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So, everybody is getting ready for Non-League Day and Sunday League Day this weekend. I know some clubs like Caversham United are really going to town. Other clubs like Sutton Utd are putting on great offers. It seemed a good time to look at books about life outside the Prima Donna League (oops, sorry, Premier League!)

“I Hope You Die of Cancer”

Ok, let’s get the negativity out of the way. I abhor the book title (* see below) but perhaps that should not detract from what is a good read. It is a genuine reflection of life in the beautiful game ….. without the beautiful “bits.”

The publishers say …….

“A million miles away from the rich uplands of the Premier League lies the Poundland world of non-league football. A far grittier version of the beautiful game, it’s a glorious ragbag of former EFL clubs on the down, impoverished minnows and ambitious outfits on the make, played by a mix of full-time, part-time and amateur performers. This is the inside story of life in the lower reaches of English football, seen through the eyes of a player with over a decade’s experience in the Conference and National Leagues.

Footballer X lifts the lid on never-before-told stories of dust-ups, bust-ups, backhanders and betting scandals, the players lucky enough to get contracts and the rest who live precariously from game to game. It’s a story of constant financial struggle, big sacrifices and small victories for owners, fans and players alike. Our footballer is still playing, so the cloak of anonymity allows him to give us a true picture of what life is really like playing as a non-league footballer today.”

The author:

Footballer X, who has played for six different Conference and National clubs, collaborated with Marvin Close to tell this story. Marvin is the author, with Chuck Korr, of More Than Just A Game: Football vs Apartheid, and Hope, the life story of Hope Powell. He co-wrote and edited FIFA’s Beach Football manual. Marvin is also a drama writer for TV, radio, film and theatre.


Reviews

“A really bad choice for a title… shouldn’t obscure the brilliance of the latest in ‘The Secret’ genre, first made famous of course by The Secret Footballer. Co-writer Marvin Close enables the anonymous player to delve deep into the realities of the part-time player with a full commitment to their sport, the harsh reality of life outside the league with hope for rising thru’ the tiers in equal measure, makes for a read quite unlike most player not-exactly tells-it-alls.” –Mark Perryman, Philiosophy Football.com, ‘Books To Brighten Up A Summer of Sport’

The book is available from out friends at Stanchion

Other books you might like to look at to understand life outside Top of The Pyramid include….

Dave Roberts is perhaps a parallel to Tim Parks’ classic “A Season with Verona” which remains one of my favourite books of all times …or maybe it is another classic “The Miracle of Castel Di Sangro”

“Dave Roberts was, for once, almost lost for words as the news sank in. Perennial underachievers Bromley, in the vertigo-inducing fifth tier of English football? It was the greatest achievement in the UK club’s 130-year history. This book takes Dave the length and breadth of the land on a journey of discovery, with Bromley games thrown in.”

… or maybe Gary Thacker’s great stories of Spanish non-league football.

…. and this is a great time to remind everyone of a big fair in Chelmsford where a huge selection of books will be available. I will be doing a full review nearer the time.

* OK, this is where I am on the choice of title of the book. I personally think it is in very poor taste and my first reaction was not to spotlight it. I then decided that if it makes one person think about cancer and especially being tested then it is not a bad thing. I absolutely respect your view to be different. Which leads me on to money. I hope that you will consider a donation however small to support Prostate Cancer UK  If everybody chipped in £1 I would easily hit my target of £10,000 and help the charity to continue their great work. A HEARTFELT thanks, if you can. If you can’t you can still help massively by sharing this page about the work of Prostate Cancer. Thanks, Steve.

Sunday League Day

Yesterday we looked at Non-League Day. Today it is the turn of Sunday League Day.

Sunday League Day is a new concept to promote Sunday League football across the UK, piggybacking on the success of Non-League Day in recent years. The overall objective is simple: to raise the profile of Sunday League football and to get people out of their houses on a Sunday morning to go and watch their local grassroots football team.

