.

Enjoy your day wherever you are heading and keep up with all of the offers at Non-League Day on Twitter.

Saturday 13th October - Non-League Day

Marine FC always offer £5 admission to season ticket holders of both Everton and Liverpool but 'football for a fiver' on Non-League Day this coming Saturday (for the visit of Whitby Town) will also be available to members of the Armed forces, Civil Servants, NHS & Sefton Council staff, Merseyside Police & Fire Service and Liverpool University Students.

Chairman Paul Leary told the club website:  "I am sure first time visitors to the Marine Travel Arena will be impressed with the family friendly atmosphere in what is an excellent non–league football ground."

Admission to Burgess Hill Town against Haringey Borough will be just £1 with Under-18's free (a regular offer at the Green Elephants Stadium).

General Manager John Rattle said: "We want as many people as possible to come and watch football at their local football club."

Also in Sussex admission is £5 for everyone at Whitehawk FC where Brightingsea Regent are the visitors to the Terrapura Ground and you will pay the same price in Kent if you arrive at Tonbridge Angels before 2.15pm for the game against Bognor Regis Town.

That's just a taster of what's on offer with a host of sides offering reduced admission for season ticket holders of Premier League and EFL clubs (£5 at Eastbourne Borough for the visit of Torquay United) and free entry to armed forces members and public sector workers (Alsager Town among others).

Keep up to date by following Non-League Day on Twitter and enjoy your day wherever you go.

Non-League Day 2018

Just seven days now until Non-League Day 2018 which this year takes place on Saturday 13 October at grounds up and down the country, in Scotland and further afield as well with the idea catching on in the Netherlands and Germany too.

James Doe, of the superb London Football Guide, is the originator of NLD and has seen it grow year-on-year, a huge success but one that also means an increasing amount of work which needs to be balanced against his growing family and ‘real’ job.

Although it gains a higher profile every season the day would not exist without James’s efforts and financial contribution so donations his coffee-drinking fund are always welcome!

Clubs at all levels of the Non-League game are embracing the opportunity to make inroads into their local communities next weekend, starting with National League high-fliers Leyton Orient where it is football for a fiver against Hartlepool United.

I've already seen Pay What You Want fixtures advertised at Chesham United (Under 18's also free), Margate (where 50% of the money received will go to blood cancer charity Anthony Nolan) and Felixstowe & Walton United (with funds being raised for Prostate Cancer UK).

There’s free gingerbread at Grantham Town, free chips at AFC Rushden & Diamonds and a warm welcome awaiting you at the turnstiles wherever you go, which is likely to be Hallam FC against Charnock Richard in the FA Vase in my case (always football for a fiver at Sandygate) although that may change late on if there’s a ground within reach that I haven’t been to before.

Non-League Day 2017

Non-League Day 2017, the eighth staging of the event, takes place this year on Saturday 7 October to coincide with the next break in the action in the Premier League and Championship.

This is far from a definitive list so please check out the official NLD Twitter page and also your local club to see if there is anything happening.

Announcing their plans very early were Dulwich Hamlet FC where it will be 'Pay What You Want' for the visit of Needham Market. Last season more than £3,000 was given to charity and all profit after the usual match costs will this year benefit two more local causes.

At Top Field where Hitchin Town host Stratford Town in the Southern League Premier Division it will also be 'Pay What You Want' admission. Hitchin have used PWYW on a number of occasions over the past couple of seasons and secretary Roy Izzard wrote in his weekly update recently that they had always 'produced more income than was budgeted for full price admission.'

An attendance of 1,000 is the aim at Hitchin while Paget Rangers of the Midland Football League are looking to get 200+ through the gate when they entertain Uttoxeter Town on Non-League Day. Again, this game is 'Pay What You Want' at the turnstiles.

