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The Groundhopper - The monthly magazine for the independent non-league traveller - No:5 by COLLECTSOCCER.COM

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Our Euro star Conor lends his support – not money!

Two decades on – what a rollercoaster it’s been, proud white on a mission to reproduce wands magic, harry’s seeking woking history, the big interview: i’ve had my manager’s head on for ten years.

National League

Tobi Adebayo-Rowling makes move to Rochdale

Eduino Vaz joins Sutton United

National n & s.

Ben Dudzinski back at Havant

Charlie Seaman re-signs for Maidstone United

LEE FOWLER: Enjoy success while you can, reality soon kicks in!

TONY INCENZO: Andy’s hands on for Earls

GO BACK TO BEING DULL!

CHRIS DUNLAVY: Get real – 3G is the future

FA CUP FACTFILE: It’s a year of FA Cup record breakers

National League N & S

Southern League

Northern Premier League

Isthmian League

Havant & Waterlooville have re-signed Ben Dudzinski, five years after he departed the club. The goalkeeper initially signed in March […]

Brett’s Canaries aiming to fly high again

Brett Donnelly admits Hitchin Town’s late reprieve undid their initial hard work preparing for a Step 4 promotion push – but now the Canaries can’t wait to ruffle some Southern Premier Central feathers.

King’s holiday nightmare

Gazing out to the ocean from the Greek coastline, Ian King was oblivious to just how suddenly his bubble was about to burst.

Reds saying it with Flowers

Redditch United manager Tim Flowers says he has no axe to grind after being shown the door at arch-rivals Bromsgrove Sporting at the end of last season.

Abbott to lead clean up after Suds great escape

Marc Abbott believes AFC Sudbury can build on their great escape when they line up again in Southern Premier Central next term.

Northern Premier

Stan plan is working as historic season lies ahead

Dean Nicholson admits Step 4 football was not initially on the agenda when he arrived as Heaton Stannington boss three years ago – but he is ready to ‘have a good go’ after sealing promotion into the Northern Premier League East Division.

Jimmy rises to the challenge of steering Colls charge

Jimmy Williams admits he’s got ‘big boots to fill’ at Pontefract Collieries but he’s relishing the chance to lead his local side to success.

Generous Jordan is eager to praise pals

Fox in the box Jordan Hulme scored 22 league goals for Radcliffe this season but the prolific forward insists his teammates deserve all the credit.

Cables have the power

While Prescot Cables’ jubilant players celebrated being promoted after prevailing in a play-off final, their manager stood back and watched.

Clegg has focus on title tilt next season

Michael Clegg is determined to leave no stone unturned in his bid to lead Macclesfield to promotion next season.

Joan Luque joins Folkestone

Former Barcelona youth Joan Luque has signed for Folkestone Invicta. The Pitching In Isthmian League Premier side have brought in […]

Bloor floored by U’s interest

Danny Bloor says he has joined a “proper Non-League football club” in Hastings United.

Dicks lands a swift return

The Terminator did come back! Julian Dicks has returned for a third spell in the Heybridge Swifts hotseat – and he’s hungrier than ever for success.

Danny Bloor appointed new Hastings United manager

Danny Bloor has replaced Chris Agutter as manager of Pitching In Isthmian Premier side Hastings United. The former Eastbourne Borough […]

Taylor is too hot to handle!

Ramsgate marksman Joe Taylor revealed greater dedication to his goalscoring craft is the secret behind his stunning 53 goals last season.

Ben Tozer joins Forest Green

Coalville Town to restart in United Counties League

Rochdale sign Connor McBride

Torquay sign Jay Foulston

A big risk – but well worth it!

Latest Posts

Tobi Adebayo-Rowling has signed for National League Rochdale from Notts County. The right-back was released by the League Two side […]

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Maidstone United have brought Charlie Seaman back for a third spell at the Gallagher Stadium. The National League South side […]

Ben Tozer has signed for Forest Green Rovers from Wrexham. The defender was a free agent after winning back-to-back promotions […]

Coalville Town have confirmed they have been offered a place in Step 6 for the 2024/25 season. Town resigned from […]

National League side Rochdale have signed Connor McBride from Gateshead. The winger is ‘dale’s first signing of the summer, having […]

Torquay United have made their first signing since having their transfer embargo lifted. The Gulls have brought in left back […]

“Conor supports our football like we support his, but he’s not put a penny in financially,” insists Raynes Park Vale manager Josh Gallagher when describing the contribution of his Chelsea and England star brother, who is set to be part of Gareth Southgate’s squad for this summer’s European Championships.

Burr-fect time for a return

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Stevens ready to lead Olympic effort

Adam Stevens had no reservations about rolling up his sleeves with Rushall Olympic – particularly after seeing that everyone else was willing to do the same.

The London Football Guide and the Joys of Non-League Football

The whole reason for starting Groundhopper Soccer Guides was to help people enjoy watching English soccer. But, for most people, “watching English soccer” means watching the Premier League, particularly the “Big Six” clubs always at the top. We want to get folks beyond all that and into all the other leagues and cups of English soccer .

In this post, we invite you into the world of “non-league football” around London. And for that, we introduce the guru of the field, who literally writes the definitive guide on the subject and started what is nearly a national holiday to celebrate non-league football.

What is “Non-League Football”?

spectators watching game at bromley non-league football stadium

Bromley FC in South London

In English soccer, there are multiple leagues arranged vertically and connected by promotion and relegation . The Premier League is the top level, and the next three levels down are collectively called the English Football League. Below that — even though the word “league” appears often — is the world of “non-league football.”

Non-league is overwhelmingly an amateur world, where a few players may be paid but certainly have other jobs, and attendance averages in the hundreds — sometimes dozens. And it is vast: just in Steps 1-6 there are 48 leagues with around 20 clubs in each. Step 7 alone has at least that many leagues!

As an example, here is a trip that Groundhopper Paul took to fifth-tier Boreham Wood FC .

The London Football Guide and Non-League Day

Fortunately for us, there is a guide to football around London, including the non-league clubs. The London Football Guide was created by James Doe, who also started Non-League Day . The former is the go-to resource for soccer around the capitol; the latter, though not happening in 2020, is a national day out to celebrate the joys of non-league football.

Every week, James posts a summary and map of the games happening around London, including a bit about each club and why it would be a fun game to attend.

Let’s get to know James and his two wonderful projects. The following text is directly transcribed from our recent email interview with James.

When and why did you create The London Football Guide?

I launched TLFG in October 2011 about a year after Non-League Day. I’d seen how successful that had been and realised I actually knew a thing or two about football at all levels across London. I’d recently been made redundant from my content producer job at BBC Sport and saw this as a way of keeping my hand in and also trying something new – I’d edited and created blogs for sports stars and journalists but never written one myself.

