Non League Football 24/25

[Bilo]

1 hour ago, Bilo said:

Boston one up against Altrincham at home with Dagenham trailing at home to Hartlepool. 

 

It puts Boston six points clear of the drop zone with four games to play as things stand.

Dagenham equalised late against ten men, but Boston managed to hold on.

 

I'm looking forward to Good Friday now as it could be a cracking atmosphere. A win might all but do it.

[Seventyseven]

Harborough just didn’t get going. Had all the ball but St Ives did their jobs well and nicked it at the death.

 

The Spanish lot who came over were great and really embraced it.

 

still a very enjoyable afternoon despite the result. 

[peterborofox]

2 hours ago, Bilo said:

Dagenham equalised late against ten men, but Boston managed to hold on.

 

I'm looking forward to Good Friday now as it could be a cracking atmosphere. A win might all but do it.

Right tight game. Most action came in first half. Altrincham don't have much up front really though but both teams hit the woodwork early on. 

 

Honestly probably should have been 0-0, or 1-1 but it was a grind for Boston. Great weather too. And I'm back there good Friday where if they win I think that should see them safe

[joeybside]

Loughborough Students 0 - 1 Quorn 

 

100 Goals up for this season. 30 wins. 21 Clean Sheets. It’s easy to switch off now the league is done and dusted but with the club aiming for 100 points for the season, Beswick clearly isn’t allowing any let up. 
Loughborough clearly waiting for the end of term holidays as making a game of football competitive clearly wasn’t their objective today. A scrappy game with both sides lacking the answers in the final third. Grantham working tirelessly as the lone man upfront. Bello & Fyfe busy in midfield and the back four their usual tight self. Ironic that the goal came from a set piece. Centre back Frizelle meeting a corner unmarked at the back post. 
 

Facilities at Loughborough as you would expect as possibly the best in the league. Stunning ground. Abnormally long Sausage Rolls with a poor meat to pastry ratio. Proof you can’t get everything right 

[Tuna]

Rugby v Bedworth on easter Monday looks tasty - relegation decider?

[Bilo]

1 hour ago, peterborofox said:

Right tight game. Most action came in first half. Altrincham don't have much up front really though but both teams hit the woodwork early on. 

 

Honestly probably should have been 0-0, or 1-1 but it was a grind for Boston. Great weather too. And I'm back there good Friday where if they win I think that should see them safe

It's tough to see them dropping if they win that one as they'll be a minimum of five points clear, you'd expect Dagenham to beat already relegated Ebbsfleet at home, with three to play. 

 

Altrincham are a decent side on the fringes of the playoffs, so today was a decent result. Third in the form table now.

[joeybside]

13 hours ago, peterborofox said:

Right tight game. Most action came in first half. Altrincham don't have much up front really though but both teams hit the woodwork early on. 

 

Honestly probably should have been 0-0, or 1-1 but it was a grind for Boston. Great weather too. And I'm back there good Friday where if they win I think that should see them safe

Been keeping a close eye on the Pilgrims given Quorn had young Striker Luca Alonzi on loan. The loan ended and the idea was to give him more game-time. But given the current situation, staying up is priority and rightly so. Hell of a change in form. Great to see

[Leicesterpool]

13 hours ago, Tuna said:

Rugby v Bedworth on easter Monday looks tasty - relegation decider?

Planning to go that.

 

Went to watch Boro at Saffron Dymano... day out in sun was nice, football not so much, like watching paint dry. The pitch looked dry and needed some rain. Boro looked poor and going through the motions, league won, 100 points. Saffron defended really well and deserved there win, they named a very young team, two 15 year olds i think played. 0-1 loss, no goal in two for boro rare this season. However league winners with 100 points so no complaints. 348 in attendance. Which was around just over 300 from nuneaton. Bigger gate than some southern league clubs.

Edited 13 April by Leicesterpool

[Anorak]

On 08/04/2025 at 09:27, FoxesFan#1 said:

So sorry as I meant to reply but time caught up with me, yeah Brackley are flying incredibly high in a tough league.

 

1 point between Brackley, Scunthorpe and Kidderminster with 4 games to go is all that seperates the top three, and with Chester just behind them too it's full of big clubs.

 

I checked out Ramsgate crowds and they are superb, especially being two divisions beneath the NL South.