Teams usually play in public locations so it’s often free to watch, fresh air is great for physical and mental health, and clubs really value seeing spectators at their games. Getting more people interested and involved in Sunday League football will only help to grow the beautiful game in its purest form, and ultimately increase participation too.

With entry to the majority of Sunday League games free, we are keen to bring a charity element to the occasion and encourage spectators, as well as players, clubs and leagues alike, to raise money towards a good cause. For example, spectators could donate a notional “ticket price” to charity.

Another aim is to dispel some of the misconceptions of Sunday League football from a previous era. Pub teams are still a (great!) thing, and it’s good that people have an opportunity to play competitive, structured football. However, things have changed on a Sunday. The likes of Palmers, SE Dons and Hashtag United (who’ve now switched to storming up the Saturday pyramid), have brought Sunday League football to people’s attention through YouTube. Social Media has given clubs like Caversham United the opportunity to make a name for themselves outside of the local area. Sunday League is interesting to people – a purer form of the game – without VAR for a start. Another misconception is the quality of the football. The standard of the FA Sunday Cup teams would challenge the teams pushing up the Saturday pyramid.

The message to potential spectators is simple: turn up, watch some stripped back football, and enjoy! Sunday League football is way more accessible to potential spectators now, with fixtures online and a lot of clubs are on all the popular social media platforms and sharing fixture details.

Clubs can approach Sunday League Day with the freedom and creativity to mark the occasion however they want to. Sharing the #SundayLeagueDay and #SLD2024 hashtags on socials is a helpful start. Clubs should use the opportunity to try and attract spectators along, which can of course lead to many benefits as a result (more awareness, potential sponsors, etc). As an example, Reading-based side Caversham United have committed to getting involved and have suggested they will likely have a small programme available on the day and some form of refreshments (they are sponsored by a brewery…), whilst raising money for charity by “selling” tickets for a good cause.

We hope that media will engage and give SLD and its teams some coverage too! There’s been a lot of frustration with the elite game in recent years, that extends further down the pyramid too (see recently Reading’s ongoing ownership battle and #SellBeforeWeDai movement). Sunday League has an opportunity to shine, and the time is now!

We would like to encourage everyone to get involved!

If there are any volunteers out there who would like to get involved and support the #SLD2024 (and beyond) campaigns, please send @SundayLeagueDay a DM on X (formerly Twitter) or an email to sundayleagueday@outlook.com

EDITOR’S NOTE: Obviously. I would love all the teams to support @Prostate Cancer but each team/club can choose to support whoever they wish. In the meantime, I hope that you will consider a donation however small to support FC Deportivo Galicia and/or Prostate Cancer UK  If everybody chipped in £1 I would easily hit my target of £10,000 and life would be easier in West London whilst the charity continued their great work. A HEARTFELT thanks, if you can. If you can’t you can still help massively by sharing this page about the work of Prostate Cancer. Thanks, Steve.

Saturday 23rd March 2024 is Non-League Day

Non-League Day

Non-League Day was set up by James Doe in 2010 as a social media experiment, after being inspired by a pre-season trip to Devon to watch Queens Park Rangers play at Tavistock. It has now grown to become an annual part of the football calendar, backed by Premier League and Football League clubs, MPs, celebrities, media organisations, charities and most importantly the non-league clubs themselves and the fans who turn up on the day.

Always scheduled to coincide with an international break, Non-League Day provides a platform for clubs to promote the importance of affordable volunteer-led community football while giving fans across the country the chance to show support for their local non-league side.

Many non-league clubs are almost exclusively volunteer run, with money taken at the turnstiles often funding thriving youth set-ups, projects and facilities which are of benefit to the whole community. The level of skill on offer at non-league grounds might not be the same as that at the Etihad Stadium or Stamford Bridge, for example, but there are other sides to the experience, from which the smaller club will always win hands down.

Where can you go? There is a handy interactive map here

The vast majority of games still kick off at 3pm, ticket prices are realistic, you can often stand (and drink!) anywhere in the ground and will always be guaranteed a warm welcome by people who run their clubs for a love of the game.