Newmarket Town are offering admission of just £2 for Adults and free for Under 16's when purchased via the club website for the visit of Histon in the Eastern Counties League, Jockeys hosting their annual Youth Day, and entry to Chesham United against Royston Town in the Southern League Premier Division is on a 'Pay What You Want' basis with the club also distributing plenty of free tickets to Under 18's.

Half-price admission for mentioning Non-League Day is available at Croydon FC (free entry if you download a particular app) and it's half-price for Premier League and EFL season ticket holders at Buxton FC for the game against Marine.

Another Eastern Counties League club staging a Youth Day on NLD are Felixstowe & Walton United. It is 'Pay What You Want' admission to their game at home to Ely City while there is Football for a Fiver at Tonbridge Angels for the Bostik Premier visit of Wingate & Finchley.

Barrow have reduced prices, for their National League game against Leyton Orient, to £10 Adults, £7 Concessions & Students and free for Under-17's while Senior Citizens (60+) can gain free entry to Peterborough Northern Star at home to Rothwell.

It is 'Pay What You Want' at Newton Aycliffe FC as they host Ryhope CW and season ticket holders from any club can watch Hallam FC for free against Brigg Town. If you're a season ticket holder at Aston Villa, Birmingham City or West Bromwich Albion you can catch Sutton Coldfield Town versus Lancaster City for half-price.

Watch AFC Blackpool for free against Abbey Hulton United and Redhill FC at home to Bedfont Sports where there are free chips and a drink for every child attending.

Barton Town of the Northern Counties East League have reduced prices of £3 & £1.50 as they take on Pontefract Collieries while season ticket holders from any club, in any sport, can watch Bradford Park Avenue for a fiver.

There also offers in place at both Altrincham FC and Buxton FC where season ticket holders from Premier League and EFL clubs can gain admission to their respective home matches for £5.

The Scottish Lowland Football League will also be an active part of this year’s Non-League Day with a full programme of 8 matches taking place.

Felixstowe & Walton United, Tonbridge Angels (Non-League Day)

Good times for the Seasiders of Felixstowe & Walton United, Saturday's victory against Wivenhoe Town making it 11 wins out of 11 in the Eastern Counties League this season.

That goes some way to explaining increased attendances in 2017/18 but the club themselves say that gates are up by 500% over the past five years at the Goldstar Ground.

A thriving set-up at all levels will be celebrated on Non-League Day 2017 which Felixstowe are combining with their 'Youth Day'.

Admission to the home fixture with Ely City will be 'Pay What You Want' in addition to the usual free entry for Under 16's.

In the Bostik (Isthmian) Premier League on NLD there is Football for a Fiver at Tonbridge Angels for the visit of Wingate & Finchley FC.

That price is for Adults and Seniors, 13-17's can come in for £4 while accompanied Under 13's are free.

Newmarket Town, Chesham United (Non-League Day)

The nicknames of some clubs are easy to have a guess at, a horseracing theme at Newmarket Town always likely to be a firm favourite.

The Jockeys host their annual Youth Day to coincide with this season's Non-League Day when Histon are the visitors  to the Ridgeons Stadium on Saturday 7 October in the Eastern Counties League.

Admission is just £2 for Adults and free for Under 16's when purchased via the club website (usual adult prices will apply on the gate).

Entry to the game between Chesham United against Royston Town in the Southern League Premier Division on Non-League Day is on a 'Pay What You Want' basis with the club also distributing hundreds of free tickets to Under 18's in the local area via schools, youth and sports clubs.

Chairman Brian McCarthy told the club website: "We are delighted to be able to participate in the celebrations of Non-League Day by encouraging more and more of the local community along to the club to see what goes on at a football match in Chesham, enjoying the unique atmosphere of non-league football and hopefully be impressed with the facilities we enjoy at The Meadow."

Non-League Day 2017

With the first international break of the season upon us, thoughts are already turning to Non-League Day 2017, the eighth staging of the event which takes place this year on Saturday 7 October to coincide with the next break in the action in the Premier League and Championship.

