Three More for Non League Day

The 5th annual Non League Day takes place this year on Saturday 6 September, timed as always to coincide with an international break which gives supporters of Premier League and Championship clubs to chance to watch their local side in action.

The event has grown in size and stature every year and a number of clubs have already announced their plans for the day.

Dulwich Hamlet FC have declared that their home game against Hampton & Richmond Borough will be a 'Pay What You Like' fixture with donations welcome as fans come through the turnstiles in order to cover matchday costs.

It's 'Pay What You Can Afford' day at Handsworth Parramore as they welcome Nostell Miners Welfare to their Sandy Lane ground with anyone matching the usual admission prices of £5 and £3 going into a draw to win a pair of season tickets.

Tividale FC host Mickleover Sports and have cut admission costs to £4 for adults, £2 for concessions and members and also £2 for season ticket holders of the 92 Premier League and Football League clubs.

I've also tweeted offers from Halesowen Town FC, Oxford City FC and Stalybridge Celtic but these are just a few of the hundreds of examples of innovative ideas to boost crowds and profiles that will be announced over the next few weeks. The best place to keep tab of everything is on the Non League Day website where there is an interactive match finder and also on their Twitter page.

Footy for a Fiver in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy

The Johnstone's Paint Trophy presents an excellent chance for clubs to attract families to their grounds and both Preston North End and Stevenage have taken that opportunity.

Both clubs are at home in the opening round of the competition with games against Shrewsbury and Gillingham respectively taking place on Tuesday 2 September.

PNE have pegged prices at £5 and just £1 for under-16's while club ambassadors and Shrews season ticket holders will pay just £4 if purchasing tickets in advance of matchday.

Stevenage tickets will cost £5 for all ages if purchased in advance, under-16's who pay on the night will still be at the same price while other tickets will be £10.

Coventry City Are Home!

It was Coventry City's decision to offer £5 tickets for their home games in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy in 2012/13 that gave me the idea for Affordable Football but the Sky Blues situation since then has meant they haven't featured on the blog since it began.

Some of the prices for City 'home' games last season, especially midweek fixtures, would usually have qualified but because those matches were being played at Northampton's Sixfields Stadium defeated the object in many ways.

Fast forward to Thursday and the long-awaited (but barely believable) announcement that the club are moving back to the Ricoh Arena and in addition to some reasonable season ticket prices Coventry have also reduced prices for the first game back against Gillingham on Friday 5 September.

Adult tickets will cost £10, concessions £5 and under-16's £1.

August's Affordable Football

A reminder of what is coming up for the rest of the month.

Arsenal's under-21 game against Derby County at Boreham Wood on Thursday (21st), Gap Connah's Quay Nomads versus Carmarthen Town on Bank Holiday Monday and Maidenhead United's clash with Eastbourne Borough on Saturday 30th are all free admission fixtures.

Also this Thursday there is a big World Cup qualifying clash between Wales and England women which takes place at the Cardiff City stadium. Tickets are priced at £5 and £2.

Kids go free at Bristol Rovers this Saturday while members of the armed forces do not have to pay when MK Dons host Crawley Town on August 30.

The Capital One Cup 2nd round ties take place in the week commencing Monday 25th. Derby County have priced their home game with Charlton Athletic the following evening at just £5 for season ticket holders and £7 for general sale adult tickets. A number of other clubs have also reduced prices for their ties with West Bromwich Albion the latest to come to our attention. It is £10 (£5 for under-17's) to watch the Baggies against Oxford United if ourchased before matchday.

The FA Under-17 international tournament brings together England, Portugal, Italy and Czech Republic with games taking place between Wednesday 27th and Sunday 31st at Kidderminster, Burton, Chesterfield, Tamworth and Burton. All tickets are priced at £3 for adults and £1.50 for under-16's.

Capital One Cup: Derby County Lead the Way

The draw for the second round of the Capital One Cup was made last week and threw up some interesting ties.

While Manchester United's visit to MK Dons won't need any reduced prices, judging by the queue for tickets when they went on sale, plenty of clubs have already announced special offers.

Derby County, always on the ball with affordable offers for their supporters, have cut prices to £5 for season ticket holders and £7 for other adults when they host Charlton Athletic on Tuesday 26 August. Under-16's can attend for just £1.

Much of the focus on the cost of watching Premier League football this season has fallen on London clubs such as West Ham United but the Hammers did offer plenty of concessions for cup ties last year and have done so again for the visit of Sheffield United.

Adults, Under-21's and Over-65's can attend for £10 if tickets are purchased in advance while Under-16's tickets are priced at £5.

Watford host Doncaster Rovers and tickets are priced at £10 for adults, £5 for young adults (16-19), students and over-65's. Under-16's tickets are just £1.

Under-16's tickets for Aston Villa's home tie with Leyton Orient are all priced at £5 with adult tickets in the North Stand/Family Stand costing £10.

Free Season Tickets at Potters Bar Town FC

The Guardian's 'Talking Sport' section carried an interesting article this week on Potters Bar Town and their initiative for the 2014/15 season which will allow fans to claim a free season ticket simply by taking a voucher along to any home game before the end of September.

Chairman Mark Martyn, an Arsenal season ticket holder, has some interesting things to say in the article and states that the offer has been very popular to date.

One well worth supporting if you live in the local area and haven't been to the ground before, even if you can only get down to a handful of games but buy a drink or programme at the ground.

Free Football at Maidenhead United & Gap Connahs Quay

A couple of cracking free football offers for the Bank Holiday week...

Conference South side Maidenhead United officially opened their 500 seater stand before the opening league game of the season against Sutton United last Saturday and anyone wishing to take at look at the revamped York Road ground can do so for free on Saturday 30 August.

To mark a sponsorship agreement with local newspaper the Maidenhead Advertiser the game against Eastbourne Borough on that day has been designated as free entry for all fans.

Welsh Premier League side Gap Connah's Quay Nomads FC meanwhile play their first home league game of the campaign against Carmarthen Town on Monday 25 August (2.30pm) and not only is it free admission but spectators will get a free programme as well.

Non League Day Update

The 5th annual Non League Day takes place this year on Saturday 6 September, timed as always to coincide with an international break which gives supporters of Premier League and Championship clubs to chance to watch their local side in action.

The event has grown in size and stature every year and a number of clubs have already announced their plans for the day.

Boldmere St Michaels’ of the Midland Football League, for instance, are aiming to get 200 fans through the gates for their Premier Division game against Brocton with admission priced at £2 (200 pence) for adults and concessions and under-12’s going free.

AFC Totton have reduced admission prices to £5 for their game against Stratford Town and are hoping to see plenty of Southampton and Bournemouth fans in attendance.

Grantham Town have announced £6 entry for season ticket holders of any Premier League or Football League club who comes to the home game against Ashton United.

These are just a few of the hundreds of examples of innovative ideas to boost crowds and profiles that will be announced over the next few weeks. The best place to keep tab of everything is on the Non League Day website where there is an interactive match finder and also on their Twitter page.