I decided to write TLFG simply because it’s what I wanted to read and no-one else was doing it and still no-one has come close to copying it, probably because of the ridiculous amount of effort required to keep it going!

What is it about non-league football that appeals to you?

Non-league football is all about access. It’s often close to where people live, it’s cheap to get in, it’s cheap to buy food, drink and merchandise, you can stand or sit pretty much wherever you want for one flat price, you can move around during the game or change ends so you’re always behind the goal your team are attacking. You’re always pitchside or much closer to the action, you can talk to the players, coaches and officials before, during and after the game either in person or on social media. As a fan, it’s quite common to travel on the team bus to away matches. There’s a real sense that you’re involved with a football ‘club’. You also get the feeling that every pound spent makes a difference in keeping the club and hence the bedrock of the game alive.

london football guide non-league clubs map

A typical map of non-league games around London, from tlfg.co.uk.

I see that you call yourself a QPR fan who follows Harrow Borough. Is that split-loyalty common in England?

In the general football-watching population maybe not but at non-league grounds I think it’s fair to say that if you walked round and surveyed everyone, most would cite a preference for a higher division club although they might be a second preference behind a non-league one.

At Harrow, most of the people I know all support or follow other local clubs like QPR, Brentford and Fulham but I know of others who support all the other big London clubs too.

I guess if you’re in a non-league ground in the first place, then you’re kind of open to exploring the wide and wonderful world of football and aren’t blindly partisan to the affairs of only one club which many are – something I find really hard to get my head round.

Non League Day Logo from 2019

What is Non-League Day? How has it grown since you started it?

In essence NLD is a national marketing event to promote non-league football. It is always held during an international break when the big clubs all have the week off. As a result, thousands of fans are left without a club game to go to and the sports media also have way less to cover so we try to lure some of those fans to non-league games instead with the help of the media who have very little else to do – in theory, everyone’s a winner!

I initially started it in 2010 as a Facebook event among friends after seeing that quite a few clubs were struggling after the financial crisis of 2008. I thought maybe a few football-loving friends and colleagues might join me at a match or go somewhere else locally but it grew virally very quickly and within six weeks of launching, the first national Non-League Day took place.

It was pretty staggering the speed with which it grew with volunteers coming on board around the country, who I never met, websites hastily built and media strategies put together. With no budget, we cobbled a campaign together and crowds were calculated to have gone up by 12% after the first event.

Since then, we’ve steadily grown the event and now have the support of the Premier League, many of its member clubs and many EFL clubs too.

We work with anti-discrimination charity Kick It Out who select a number of featured games to promote their message – something which has become quite sought after by clubs and we have also raised thousands of pounds for men’s health charity Prostate Cancer UK with clubs and fans holding numerous fundraising events on the day.

The latest development has seen the creation of sister events in other countries. After meetings with our colleagues in Paris and Berlin, a European Day of Amateur Football was all set to launch this year but Covid-19 sadly saw it postponed. By the time next year comes round, the event looked to be well on course for landing a sizeable chunk of EU funding not that we’ll be eligible for any of it here!

spectators at non-league football stadium watching game

Pregame warmups at Dulwich Hamlet.

Speaking to Americans in particular, why do you recommend non-league football?

Apart from the increased access, many people are unaware of how historically important some non-league clubs and grounds are. The oldest ground and oldest club in the world are both found in non-league at Hallam and Sheffield respectively – both are in northern England. In London, it’s the same with Cray Wanderers its oldest club and the Old Spotted Dog its oldest ground (shortly to be re-opened by Clapton CFC).

If anyone has English roots in a specific smaller town or village, then you might find you have a connection to a non-league club far more than you do to one of the big Premier League sides.

Lastly, if you’re prepared to spend £50 or more on a Premier League ticket, that kind of money at a non-league club will probably be enough to sponsor the match ball and get you access to the boardroom and a hospitality package!

If someone is visiting London for a Premier League Sunday game, and they have a Saturday free, what are one or two grounds you would recommend they look to for a proper day out?

The go-to clubs I always recommend are the most vibrant or historic ones. The club that has grown the quickest in recent years by engaging its local community is Dulwich Hamlet. They play in the sixth tier National League South, often get sell-out crowds and are incredibly inclusive and welcoming. They are one of the more centrally located non-league clubs so are relatively easy to get to if you’re in a major London hotel.

Clapton CFC play way down in the 11th tier but have been known to exceed 1,000 supporters for a big game. Again, their supporters are among the most passionate around with flags, banners and even the odd prohibited flare or smokebomb. However, they are overtly politically left-wing/socialist and that might not be to everyone’s taste. The vibe at Dulwich is similar with community at its heart but more left of centre than outright socialist.

As I’ve also mentioned, Cray Wanderers are good to watch from an historical point of view. At the moment they groundshare at National League club Bromley so the stadium is of a high standard but it’s not their own, although a new one is underway.

Corinthian Casuals are another club on the up, certainly in terms of growing their fanbase and they have an historical connection to Brazil where members of their club gave rise to the creation of Sao Paulo giants Corinthians. The club played a friendly against them in South America a few years ago and the links between them are strong.

If you’re a Spurs fan, think about giving Haringey Borough a visit. They play on White Hart Lane itself and you can often catch a game there at 3pm and then walk to the THS for a 530pm kick-off.

There are around 100 non-league clubs in the wider London area so there are literally loads to choose from.

If the recent drama about the European Super League got you discouraged about the state…

What is "Non-League Day" in English soccer? Typically occurring in March or April, Non-League Day…

When the tsunami comes, you want to be on high ground. And if you can’t…

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Privacy overview.

The Club Wembley Private Suite includes:

Private 12-seater box around Block 229, West Stand
Premium padded seats directly in front of the suite
Designated VIP entrance
Access to the suite from 3 hours before kick-off and 1.5 hours after
Pre-match 3-course dining in the suite
Beers, wines, and soft drinks are included in the price. Spirits can be ordered and paid on the day.
Official event program

Photo shows the location of the seats.

The West Block Club Wembley seats include:

Wide padded seats behind the goal, Blocks 232-242
Matchday program
Access to exclusive restaurants and bars

NonLeagueHQ

Nearest public transport to each ground and time from there by foot/taxi - thanks to shepps ( @borough08 - twitter).

The English Football Pyramid and Non League Football Explained

Salford Lifting the National League play-off trophy at Wembley

In order to get a sense of how non-league football works, you need to understand how the football pyramid in England works. It is essentially split into professional, semi-professional and amateur categories, with non-league being made up of the semi-professional and amateur levels.

The professional side of the game is the top four divisions, which comprises the Premier League, Championship, League One and League Two, whilst anything below League Two is either semi-professional or amateur and fits into the catch-all bracket of being non-league football.