Whether you’re a Premier League or Championship fan without a game, a League One or League Two supporter who can’t make an away trip, or just someone who is curious about what their local club has to offer, there is sure to be something to interest everyone.

An important aspect of Non-League Day is its support for Prostate Cancer so it makes absolutely total sense for me to bang the drum twice as loud! Obviously my local team FC Deportivo Galicia re involved and they host Oxhey Jets for a 3pm kick off at Hatton Rd, Bedfont. It’s near Hatton Cross on the Piccadilly Line and apart from goals, there will be pin-badges and a limited edition Deportivo Galicia wristband available. Mention my name at the turnstiles and you will get free admission …but I would like your money, just £1 of it! I am struggling to reach my initial target £500 for FC Deportivo and Prostate Cancer at £20 or £50 so this is a bit of a test/a trial if you like. I wonder how many of you would be happy to add just £1? I would be very grateful if you would consider a donation however small to support  Prostate Cancer UK  If everybody chipped in £1 I would easily hit my target of £5,000 and the charity would continue to fund their great work. Every single penny goes DIRECT to Prostate Cancer UK. A HEARTFELT thanks, if you can donate. If you can’t you can still help massively by sharing this page about the work of Prostate Cancer. If you prefer to support FC Deportivo Galicia, their link is here Let me know that you have done that and I will be happy to pay you in on Saturday.

Let’s Not Forget

Yes, I know it’s not as exciting as reminiscing about a wonderful goal or fabulous day-trip but please let me remind you all what the purpose of the tuktuk tour is. It is to raise awareness and funds for Prostate Cancer UK.

Let’s not forget – one in eight men will be affected by Prostate cancer in their life.

Here is today’s newsletter from the charity.

‘If I had a pound for every prostate cancer picked up purely by chance…’

Hi Steve,

You may have read our recent email about our new TV appeal. The appeal centres on the fact that too many men visit their GP for something unrelated, and a standard blood test reveals that they may be at risk of prostate cancer.

This has been based on real stories men and doctors have told us.

The majority of men that I see with prostate cancer have come to me with what we call an incidental diagnosis. Too often the prostate cancers I see are more advanced, they could have been caught earlier

Dr. Noël, Consultant Urological & Robotic Prostate Surgeon

Will you help fund research that leaves nothing to chance?

Research into earlier diagnosis and awareness can save lives, which is why we’re asking you to please send a gift today and help us fund this work.

12,000 men die of prostate cancer every year, that’s one man’s life every 45 minutes. All too often they find out by complete chance, too late. Your gift today could help fund the research that will improve the odds of diagnosing prostate cancer earlier and stop men dying too soon.

Because men’s lives shouldn’t be left to chance.

Please, donate today to stop men being diagnosed by chance.

DONATE £10 TODAY – OR WHATEVER YOU CAN AFFORD!

Until next time, thanks

All at Prostate Cancer UK

PS. Watch our new TV appeal here

We’re raising awareness on chance diagnosis with our new TV appeal, which you can also watch on YouTube.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I am also trying to raise awareness and today I make no apologies for “shaking the tin.” I wonder how many of you would be happy to add just £1? I would be very grateful if you would consider a donation however small to support  Prostate Cancer UK  If everybody chipped in £1 I would easily hit my target of £5,000 and the charity would continue to fund their great work. Every single penny goes DIRECT to Prostate Cancer UK. A HEARTFELT thanks, if you can donate. If you can’t you can still help massively by sharing this page about the work of Prostate Cancer.

AFC Rushden & Diamonds

It’s Sunday and that can only mean one thing. Yes, Darren Ashley’s vlog hits the newswires. His weekly blogs (see Flackwell Heath, for example) are proving exceptionally popular and he has kindly allowed me to reproduce his thoughts and vlogs at AFC Rushden and Diamonds who hosted Lye Town, Stourbridge.

