Our latest Proper Football 'On The Road' club visit saw us make our longest trip to date with us travelling up to the North East to visit South Shields football club for their National League North game against Kidderminster Harriers, and it was thoroughly worth it! With the teams situated 2nd and 6th respectively, this had the makings of a cracking game, and we hope you enjoy the article below as much as we did making it. As always, we kick things off with an opening chat, a

The venue for our latest Proper Football 'On The Road' club visit was the New Windmill Ground/Your Co-op Community Stadium, the home of National League North side, Leamington Football Club for their match against Worksop Town. A brief history Leamington FC is based in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, and was formed in 1933 as the works team for a local company called Lockheed Borg & Beck, which manufactured brakes and Clutches, hence their nickname 'The Brakes'. The original hom

'On the Road', this week takes us to Berkshire side Maidenhead United, situated just off the M4 where they currently play their football in the National League South, with the man at the helm, West Ham Utd legend Alan Devonshire for the last 10 years, relegated from the national league last season after an 8 year stint in Non-leagues top flight, Alan and his team will be looking to get back as quick as they can. One fascinating stat is that York Road has been the home of Maid

So, we’re on our travels again and we’re heading over to Cambridgeshire to the market town of St Neots, just off the A1 for our visit to the Power Plus Stadium for the Northern Premier Midland Division clash between St Neots Town and Lichfield City. With the sides taking up the seventh and eighth spots, both on 19 points, in what is an extremely tight league, this has the makings of a good competitive clash. On arriving, first impressions are very impressive, a great looking

On our travels today, we made the short trip to visit Arlesey Town FC for their Spartan Premier Midlands clash with Risborough Rangers. With both sides sitting at the top end of the table, this should be a good encounter today, so before we start, we'd like to say a massive thank you to Phil Cavener for inviting us down for today’s fixture. As the saying goes, on with the show: So, let's have a wander around the ground and see what Arlesey has to offer: Well, all in all, a n

The venue for our latest Proper Football awayday was Bristol Manor Farm FC. The club who are based in North West Bristol on the banks of the River Avon and play at step 4 of non-league in the Southern League - Division One South came to our attention after a mindless act of vandalism just before the start of the season caused thousands of pounds worth of damage after a car was driven into the goal mouth and set on fire which meant The Portwaymen couldn't play at home for the

Football is back and Saturday took me to Tividale in the Black Country, which is a stone’s throw from Dudley in the West Midlands. Tividale Football Club welcomed Clay Cross Town, who are based near Chesterfield. It was their first ever time in the FA Cup. The ground, which is called The Beeches, is located at the end of a residential road and was easily accessible and first impressions once inside were fantastic! The match ticket was £8, and the programme was £2, and I was g

Another football season has rolled around! The summer break is over, and football clubs and supporters up and down the country are eagerly awaiting their football fix as the beautiful game returns with hopes and dreams for the new campaign, and the anticipation of excitement and the unknown. It was quite apt that my first game of the 25/26 season would be the FA Cup extra preliminary round, as my last was the FA Cup final back in May, watching Palace lift the trophy of the ol

Stability the key to Diamonds success! Attendance - 813 As any avid follower of a non-league club, or like me, a follower of the non-league system as a whole would attest to, non-league football is about so much more than just a 3pm kick off and what what happens on the pitch. Non-league is a community, a family and so much more to those that enjoy the uniqueness of its very existence. I’m a firm believer that whilst accepting certain problems do exist and it is not perfect,

THE LAST CHANCE TO SEE STOURBRIDGE FC'S WAR MEMORIAL GROUND IN ITS CURRENT STATE! Stourbridge Football Club are one of the more...

Five-goal rout galvanises Drew’s promotion push! The ever elusive Saturday that we spend all week waiting for finally graced us with its presence again and the Proper Football team, as usual took full advantage, setting off on our travels once more. Leicester St Andrews’ aptly named Canal Street ground was my destination of choice, visiting what is yet another prime example of a well-run community club within the non-league pyramid. After passing over the picturesque canal br

Another Saturday and another Proper Football Awayday, whilst Dan was heading to Redhill for their clash against Jersey Bulls I was making my way to Leicestershire to visit Quorn FC for a clash against Rugby Town, with Quorn already crowned champions of the Northern Premier Midland division, today is the day that they get presented with the trophy, so I couldn’t have picked a better day for a trip to Quorn FC! For those that don’t know Quorn is a village just south of Loughbor

The venue for our latest Proper Football Awayday was at The Kiln Brow, the home of Redhill FC for their massive match against Jersey Bulls FC in the closely contested race for the Combined Counties Premier Division South title and automatic promotion to step 4 of the National League pyramid! The day started by sampling a few ciders in The Old Chestnut pub next to Earlswood station, and the sheer gravitas of the day was evidently clear when I walked into the pub to find it pac

