Non-League Day: your chance to support our area’s clubs

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This Saturday sees the fourth edition of Non-League Day, a national campaign set up by myself, a QPR fan, back in 2010 to promote semi-professional and grassroots football.

It takes place on an international weekend when there are no Premier League or Championship fixtures, thus allowing us the chance to elevate the country’s smaller sides into the limelight.

Finances at such clubs are tight and a lot of hard work by thousands of volunteers goes into making them tick – and NLD is as much about celebrating them as the football that’s on show.

Many also have thriving youth set-ups and are potentially a great focal point for their local communities, which many people are unaware of.

Every year we try and grow the campaign and see what we can do differently to raise the profile of the event.

Charlie Austin of QPR
QPR’s Austin has given his support.

Probably the most notable change has been the amount of ‘faces’ that have given us their backing with stars like Les Ferdinand, Aaron Hughes, Charlie Austin, Leroy Rosenior and Tony Gale to name just five getting on board.

In order to make the most of the day, many sides in west London are running all kinds of promotions to try and get you involved.

Although they currently play at Woking, Hayes & Yeading United host Chelmsford City in a Conference South fixture.

If you’re a season-ticket holder at any club other than the two involved, you can get in to see Phil Babb’s charges for a reduced rate of £8.

In the Ryman League Premier Division, Hampton & Richmond Borough entertain Maidstone United. The visitors are by far the biggest club in the league in terms of support so the crowd should be sizeable.

The Beveree is also regularly cited by fans as being one of the best non-League grounds around. Once again you can gain reduced entry (£5) if you’re a season-ticket holder of another club, whilst it’s also completely free for anyone under 16.

To top it all, this match has been specially selected by anti-discrimination charity Kick It Out for some special events to mark its 20th anniversary.

Elsewhere in the division, Harrow Borough take on Dulwich Hamlet. QPR fans might have a particular interest in this one as Dave Anderson’s side signed former R’s striker Leroy Griffiths in the summer.

They too are offering entry for only £5 to season-ticket holders of other clubs, whose members are included in the deal as well. Unaccompanied under-16s get in for £1 while those with a paying adult get in for free.

If none of these games are close to you there are plenty of others around London and all over the country. Use the match-finder map on our website to help you find the one that’s best for you.

Links:
http://nonleagueday.co.uk/
http://nonleagueday.co.uk/map.html
http://hyufc.com/
http://www.hamptonfc.net/component/content/article/7-hrbfc-the-club/1203-non-league-day
http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/harrowborough/news/accompanied-kids-free-on-non-l-1028454.html

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