Non-league Nottinghamshire

Non-league Nottinghamshire

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.