My Non-League Experience by Jack Arnfield (age 11)
LAST Saturday, I was lucky enough to be at Bower Fold to watch Stalybridge Celtic versus Warrington Town. Even though I was supporting the home side and it ended 3-0 to Warrington it was a great game and reminded me why I love Non-League football. After getting a selfie with Stalysauras, (the club mascot), I was in my seat for kick-off. Warrington went ahead in just the seventh minute when goalkeeper Grant Shenton, returning from injury, came out of his net to try and clear a through ball but accidentally ran smack bang into his defender Keenan Quansah, which resulted in Quansah injuring his shoulder and Matthew Grivosti lofting a shot on target. Celtic’s player/assistant manager Steve O’Halloran reached the ball on the line but could only smash it into his own net. Fans had to wait until 15 minutes of the game were left for the second goal. Substitute Luke Duffy struck home from a superb knock down by Josh Amis. Then, three minutes later, captain Amis created another goal with a lovely pass which Grivosti collected before going round Shenton and slotting home.
On a bad day there was something to laugh about near the end. After the killer third goal went in one of the home supporters shouted, “Come on Celtic, we are better than these”, to which an away supporter sat nearby replied, “Oh no you aren’t”.
This is one of the beauties of Non-League football because you can hear conversations like this all over the ground with rival fans sat so close to each other and no need for away sections.
It is sad that 73,000 people chose to go to Old Trafford but only 400 decided to visit Bower Fold last Saturday. Only 11 miles separate the two grounds and I wish more people would get down and support teams like Stalybridge Celtic rather than go to Premier League games or just watch them on TV. When you buy a programme or a drink it’s helping that club to survive, it’s not going to some mega-rich person in another country. Volunteers that keep clubs running at lower levels deserve our support so get to your local Non-League ground on Saturday!