Why Support Non-League Day?

Coinciding with the international break on October 10th, Non-League Day provides a platform for clubs to promote the importance of affordable volunteer led community football while giving fans across the country the chance to show support for their local non-league side.

Many non-league clubs are almost exclusively volunteer run, with money taken at the turnstiles often funding thriving youth set-ups, projects and facilities which are of benefit to the whole community. The level of skill on offer at non-league grounds will never compare to that at the Emirates Stadium or Old Trafford, for example, but there are other sides to the experience, from which the smaller club will always win hands down. The vast majority of games still kick off at 3pm, ticket prices are realistic, you can often stand (and drink!) anywhere in the ground and will always be guaranteed a warm welcome by people who run their clubs for a love of the game.
Whether you’re a Premier League or Championship fan without a game, a League One or League Two supporter who can’t make an away trip, or just someone who is curious about what their local club has to offer, there is sure to be something to interest everyone.

You can find a local match taking place near you here.

www.nonleagueday.co.uk

Refugees are our Football Family

The refugee crises has finally received mainstream press coverage as cities across Europe face a major influx of those seeking refuge and safety from Syria and other countries.

I thought I would use my blog to show some of the acts of solidarity shown by football fans around the world.

If you would like to support the ‘Refugees are our Football Family’ campaign please click here.

Germany – Various clubs

Spain / Basque County – Athletic Club

Spain – Rayo Vallecano

Scotland – Celtic F.C

 

England – Clapton F.C.

England – F.C. United

Canada – Toronto F.C.

Greece – AEK Athens

#refugeeswelcome

The growing north - south divide in football

Recently, there has been a lot of talk of the romance of Bournemouth being promoted into the Premier League. I for one have not shared in this spirit and would have preferred a Derby or Middlesbrough promotion (as my team Blackburn Rovers had little chance).  This was not just down to the fact that Bournemouth are owned by a Russian Oligarch, but for a wider troubling trend starting to encroach football, which it has previously been resilient to.

The haves and have-nots in English football are now reflecting real life in England in which London and its wealthy peripheries dominate whilst the industrial north goes into decline. Bournemouth and Watford coming up is another sign of the affluent southern influence – historically small clubs are now benefiting through the pull of the south. This works in two ways, the super-rich choose to invest in areas easily accessible to London whilst London becomes a growing attraction for players to go to.  Both potential international players and owners look at a map, as they have never heard of Middlesbrough or Burnley, or Bournemouth and Watford, but notice that the latter are near London so they choose them. This trend also coincides with the decline of historic clubs such as Bolton Wanderers and Blackburn Rovers in the considerably poorer industrial north who cannot compete with the wealthier clubs in the south despite the historic significance of the northern clubs.

This is not an attack on the south of England but a criticism on the nature of global capital. Football is the last significant bastion shaped by working class culture. Is this going to die as well? I hope not.

Added extra: Northern teams outside the Premier League are also struggling to get sponsorship and to fill their corporate hospitality. Teams near London have no such problems as their corporate areas are often full with City firms and wealthy individuals.

Tell your club to pay the Living Wage

They pay their players millions, but Premier League football clubs are still refusing to pay their ground staff and cleaners a living wage.

If enough fans get involved, we can change that. After a big public campaign, Chelsea FC has agreed to pay even the lowest paid staff enough to cover basics like rent, food, and clothing. Let's make sure the other clubs follow suit.

Take action here.

Free Qatar’s modern slaves

Forced to work under the desert’s scorching sun, denied food, drinking water, and barred from escaping home, thousands of men in Qatar are modern day slaves. And we can help free them.

Last year, one person died every other day building a billion dollar mega-project for Qatar's 2022 World Cup. A major part of the project is managed by an American company with a CEO who lives in a quiet part of Colorado. If more than 1 million of us stand together for freedom, we can confront her with our voices every time she leaves her house to go to work, or to ski, until she takes action.

This same tactic pushed Hilton Hotels to protect women against sex trafficking in days -- join the urgent call to help free Qatar's modern slaves.

Take action here

Give My Goals to a Better World and Eric say 'non' to Islamophobia

The Football Revolution: Fans Reclaiming the Game

Clapton FC Ultras – Scaffold Brigadia

There has been a tradition in the UK of thinking politics and football do not mix. I personally would argue that football and politics have always mixed. I believe the current neo-liberal economic programme is deeply political and football like most areas of life is being consumed by it. For many years there has been resistance to the neo-liberal project in mainland Europe with Ultra groups at clubs such as Besiktas (Turkey), Ray Vallecano (Spain) and St Pauli (Germany) leading the way.

For many years UK football fans like wider British society have been largely passive to it. However, things are beginning to change with the rise of fan activism and fan ownership and also with the rise of a more ideological football fan. Below are some organisations which are leading the way in resisting neo liberalism and the ‘modern’ football it has created.

STAND Fanzine

A fanzine that gives the opportunity for like-minded people to take a considered look at the state of the game. They attempt to introduce and investigate alternatives to negative aspects of modern football and to bring together disaffected fans.

www.standamf.com

Crystal Palace Ultras – The Holmesdale Fanatics

They would not describe themselves as left wing, but they have led many supporter campaigns which every progressive fan would support: against high ticket pricing, game 39 and repressive policing. 

holmesdale.proboards.com

Clapton FC Ultras – Scaffold Brigadia

The most ideological fan group in the UK; with the group actively promoting anti fascism and football for all. They are rooted firmly in the activist tradition shown by them running collections for local food banks and promoting anti-racism and anti-sexism within football. They have also helped bring an excellent atmosphere to both their home and away games.

claptonultras.tumblr.com

Dulwich Hamlet – The Rabble – ComFast Chapter

Firm advocates of ‘Future Football’ which is their unique positive spin on ‘Againast Modern Football’ slogan – they mix chanting with left wing politics as a way of rebelling against commercialised football culture. The ComFast Chapter and the Rabble (the collective name of the Dulwich fans) as a whole have helped bring a carnival atmosphere to non-league football. The Rabble have also advocated an inclusive environment at the games presenting both an anti-sexism and anti-racism message in the stadium.

www.dulwichhamlet.org

Football Beyond Borders

Football Beyond Borders uses the power of football to inspire young people to achieve their goals and make their voices heard.

www.footballbeyondborders.org