 

Some clubs have really gained big attendences since 2020 and hopefully it will be sustainable.  Looks like Ramsgate was c100-150 per match over ten years ago and now blasting through 1000 per match which is incredible.

 

I'd say Brackley has a hardcore/loyal following of 500-600 and the rest that come along are floaters or away fans.  Ironically the worst games of the season are in front of the biggest crowds so the floaters actually see very few wins.  The best experience is the run of the mill games when there's less at stake as they tend to win those games easier.

 

I'll be hoping to do two matches over the bank holiday weekend with Oxford at home and Leamington away

 

I still support my old team... that's 1990s Leicester City, ha but not Corporate KPFC and that's why I love the non-league as it reminds us of football from a better time period!

 

I see the top 3 all won again, certainly going down to the wire. Final 3 fixtures don't look too bad for Brackley. 

 

Ramsgate have won their last 2 home games so just more 3 points to get over the line. Went down against Broadbridge Heath a week ago and saw a narrow 1-0 win. The extreme wind made it hard work and it was a nervy last 10 minutes or so. Due to holiday I missed an impressively comfortable 5-1 victory yesterday against Three Bridges, a side that's usually not a pushover. Over 1,700 at both games. 

 

They had crowds around 200 when I first moved down here (2016) and had a mostly young side at the wrong end of the table. They've definitely had some major overhauls in playing budget and overall structure since then. Gutted I'm also away for the Margate home game, which is an all ticket sellout (and segregated). Being crowned champions in the big derby game would be icing on the cake. 

[Gary Eatfood]

First defeat since the beginning of March for Coalville, despite hitting the post twice in a matter of seconds.
Nice little ground at Blackstones and a tidy footballing side. Double-header at home for Coalville over Easter to end the season.
 

 

[Super_horns]

Former Rochdale player Joe Thompson died at just 36.

Had battled cancer 3 times .

 
RIP

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c5y08qxjgy8o

[Leicesterpool]

Boro v Smethwick Rangers tomorrow down at the oval, last league game of the season. Trophy presentation day, so likely a huge crowd tomorrow, probably 1k plus under 16s can attend for free. 

 

Huge attendance at Newquay last night in step 6 1,800 attended. 

[purpleronnie]

16 minutes ago, Leicesterpool said:

Boro v Smethwick Rangers tomorrow down at the oval, last league game of the season. Trophy presentation day, so likely a huge crowd tomorrow, probably 1k plus under 16s can attend for free. 

 

Huge attendance at Newquay last night in step 6 1,800 attended. 

Which team was this?

 

Jersey with an away win means a home win on the final day woulkd be enough, surely not even jersey can mess it up now?

[grobyfox1990]

1 hour ago, purpleronnie said:

Which team was this?

 

Jersey with an away win means a home win on the final day woulkd be enough, surely not even jersey can mess it up now?

Yep they’ll do it. The league is really close but that win on Tuesday has done it. Be interesting to see which teams they play next year. Some new away days for the jersey ‘bull pen ultras’ at least. An ‘ultra’ let off a flare at redhill away and the club got a fine LOL, wild!!! 

[Bilo]

Great game at Boston today and good to be part of a record attendance (for the ground) of 3,865. 

 

A comfortable 2-0 win over Wealdstone that was pretty much over as a contest after 20 minutes, and a very decent atmosphere. Superb facilities as well - I was very impressed. That club is going places. Watch this space.

[STEVIE B]

1-0 win for Harborough at Redditch earlier. Back in the playoffs. Stamford play tomorrow & have a v tough run in. All to play for. 

[peterborofox]

33 minutes ago, Bilo said:

Great game at Boston today and good to be part of a record attendance (for the ground) of 3,865. 

 

A comfortable 2-0 win over Wealdstone that was pretty much over as a contest after 20 minutes, and a very decent atmosphere. Superb facilities as well - I was very impressed. That club is going places. Watch this space.

Carnage getting in though 😂

 

I got there late about 1450, queues everywhere and no idea if they let everyone get in or not. They weren't geared up for it and should have made it all ticket really. I missed the first goal because of it 😂

 

But good fk goal for the second and then they just saw the game out. Good atmosphere there today 

[isaidno]

The National league South table with 2 games to go.

[Bilo]

25 minutes ago, peterborofox said:

Carnage getting in though 😂

 

I got there late about 1450, queues everywhere and no idea if they let everyone get in or not. They weren't geared up for it and should have made it all ticket really. I missed the first goal because of it 😂

 

But good fk goal for the second and then they just saw the game out. Good atmosphere there today 

😂

 

We were in at about 2.15 to get a decent spot on the terrace and it just kept getting busier. 