Anything that comes under the remit of the Football Association is thought of as being on the football pyramid, allowing for promotion into and relegation out of the various divisions. That means that a team could, in theory at least, be promoted from a county league all the way up to the top-flight; albeit it would be an expensive journey considering the need to upgrade the likes of equipment and facilities.

The National League System, which is different from the National League itself, covers 11 different levels of football, with non-league making up the lion’s share of the various divisions that are part of the overall system.

A Quick Look at the Football Pyramid

The teams that fail to do well in the Championship can find themselves relegated down into League One, which is still professional but is obviously of lower quality than the two divisions above it. Three teams fall out of the Championship into League One, with three teams also being promoted out of it using the same system as the Championship. That is to say, the top two teams are promoted automatically, whilst the four teams that finish between third and sixth play each other in the play-offs for the third promotion spot. Four teams get relegated to League Two.

League Two is the last of the fully professional divisions in English football and is also the lowest level in terms of overall quality. The bottom four teams from League One get relegated into it, with the extra relegation spot meaning that there is also an extra promotion spot. Three teams go up automatically by finished first to third, with the sides that finish between fourth and seven taking part in the play-offs to decide which team will take that extra space. There are only two teams relegated out of League Two into the National League, being replaced by the team that finished top and the winner of the play-off.

Non-League Football

The fact that any division is often referred to as a ‘league’ when it comes to English football can add a degree of confusion around what we’re talking about. When we talk about non-league football, the ‘league’ in question is a specific reference to the English Football League, which is made up of the Championship, League One and League Two. The Premier League isn’t part of the EFL, but obviously also counts in terms of the ‘league’ in ‘non-league’. There are numerous different divisions that sit below the English Football League and therefore make up non-league.

Many of the divisions, such as the Northern League, are actually nearly as old as the English Football League itself, with the majority of the senior sides being organised by the Football Association. They organised the divisions into the National League System, which has six steps, or levels, including more than 18 different leagues that also tend to boast more than one division. If this all sounds a little bit confusing, that is because it can be. For many fans of English football, it all makes sense because they’ve seen it happen for years, but for outsiders there isn’t a lot of sense to be had.

‘Re-Election’

hartlepool united league performance 1921-2023

Nowadays, we take it somewhat for granted that clubs can be promoted into and relegated out of the English Football League. It definitely wasn’t always the case that that happened, however. In fact, for nearly a hundred years there was no promotion and relegation between the Football League and those divisions that made up non-league football. Instead, the process used to decide which level a team would be playing at was known as re-election and it existed as early as 1890. That was when Stoke City dropped out of the Football League and weren’t re-elected.

For the first five years of the Football League, the clubs that finished in the bottom four of the League would apply for re-election. They would be placed on a re-election rank at the conclusion of the season, at which point they would face their fellow Football League members at the Annual General Meeting. During that AGM, members of the Football League that were secure in their survival would vote to either retain the teams that were already in the league, or else to allow a non-league club that had applied for membership to be elected into the Football League instead.

Between the 1894-1895 season and the 1920-1921 campaign, the re-election process was applied to whichever clubs finished at the bottom of the league. That changed from 1920-1921 onwards, at which point the two teams that finished in the bottom two places in the Third Division North and Third Division South would be the ones that needed to apply for re-election. When they Fourth Division was formed in 1958, merging the North and South Third Divisions, the bottom four clubs of that league found themselves needing to go through the re-election process.

The creation of the Fourth Division saw numerous different teams face the process of re-election, but it also saw many of the sides that had had to go through re-election whilst in the regionalised Third Division leagues go through the process. There were also some sides that had played football in the upper echelons of the sport, such as Bradford Park Avenue, a team that played in the First Division for a three seasons, battling for re-election. In the end, they lost their cause and were replaced in the Football League with Cambridge United when the vote took place in 1970.

Here is a look at the teams that faced re-election during the Third Division North and Third Division South period:

The era of their being two leagues making up the Third Division depending on their geographical location lasted until 1958. At that point, the leagues were split, with the top teams going into the Third Division and the bottom teams making up the Fourth Division.

From 1958 onwards, the bottom four teams in the league faced the re-election process each year. During the era of the Fourth Division, 32 clubs faced re-election and five of them failed to be re-elected. Here is a look at the teams that went through the process:

* The club was known as Hartlepools United until 1968, then Hartlepool FC until 1977 when it became Hartlepool United. The club holds the record for re-election, finishing in the bottom four of the Fourth Division 11 times across 28 seasons, being successful each time they applied for re-election. See graph at the top of this section.

Though they didn’t have to go through the re-election process, Accrington Stanley chose to resign from the league in 1962 and Oxford United were elected to replace them. Similarly, Port Vale had face the re-election process in 1968 having been expelled from the league earlier in the season.

Ahead of the 1986-1987 season, a decision was taken to remove the re-election process for the Fourth Division. Instead, one club would be automatically relegated out of the Football League to be replaced by a side from the developing National League System. It introduced a link between the Football League and the NLS for the first time.

History of the Non-League Football System

1901 fa cup final between sheffield united and tottenham who were in the southern league at the time

Towards the end of the 19th century, a number of different football leagues were being developed, with the Football League and the Football Alliance having pretensions to operate on the national stage and in a professional capacity.

In 1892, the Football Alliance ended up being merged into the football league, creating the Second Division. Both of the leagues that were operating were heavily weighted towards the teams from the North and Midlands, with teams from the South resisting the call the become professional. Even so, the Southern League formed in 1894 and threatened to rival the Football League.

The level of quality of the Southern League was shown by Tottenham Hotspur winning the FA Cup, being the only non-league side to manage it. The league also persuaded Bradford Park Avenue to join it in 1907, but the development of the Football League meant that clubs from other divisions were invited into it. Until the First World War, for example, the Midlands League provided most of the new teams into the Football League, with other sides coming from the likes of the Lancashire League, the Combination, the Central League and the Northern Alliance.

The Northern League decided to ban professional clubs in 1906, going on to remain amateur until 1974 and therefore rarely providing new entrants into the Football League unless the clubs that were part of it wished to turn professional anyway. The Isthmian League also remained amateur, going on to dominate the FA Amateur Cup between 1894 and 1974. There remained a patch of regional amateur and semi-professional leagues that were a network across England and Wales, being collectively known as the ‘non-league’. This was a reference to teams playing outside of the national, professional Football League, with very little movement between them.

When the Third Division was formed between a merger of the Southern League with the Football League in 1920, it saw many non-league divisions contain teams that were a mix of reserve sides from the Football League clubs and other smaller teams. When the Third Division North was created, the Central League became entirely made up of reserve terms. There were numerous changes in the years that followed, but the biggest came when the Northern Premier League was formed in 1968, drawing together the strongest non-league sides from the North of England.

