The Monday Moment

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Every week is a busy week in the world of non-league football from the top of the pyramid to those trying to work their way up the levels and gaining the recognition that’s out there waiting.

I’m sure plenty of you saw kit colour clash issues at Havant & Waterlooville last Wednesday evening as they hosted Farnham Town. Despite the Twitter feeds clearly showing no clash on the front of the shirts, it appears the problem was the back of each particular shirts which no images appeared anywhere I could find.

Despite people saying that it should have been sorted before the fixture, as far as I am aware away clubs only need to confirm kit colours with their hosts and not send a detailed picture front and back. Maybe the wording on the match agreement email needs rewording?

However, despite Town sending their kit man to retrieve a different set of shirts, the game was called off but not for the kit reason. A huge hole has appeared in Havant’s 3G surface, big enough to fit your fist in, a little concerning that they were content to play in what could have caused some serious injury before the postponement was announced leaving many frustrated.

Nice touch though that Farnham offered a free ticket to their away fixture at Basingstoke at the weekend on production of proof they had made their way down to deepest Hampshire in midweek.

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Whenever there is a weekend of low FA Cup shocks questions are asked of gaps in quality between the EFL and non-league getting bigger, but also now if sides would have benefited from a replay instead of extra time or penalties.

There were a few, Gateshead overcoming AFC Wimbledon with a two division gap, likewise Carlisle Utd knocking out Reading, Brackley beating Notts County on penalties plus Boreham Wood sending Crawley Town on their way but maybe not so much of a surprise given the small league position gap and current form between the two.

One or two National League sides came a cropper against clubs one step below, a guaranteed spot for a non-league club in round two and others running full time outfits close.

It’s always going to be a bone of contention with replays etc, would Gainsborough have gone through against Accrington Stanley heading to a replay? Something we’ll never know the answer to, likewise with Hemel Hempstead who should be taking Wigan Athletic back to Hertfordshire and a date with destiny. Unfortunately, it won’t change but that won’t stop the what if’s.

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This weekend down in Sussex was the final Ground Hop of the year. Three days, six games from Step 5 to Step 6 although Sussex are a rarity of leagues that can include Step 7. Over 1500 people attended the matches in total and a great way for clubs to get seen by those who just tick off the grounds, others who can grab a game before their own club kicks off or like me get a bonus few matches in to talk about on the SNLF podcast this week.

I’ve often wondered why more clubs don’t try with the odd Friday night or Sunday afternoon game, just to attract a bigger audience and lock in a few extras that like what they see and decide to come again.

I wonder as well if there would be any mileage in Step 3 and Step 4 clubs participating over the course of a season, it might not however swell the attendance figures for Step 3, but another 100 or so on the gate with secondary spend at Step 4 makes a huge difference, food for thought………