NLD IS THE GIFT THAT JUST KEEPS ON GIVING!
Non-League Day hailed as another huge success
FROM a Premier League match winner to backing from an Italian footballing giant – Non-League Day proved another all-round success story.
The tenth instalment of the iconic event took place across the country last weekend and went down a treat despite the soggy conditions.
The day, scheduled during an international break, is designed to celebrate all that is great about Non-League with clubs running special schemes and offers to attract Premier League and Championship supporters – plus some special guests!
Northern League side Heaton Stannington welcomed Newcastle United midfielder Matty Longstaff and his dog to their game, fresh from scoring the winning goal against Manchester United the weekend before.
Crowds flocked to Dulwich Hamlet where almost 3,000 supporters witnessed their exciting
2-2 draw with Weymouth while over 900 took in a Step 7 clash between Clapton CFC and Stonewall which was one of Kick
It Out’s six games dedicated to recognising the positive contribution the organisation has made in campaigning for equality in football.
The Northern Counties East League saw a 65 per cent increase in attendance than a normal Saturday with an average of 205 per match.
There was even backing from Italian club AS Roma, who adopted Hackney Wick as their team on Non-League Day. The Serie A side said they had been “incredibly impressed” by what founder Bobby Kasanga had achieved at the club.
Kasanga has gone from serving eight years in prison for gang-related crimes to building a community football club that is saving lives on the streets, an inspiring story which Roma wanted to “share with the world” through social media.
Many clubs supported the day’s official charity partner Prostate Cancer UK with one particularly impressive effort from a group who completed an 18-mile fundraising walk from Newcastle United’s St James’ Park to Morpeth Town.
Unexpected bill
Non-League Day received national coverage via the BBC’s Match of the Day Kickabout and Football Focus programmes, there was also a first-ever NonLeague Day in Nigeria, while similar events took place in France and Germany.
From what started as a lowkey Facebook event in 2010, set up by James Doe, has grown into one of the best days on the Non-League calendar.
So much so that Doe was hit with an unexpected bill from Google Maps such was the popularity of the match finder feature on the NLD website.
The campaign has been funded for the most part by hard working volunteers and the match finder has been a crucial part of welcoming people to a Non-League ground. A crowdfunder has been launched to help make NLD viable next year. Visit: www.crowdfunder.co.uk/non-league-day.