More Changes Come In

isthmian league division two match 1977 chesham united v st albans

By the time that 1974 came about, the Football Association had stropped drawing a distinction between professional terms and amateur ones. There were attempts from the likes of the Isthmian League to turn professional, but by the middle of the 1980s many sides remained amateur. The Northern League continued to refuse to turn professional, allowing it to be eclipsed by the Northern Premier League. In 1979, the Alliance Premier League was formed by a group of players from the Southern Leaguer and the Northern Premier League, with the sides that remained in them becoming ‘feeder clubs’ for the ones that had made the move into the APL.

The pyramid continued to grow, but the Isthmian League remained out of it until 1985. Part of the reason why the Alliance Premier League was formed was in order to ensure that there was a single club each year that would be able to apply for Football League status, rather than seeing the vote split between several different teams. Even so, the Football League remained wary of increasing its turnover of sides and none of the early winners of the APL managed to gain election into it. More and more leagues began to be formed, acting as feeder leagues for the ones above them in the pyramid.

How The Premier League Changed Non-League Football

map showing national league north and south and borders split

In 1992, all of the clubs that had made up the First Division chose to resign from the Football League en masse, creating a new top-flight that would be known as the Premier League. There would still be a series of promotion and relegation from the new division, but it changed the face of the football pyramid in England. For non-league sides, the creation of the Premier League saw the Fourth Division change its name to the Third Division, whilst the Isthmian League de-regionalised its second division in order to create a Second Division and a Third Division.

In 2003, the play-off system was introduced to the Conference for the first time. Now the teams that finished between second and fifth would compete against one another for the right to join the champions of the Conference in the Football League. A year later and the Football League Division Three was renamed to become Football League Two, with a new level being added below the Football Conference. It consisted of two divisions, being the Conference North and the Conference South. The existing Conference was renamed as the Conference National.

There were major changes elsewhere in non-league too. The Isthmian League’s two First Divisions became merged, whilst the boundary between it and the Southern League were redrawn. 12 clubs moved over from the Southern League to the Isthmian League, whilst 27 others moved the other way. In order to make up the numbers, no sides were relegated out of Step 4 of the football pyramid, whilst 20 clubs gained promotion out of the feeder leagues in Step 5. It was a radical shakeup of how things worked in the lower leagues, with non-league clubs feeling that they now had even more chance of making it into the Football League.

Even more changes came in the years that followed, including the Liverpool County Combination merged with the I Zingari League in order to create the Liverpool County Premier League. Meanwhile, the Somerset County League split its lower leagues from Division Two and Division Three to Division Two East and Division Two West. The East Cornwall Premier League also changed its name to the East Cornwall League, before dividing into two divisions, which were the Premier Division and Division One. Numerous other cosmetic changes took place over the years, including the addition of other leagues in the various Steps.

How Non-League Works Nowadays

map showing level 9-10 of the football league

The above look at the history of non-league football is obviously fascinating, especially when you consider that we’ve really only scratched the surface of it. When automatic promotion and relegation was introduced in 1986, it changed the way non-league football began to think about itself.

Rather than only being allowed into the Football League according to the vagaries of the election process, sides could actively make their way into it by doing well in the league season. It has remained the case ever since, meaning that non-league sides can enjoy success in their own right.

Here is a look at the entire football pyramid as it exists at the time of writing:

Premier League
Championship
National League
National League North
National League South
Northern Premier League Premier Division
Southern Football League Premier Central
Southern Football League Premier South
Isthmian League Premier Division
Northern Premier League Division One East
Northern Premier League Division One Midlands
Northern Premier League Division One West
Southern Football League Division One East
Southern Football League Division One West
Isthmian League Division One North
Isthmian League Division One South Central
Isthmian League Division One South East
Northern League Division One
Northern Counties East League Premier Division
North West Counties League Premier Division
Midlands League Premier Division
United Counties League Premier Division North
United Counties League Premier Division South
Hellenic League Premier Division
Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division
Wessex League Premier Division
Western League Premier Division
Combined Counties League Premier Division North
Combined Counties League Premier Division South
Eastern Counties League Premier Division
Essex Senior League
Southern Combination League Premier Division
Southern Counties East League Premier Division
Combined Counties League Division One
Eastern Counties League Division One North
Eastern Counties League Division One South
Hellenic League Division One – 20 clubs
Midland League Division One – 20 clubs
North West Counties League Division One North
North West Counties League Division One South
Northern Counties East League League Division One
Northern League Division Two
South West Peninsula League Premier Division East
South West Peninsula League Premier Division West
Southern Combination Football League Division One
Southern Counties East League Division One – 16 clubs
Spartan South Midlands League Division One – 20 clubs
United Counties League Division One – 22 clubs
Wessex League Division One – 21 clubs
Western League Division One
Anglian Combination Premier Division
Bedfordshire County League Premier Division
Cambridgeshire County League Premier Division
Central Midlands League Premier Division North
Central Midlands League Premier Division South
Cheshire League Premier Division
Devon County Football League
Dorset Premier League
Essex Alliance League
Essex & Suffolk Border League Premier Division
Essex Olympian League Premier Division
Gloucestershire County League
Hampshire Premier League Senior Division
Herefordshire Football League Premier Division
Hertfordshire Senior County League Premier Division
Humber Premier League Premier Division
Kent County League Premier Division
Leicestershire Senior League Premier Division
Lincolnshire League
Liverpool County Premier League Premier Division
Manchester League Premier Division
Mid-Sussex League Premier Division
Middlesex County League Premier Division
Midland League Division Two
Northamptonshire Combination League Premier Division
Northern Alliance Premier Division
North Riding League Premier Division
Nottinghamshire Senior League Senior Division
Oxfordshire Senior League Premier Division
Peterborough & District League Premier Division
Shropshire County Football League Premier Division
Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior League Premier Division
Somerset County League Premier Division
Southern Combination League Division Two
Spartan South Midlands League Division Two
St Piran League East Division
St Piran League West Division
Staffordshire County Senior League Premier Division
Suffolk & Ipswich League Senior Division
Surrey Premier County Football League
Thames Valley Premier League Premier Division
Wearside League Division One
West Cheshire League Division One
West Lancashire League Premier Division
West Midlands (Regional) League Division One
West Yorkshire League Premier Division
Wiltshire Senior League Premier Division
York League Premier Division
Yorkshire Amateur League Supreme Division

It is worth bearing in mind that the exact number number teams that are in each league, as well as how many gain promotion to the one above or are relegated into the one below, can change for numerous different reasons.

As a result, we haven’t put down any specifics, but it certainly gives you a sense of just how many teams exist in the 11 Levels of the English football pyramid.