I was talking to him earlier and he will be out again next Saturday which is, of course, Non League Day. Hopefully everyone will use the international break to visit a local non league side. You will quickly see the difference between the Prima Donna League and what your local teams offer. Enjoy!
“So, Darren, what have you been up to? Where, have you been?” “Hi, Steve, 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 times, 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 understatement, but, for this post, I want to tell you about a Frenchman at the Diamonds and how it came about…..

Rob Usher, the R&D chairman ( pictured left) with Manu told me this charming story…..

R&D recently received an order for a home shirt from a small town in France on the Swiss border.

Intrigued by this unusual request destination, Rob had to find out more, so he contacted the buyer as to why they were ordering a shirt from a Non League team from England ???

Manu, the buyer replied that, for no particular reason, he started playing the computer game, Championship manager as R&D, and started to do quite well…so well, that he started to follow the real teams results from far away.

When Rob heard this, he invited Manu and a couple of his mates over for a game…and yesterday was the day. Manu even presented Rob with a shirt from his team, Annency.

As I was chatting to them after the match, Rob was tongue in cheek exploring the possibility of a friendly in the mountains

Manu told me that he and his mates had a brilliant time at the match, meeting players, and basically, feeling like VIP’s….I actually felt the same too!

So, yet another story about why I love Non League, and the way they treat people. It’s also encouraging that the reach out there is bigger than I thought. Absolutely brilliant.

So…..if you are still reading and want to see how the match turned out, as always, Here is the vlog and , of course, to see all the previous games, just click here.”

“Thanks, Darren, obviously it is Non League Day next Saturday. Would you like to tell your subscribers where you will be?” “Mmm,…and spoil the surprise?!? No, I don’t think so but I do hope people will take the international break as an opportunity to see a local non league game. I am sure they will be absolutely delighted with what they see – the friendship, the sensible pricing and, believe me, the quality of the football.” “Yes, I just saw Raheem Sterling miss a penalty. I guarantee that every non league player would have buried that chance.”

If you are not following Darren’s vlog series, subscribe here at no cost.

I hope you subscribe to Darren’s blog. Like Christian he is doing a great job promoting non-league football. There is NO cost to subscribe to either blog/vlog. On the other hand I would like your money, just £1 of it! I am struggling to reach £500 for FC Deportivo and Prostate Cancer at £20 or £50 so this is a bit of a test/a trial if you like. I wonder how many of you would be happy to add just £1? I would be very grateful if you would consider a donation however small to support  Prostate Cancer UK  If everybody chipped in £1 I would easily hit my target of £5,000 and the charity would continue to fund their great work. Every single penny goes DIRECT to Prostate Cancer UK. A HEARTFELT thanks, if you can donate. If you can’t you can still help massively by sharing this page about the work of Prostate Cancer. If you prefer to support FC Deportivo Galicia, their link is here

Paul Ferris

Yes, I know I wrote about books yesterday but this is a book every man should read. You will know that the purpose of this tuktuk journey is to raise awareness and funds for Prostate Cancer UK. This is another journey, “One man’s journey through prostate cancer.”

In the UK, about 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime.

I repeat,

In the UK, about 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime.

From the author of the critically acclaimed memoir, The Boy on the Shed, comes a powerful tale of grit and resilience, told with great humour, openness and profound bravery.

Former Newcastle United winger Paul Ferris was 51. He had successfully forged a post-football career as a physio, barrister and then a CEO, and his award-winning memoir, The Boy on the Shed, was just about to be published. But then he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. This honest, sometimes brutal and frequently funny book tells the story of what happened next.

Prostate cancer. It’s a phrase that strikes fear into the heart of every man. It’s the most common male cancer, but treatable if it’s caught early enough. Paul doesn’t shy away from describing that treatment. And neither does he hold back on its life-changing consequences – from harrowing surgery, humiliating procedures and excruciating consultations – as he strives to become the man he once was again.

The mental challenges and psychological impact of living with this acute condition are explored in Paul’s revealing and riveting narrative that represents rare male honesty, but this is never a ‘poor me’ book or not in any way self-pitying. Courageous, inspirational and beautifully written, TheMagic in the Tin is a rare thing: deeply moving yet rich in humour, written by a true sportsman in every sense of the word.