Doughboys deliver the delight on Derby Day! NPL Midlands Division Attendance - 792 Derby day is always a momentous occasion, and the Proper Football boys were treated to a proper rivalry as we embarked on our travels once again, this time pitching up at the Dog & Duck Stadium, home of Wellingborough Town. Thankfully, it wasn’t raining cats & dogs, making suitable weather for ducks; we were instead graced with glorious sunshine, adding a buoyant spring to our step equally as e

With the games coming thick and fast as we head into the business end of the season, I decided to pick Leatherhead FC as my choice for a Proper Football Awayday for The Tanner's big Isthmian League South Central clash against Kingstonian FC in what was a 6 pointer with the home side making a late charge for the playoffs coming up against the K's who were 2nd in the league behind already crowned champions Farnham FC with the chasing pack breathing down K's necks. Leatherhead i

The welcome that was extended to Greg and me when we headed into the valleys on our visit to Merthyr Town FC was truly amazing. "The land of our fathers" truly did open its arms to welcome two Englishmen who immediately fell in love with the club, its facilities, the Stadium and, of course, the fans. Our Non-league day trip turned out to be a truly amazing experience that any groundhopper or football fan should make. Penydarren Park was the venue where Merthyr welcomed Cherts

When the date was set for the 2025 Non-League Day, a wonderful concept that was set up in 2010 by James Doe to champion all that is great about non-league football, one of the toughest decisions, as always, was to pick which game to go to! The day that is always scheduled to coincide with the international break enables a platform for grassroots clubs to promote the importance of volunteer-led community football whilst the cash cow that is the Premier League along with the EF

Ravens Swoop for All Three Points! After a long week of toil and longing for our football fix, the Proper Football boys were out on their travels again, this time making the short trip to the Mander Cruickshank Solicitors Stadium, home of Coalville Town. On arrival, we were warmly greeted by Club Secretary Gary, who, whilst relatively new to the role, clearly embodies the spirit of the club and demonstrates a perfect example of someone who has the club’s best interests at hea

Blue Skies & 3 Points for The Millers! As many football fans will attest to, we often find ourselves trudging the length and the breadth of the country following our beloved clubs accompanied by the typical Great British weather, and I take my hat off to all who travel in such conditions simply for the love of the game. I however was treated to a blue sky and sunshine throughout my visit to Carlton Town, which was not only a rarity for the month of March but an added bonus on

Our latest away day saw us take a trip to Nottinghamshire to visit our good friends at Carlton Town who were taking on North Ferriby in the Northern Premier East Division clash, with Carlton Town still having an outside chance of reaching the playoffs and North Ferriby sitting in a playoff place, this game had all the makings of an intriguing game. When arriving at the Bill Stokeld Stadium, you are greeted with a nice sized car park, always a good start, you enter through the

One of us took the opportunity to take a trip down to Hampshire to visit Wessex League Premier Division side Andover New Street FC for their huge FA Vase quarter-final cup match and the biggest game in their history against Heanor Town in a game where both teams had never reached this far in the non-league cup competition for sides who play at step 5 & 6 of the National League system. After arriving at Andover train station it was time for a quick pint in the nearest pub and

Last Saturday, we had the pleasure of visiting Leek Town Football Club after an invite from Mat Knight-Burton, the Staffordshire club's community engagement officer, and we couldn't wait to come and see what the club was all about and what it does in the community. Leek Town play in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, which is step 3 of the National League pyramid, after gaining promotion last season from the Division One West as champions. At the start of play, The

Proper footballs, good friend Darren Ashley took his non-league Vlog down to Hendon for their clash against top of the table Dartford. Hendon probably more famous for its RAF museum and the training of Metropolitan police officers but is also home to Hendon FC . Find out more and see Darren‘s highlights of what looks to be a cracking game of football with plenty of goals by clicking the link below.

To those with relevant interest, the name Nuneaton mentioned in a football context carries, in the eyes of some, a rather unsavoury reputation, with various examples of poor running and ill-intentioned ownership cited as the reasons behind this. The club’s ever loyal fanbase have seen their club hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons in the not-too-distant past, longing for stability and a club they can be proud of.   A New Regime in Town at Nuneaton!   Fast forward to t

The destination for our latest visit to a non-league club was the newly reformed Nuneaton Town for their game against Birstall United at step 6 in The Midland League Division 1. We reported the sad news on January 18th last year that the historical side had withdrawn from the Southern Premier League Central and was considering liquidation, meaning Warwickshire's largest town could be without a football club. We followed the situation closely over the ensuing months and we we

The FA Vase is the non-league equivalent of the FA Cup for teams that play in steps 5 and 6, 596 teams entered the competition which started back in late August with the final to be played at Wembley on the same day as the FA trophy final which is the equivalent for steps 1 to 4, so with the 4th round being played on Saturday the 11th January we were fortunate enough to receive an invite to Sutton Utd (Birmingham) vs Bourne Town on a huge day for both clubs who have made it t