Outside the English Football Pyramid

The interesting thing about the English football pyramid is that it is only specifically defined down to Level 11. There are also a wealth of leagues that go down as far as what would be Level 20. About 2,000 clubs make up the part of the pyramid that goes down to Level 11, whilst as many as around 5,000 play in Levels 12 to 20.

Rather than outline each specific league, as we have done above, the table above looks at roughly how many teams play at each level of the pyramid and over how many leagues.

Obviously the exact number of leagues and the precise number of teams that play in them can change from week to week, with numerous different factors affecting things. Teams wind up for all number of reasons, but this gives you a sense of just how deep the non-league structure actually is.

Looking at Example Clubs

Now that we know more about the way in which the non-league system works, it is worth having a look at a couple of example clubs that have managed to climb out of non-league football and into the world of the Football League.

These are far from the only clubs to have managed it, but they give you a sense of how it might work for the teams that aren’t included in the upper echelons of the footballing world but can make their way there.

Salford City

Founded as Salford Central in 1940, the club competed in local leagues until 1963, which was the point at which it was promoted to the Manchester Football League and became Salford amateurs. The club enjoyed some success during the period that followed, including being one of the sides that made up the North West Counties Football League when it was formed out of a merger between the Cheshire County League and the Lancashire Combination. It changed its name to Salford City in 1989 and many might have believed that it was designed to spend its years floating around the lower leagues.

In March of 2014, however, several of the so-called ‘Class of ’92’ of Manchester United players formed the Project 92 Limited consortium and moved to take over the club. Nicky Butt, Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville, Phil Neville and Paul Scholes all contributed money towards the takeover, with the then-Chairperson, Karen Baird, declaring it to be a ‘massive’ thing that would safeguard the club’s future. For other teams in the lower leagues it didn’t seem right, having a group of multi-millionaires ploughing their money into the team in order to ensure its success at their expense.

Regardless of the rights and wrongs of the situation, though, it worked. They gradually made their way up the divisions and in May of 2019 the club made it to the play-off final of the National League. They defeated Flyde in the final, gaining promotion to the Football League for the first time in the club’s history. The aim of the owners was to get the club as high in the English football pyramid as was possible, with promotion to League One next on the agenda. It was an aim that was later mirrored by Wrexham after the takeover of the club by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.

A.F.C. Bournemouth

Formed in 1899 as Boscombe, the side that would later become A.F.C. Bournemouth competed in regional football leagues for the first couple of decades of its existence. In 1920 the side was promoted from the Hampshire League to the Southern League, becoming known as Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic. Three years later and they were promoted to the Football League, spending the next 35 years in the Third Division South and winning the Third Division South Cup in 1946. When the Football League was re-organised in 1958, the club was placed into the newly created Third Division.

They were relegated up and down between divisions for a number of seasons, entering administration in 1997 and then again in 2008, being relegated down to the bottom tier of the Football League. Thanks to Eddie Howe, who would later go on to manager Saudi Arabia-owned Newcastle United, the club climbed from League Two all the way to the Premier League, playing in the English top-flight for the first time in the club’s history in the 2015-2016 season. It was a remarkable rise for a team that had spend most of its existence playing non-league football.

The Rules of Non-League Football

original laws of the game fa football rules book 1863

Bill Shankly once said, “Football is a simple game based on the giving and taking of passes, of controlling the ball and of making yourself available to receive a pass. It is terribly simple.” In essence, the Scottish manager, who is considered to be the founding father of modern day Liverpool Football Club, was absolutely right. In practice, of course, the game is much more complicated than that. Nowadays the existence of the Video Assistant Referee for matches in the upper echelons of the game means that technology is having an influence on the outcome of important games.

That is not the case in the lower leagues, however. It is only in the Premier League where the VAR has an influence, with non-league football never likely to have to worry about such things. It is worth noting, therefore, that the there is a huge difference between Premier League football and the football that is played in non-league divisions, if for no other reason than the teams don’t have worry about goals being ruled out provided the assistant referee keeps their flag down rather than flags to say that someone was offside. A goal will remain a goal, regardless of the opposition’s complaints.

Other than that, though, the reality is that non-league and professional football matches are basically the same. Yes, even players in League Two are going to be significantly fitter and more capable than those that play for non-league sides, so the game will look entirely different to the casual observer, but the level of play isn’t the same thing as the rules that are being played. Offside is still offside, a professional foul will still result in a red card and throw-ins will still be given if the ball happens to go out of play. There is no major difference to the rules, even if they feel like different sports.

There are also big differences to how supporters tend to enjoy the football. Ever since the Taylor Inquiry in the wake of the Hillsborough Disaster, stadiums in professional football have to be all-seater, with safe-standing options introduced in Scotland in 2016 and the Premier League from 2020 onwards. In non-league, most supporters will stand whilst they watch the games being played. They will also be allowed to drink alcohol whilst the match takes place, whereas in professional football supporters are not allowed to have alcohol if they are in view of the football pitch.

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The Groundhopper - The monthly magazine for the independent non-league traveller - No:5

Non League Finals Day Supporters Guide

Non League Finals Day: Supporters Guide

Fans advice for Non-League Finals Day – 21 May

The Non-League Finals Day will take place at Wembley Stadium on Sunday 21 May 2023, with both the Isuzu FA Vase & FA Trophy Finals played back-to-back in what is a bumper day of action and celebration of non-league football.

The Isuzu FA Vase Final kicks-off at 12.15

The Isuzu FA Trophy Final kicks off at 16.15

Wembley Stadium has issued some key information for all supporters planning on attending this event.

Following this guidance will ensure Wembley is a safe environment for all visitors on the day and give fans the opportunity to make the most of their visit.

No-street-drinking zone

Since 2022 Brent Council, and its partners, have enforced a no-street-drinking zone on Olympic Way and the surrounding area for ALL events at Wembley Stadium. This is part of the current Public Space Order Protection in place around the stadium on event days. More information on the order can be found here.

Fans drinking on Olympic Way and the surrounding streets ahead of the final will be asked to hand over their alcohol and enforcement action may be considered.

Supporters wanting alcohol before the game should head for the licensed bars or restaurants in the area or make their way to the dedicated fan zones outside the stadium.

The Ascot United and FC Halifax Town fan zone is located on the east concourse area of the stadium.

The Newport Pagnell and Gateshead Fan Zone is located to the west of the stadium on the event pad.

Fan Zones offer supporters the chance to enjoy a drink, including alcohol, food, while listening to the sounds of our resident DJ. They are the perfect place to soak up the pre-match party atmosphere.

The fan zones will be open from 11.00 – 15.45 and stop serving alcohol one hour before the final game kicks off.

Supporters will need to present a valid stadium ticket to enter the area which has a limited capacity. The stadium’s bag policy (see below) also applies to anyone visiting the fan zone.