 

I was surprised they only made the Main Stand all ticket as well given how busy the South Stand looked. Attendances have gone a bit mad there in recent weeks and I suspect that might roll over into next season given the move to professionalism, the fourth stand and general optimism. Something for the club to think about next season, but a nice problem to have.

[Bilo]

17 minutes ago, isaidno said:

The National league South table with 2 games to go.

Final day there is going to be fun!

[peterborofox]

55 minutes ago, Bilo said:

😂

 

We were in at about 2.15 to get a decent spot on the terrace and it just kept getting busier. 

 

I was surprised they only made the Main Stand all ticket as well given how busy the South Stand looked. Attendances have gone a bit mad there in recent weeks and I suspect that might roll over into next season given the move to professionalism, the fourth stand and general optimism. Something for the club to think about next season, but a nice problem to have.

The attendances have gone up and up and up in the last few games. I've been to the last four games (didn't go before that) and each time has pulled a good crowd in. Think the cheap kids tickets helped today. 

 

But they need to come up with a solution, season ticket holders queuing up with people buying on the gate and missing kick off shouldn't happen. 

 

We've actually bought seats for a week on Saturday to ensure we don't miss out again 😂

[FoxesFan#1]

1 hour ago, isaidno said:

The National league South table with 2 games to go.

That's incredible, just shows us why non-league is so good these days.

 

I've seen so many matches where a bottom of the league team can look as good as a top team.

 

I was at Brackley v Oxford City today for a 1-0 win to put us tied in top spot with Kidderminster.  Almost 1700 in today with vast majority being home fans.  Lewis Hall was in attendance supporting his brother which was nice to see.

 

 

[Bilo]

33 minutes ago, peterborofox said:

The attendances have gone up and up and up in the last few games. I've been to the last four games (didn't go before that) and each time has pulled a good crowd in. Think the cheap kids tickets helped today. 

 

But they need to come up with a solution, season ticket holders queuing up with people buying on the gate and missing kick off shouldn't happen. 

 

We've actually bought seats for a week on Saturday to ensure we don't miss out again 😂

It was pretty mad in the East Stand close to kick-off as they only have one turnstile for home fans due to it being shared with away fans until the new stand is built. I think they'll have a good look at it, though. It's been quite a learning curve in the National League this season and they're catching up pretty quickly. 

[OntarioFox]

Took the plunge into Non-League after years of threatening today, watching Marine AFC take on Warrington Town in a local derby. Warrington are already down but Marine have pulled off a great escape of sorts after being mired in the drop zone for the first half of the season. They'll play at National League North level again next season - while it'll be at least a year before this fixture happens again, they've still got Southport for a bit of local spice next season, plus Chester if they don't win the playoffs.
 

As for the match itself, proper. Everyone is friendly, you're right up to the pitch and can chat with the players after the game. The whole "pints in view of the pitch" thing has been taken to a new level here - half the crowd had 2-pint mega cups to last them a half. Myself, I wasn't too bothered queuing for one mid-game considering the bar is right there on the terraces and arguably one of the best views on offer.

 

Marine are planning a move to a purpose-built 5,000 seater ground over in Thornton, and you can see why - ever since their FA Cup clash against Spurs things have skyrocketed for them, with an average gate of well over 1,000 now, up from about 200 before then. Official gates are tricky to come by at this level, but there were probably around 1300 - 1500 in today. The money has largely been invested in a plastic pitch which they rent out to the community, and is a major revenue earner to keep things sustainable, but like most old-school grounds they've reached their limit for expansion and need to look elsewhere if they want to continue growing their gate.

 

Plenty here come down when their "main teams" aren't playing, but make no mistake, there's a proper passionate fanbase here. Given this is now on my doorstep I'm not sure if I'm going to bother with the clown show at the KP if there are fixture clashes next season. 

 

 

[peterborofox]

28 minutes ago, Bilo said:

It was pretty mad in the East Stand close to kick-off as they only have one turnstile for home fans due to it being shared with away fans until the new stand is built. I think they'll have a good look at it, though. It's been quite a learning curve in the National League this season and they're catching up pretty quickly. 

That's where I was!

 

It's now just been announced next week is all ticket. Not surprised