Waking up on a Saturday morning to minus temperatures and icy conditions with the intention to leave the warm confinements of a comfortable bed isn’t something that those not of a football background would relish, however whisper the sweet words of ‘away day’ in the ear of a football enthusiast and watch them bolt out of the stalls like a lurcher that hasn’t been around the track for a fortnight! Burton Here we come It was an early start for the travelling Shoe Army heading t

As always, I try to visit a ground which I haven’t been to before, provided that it’s no more than 50 miles from Charing X and the home team produces a printed programme. No programme means no visit! EXTRA PRELIMINARY ROUND I experienced the Elizabeth Line for the first time, got off at Burnham, which is actually a mile from the village, for a decent walk . My friend Jake drove down from Sheffield (he makes podcasts), and we witnessed a quite remarkable match, which didn’t s

The venue for our latest Proper Football away day was Hadley Football Club thanks to an invite from one of our followers Tom Hammond who is not only a big fan of The Bricks but also a volunteer at the club and one of the many unsung heroes you find around the country who are the heart and soul of non-league football. On arrival at Brickfield Lane, the home of Hadley FC, which is situated in North London near Barnet, the fog had descended, and the weather looked like something

30th November 2024 a day of significance in the history of Cambridge City Football Club, hosting the Isthmian league clash against 4th in the table Tilbury, It was the day their new stadium indeed their new home was to be officially opened after 11 Years in the wilderness, a day of happiness and emotion for many, a day which Proper Football had the honour to be there to experience. On arriving at the stadium, my first impressions were simply WOW. I was greeted by a very larg

Four of us set off from South London for a doubleheader on Tuesday to East London/Essex. The first port of call was Romford Dog Track for an afternoon race meet and a few beers before the main event at Dagenham and Redbridge for their National League match against Aldershot Town. Before jumping on a bus from Romford train station to the track, I bought a cheese and pickle roll from a Cafe on the high street. To my surprise, they had no clue what Branston Pickle was! So after

Sadly the sun isn't shining down on Morecambe FC at the moment, the birthplace of British comedy legend Eric Morecambe. The Lancashire club, who find themselves rooted to the bottom of League 2 with off-field issues compounding their current predicament, was the destination for one of us behind Proper Football on Saturday afternoon for their game against table toppers, high-flying Port Vale. It was an early start from South London to make the 300-mile trip up to the home of T

It's not everyday you see a jet plane at a non-league ground, well, apart from the decommissioned Red Arrow, Folland Gnat at Folland Sports FC ground! Last Saturday myself and two mates decided to attend the Wessex League Division One Step 6 game between Folland Sports and Romsey Town down in Hamble, Hampshire on the South coast. The reason for the visit was not only to tick off a new ground but also was the idea of my friend who was intrigued by the club who are known as the

So, with all the non-league successes of last week’s FA Cup first round we've decided to pop along to the lowest ranked side in the second round of the cup based on their Current league position in the Southern League Premier Central with Kettering sitting top. So, we hotfooted it over to Leicestershire and to Market Harborough famous for the mustering point of King James 1 royalist Army in 1645 before the defining Civil War Battle of Naseby, and now in 2024 Harborough Towns

So it’s FA Cup first round and with me living in Northamptonshire it’s a bit of a no brainer which game to attend, Northampton town playing Kettering town for the first time in 35 years, tier 3 versus tier 7 and with this fixture being one of a few local affairs Weston-Super-Mare travelling to Bristol Rovers, Charlton Athletic making the short trip across the Dartford Crossing to Southend United to name but a few, this years 1st round has thrown up some fantastic fixtures. I

What a fantastic day we had at Kettering Town Football Club on Saturday, not only to receive a warm welcome and great hospitality along with watching a great game of Non-League football but to also be part of the wonderful charity Team Mikayla who were in attendance for the day raising vital funds for the award winning charity who have a long running affinity to the football club. On arrival at Latimer Road, the new home of The Poppies since 2013 after having to leave their

Took myself off to vlog in Cambridgeshire yesterday, thanks to an invite from Soham Town Rangers FC manager Alex Cross, for their season opener v Harleston Town FC. After a 90 minute drive, I arrived early in a very warm Soham. Met on arrival by media man Jack, I was taken in to their, what a have to say, their very lovely and leafy ground, Julius Marin Lane. Apparently, during the off season, quite a few improvements had been made, outside and in. I don’t know what it was li

Sun beating down on a good natured pitch invasion, and grown men crying with joy. That was the scenes at the final whistle of yesterday’s National League North play off final, where, Boston United, in my opinion, deservedly on the day, beat Brackley Town. Although very much in the camp of really wanting Brackley to win, I couldn’t help but be happy for Boston and their fans, all in all, my experience of them, even before kick off, was that they were a great bunch. When I visi