A brutal and poignant account of one man’s journey through prostate cancer.

What they said…

‘Unmissable: please read this extraordinary book.’ – Daily Mail

‘A triumph … A worthy follow-up to The Boy on the Shed.’ – Jeff Stelling

‘All men should read this book – important and brilliantly written.’ – Alan Shearer

‘Genius… A difficult, deeply personal story beautifully told.’ – George Caulkin, The Athletic

So, today especially I make no apologies for “shaking the tin.” I wonder how many of you would be happy to add just £1? I would be very grateful if you would consider a donation however small to support  Prostate Cancer UK  If everybody chipped in £1 I would easily hit my target of £5,000 and the charity would continue to fund their great work. Every single penny goes DIRECT to Prostate Cancer UK. A HEARTFELT thanks, if you can donate. If you can’t you can still help massively by sharing this page about the work of Prostate Cancer.

Books

Books, glorious books
We’re anxious to try it
Three bios a day, our favourite diet
Just picture a mammoth steak, fried, roasted or stewed
Oh, books, wonderful books, marvellous books, glorious books
Books, glorious books
Books, magical books, wonderful books, marvellous books
Food, glorious books

Magical books
Glorious books

…with apologies to Charles Dickens and Lionel Bart (amongst others!)

Those of me who know me, know that I love football, travel and ………books. I am your archetypal bookworm. I rarely read fiction (other than Tory election manifestos) but will read books about travel, languages/linguistics, politics and, of course, football in five or six languages. As Jane Austen said “It is a truth universally acknowledged that Steve without a book in his hands is a rare site. Well, she might not have said it BUT I am a bookworm/un ratón de biblioteca, en …. and whatever it is in any other language (Finnish? Best guess – kkiikkikkiiakkieeii)

Delighted to get updates from my friends at Pitch Publishing and Stanchion this week. Hopefully they are of interest to you too. Here is an interesting one from Pitch Publishing

Few clubs are “unique” – Athletic de Bilbao absolutely is!

Los Leones: The Unique Story of Athletic Club Bilbao tells the incredible story of the unique Basque club. Athletic’s rich history and Basque-only philosophy causes intrigue across the footballing world. Exclusive interviews with former legends and prominent journalists provide the historical and political context of what makes Athletic so special.

For more books from Pitch Publishing, click HERE


Meanwhile Stanchion’s Craven Cottage – 250 years interested me

It’s all about Fulham’s ground, although the story starts well over 100 years before the football club arrived. Indeed, there was a Craven Cottage on the site in 1777. The story comes right up to date with the building of the second Riverside Stand.

Along the way there is drama, tragedy, high-society parties, the Craven dynasty, heroes and villains, financial crises, the near-demise of the football club, the complexities of the original Cottage building and its numerous tenants, followed by the story of the 130-year evolution of the football ground’s four sides and the current Cottage building – and much more. And this all on a tiny 8-acre site once surrounded by orchards and farms, then by industrial wharves and now by prestigious living accommodation.

For more from Stanchion, click here

… AND NOW A PLEA FOR HELP!!

I would like your money, just £1 of it! I am struggling to reach my initial target £500 for FC Deportivo and Prostate Cancer at £20 or £50 so this is a bit of a test/a trial if you like. I wonder how many of you would be happy to add just £1? I would be very grateful if you would consider a donation however small to support  Prostate Cancer UK  If everybody chipped in £1 I would easily hit my target of £5,000 and the charity would continue to fund their great work. Every single penny goes DIRECT to Prostate Cancer UK. A HEARTFELT thanks, if you can donate. If you can’t you can still help massively by sharing this page about the work of Prostate Cancer. If you prefer to support FC Deportivo Galicia, their link is here

The FA and England Football join forces with Michail Antonio to celebrate grassroots football volunteers

After yesterday’s “good news” blog when we looked at the greatest goals, here’s an even better one. It’s March so it’s time for the annual Grassroot Football Awards. It’s the time of year when we think back on all those people who have helped us through the season in whatever capacity and when we have the opportunity to publicly thank them.