Restricted bag policy

Wembley Stadium operates a restricted bag policy. Each person can only bring one small bag into the stadium, and it must not be bigger than A4 size:

Height – 297mm (11.7 inches) - Width – 210mm (8.27 inches) - Depth – 210mm (8.27 inches)

Please note, this means the overall bag size – bags that are half-full and folded over to reduce their size will not be accepted. Anyone carrying bags that do not meet the criteria above will not be allowed into the stadium. A full list of prohibited items can be found here .

Pyrotechnics

The use of pyrotechnics, flares and smoke devices inside or outside Wembley Stadium is illegal and prohibited. Anyone caught carrying or using pyrotechnical equipment inside the stadium will be immediately ejected from the stadium, banned from future events and dealt with by police. Those caught using pyrotechnic equipment anywhere outside of the stadium will be in breach of the PSPO order and face enforcement action.

Disabled supporters

Wembley Stadium is a welcoming and inclusive venue for all guests with access requirements. There are 310 places for wheelchair users, each with a personal assistant/companion seat. The stadium also provides a range of services for guests with specialist access requirements including a shuttle service from Wembley Park Station. More information can be found here.

By National Rail

Supporters are encouraged to plan their journeys in advance to avoid disappointment or delay to their travel.

Heading to the game : Supporters can interchange at central London stations for London Underground and bus services to Wembley Stadium. Please factor additional travel across London into your travel time /costs.

Travelling home : Fans are asked to leave the ground promptly and avoid opting for the last train of the day. Please check National Rail Enquiries for the latest up-to-date information.

Please allow for longer journey times from Wembley Stadium to central London stations due to crowd safety controls for safe station access.

London Underground

Wembley Stadium benefits from easy access to three rail / London Underground stations. These are:

Wembley Stadium station
Wembley Central station
Wembley Park station

Supporters should plan to arrive at Wembley stations no later than one hour prior to kick-off, to allow sufficient time to walk to and enter the stadium. Spectators are advised to check the National Rail Enquiries and TfL websites on event day for real-time travel information and status updates.

Event day parking at Wembley Stadium is limited and must be booked in advance via the Wembley Official Parking website. Please book early to avoid disappointment. Any vehicles which do not pre-book will not be granted access to the stadium car parks. Customers are advised to park via the official car parks only.

Blue badge parking is available for ticketholders with accessibility needs and this can also be booked directly through the Wembley Official Parking website. For any further accessibility requirements, please review Wembley Stadium’s Access Information page, or visit the Guest support portal .

National Express is the official coach partner to Wembley Stadium. National Express drop off at the stadium from over 50 locations around the UK making it the easiest and most convenient way to travel to Wembley. To book a National Express service for the Final visit the National Express website or call 08717 81 81 81

Stadium access

Please arrive early at the stadium to allow enough time for necessary security checks, including enhanced searches and bag checks.

General admission to the stadium will be available from 10.45am. Hospitality turnstiles will also at this time.

Children (14 years and under) must be accompanied by an adult. Children under the age of two are not permitted into the stadium.

Persistent standing

Persistent standing during a match at Wembley Stadium is strictly forbidden (unless with a ticket for the safe standing area) and may result in ejection from the ground. Persistent standing not only compromises crowd safety, but also affects the matchday experience of fellow spectators, especially children and elderly people.

Anti-social and discriminatory behaviour

Wembley Stadium operates a zero-tolerance policy on any form of anti-social and discriminatory behaviour, in line with the Love Football, Protect the Game campaign

If you witness any anti-social or discriminatory behaviour on the day, text HELP to 66566 or contact your nearest steward.

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Maziar Kouhyar was the first Afghanistan-born player to play professionally in the Football League when he signed for Walsall.

How non-league football can help players from all communities rebuild their careers

Maziar Kouhyar was the first Afghanistan-born player to play professionally in England but was struggling to find a club

D ropping into non-league might not sound like an attractive option for some footballers, but it can offer an obvious advantage: exposure. If clubs are willing to be honest, open and give everybody an opportunity then careers can be rebuilt and all parties will benefit.

One of my squad at Hereford FC, Maziar Kouhyar, is an example that I hold particularly close. I am very proud of him: he was the first Afghanistan-born player to appear in professional football in this country, but fell out of the game after leaving Walsall. He worked at KFC for a while and was employed as a car salesman when I first met him early last year.

We took him on trial and I remember him joining us at Warwick University for his first training session. You can tell, as a manager, when a player has got it. Maziar moved differently, he is an international too and his running patterns were a class above. You could tell he had played at a high level and a couple of months later he was walking out at Wembley for us in the FA Trophy final.

In the Football League , you don’t see many trialists coming through. Club boards aren’t that keen and I know, from my own playing career, that the lads in the dressing room often aren’t having them. There’s a bit more openness at our level to different possibilities, and then players get a platform to perform.

Maziar is one of very few players of Asian heritage in English football. When I was coming through at West Brom 20 years ago we had a very good south Asian player in our ranks, but then he essentially disappeared without a trace. I played for a number of clubs and don’t remember having an Asian teammate. It’s sad and alarming that things have not really moved on.

We were introduced to Maziar by his agency, Be, who knew that he had experienced some difficulties earlier in his career. Unfortunately I do not think he had enjoyed the best of support from the PFA, either; it felt as if he had been left to fall through the cracks, with nobody really aware of his situation. I understand his agency asked the PFA if they could find him a club but that they did not, which might have meant things ended very differently in other circumstances.

Football managers have a platform to help players develop their talent and that’s what I want to do, regardless of where they are from. I was brought up with a black dad, a white mum and a whole mixture of cultures. I want people to have the same experience I had, whoever they are: it’s a beautiful thing to be surrounded by people with so many influences, and anyone who chooses to be closed-minded is missing out. Perhaps my background and experiences have made me especially keen to give opportunities to players like Maziar, but ultimately he plays for us because he is very good, not because he is Asian. The same goes for Dinesh Gillela, a former Bournemouth under-21 captain who joined us in January and has a bright future. I wish it was like that everywhere and, unfortunately, narrow-mindedness still persists in many areas of football.

Mazhiar had periods in and out of our side but has had an excellent winter. He was our man of the match in three straight wins and has been named in the league’s team of the week on three consecutive occasions. He is being scouted by league clubs again and, at 24, his career is on the way back up. There is no ceiling to his ability. The credit should go to him: he has worked hard and showed incredible mental strength and perseverance to give things another go, having initially been in a bad place when he dropped out of football.

