This Saturday (26 March 2022) is one of the most important days in the football calendar, with fans encouraged to get out and take in a game of non-league football.
Non-League Day has become an annual event that celebrates all that is great and good about the beautiful game below the professional ranks. The day always coincides with an international break, which is when teams in the Premier League and Championship do not have any games – with the idea that fans of those clubs can support a local non-league club for the day.
The History of Non-League Day
Originally, Non-League Day was always held during the first international break of the football season, usually in October, but that was changed due to the global Covid-19 pandemic. As fans were unable to attend games at clubs playing at an ‘elite’ level, as outlined by the government (which included the top two levels of the non-league pyramid), Non-League Day was pushed back.
James Doe, who founded Non-League Day in 2010, says that the idea was born to encourage fans of the country’s bigger clubs to go and watch their local club – but that is has grown into something more.
He is quoted as saying on groundhopperguides.com: “Originally, it was intended to be an attempt to reach out to fans of the big clubs to get them to come and try out a non-league game for the first time.
“It’s transformed into more of a general celebration of all things at this level and also a chance for clubs to raise funds, not only for themselves but also a number of charities.”
Football clubs, and even the FA themselves, have jumped on board to give their support to Non-League Day. Non-league clubs often offer incentives to fans, such as discounted ticket prices and offers to season ticket holders of nearby Premier League and Championship clubs, to boost attendance figures.
Non-League Day 2022
In the world of non-league football, this will be the first season since before the pandemic that will be completed in its entirety. 2019/20 was ended prematurely with leagues being decided on a Points Per Game (PPG) basis, while the following season (2020/21) was officially brought to an end on 24 February 2021 (Steps 3 and under), although most fixtures had been cancelled since November 2020.
Clubs have taken a kicking, as a result, through a loss of gate receipts which is one of the few sources of income that non-league clubs have. They do not benefit from the same lucrative sponsorship deals and television rights that clubs plying their trade at the top end of the game do.
It is a miracle that more non-league football clubs did not go bust during the pandemic and, even at the start of this current season, they were by no means assured. Much of that came down to the fact that no one could guarantee with any amount of certainty that this would not be the third consecutive season to see a premature end back in August.
This year, there will be fans discovering why non-league football is so special by taking in a game at that level for the first time. The hope is that they become hooked and come back for a second and a third game, but even if they don’t the hope is that non-league clubs will benefit from a sharp boost in attendances.
Trophy Suppliers to Non-League Football
Here at Fen Regis Trophies, we are proud to have supplied beautiful awards and trophies to non-league football clubs up and down the country. Naturally, we are fully on board with Non-League Day and look forward to what should be another great day.
Please head to our online shop to view our range of football trophies, or get in contact with a member of our team by calling us on 01945 588100 or sending us a message today.