Nowadays, there are a huge range of categories so there may well be a whole number of people you can nominate at your club. Read on, Macduff!

Grassroots Football Award

The Grassroots Football Awards are here for you to say thank you to all the people and organisations who give their time to make football happen… our awesome volunteers who give so much week-in, week out, rain or shine. And they are for you, the parents, coaches, clubs, leagues, fellow volunteers, match officials etc to pass on your appreciation. 

By nominating a volunteer for a Grassroots Football Award, you’re passing on your thanks. For every big and small moment they bring. For their time, energy and ideas. For your appreciation of everything they do in making the grassroots game happen. 

Your thanks will mean a lot, to a lot of people.

As well as a big thank you, our national Award winners will enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience at their own presentation ceremony at Wembley ahead of the Community Shield. As well as tickets to the match, filming and photography at their club plus more prizes.

You can nominate as many times as you like, in as many categories as you like. And every time you nominate a volunteer, you can be sure they’ll hear all about it.

HOW TO NOMINATE

This year, it’s easier than ever. You can now tell their story in a way you want simply by letting us know:

• What they do, and how it impresses you
• How they make a difference to others’ lives
• Where they’ve had an impact in their community

The more detail you give, the better. 

Nominations are open to the 3 April 2024. There are twelve different categories for you to nominate into. For more details please click below. I will not be embarrassed if you nominate FC Deportivo Galicia!!!

NOMINATE NOW

… AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT

I would like your money, just £1 of it! I am struggling to reach my initial target £500 for FC Deportivo and Prostate Cancer at £20 or £50 so this is a bit of a test/a trial if you like. I wonder how many of you would be happy to add just £1? I would be very grateful if you would consider a donation however small to support  Prostate Cancer UK  If everybody chipped in £1 I would easily hit my target of £5,000 and the charity would continue to fund their great work. Every single penny goes DIRECT to Prostate Cancer UK. A HEARTFELT thanks, if you can donate. If you can’t you can still help massively by sharing this page about the work of Prostate Cancer. If you prefer to support FC Deportivo Galicia, their link is here

Pubkas Awards

Here’s one for all non league fans! The Pubkas Awards 2023/24

Pubkas Awards: Send us your best goals from amateur leagues – you could win a CASH prize

The brand new Pubkas Awards honour the best goals scored in Britain’s amateur football leagues in the 2023/24 season. Send us videos of the most beautiful efforts to be in with a chance of winning a cash prize and trophy – as well as the glory. You’ve heard of the Puskás Award – now it’s time for the Pubkas Awards.

Just like FIFA’s annual trophy, the brand new accolade recognises the beautiful game’s “most beautiful” goals. But solo efforts and screamers from GOAT contenders such as Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi and Seamus Coleman won’t be considered.

Instead, the Pubkas Awards will honour the finest goals scored in amateur football leagues only. So if you’ve captured a Sunday morning worldie or a pub team cracker on camera in the 2023/24 season, we want to see it.

To be in with a chance of winning, goals must be pure filth – in a good way. We’re talking acrobatic bicycle kicks, long range thunderbolts, cheeky rabonas, delicate chips, individual efforts and flowing team goals.

Ferenc Puskas (front-left), pictured leading Hungary out at Wembley in 1953, inspired the name of the award 

Image: Popperfoto via Getty Images

Flukes, deflected strikes and any goals involving the dark arts or foul play will be immediately booted out of contention by our panel of expert judges tasked with shortlisting the best of the bunch.

The Puskás Award, named after legendary 1950s Real Madrid and Hungary forward Ferenc Puskás, is handed out “without distinction of gender” – and the Pubkas Awards are similarly inclusive in that respect.

Goals scored in both the men’s and women’s game, junior, open age and veterans leagues, will be accepted. Crucially, they have to have been scored in amateur competitions.

The competition is now open and will close at 6pm on Sunday May 19, which should be around the time the last ball is kicked in the Premier League this season. Once the judges have agreed on a shortlist of the best 10, voting will commence.