Hopefully he can maintain that form and help us continue to push for the play-offs in the National League North. We had won six out of eight before a couple of defeats in the last week but, after a slow start to the season, we are in the mix. I’m still expecting a lot more from us this season and think we can take the club a level up, at least. Our efforts to improve it in other areas are still continuing, too. I want our fanbase to be more diverse and, in May, we are going to hold an event where we bring all communities together to celebrate their cultures. The overwhelming majority of Hereford’s population is white and, while all our existing fans are so important, I want to see an even more varied range of faces in the stands.

Again, that is part of our role as a non-league club: to be accessible to everyone. It is an area where we can make a genuine, lasting difference and our efforts will not stop here.

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Champions League final may cause station closures and major disruption this weekend, Londoners warned

Londoners have been warned to expect severe travel disruption ahead of Saturday’s Champions League final at Wembley Stadium .

The Jubilee and Metropolitan lines are expected to be extremely busy as thousands of football fans flock to the capital to watch Spanish giants Real Madrid face German underdogs Borussia Dortmund in the European football clash.

The Champions League Festival, starting on Thursday, caused Tube disruptions in the days leading up to the match.

Road closures are in effect until Sunday, impacting bus and Cycleway operations in central London.

Authorities may implement short-term safety measures, including station closures, non-stopping trains and changes to station access.

Travellers to and from airports are encouraged to use public transport. However, due to planned engineering works, there will be no direct trains between central London and Luton Airport on June 1 and 2.

The Elizabeth line will be closed on Saturday between Paddington and Abbey Wood, as well as between Whitechapel and Stratford.Londoners are urged to check travel updates and plan their journeys in advance to avoid disruptions.

It comes as travel searches for Wembley have soared 60 per cent ahead of Saturday's Champions League final, Expedia data shows.

Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid fans heading to the capital are “most looking forward to visiting the Tower of London, Big Ben - and checking out London's foodie scene”, the travel firm said.

Register now for one of the Evening Standard’s newsletters. From a daily news briefing to Homes & Property insights, plus lifestyle, going out, offers and more. For the best stories in your inbox, click here .

The Golden Rules of Solo Travel

By Olivia Morelli

Image may contain Person Walking Grass Plant Outdoors Nature Scenery Landscape Art Mountain and Mountain Range

The joys of traveling solo are endless. It is freeing to explore new places alone—you can go where you please, eat when you want, and enjoy quality time with yourself uninterrupted. The interest in solo travel has been slowly rising for a while, in tandem with the desire for deeper, slower, more connective trave l. For many, solo travel is the perfect way to achieve this—it provides an opportunity to trust your instinct, go with your gut, and get lost in the experience. You rely on yourself rather than on others’ whims or desires.

But, if you’re not a seasoned solo traveler, it can be a daunting prospect. In an age of constant connectivity, the idea of being alone for an extended period of time is stark. Below, we spoke to travelers who frequently book solo trips about their golden rules for traveling alone.

Dining alone isn’t weird

For most people, the thought of dining alone is one of the biggest barriers to traveling solo. But once you get past the conviction that everyone is noticing or judging you, it’s a totally freeing experience. “Dining alone isn’t as uncommon as you might imagine,” says Estée Lalonde, a creative director and influencer with a passion for solo travel. “I personally find it empowering! Sometimes I bring a book with me or watch an episode of my favorite show on Netflix with my headphones on, but other times I just enjoy the atmosphere and end up chatting to the people at the table next to me.”

Book counter dining at restaurants if it's too weird for you

If you are someone who does feel uncomfortable about dining alone, opt for a bar or counter seat. It’s much less intimidating than having a whole table to yourself, and you are more likely to end up chatting to the staff or the person sitting next to you. "The first time I went out for a meal alone, I went to JG Melon on the Upper East Side of New York City ,” Sarah James, Condé Nast Traveller ’s deputy digital editor, says. “I took a book, and nervously shuffled onto a bar stool for my burger—but ended up chatting away to the charming bartender and the women sat next to me. Now I often opt for a counter seat when eating alone, and no longer take a book with me. Either I end up talking to someone or just enjoy the peace. A general rule I live by—we're all so wrapped up in our own lives, no one is paying much attention to other people."

Consider a hostel

Not only are hostels affordable, but they're also great places to meet fellow travelers—whether they're in the same solo boat as you or not. Many have a cheap bar onsite that allows you to fall into natural conversation with compatriots who may become friends, or at least will have great tips for things to do.

Fake it till you make it

Most people feel nervous about meeting new people, and introverts especially struggle to make the first move when in a new place. But remember that everyone is in the same boat, and most solo travelers will have experienced those same emotions. The first five seconds are the hardest, but once you’ve introduced yourself, you’ll quickly realize it wasn’t as big a deal as you originally thought. You’d kick yourself if you let a bit of shyness ruin your trip, so use that as the motivation you need to approach a fellow traveler. And remember, if you present with confidence, that will show—fake it til you make it is a reliable life rule to follow.

Never consolidate all of your assets

“This is a lesson that I learned the hard way after getting pickpocketed in a crowded Jerusalem marketplace,” says global digital director Arati Menon, “I had stupidly carried all my credit cards and cash with me—luckily no passport!—in a single wallet and as a result, had no way of paying the hotel bill later that day when I checked out. Now, I always split my cards and cash (and IDs) across various places: wallet, purse, luggage—and if possible, store at least one of these in a locked safe back at the hotel.”

Don’t fear loneliness

“Remember that a bit of loneliness can be bracing and character-building,” says Toby Skinner, Condé Nast Traveller ’s features director. “My experience traveling is generally that people are decent, kind and interesting—and you found that out most acutely by being alone (whereas everyone leaves couples well alone.) Some of my most memorable travel experiences have been on my own—like when I was stranded in Nanjing at 2 a.m. by a delayed train in 2001, and a local student let me bunk in his dorm room for the night.”

Take the train

“While even the most extroverted of travelers avoid chit chat like the plague on a plane, I have found traveling by train to be a much more social means of transport," says associate editor Hannah Towey. "Last summer, I traveled solo on the Amtrak Coastal Starlight from Santa Barbara to San Francisco and spent the entirety of the 9-hour journey in the communal observation lounge, where fellow travelers rotated in and out, sharing tables and playing cards while admiring the views. As the sun set on the second half of the trip, a few musically-inclined passengers formed an impromptu band complete with an acoustic guitar and mandolin. Word slowly spread and others trickled in from other parts of the train to take turns singing songs in different languages. It might take a few more hours than a flight, but who knows, you might even find the Ethan Hawke to your Julie Delpy and spend a spontaneous evening together in Vienna.”

Plan around cultural events

Arriving at a destination just as the locals are gearing up for an important cultural event can be an incredible way to immerse yourself straight away. Look up religious festivals, bank holidays, and street parties to see what time is best to visit and plan accordingly. You’ll get a real flavor of the people, the food, and even the music, and you might end up making friends along the way.