Announcing their plans very early were Dulwich Hamlet FC where it will be 'Pay What You Want' for the visit of Needham Market. Last season more than £3,000 was given to charity and all profit after the usual match costs will this year benefit two more local causes.

At Top Field where Hitchin Town host Stratford Town in the Southern League Premier Division it will also be 'Pay What You Want' admission. Hitchin have used PWYW on a number of occasions over the past couple of seasons and secretary Roy Izzard wrote in his weekly update recently that they had always 'produced more income than was budgeted for full price admission.'

An attendance of 1,000 is the aim at Hitchin while Paget Rangers of the Midland Football League are looking to get 200+ through the gate when they entertain Uttoxeter Town on Non-League Day. Again, this game is 'Pay What You Want' at the turnstiles.

Non-League Day 2016, Altrincham FC

Rainy conditions at Moss Lane, the home of Altrincham FC, ahead of a fiercely-contested (a cliche but true in this case) derby between the hosts and Stockport County on Saturday afternoon.

For Non-League Day, admission was reduced to £5 for season ticket holders at clubs from the Premier League to League Two and a large travelling support swelled the attendance to 2,355.

The two clubs' Under-18 sides will meet at the same venue this coming Friday in the FA Youth Cup with admission priced at £3 & £2 for the 7:45pm kick-off.

Before that, Alty's first team are back in action at the J.Davidson Stadium against Chorley in the National League North on Tuesday evening with new manager Jim Harvey watching on!

Non-League Day 2016

Non-League Day has been and gone for 2016, Saturday's efforts up and down the country gaining lots of positive media coverage and, hopefully, increased awareness among many supporters of the club on their doorstep.

It was a refreshing end to what, for me, was a deflating week football-wise. I wrote recently about the impending Football League Trophy and how ill-judged I thought it was.

The reality was even worse, with plenty of examples to illustrate how poorly thought-out the competition is and how misleading are the claims that it will benefit young, English players, the hat-trick scored by 28-year-old French midfielder Tony Andreu for Norwich City at Peterborough perhaps the most striking of these.

Well-publicised supporter boycotts and individual hostility to the competition changes meant attendances were satisfyingly low but it feels like a small victory in the battle to stop the relentless charge of the Premier League juggernaut.

Wednesday's transfer deadline was another example as clubs in League One and Two scrambled to make loan signings from top-flight clubs ahead of the window closing while spending records were broken at the top level.

When you add in talk of a major re-organisation of the Football League it all adds up to an uncertain future for many clubs at that level of the game, caught as they are between chasing the dream of top-flight or Championship football and remaining rooted in their community.

Although the National League has some of those problems, I think there is an increasing appetite for the simple pleasures of watching a game lower down the pyramid.

Non-League Day has tapped into that and, hopefully, plenty of people will have seen something this weekend that they want to return to in future.

Celebrating All Clubs Big and Small on Non-League Day

The beauty of the pyramid system in English football is the sheer breadth and depth of the game with clubs acting as a focal point for their local community whether in a small village or the suburbs of a major city.

This Saturday's Non-League Day celebrates all levels below the Football League and, while the National League is increasingly a competition of full-time clubs the spirit of non-league lives on in many of them.

So, at the top level of non-league this weekend we have Guiseley AFC offering season ticket holders the chance to bring a friend for free and £5 off admission for season ticket holders from any club, in any sport.

At Gateshead meanwhile, entry prices have been reduced and accompanied U16's can watch for free as Sutton United are the visitors to the International Stadium. Kids can also go free as Chester FC launch their new family zone against Forest Green Rovers.

But Non-League stretches way down.

Down into the Cheshire Football League for instance where it is 'Pay What You Want' to watch Rylands FC against Poynton with a free matchday programme, into the Western League where Cribbs FC are offering free admission and complimentary programmes for the visit of Bradford Town and into the Midland Football League where it is also free to watch Feckenham FC as they entertain Paget Rangers.

