Jamie Vardy. The biggest story in the Premier League this
season. Record breaker, goal scorer, cult hero. And now Premier League winner,
but where did it all begin for the man on top of the world? Non-league
football.
From £30-a-week at Stocksbridge Park Steels, to a household
name today. Vardy now plays in front of thousands every week, under club owners
with millions in pocket change.
However, away from the dizzying heights of the Premier
League, a revolution is happening. Non-league football is growing. Fans are
rebelling against the corporate machine, the airline-stadium sponsorships, and
instead are opting to cheer on their team of local semi-professionals.
Unlike the cut-throat nature of the Premier League and football
league, where managers and players are expected to deliver in the volatile
pressure cooker, hostile stadium atmospheres are becoming more commonplace when
things don’t go right.
Fans are being swayed towards non-league, where they can
enjoy a drink in the stand and swap ends at half-time without the need for
crowd segregation.
Although the crowds are nowhere near as big as the likes of
Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge, the non-league community have some of the
most passionate people you will meet.
There are dedicated fans and volunteers like myself who travels
far and wide to watch their team, whenever, wherever, whatever the weather.
Win, lose, or draw, we sing, we chant, and we have a laugh. We’re a rabble, but
without the intimidating stigma that comes with so-called football league
‘ultras’.
The growing appeal of non-league football is an interesting
subject. On the one hand, people want to regain their identity as a football
fan, and not just become someone who adds to the trickle of revenue that finds
its way into owners' back pockets.
Non-league fans want freedom to stand where they want, even
with the away fans, and be part of a greater footballing community, rather than
be just a bystander. More importantly than this, we want to build a better
future for the English game. As a passionate fan of grassroots football I know
I definitely do.
Without people that care, the lower echelons of English
football could soon disappear. This is where people power pays dividends. From
maintenance and fundraising, to rekindling the ashes of a former powerhouse
(Hereford and Darlington come to mind), the love for non-league helps make
these changes happen.
James Doe, an advocate for non-league football, wanted to
illustrate this passion. He's created a day to enlighten the UK public on the
joys of non-league.
Over the past six years, Non- League Day has grown from a
small time Facebook event to an annual national campaign which has grabbed the
attention of clubs, leagues, the media and most importantly the fans. It was a
personal catalyst for my love of non-league football.
This year, the campaign aims to encourages the non-league
community, and those who are curious about the game, to come together at the
home of the English national team, Wembley Stadium.
On May 22nd, both the FA Vase and FA Trophy finals, where
Morpeth take on Hereford and Halifax take on Grimsby, will take place at the
national stadium on a day that promises to be a great spectacle as the best
non-league teams, at their respective levels, show off their talent at the
cauldron of English football.
The best non-league has to offer, on the hallow turf.
The event will be of great significance for non-league
football as it gets full exposure for all to see. The day is set to be a
celebration, and could be a major platform for the growth of the grassroots
game.
Despite the UK government investing more funds into the
Chinese game than in English grassroots football, through the love and passion
shown by all those involved at this level, the excitement of the game lives on.
Through the Non- League Day initiative, hopefully more
people will become interested in a highly affordable game filled with twists,
turns and unpredictability. And who knows? You might be there to witness the
next Jamie Vardy.
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