Non-league Nottinghamshire
My first non-league match saw Hanwell Town face Aldershot Town, in a pre-season friendly during the pandemic. With the grounds of professional clubs closed to the public, in-person non-league football was all there was, at least for a couple of months. By November, their season was curtailed altogether, but there was more to come. Over the past couple of seasons, regular trips to Hanwell’s Powerday Stadium and the occasional away match have fuelled my growing passion for this community-run club. In 2022, Hanwell Town made history by securing promotion to step three of non-league, winning 3-2 against Chertsey Town in a play-off final for the ages. Losing 2-1 in extra-time with ten men, this late turnaround embodied the very beauty of non-league.
Nottingham is a city steeped in football history, home to the likes of Nottingham Forest and Notts County but is also a thriving metropolis of non-league football. Level ten clubs Dunkirk, Radford and West Bridgford Colts FC all compete in the United Counties League Football Division One and play their home games within six kilometres of University Park Campus.
Hanwell Town introduced me to this wonderful world of non-league, and with a multitude of matches being played nearby each week, Nottingham’s clubs are well worth exploring in person, not least for a variety of playing styles! Given that the defining characteristic of all football clubs, whether West Bridgford or West Ham, is their impact both on and off the pitch, there is no better place to experience this community culture than non-league.
“Nottingham is a […] thriving metropolis of nonleague football”
“It’s phenomenal to see what can happen to a fencer’s mindset in mere seconds”
It’s unusual, I know. Fun – obviously! Confusing? Only at first. Fencing is a technical, physically demanding and mentally tactical sport. It requires patience, passion, and a gruelling mindset. You cannot step onto the piste without a game plan: that’s just setting yourself up for failure. Impact’s Eda Onay describes her passion for the only individual sport in this segment. There are three types of fencing: epee, foil, and sabre. To start a fight, both fencers have to stand behind their lines on either side of the piste. They wait until the referee has commanded ‘En Garde’ (get in defence position), ‘prets?’ (are you ready?) ‘Allez!’ (go). And the fight is on… When I’m standing by the sidelines, watching fencers undergo long boutes (a fight), sweating fiercely between each point, I am in awe. Fencing tests you to the ultimate limit. How far are you willing to push your body? How long can you keep your mind focused before it sways? At UoN, the fencing club participates in BUCS matches, where the atmosphere is unimaginable, especially when playing at home. We sit crowded behind our side of the piste whilst our teams armour up, manifesting a glorious victory.
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The first point is hit and a ferocious roar echoes in the salle. We’re here to dominate and claim our place. We’re here to play our part for the team. We’re here to spur our fencers on to the best of their ability. We’re here to win. A moment’s weakness: the team are bellowing tactics; need to change the game plan; reset; we’re back in the zone. It’s phenomenal to see what can happen to a fencer’s mindset in mere seconds. With the large support system behind them, it is hard not to feel loved. Fencing is as much a team sport as it is individual. To be able to win and fence well, a good support system is key. That is exactly what we have here at the university. We pick each other up during difficult times. We celebrate wins, personal bests, and great achievements. Whether you are watching or competing, you are a part of the team, part of the family.
It doesn’t matter whether it’s a local or international competition, our coach records our performances and celebrates all victories and met benchmarks. This is the reason why fencers progress and fall in love with the sport.
sport
sport
Non-league football for some resembles little more than Welcome to Wrexham, Tiktok’s Bunch of Amateurs, and Jamie Vardy’s humble beginnings, but for thousands of players, staff, fans, committee members and volunteers, the nonleague system provides far more than just American docuseries and fairytale stories – though you’d be forgiven for loving both! Impact’s Tom Southgate takes you through his relatively newfound fondness for non-league football.
Brentford’s B team visiting Hanwell Town was another personal highlight, as Brentford are my first team, so I didn’t really mind who won! FA Trophy games against the likes of Enfield Town and Slough Town may have ended in defeat but were unique occasions to compete against higher-level sides. Local derbies against Harrow Borough and Hayes & Yeading have also been tasty affairs.
Dunkirk FC is fittingly referred to as ‘The Boatmen’ and plays just around the corner from the University’s Riverside Sports Complex. West Bridgford Colts FC is the largest grassroots football club in the UK and houses the humble beginnings of England’s number one Mary Earps. ‘The Pheasants’ Radford FC became the first amateur club in Britain to wear shirt-advertising in 1977 – sponsored by ‘The Pheasant Inn’. Formerly ‘Radford Olympic’, the accompanying rings adorn their badge to this day.
En Guard, Pret, Allez!
I fell in love the first time I watched it whilst my brother was competing. The extraordinary moves a human body can undertake are phenomenal. I remember being obsessed, wanting to learn from them. That’s when you know you’re intrigued with a sport. That kind of passion and obsession. I wish for everyone in the world to know what it is like to watch fencing. To see errors and advantages. To know when the fencer should go. To understand the rules. It is a whole new world and one I wish others knew more about.
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