How important is Non-League Football?
Looking away from the North-East, our writer George Crabb has decided to look at the importance of non-league football, but with three large non-league teams in the North-East this is something that football fans in the North-East can relate.
As a supporter of National League Champions, Lincoln City, I have a very big soft spot for non-league football at all levels.
In the 2015/2016 season, a former non-league striker made the front of all sporing media across the world, as Jamie Vardy broke the Premier League record for scoring in 11 consecutive games as well as winning the Premier League with underdogs Leicester City.
After the mass media coverage of the Jamie Vardy story and Leicester's unforgettable title-winning campaign, it inspired me to look into what the story had done for the publicity of the non-league.
The first article I found was an article from The Guardian in which Mike Bayly discusses how throughout time people have been embarrassed to say that they support a non-league club when asked.
But as a supporter of a former non-league club, Lincoln City, I am nothing but proud to say that I am a Lincoln City supporter, the journey that following my local team has taken me on has been unforgettable with highs and lows from relegation to the Emirates to winning the league.
But as well as a perspective of a fan my research allowed me to see that some of the top footballers playing across the English divisions all came from the non-league which shows that it should not be looked down upon by league clubs as non-league football could be a crucial feeder for the future of English football.
Everyone is now aware of the Jamie Vardy story, but the list of non-league to Premier League stars is growing all the time.
Some players may never have made it to where they are today without non-league football from Joe Hart to Chris Smalling and Michael Antonio to Ashley Williams more former non-league players are making it to the top of the English football pyramid.
One area that all non-league clubs are proud of is their support. Famous for their passion and commitment to their club non-league fans have a much closer connection to their team compared to fans of large teams.
I spoke to Kieran Pick, a member of the 617 Squadron and season ticket holder at Lincoln City and when younger was a Liverpool fan before being able to attend Lincoln games every week.
"Supporting a non-league club is a bumpy ride, but has let me enjoy weekends, have something to look forward to with my mates and see and experience things I wouldn't have following a big team.
"People who follow the big teams all they want to do is win and won't accept anything else, with Lincoln we always want to win but I have learned to deal with failure and bore 0-0 draws.
"Basically without non-league football, I wouldn't have met of the people I no call my mates. Lincoln is a small family that I and everyone else is proud to be part of."
As well as speaking to a fan I decided to speak to two players who between them have vast amounts of non-league experience between them Paul Clayton and Bradley Wood. I decided to ask them both questions about why non-league football is important to them.
Firstly, I asked Paul and Bradley why non-league football was important to them?
Paul Clayton – “I don’t think I’ll really appreciate it until I’ve finished, but yes I hoped to play league football and I think there were a few occasions where that could have happened but I don’t regret anything I’ve done. I’m enjoying my football and therefore non-league as been great to me.”
Bradley Wood – "Non-league has been a big part of my career. I’ve played most of my time in it. It makes you step up to the physical side of the game more than you would get if you was playing. In reserve under 21 football.”
Secondly, I asked them both if they see Non League football as a stepping stone to playing league football?
Paul Clayton – “Non-league is certainly a good stepping stone to get into league football. It happens every year, academy players get released after years of service from league clubs. So they come to Non League to make the grade or try to.”
Bradley Wood – “Just because it has a tag of 'non-league' it doesn’t mean the players are at a bad standard. There are some good players at this level. Sometimes it could be who you no rather than how good you are to get you into the football league.”
To back up the previous question I asked them both of any players they played with in Non League who have gone to make it in League football.
Paul Clayton – “I’ve played with some quality players throughout my time in non-league. Lee Tomlin, Kyle Mcfadzean and Aden Flint just to name a few. But there’s gems all over Non League just waiting for there chance.”
Bradley Wood – “I spent my first year pro playing along side Ryan Bennett who is now at Norwich City.”
Finally, I asked Paul if he believes League clubs should look more towards non-league for talent instead of investing huge amounts of money into youth talent from outside of England.
Paul Clayton – “Vardy was unstoppable even the best defenders on the planet couldn't stop him. I think he’s a credit to non-league and seeing where he as comes from it’s a no-brainer they have to have a look.
There are players who have come from non-league all over the Premier League now and there will be more that’s a fact.”
To end the interview with Bradley Wood I asked him if he dreams about making the step up to League football one day.
Bradley Wood – “I played league football in my first year as a pro. The level that I’m at now I would say it’s not a big difference at all.
Chances become harder to come by and mistakes are often punished more but nothing drastic in the change."
Credit to Guiness World Records, Action Images and The Daily Mail for the imagery used in this article.