By Sam Donovan
With today being Non-League Day, I thought I would write something about my disillusionment with Premier League football and why I prefer non-league football.
For me though, the reason I love non-league is the sense of community it brings.
People grouping together to support their local team through the highs and lows, younger children coming along to the games at an early age and recognising that this is football because the club is the same as the one they are playing for.
You go to a game with your friends or your family and it costs hardly anything to get into the ground, you get a pie and a Bovril and then you huddle together because of how cold it is.
No one minds though, because you’re there to support your team and to cheer them to victory, or at least that’s what you hope.
If you’re lucky enough to go to an away game, you might be able to talk to the players on the bus or in the clubhouse after a game, and get their autograph or a picture with them.
Those players really appreciate you coming to see them because like you, they have full-time jobs and know the time and effort you have given up to see them play.
So, if this is your first time at a non-league game, consider this; was it cheaper than going to watch a professional team down the road?
Did you leave actually feeling happy having watched a football match for a change?
Was it good entertainment and a decent atmosphere? If you’ve answered yes, then get along and support your local non-league team, where your support really matters.