Yesterday, my Non League vlogging took me up to the midlands, for a clash between Walsall Wood & AFC Rushden & Diamonds. Wood came into the match, having, in effect, nothing to play for… however, for the Diamonds, they were hoping to pull of one of THE greatest relegation escape acts. They were on 4 points in January, 14 off survival, yet they had since hauled themselves to, basically, having to better relegation rivals Rugby Town’s result. The ensuing 90 minutes footy I saw

My vlog travels took me this weekend to a very sunny Hertfordshire, where I took in Royston Town v Kettering Town... thanks to an invite from Royston media man, and board member Neil Macleod. After my days footy and filming had ended, I was so grateful of the invite, because Royston Town is such a lovely club, with very welcoming and friendly people… and the team was not too shabby either!!! I feared beforehand, that I may not get the greatest afternoons entertainment, as, bo

Another Saturday had rolled around and it was time to decide the next venue for us to ground hop, Its always a tough choice to pick a game but today was an easy one! I'd already decided where I was going a few weeks back as the battle at the top of the Isthmian League South East Division (step 4) between Ramsgate FC and Cray Valley Paper Mill has been nip and tuck between the two standout sides in the League all season and with them both sitting on 85 points and only separat

Yesterday, I travelled to Bedfordshire to watch a vital match at the bottom of the Southern League Division 1 Central between Kempston Rovers & Aylesbury United. Now, the home side were 5 points adrift of safety with 4 to play so it was MUST WIN for them really, whereas, the away team were 5 point clear of the drop, so, for them, it was MUST NOT LOSE. On arrival, my daughter and I were warmly met on arrival, and were treated brilliantly by all at Kempston Rovers, which I can’

For our latest Ground Hop we decided to make the short trip on Easter Monday to Rotherhithe in South London which is situated on a peninsula of the South bank of the River Thames to watch Fisher FC take on Holmesdale FC in their Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division match which is at Step 5 of the Non-League pyramid. After a short train ride to London Bridge and then 2 stops on the tube we walked 20 minutes from Canada Water (as Rotherhithe station was cl

Non-League Day was set up by James Doe in 2010 as a social media experiment and has grown from strength to strength ever since and this year marked the 10 year milestone of the charity, Prostrate Cancer UK working alongside the annual day to raise awareness and vital funds for the most common cancers to affect men. As always Non-League Day is scheduled to coincide with an international break to provide a platform for clubs to promote the importance of affordable volunteer-led

Non League Day 2024… as, soon as they said they would love to have my mate Thunder & myself back, I just HAD to return to Stratford Town FC, to vlog their home match v Long Eaton United. We had previously been there in mid January, where we were treated brilliantly, and had seen a thriller v Barwell FC. It was almost a Deja vu day, again, we were treated brilliantly, and, again, we saw a thriller… this time though, against different opponents. I was keen to arrive at the grou

As the third part of my rambling pilgrimage around Lincolnshire football clubs I visited Spalding United FC on the 23rd March 2024 to see them play Harborough Town FC, from neighbouring Leicestershire, a top of the table clash between Harborough in first place and Spalding in third. Spalding, a small town of around 31,000 inhabitants is situated in the south of Lincolnshire, the football team was formed in 1905 and has been playing in regional leagues ever since that date. Yo

Yesterdays filming of my weekly Non League vlog took me to Hayden Road, to watch AFC Rushden and Diamonds, for their home match v Lye Town F.C. Now, I could spend ages writing about how fantastically Diamonds, and everyone connected with them, treated me yesterday... Put it this way, I was chatting to so many people, at time’s, I completely forgot the purpose of the visit was to film and give R&D, and Lye Town some exposure! To say they were friendly and welcoming is an under

Yesterday’s vlogging took me to South Buckinghamshire, after an invite from Rich to his club, Flackwell Heath, who happened to be top of the Combined Counties Prem Division North league. I was meant to go there last Saturday, but it got called off that morning, which was no bad thing for me as I was feeling a bit under the weather. This week, they were playing 16th-placed Harefield United. Recent league form for both teams… Flackwell Heath W W W W W W Harefield Utd L W L W L

As the second part of my rambling pilgrimage around Lincolnshire football clubs I visited Grimsby Town FC on the 2nd March 2024 to see them play Forest Green Rovers. Grimsby seems not to have a great reputation as a town amongst people who may not have visited it but that is far from the truth. It does have a pretty rough dock area but the town itself is no worse than countless other English towns that have had to cope with a shrinking industrial heart and it does have the ad

We had a very pleasant day out down in West Sussex to watch Chichester City on Saturday for their home game against Sevenoaks Football...