A campaign that started in a small way on Facebook, the brainchild of QPR and Harrow Borough fan James Doe, has really gathered momentum, and we at the FSF are more than happy to lend our backing to a worthy cause. We’ve even managed to get the support of Conference sponsors Blue Square Bet who were keen to get involved, but right now you’re probably asking ‘What’s Non League Day?’
In short, the Premier League and Championship, like all top divisions across Europe, schedule fixture breaks for international weekends. This previously meant that fans of teams in those leagues could attend their national team’s matches (or watch them on the telly) and not miss any of the action at their club. Now that England will be playing some of their matches (like this week's game against Bulgaria) on Friday evenings, however, most fans have nothing to do the following day. There’s no match to go to, and no England game to watch. The idea was conceived, therefore, to encourage fans whose teams were not playing on Saturday September 4th to get along to their local lower division side instead, and thus the idea of Non League Day was born. Pretty simple, really.
http://www.fsf.org.uk/non-league-day
We think that given the current financial climate within the game, clubs in the lower reaches can do with all the support they can get. Teams away from the top divisions, particularly further down the pyramid, way past the Conference North and South, often only continue to exist because of hard-working volunteers giving up their own time and energy. We have to stress that the idea behind this isn’t trying to get fans to change their allegiance, somehow convince them that non-league football is purer or more worthy of their support than the upper reaches of the league, and nor is it any sort of protest at ‘modern football. It’s just a great opportunity to promote grass roots football to the masses, and remind people that there are small clubs in their neck of the woods that could really do with some support.
With tickets and refreshments at a fraction of the cost you’re used to paying, as well as the ability to watch a match while standing, and even the opportunity to swap ends at half time, why not ‘adopt’ a team for the day? Who knows, you may even enjoy yourself and return from time to time on international breaks, midweek cup fixtures or when you’re not making a long away trip.
Blue Square Bet have offered to sweeten the deal with a couple of cracking prizes on offer.
Get along to http://www.fsf.org.uk/non-league-day/ to register your support for Non League Day (including the club you support, and who you’ll be supporting on the 4th September) and be automatically entered into a free draw to win a VIP package for two to the Conference play-off final in May (including pre-match meal, drinks and the best seats in the house), along with £50 worth of free bets.
Two runners-up will also receive a pair of tickets to the final each, and £25 of free bets.
You can’t say fairer than that.
Get along to http://www.nonleagueday.co.uk to find your local fixture this weekend - with more than 500 matches there's bound to be one near you.
In short, the Premier League and Championship, like all top divisions across Europe, schedule fixture breaks for international weekends. This previously meant that fans of teams in those leagues could attend their national team’s matches (or watch them on the telly) and not miss any of the action at their club. Now that England will be playing some of their matches (like this week's game against Bulgaria) on Friday evenings, however, most fans have nothing to do the following day. There’s no match to go to, and no England game to watch. The idea was conceived, therefore, to encourage fans whose teams were not playing on Saturday September 4th to get along to their local lower division side instead, and thus the idea of Non League Day was born. Pretty simple, really.
http://www.fsf.org.uk/non-league-day
We think that given the current financial climate within the game, clubs in the lower reaches can do with all the support they can get. Teams away from the top divisions, particularly further down the pyramid, way past the Conference North and South, often only continue to exist because of hard-working volunteers giving up their own time and energy. We have to stress that the idea behind this isn’t trying to get fans to change their allegiance, somehow convince them that non-league football is purer or more worthy of their support than the upper reaches of the league, and nor is it any sort of protest at ‘modern football. It’s just a great opportunity to promote grass roots football to the masses, and remind people that there are small clubs in their neck of the woods that could really do with some support.
With tickets and refreshments at a fraction of the cost you’re used to paying, as well as the ability to watch a match while standing, and even the opportunity to swap ends at half time, why not ‘adopt’ a team for the day? Who knows, you may even enjoy yourself and return from time to time on international breaks, midweek cup fixtures or when you’re not making a long away trip.
Blue Square Bet have offered to sweeten the deal with a couple of cracking prizes on offer.
Get along to http://www.fsf.org.uk/non-league-day/ to register your support for Non League Day (including the club you support, and who you’ll be supporting on the 4th September) and be automatically entered into a free draw to win a VIP package for two to the Conference play-off final in May (including pre-match meal, drinks and the best seats in the house), along with £50 worth of free bets.
Two runners-up will also receive a pair of tickets to the final each, and £25 of free bets.
You can’t say fairer than that.
Get along to http://www.nonleagueday.co.uk to find your local fixture this weekend - with more than 500 matches there's bound to be one near you.