There are opportunities everywhere to catch a match this Saturday with the game finder map on the official Non-League Day webpage a good place to start.

Away from NLD, I must also give a mention to FA WSL2 side London Bees who host Birmingham City at The Hive in a Continental Cup semi-final this Saturday at 2pm. All tickets have been reduced to just £1 as the Bees aim to reach October's final at the Manchester City Academy Stadium.

Season Ticket Holder Offers for Non-League Day 2016

A number of clubs who are playing at home this Saturday, Non-League Day 2016, are reaching out to those who hold season tickets/cards for Premier League and Football League teams in their area.

Here's a sample of a few of the ways you can get your football fix this weekend.

Brighouse Town host Lancaster City in the 1st Qualifying Round of the FA Cup and in addition to the usual, reasonable admission prices of £7 Adults, £4 Concessions and free for U12's there is a free pie and pint on offer for season card holders of any Football League or National League (North & South) club.

That should prove attractive to regulars at Huddersfield Town and Leeds United who do not have a game and also to supporters of Bradford City and FC Halifax Town who are in action but away from home.

Leeds fans are spoilt for choice as they are also entitled to half-price admission to the National League North clash between Harrogate Town and Curzon Ashton on production of their season cards.

Barnoldswick Town of the North West Counties League are offering free entry for the visit of 1874 Northwich to season ticket holders from any professional club.

Leicester City season card holders may be interested in Coalville Town and their offer of 50% off admission for the FA Cup tie at home to Redditch United. This is also applicable to any other Premier League or Championship club.

Season ticket holders from any club can watch the National League South game between Dartford and Maidenhead for just £5 and, in the same division, there is half-price admission for Premier League and Football League club regulars as St Albans City take on Hampton & Richmond Borough.

The offers will keep on coming throughout the week, building up to the big day on Saturday. Follow Non-League Day on Twitter to keep up to date.

Early Non-League Day 2016 Offers

This coming Saturday, 3 September, will see Non-League Day 2016 celebrated up and down the country.

Staged to coincide with the international break, meaning no Premier League or Championship matches, Non-League Day marks the fantastic depth and breadth of the game in England and Wales.

The event has grown year-on-year, since its inception in 2010, with national media coverage of both the idea itself and also some of the more unusual admission offers that there have been.

Here are some NLD offers that I have seen so far, I'll try and tweet about as many others that I come across while the official Non-League Day Twitter page is also a good place to keep tabs.

Quick off the mark with their Non-League Day plans were Wealdstone FC of the National League South. For the visit of Poole Town (3pm) they have reduced Adult admission to a minimum of £5 (donations can be made above this amount) for Adults, £3 U18's and free for U16's. 

In the same division, Dartford FC host Maidenhead and have a trio of offers in place for the 3pm kick-off. Under 16’s can attend for free, a Family Ticket (2 Adults, 2 Children) is available for £15 and season ticket holders from any other football club can watch the game for £5.

And, also in National League South it is Margate versus Hungerford at 3pm and with admission priced at £5 Adults and Concessions, £3 for 11-17-year-olds and free for U11's.

Non-League Day 2016 coincides with the First Qualifying Round of the FA Cup and supporters are being offered 'Pay What You Want' admission at Hitchin Town when Top Field plays host to Biggleswade United at 3pm. 10% of the gate receipts from this meeting of two clubs with close ties will be donated to Prostate Cancer UK. 

Coalville Town entertain Redditch United on the road to Wembley and season ticket holders from any Premier League or Championship club can come and watch with a 50% reduction on admission available.

There is Hallmark Securities North West Counties League action at Barnoldswick Town FC with 1874 Northwich coming to the Silentnight Stadium. Admission is priced at £5/£3 and free for U16's but season ticket holders from any professional club can watch without charge.

And for something slightly different,  S.V. Oosterheem of Holland are entering fully into the spirit of things with free admission to their game against Blauw Zwart which kicks off at 2:30pm local time.