Looking Past the Weekend

As we batten down the hatches ahead of the incoming storm, here's to some matches next week that may be of interest.

There are FA Youth Cup matches at both Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge on Thursday 24th with free tickets available for Manchester United against Leicester City (7pm) and tickets for Chelsea versus Blackpool (6pm) priced at £5/3. 

In the National League on Tuesday 22nd, Solihull Moors host Wealdstone and are asking supporters to make a donation to the club's charitable arm instead of charging for tickets.

On the same evening, adult tickets for Barnet against King's Lynn are £5 with under-17's priced at £1.

The week ends with ties in the Women's FA Cup and Charlton Athletic will look to cause an upset against WSL side Everton in their tie on Sunday 27th. It's football for a fiver and concession £3 at the Oakwood Stadium, Crayford. 

Football for your Fiver

Plenty of football for a fiver this coming Saturday, February 19th, with one match in League Two and two in the National League.

If you're looking for a game in the Manchester area then all adult tickets for Salford City against Crawley Town are priced at £5 with under-16's costing £2.

Altrincham host Weymouth in an important National League fixture at one of my favourite grounds and are looking to pack Moss Lane with tickets at £5 for adults and juniors and £1 for under-12's.

Also in the National League there is the chance to take in a game at the historic home of Maidenhead United as tickets for their televised clash with Bromley (kick-off 5.20pm) are £5 adults and accompanied under-16's free.

C Wales Take on England

A welcome return for the respective Wales and England C teams next month when they meet in an international fixture at the home of Caernarfon Town on Wednesday 30th March, kick-off 7pm.

The Welsh side will be drawn from the Cymru Premier, the excellent website Y Clwb Pel-droed has already had a go at naming a possible line-up, while England manager Paul Fairclough will draw from the National League ranks.

The Non-League Paper has excellent coverage of the England side in the build-up to a fixture.

Tickets for the game, priced £10, £5 and £2, are available from the FAW website.

Another international clash that might be of interest is shown below...

𝗢𝗻 𝘀𝗮𝗹𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘄! 🎟️

Tickets for @SchoolsFootball vs @sschoolsfa Centenary Shield fixture are on sale NOW!

💵 Adult £5 | Concession/Under 18 £3

🏟️ Purchase from The Neil Adams Sports Bar NOW!

💻 BUY ONLINE: https://t.co/gQjLko7RXC#PrideOfCountyDurham

— Spennymoor Town FC (@SpennymoorTown) February 4, 2022

Wembley in Sight

For those clubs in the last 16 of both the FA Trophy and FA Vase, with ties scheduled to take place on Saturday 12th February.

Lots of reduced prices in the Trophy with adult tickets £10 for the games at Stockport County, Wrexham and York City and plenty of interesting matches in the Vase too.

My hometown club, Rugby Town FC, are looking to replicate their 1983 success in the competition but face a tough trip to North Shields (adult tickets £7) while the students of Loughborough University host Abbey Hey on Campus (tickets £6/£3/£2).

Live at the Beeb

From my living room in Sheffield I was transported to Belfast on Tuesday night for a very enjoyable game between Cliftonville and Linfield, the magic of the iPlayer bringing the BBC Northern Ireland 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 Radio Sheffield, to Match of the Day, the Scottish Championship and Irish Premiership on the iPlayer and programmes such as Off the Ball, 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 is under threat from a government all too willing to throw anything and anyone under the bus if it furthers their own ends, I think its always worth highlighting what you get for your money.

Free and In

Sutton Coldfield Town FC, of the Northern Premier League - Midlands, are throwing open their doors on Saturday 29th with free admission for all spectators as Wisbech Town visit Coles Lane.

With no Premier League matches taking place over the weekend keep an eye for more clubs potentially offering reduced prices.

It is also the 4th Round of the Women's FA Cup and in addition to the City Ground hosting Nottingham Forest against Manchester City on Saturday, Huddersfield Town's tie with Everton will be at the John Smith's Stadium on Sunday, kick-off 1pm. Cash admission on the day is £5 adults, £3 concessions and free for U16's.

Welcome Back...

To more spectators at games in Scotland, the previous limit of 500 having been lifted as from Monday.

The Scottish Football Fixtures site is a great resource for finding a game north of the border.

To Non-League Day which returns on 26th March this year, celebrating semi-professional and grassroots football.

Keep an eye on the twitter page for details of special offers at matches up and down the country.

And to Dagenham & Redbridge FC's 'Daggers Celebrate Diversity Day' after the successful 2019/20 fixture.

Tickets for the game against Halifax Town on Saturday 29th January are available from just 50p for concessions and U16's and £2.50 for adults.