Research solo travel in your destination

As obvious as “do your research” sounds, it’s an important step to remember. Look at online forums and speak to people who have previously visited the destination. What safety precautions should you be taking? Is it safe to walk between locations, or is it better to use taxis? Are taxis easy to find? What is the destination's culture like after dark? For women, in particular, it is best to plan ahead to avoid getting stranded in remote neighborhoods after dark.

Have a rough plan for each day

It can feel daunting waking up in a brand new destination and not knowing where to start, so make sure to create vague itineraries for your trip. What are your non-negotiables in this destination? Any big attractions you want to tick off? Restaurants you’ve been desperate to try? Beaches you’ve always wanted to visit? “I like to have 3-5 little activities in mind for each day, like visiting a particular store or trying the local cuisine,” Estée tells us. “If you have a bit of direction you can leave space in between each activity to be spontaneous and discover the local area.”

Build in group activities

Booking tours and group events is a great way to meet other travelers. Most hostels have a list of activities available for guests to sign up for, and if not, then there are walking tours or live music events at local bars. “Try to see people as opportunities," Toby advises. “I'd build in communal activities to your itinerary and remember that you’ll probably never see these people again, so you have nothing to lose in almost any interaction and possibly a lot to gain—though there might be a touch of male privilege in that.”

Walk as much as you can

“Sometimes when I travel to a new place, I can be nervous to leave my bed as a solo traveler,” Estée admits. “As soon as I get outside and start walking I feel better—like I’m part of the city and that I belong there!” Exploring by foot is a great way to get to know the bones of a destination. You’ll soon create a mental map of the area nearest your accommodation and might stumble upon some hidden gems you wouldn’t have come across otherwise.

Allow yourself to be spontaneous

On that note, try to allow yourself some spontaneity. Having a rough plan is definitely advisable, but don’t stop yourself from following your gut if you have a sudden urge to pop into a shop, follow the sound of the crowds or head for the beach. It’s often the spur-of-the-moment decisions that result in the best experiences.

Bring good books

It’s easy to whip out your phone and rely on scrolling when you’re by yourself, and while that is a great way to decompress if you’re feeling jittery, there are few things more romantic than settling in at a street-side cafe and getting lost in the pages of a good book .

Bring a journal

Journaling has become a popular pastime of late, and keeping a travel journal is a great way to combine the mental health benefits of getting out your thoughts and feelings with the memories and emotions of traveling solo. “I find all of that time alone enables me to clear my head, and journaling is a great way to regulate those emotions,” Estée explains.

Keep a separate copy of your personal details

Sounds old school, but in lieu of printing out paper copies of all your bank details, phone numbers, and accommodations details, try keeping a document of all your information and emailing it to yourself. This way, if you lose your phone, you can ask the reception of your accommodation or staff at a hotel/restaurant/bar to borrow a phone and log into your email account to access anything you need. It’s also worth memorizing your card details and any emergency phone numbers (both personal and local emergency service numbers).

Take other safety precautions

There are plenty of ways to protect yourself when traveling alone. Sharing your location with your friends and family back home is a lovely way to keep in touch without having to actually message them—they can watch your journey from afar and keep track of your whereabouts if you haven’t contacted them for a while. Remember to bring a padlock for your backpack and lockers if you’re staying in hostels, and study basic phrases in the language of your destination, just in case you get lost and need some help.

Don’t forget insurance

There’s always something that doesn’t go to plan on any trip, and as a solo traveler, you’ll want to make sure you mitigate any stress that comes from changing itineraries. Buying travel insurance is the best way to protect yourself from any transport cancellations and unforeseen circumstances, and will cover any costs from injuries or thefts. Sounds scary, but it’ll be worth it if the worst happens!

A version of this story originally appeared on Condé Nast Traveller .

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By Neil Harvey THE new Ebac Northern League season for 2024/25 will start on Saturday, July 27. And the annual […] News and features from the grassroots level of football from The Non-League Paper; the most-trusted source of Step 1-6 football for the last 21 years.
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Offering the 'groundhopper' a concise update of what was on where and when, the 'Non League Traveller' was essential reading for lovers of the semi-professional game during the 1990's. The magazine also provided information on Cup draws, and occasionally featured programme & match reviews. The magazine usually carried ground photographs on the ...
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The Groundhopper - The monthly magazine for the independent non-league traveller - No:5, 24 pages, in very good condition, written on a very little bit. Facebook Twitter Messenger. Skip to the end of the images gallery . Skip to the beginning of the images gallery . Details .
Invincibles and pile-ups: non-league football stories you may have
National League South side Torquay risked heading into oblivion and entered administration, receiving a 10-point penalty for doing so, but they have a number of takeover options and hope to be saved.
Non League Finals Day Supporters Guide
The Non-League Finals Day will take place at Wembley Stadium on Sunday 21 May 2023, with both the Isuzu FA Vase & FA Trophy Finals played back-to-back in what is a bumper day of action and celebration of non-league football. ... Please factor additional travel across London into your travel time /costs. Travelling home: Fans are asked to leave ...
Non-League football
Non-League football describes football leagues played outside the top leagues of a country. Usually, it describes leagues which are not fully professional. The term is primarily used for football in England, where it is specifically used to describe all football played at levels below those of the Premier League (20 clubs) and the three divisions of the English Football League (EFL; 72 clubs).
How non-league football can help players from all communities rebuild
D ropping into non-league might not sound like an attractive option for some footballers, but it can offer an obvious advantage: exposure. If clubs are willing to be honest, open and give ...
The Pressure, Time, Pain and Tears of Running a Non-League ...
It doesn't seem like a lot of money in the footballing world compared to top Premier League players earning £60,000 in a single day. This is where the game is completely disproportional.
Non-league football: Steps three to six curtailed for second season
All non-league football below the National League has been curtailed for the second successive season. More than three-quarters of teams in steps three to six of the non-league pyramid voted to ...
Champions League final may cause station closures and major ...
Authorities may implement short-term safety measures, including station closures, non-stopping trains and changes to station access. Travellers to and from airports are encouraged to use public ...
The Golden Rules of Solo Travel
Dining alone isn't weird. For most people, the thought of dining alone is one of the biggest barriers to traveling solo. But once you get past the conviction that everyone is noticing or judging ...
The New Luxury Traveler Isn't Who You Think
The New Luxury Traveler Isn't Who You Think. More than a third of $239 billion luxury travel market is driven by non-millionaires. They're young, they want to explore the world and ...
Deloitte Football Money League 2024
Notably, 17 of the top 20 clubs reported a year-on-year increase in commercial revenue, with growth largely attributable to the improved retail sales, revenue from non-matchday events and recovery of sponsorship income which had been impacted by the pandemic. Money League clubs reported a comparatively modest increase in broadcast revenue (5%).