Romance won’t die in football

THERE are aspects of Non-League football that are missing in the over-commercialised, enforced use of technology, television-based higher league game. In fact, if you want to know what England is all about then follow Non-League football.

I enjoy visits to several grounds, one of which is Canvey Island and, by and large, these matches are in tune with Ralph Wainwright’s and Steve Hill’s comments in their articles (NLP, October 7).

Live football is better than watching television or negotiating a ticket to an over-priced Premier League game.

Commercialism could eventually wreck soccer but not at Non-League level where clubs often have to manage on a shoestring. The standard of football is generally high, encouraged by managers and coaches who have experienced different levels of football. There are some spectators who attend for the wrong reasons but they are very few. Above all, the fun element is seldom absent. There’s a romantic aura about the place.

Non-League football is tough, but fair. The players don’t need to copy anyone. I often visualise Premier League football being played in empty stadiums as most of the revenue comes from television deals.

But spectators provide an atmosphere which is difficult to stimulate. So Non-Leaguers should take pride in what they are and where they come from. And it wasn’t from a television set.