Non-League Day: why not try a new football experience at a fraction of the price?

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With no Premier League or Championship this weekend due to the international break, non-league football gets its moment in the sun

Dulwich Hamlet in action against Tonbridge in February 2023.
(Image credit: Getty Images)

There is no Premier League or Championship action this weekend due to the international break, but Non-League football offers an interesting alternative to fans seeking live games.

This Saturday is Non-League Day, an annual event which celebrates semi-professional and grassroots football in the UK.

Non-League Day was started by James Doe in 2010 as a social media experiment after a pre-season trip to Devon to watch Queens Park Rangers at Tavistock.

It has grown to become an annual part of the calendar and won many new admirers for Non-League football, which is not only closer to home for many fans but also much cheaper than watching Premier League action.

Drinking alcohol is also permitted at non-league games, while the atmosphere is unique as smaller stadiums and attendances make fans feel closer to the action.

The day always coincides with the international break and encourages fans to go and watch their local clubs. Some even offer free entry to season ticket holders of Premier League or Championship teams.

Non-League day's website has a useful match finder which allows you to identify a fixture in your area. Most games kick off at 15:00.

Ben Hayward
Ben Hayward
Weekend editor

Ben Hayward is a European football writer and Tottenham Hotspur fan with over 15 years’ experience, he has covered games all over the world - including three World Cups, several Champions League finals, Euros, Copa America - and has spent much of that time in Spain. Ben speaks English and Spanish, currently dividing his time between Barcelona and London, covering all the big talking points of the weekend on FFT: he’s also written several list features and interviewed Guglielmo Vicario for the magazine.