The three goals with the most votes at the end of the process, which closes at at 6pm on Sunday June 16, will each get an engraved trophy and a cash prize – as well as the glory, of course. First place will get £500, second place £300 and third place £200.

Send in your entries now to be in with a chance of winning. After all, if you don’t shoot…

I have certainly seen contenders at FC Deportivo Galicia and I am sure Christian and Darren have suggestions.

Taunton Town FC

Over the last two months I have been struck time and time again at the huge divide between the wealthy clubs of the Premier League and. well, everybody else. Obviously, the Tuktuk Tour is to raise awareness and funds for FC Deportivo Galicia at Step 6. Our challenges are nothing compared to those further up the pyramid. We have no paid employees, we have no ground to maintain and rarely need coach travel.

We groundshare with Bedfont Sports and the players carpool to away games that are generally within 30 miles. We hear of the troubles at Chester, Rochdale and in the North East. Sadly some clubs have had to throw the towel in during the season. This week’s ” Plea for Help” is from Taunton Town in Somerset. Them today, your club tomorrow?

“I would like to highlight the current plight of Taunton Town Football Club. We are just coming out of the wettest winter ever in this part of the world, this has taken its toll on non league football pitches but none more so than our County Town side which has seen 9 games postponed due to waterlogged pitches and 5/5 of the last home games. This has left the club with no matchday income through ticket sales, bar, food and club shop purchases. The club recently had a winding up petition from the HMRC as they could not pay taxes due to no income. The money was found and the HMRC paid but they need paying every month. A statement was released this week that the club have not been able to pay players in full, staff at all, and will likely have another winding up petition #(below). In reality, the club is very close to closure. The club plays at the 6th tier of English football, 2 off Football League Two so fairly high up in the National football pyramid. The recently formed Independent Supporters Association are trying to raise funds to close the gap. They have a Go Fund Me page at https://gofund.me/c8154fa3 alternatively, supporter Troy Webster is running an 84 mile ultra marathon to which you can sponsor him at https://gofund.me/e9194d32 Troy is donating his sponsorship to the football club.

If there is anyone reading this who could assist in engaging with EDF/Hinkley Point/HPC and the workforce this could also make a huge difference. If only 10% of the workforce were to start following the club or make donations it would help greatly. There could even be a Hinkley Point Taunton Supporters Branch! In the 2013/14 floods we had Dutch pump employees over at the EA, I managed to convince one to come and watch Taunton Town and he formed the Taunton Town Dutch supporters branch. We are also ‘big in Japan’, I kid you not……. due to a former Taunton Resident hosting a Japanese football show on one of their main channels and featuring the club.

If the town was to lose its football team this would have a big impact locally. The club provides people with wellbeing and social interactions, a release from daily work/life balances. It provides local companies advertising opportunities through sponsorship and working with the club. A large part local history and culture would be wiped out. If you can support the club either through donations, attending forthcoming fundraisers such as a Horse Race Night and Quiz Night or attending games when the pitch is playable, it will go a long way towards securing the future of the club.”

Sad days, indeed.

# Club Statement

The number of home games postponed due the volume of rain these past weeks has only deepened the financial challenges the club is experiencing.

As a result, the club has been unable to meet its salary commitments for February (payment due on the 5^thMarch 2024). Using the small amount of income the club has received in February, it has agreed with the players to pay an affordable percentage of their expected sum.  The difference will be paid as soon as the club is able to. The remainder of the club staffing team have unfortunately not been paid.

Disappointingly the lack of income does mean that the club is unable to meet its HMRC commitment. Having already exhausted payment plan options with the Revenue, another winding up order and league transfer embargo could be unavoidable. The club will endeavour to continue to provide updates on the situation when we can.

Tickets for the remaining home games can be purchased online via the club website. Doing so in advance would significantly assist the club in this challenging time. Further to this, tickets are now available for the exhibition match between Manchester United Legends vs Taunton Town Legends on 19^th May. Your support will be greatly appreciated.