With no major tournament to occupy our thoughts, football fans have had a rather threadbare summer to contend with. Okay, there were other distractions such as the phone hacking scandal; the riots and the partial refurbishment of Tesco Express in Hasbury (if you call painting the outside and moving the bread to a different section a refurb). But there’s nothing like the start of the season to get the juices flowing as we anticipate another nine months of heartache, shattered dreams and Alan Shearer sound bites. No sooner has it started though, it stops, like a car I once had, but rather than a clapped out clutch, its Euro qualifying that halts the progress with another unwelcome international break.

Of course I’m as keen as the next man to see England go to the finals next summer, if anything just to avoid listening to Peter Allis trying to make Women’s Golf sound engaging as I hunt for some sporting entertainment, but these breaks really are annoying. It would be churlish to deny how effective they are given the monumental performances that the national side has produced since their introduction so rather than grumbling, I’m going to follow the lead of one bright spark and use this rather barren time to encourage you all to become a part of the glorious non-league scene.

The brainchild of James Doe (QPR and Harrow fan), Non League Day takes advantage of the international break to promote the grassroots part of the game encouraging previous naysayers to try an afternoon of lower league football in the hope to tempt a few more people to follow their really local team, the one that plays at the end of the road rather than five miles away.

Having followed top flight football for some twenty years and becoming increasingly disillusioned with the game I’ve found Non-League to be a breath of fresh air. Devoid of the cynicism and money led avarice of today’s professional game, at grassroots level the game is played by people like you and me. Men with families and mortgages, who work all week and trot out at weekends for the love of the game and what amounts to little more than pin money, if anything at all. The clubs are all staffed by willing and enthusiastic volunteers who really do value the money that comes through the turnstiles and matches, which can regularly be far more engaging than the safety first bore fests of the Premier League, are played in grounds full of atmosphere and character.

If you don’t believe me try it yourself, go to www.nonleagueday.co.uk for more details and get yourself down to a match this Saturday (England are playing on Friday night so that’s one less excuse). In this area there are an abundance of places to go, from unbeaten Stourbridge in the Evostick Southern Prem, as they host Chesham to Lye Town in the West Midlands Prem. Or how about a bit of early FA Cup action as Tipton host Highgate United? It’s relatively cheap, tremendous fun and you can be home for just gone five, or back in the local if you prefer.

And if the game is not up to much, try watching the crowd. They can be just as entertaining.

Richard Nevin .

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