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Saturday afternoon marked my 50th game of the season. I don’t keep a tally of what new grounds I visit like a groundhopper because although I do get to a few new clubs each year I head to a lot of the same ones.
I do keep a tally however for work purposes as well and for pure interest of where I’ve been, how many different sides I’ve watched and the number of goals across the games.
Non-league is vast in all areas of the country. There are so many clubs and players to go and watch all the time. The ideal job would be to watch even more than I do twice a week, but somehow I haven’t found a paymaster for that yet (entries welcome!)
The half century for the campaign saw the bat lofted at Crawley Down Gatwick, chauffeured by Gaz on an SNLF afternoon. It might have had a Sussex flavour to it but it’s the Isuzu FA Vase and on the Wembley trail.
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Step 5 levels, County League in old money, find their coverage very sporadic but what you do find is there are stories behind all these clubs whether that’s something happening now, in the future or previously that’s directed change.
It has been one of the reasons why we created www.thesnlf.co.uk in order to try and redress some of that balance. It is still in its infancy, but we hope there is a market to make it work so watch this space.
A place at Wembley in this competition is the dream for players and supporters, a day out in May coupled with the FA Trophy Final and Non League Finals Day. It’s a great occasion in my opinion, the rawness of those players on a huge pitch in a stadium 99% will never grace it’s like again followed by the more tactical and technical pace.
Once the competition gets to the other side of Christmas, the dreams do become closer as that month moves into view. Most of the fixtures were postponed the previous Saturday and with the draw happening on Monday afternoon both the Anvils and Fleet Town knew where they would be heading in round five.
The weather this month hasn’t been kind, although it’s what should be expected given we are in January. No sign of frost however, just a cold winter’s day and a damp feeling.
Both sides are looking at finishing in the play-off places in their respective divisions, and reaching the final would be the icing on the cake for sure. Fleet settled the quicker of the two sides, but once CDG found their stride they looked the more likely to score and in fact did take the lead on 37 minutes, Jack Ryder finishing off a superb move down the pitch and a half time lead for the home side.
Fleet though stepped it up from the beginning of the second half and were level ten minutes in, Liam Pestle slotting home after some penalty area pinball inside the penalty area.
Sensing the game was there for them, the visitors scored again just after the hour mark through Tane Caubo, nicely played in, and sliding the ball past Alex Bellingham in the Anvils net.
They defended their half of the pitch well after they took the lead, CDG did have a great chance to level the tie, but Oli Leslie’s header went agonisingly the wrong side of the post, their best effort in the second 45, Fleet taking the spot in the 5th Round and a visit to Whitstable Town in the last 16.
Despite being knocked out, the Anvils reached the furthest they’ve ever got in this competition and were the last Sussex side standing, an effort to be commended and a season not over for them with play-off opportunities there to be taken.
Fleet Town certainly had more on the day and should be a stern test as the Vase reaches it’s final stages, one thing about both this and the Trophy, the prize money is nowhere near enough once you take out match official costs and the away side allowed to claim for their coach travel.
Having lost the match no doubt CDG actually made a loss on the day as do most clubs although with the crowd figure they might have made a small profit. I actually have a feeling that within the next few years clubs will decline to enter knowing it’s not worth it to them unless they manage to navigate the qualifying rounds and one or two more away from home.
The crowd was a great number, 350 in total. On speaking to the chairman David Connor after the game they’ve only failed to hit 100 through the gate on two occasions so far this season.
With an EFL club right on their doorstep and one or two Isthmian sides as well like most there is a struggle to get people through the door, but plans are afoot for more to happen around the facility.
They currently receive no income from the leisure centre next door who host supporters and dignitaries before, during and after the game, nor to they have a provision for hot food.
But they are determined to have the latter rectified as soon as possible when funds allow, and talks are progressing to have a small building to provide drink to fans.
As most reading know this source of income is the lifeline of clubs at this level and just above. There are no huge masses of money piling in week after week, every pound is sought and needed to be spend wisely.
Not only that sustainability might be a word not readily used higher up the game but just like them all they began as or still are community clubs despite their wealth or lowly status, one thing the regulator really needs to command when power comes.
