OUR CLUBS DESERVE A VOICE LIKE ALL OTHERS
FORMER professional Joe Davis explains why Non-League clubs deserve as much of a say than their higher-profile counterparts...
I WAS disappointed to hear of the FA Council’s ratification of the decision to expunge all results at Steps 3-7 despite a raft of clubs drawing up a letter of protest.
More than 6,800 people signed a petition of support, claiming the FA’s decision was made with “unnecessary haste”.
It’s a statement I still absolutely agree with, particularly when the Premier League, EFL and National League are exhausting all avenues, in an attempt to safely resume the unfinished season.
The difference is, however, that these governing bodies have been in constant communication with their members, ensuring complete transparency throughout a difficult period, something Non-League members were denied.
Prior to the FA’s first announcement to deem the season null and void, no form of consultation was made with committees, which lead to large amounts of unrest. The decision is unjustified.
The only way clubs are to survive is for them to conclude the football calendar as soon as it is safe to do so.
While other leagues are battling to finish what was started, it all seems exceptionally unbalanced and unfair to throw in the towel.
I salute those clubs who fought back. It showed the solidarity of the NonLeague fraternity and a ‘roll your sleeves up’ determination to not accept a potentially detrimental outcome. To expect NonLeague clubs to roll over without a fight was naive of the FA. It’s in their DNA.
Those who grew up around Non-League, like myself, there is a strong sentimental attachment. It’s much more than losing a few clubs along the way, it’s the blood sweat and tears that have gone into it. They have no expectation or desire to receive a pay cheque. That’s not why they do it, it’s purely for the love of their local team and community.
I remember travelling up and down the country from the age of nine following whichever team my father, Steve, managed. Northwich Victoria to Nantwich Town, I was there through the highs and lows. Those memories last a lifetime.
My brother Harry and I both went on to play professional football at a decent level, but we still find ourselves reminiscing about those early days and how special they are to us.
There are still so many things that trigger a memory, taking me back to those days. The smell of deep heat tingling the nostrils as you wandered the corridors outside the dressing rooms. The scent of sweaty bibs and muddy balls in the car boot after watching the first team train on a miserable Tuesday night. Being ushered off the pitch by the groundsman after every game, as he attempted to rescue the goalmouth from destruction. Both sets of players and fans gathering in the bar after the game to discuss the result over a cold pint. You don’t get that anywhere else.
For most, though, this will not resonate. It’s almost impossible to expect them to comprehend the feeling towards it, without having experienced it first hand. It is that percentage of the ‘does it really matter’ attitude, the kind that only care about the Ronaldos and the Messis
Non-League clubs are the real victims and it’s they who deserve our support. Not just in a financial sense, but allowing people to stand up and have their say. That doesn’t cost a penny. They don’t just deserve a voice, they deserve a megaphone.
● Joe Davis, the ex-Port Vale and Nantwich Town defender, is the son of former Crewe Alexandra, Northwich Victoria and Nantwich manager Steve Davis.
Joe has given up the professional game at the age of 26 to start a new chapter in sports journalism and is currently studying Professional Sports Writing and Broadcasting at Staffordshire University.