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We thought we'd take a look at the wonderful Norwegian Eliteserien with the season getting underway this weekend. 🇳🇴 This is a league with so much to talk about! Current champions Bodø/Glimt, who have been on a whirlwind of a journey both domestically and in Europe, the small side from Bodø have been mixing it with the big boys in Europe, a competition they are still in and will face Lazio in the Europa League quarter-finals later this month. Bodø have won the league in 4 of the last 5 seasons! Rosenborg, who last won the league in 2018 but do have a record of 26 league wins under their belt, have found it tough recently but will hope to bring the good times back. The club are from Trondheim. Brann, who is a well-supported side from Bergen, last won the league in 2007, but they have had a rocky time of things over recent years, from scandals to money problems and then the unthinkable relegation! They did bounce back immediately, however, at a canter, and last year, despite promotion, they finished an impressive 2nd! Viking, who finished 3rd last season and qualified for Europe, will be looking for a repeat effort this term, they have not been champions since 1991! Molde, probably one of the more recognised names in Norwegian football, was the side to break the Bodø dominance as they won the league in 2022 but have not done so since and will be looking to kick on this season after what was a mediocre 5th placed finish last term. KFUM Oslo, the tiny YMCA club from the Capital got promoted against all the odds in 2023. It made headlines around the footballing world. They had a remarkable season last year finishing 8th, 13 points clear of the bottom two. They are famous for the players having to cross a main road to make their way into the stadium. On the pitch, Same again this time round as they will be hoping to stay up again but will they suffer the dreaded 2nd season syndrome? Tromsø, I am sure a city many of you reading would have heard of, a stunning place where they have constant sunlight round the clock for a month and then in winter, the complete opposite, no light at all! On the pitch, they didn't have a great year last season, finishing 13th and only avoiding a relegation playoff on goal difference! So this time, improvement will certainly be called for from fans and the club. Haugesund were the side to fall into the relegation playoffs, but they managed to win them and stay up by the skin of their teeth! So they are another side hoping for improvement. Other sides who make up the Eliteserien are HamKam (12th last season) Kristiansund (11th last year) Sandefjord (10th last year) Sarpsborg (9th last year) Strømsgodset (7th last year) Fredrikstad (6th last year) Last but not least, the new boys, first up Vålerenga, the side from Oslo, had a nightmare season and were relegated but bounced back convincingly as they collected 69 points, only losing 3 games. Fans will be demanding to see much improvement, though, and will not be expecting another relegation fight on their hands. Vålerenga have won the league 5 times with the last coming in 2005. Their fans are regarded as some of the best in Norway when it comes to atmosphere. Second up is Bryne, a club that had most of its success in the '70s and '80s but, looking back through history, have been up and down a fair bit. This promotion is their first return since 2003 so it has been a long time coming. Their famous fan, we hear you ask, Erling Haaland is a supporter of the club. The aim will be to stay up this year and retain their top-flight status. I hope you have enjoyed reading our Norwegian Eliteserien preview. This is a league that may not be up there with the best in terms of quality, but when it comes to passion, stories and history, it is up there with the best. The 16 stadiums in the league this season have some incredible views which will grab the attention of many fans fancying that European football away trip!

The football season kicks off in Sweden this weekend with the top division Allsvenskan in its 101st year. One of the most appealing things about the top tier in Sweden is that there is no VAR! Also, along with some of the fantastic atmospheres at the big derby matches and the amazing tifos and banners on display, the Allsvenskan is definitely a league that is well worth a visit. 16 teams are in the league, and here is a brief rundown of all the runners and riders this coming season that runs from March 29th to November. First up are Östers IF, from Växjö; the club is back in the top tier for the first time since 2013 after achieving promotion from the Superettan last season under English manager Martin Foyston in what was his first managerial role. The former Fulham scout, aged 42, had previously been an assistant manager at various clubs across Scandinavia. The other promoted side who were the Superettan champions last season are Degerfors IF who bounced back at the first attempt after suffering relegation from the Allsvenskan the previous season. The club's biggest achievement was winning the Swedish Cup in 1992/93 Malmö FF, the current champions, are Sweden's most successful football club, with 24 Swedish championships and 16 Swedish Cups. They are a club that frequently plays in European competitions and, most notably, were runners-up to Nottingham Forest in the 1978/79 European Cup final, losing 1-0. Their most famous former player is, without a doubt, Malmo-born Zlatan Ibrahimović. And Roy Hodgson won 5 Allsvenskan titles and 2 Swedish Cups in his 5-year tenure as a manager! AIK, based in Stockholm, are one of the biggest supported teams in Sweden and were last League champions back in 2018. AIK has won 12 championship titles and is third in the all-time list; the club holds the record for having played the most seasons in the Swedish top flight. They play at the national stadium, which is the largest stadium in Scandinavia, having left their Råsunda home in 2012. Djurgårdens IF, the second of 4 Stockholm teams, was founded 3 weeks after their fiercest rivals, AIK, in 1891 on the island of Djurgården; the club's home ground is The 3 Arena, which they share with Hammarby IF. Djurgårdens last won the Allsvenskan in 2019. Hammarby IF have only 1 league title to their name in 2001 but won the Swedish Cup in 2021/21. Elfsborg, known as Di Gule (The Yellow Ones), was founded in 1904 by a group of 19 youngsters who all were 14–15 years old. They last won the title in 2012, which was their 6th, and have won the Swedish Cup 3 times. IFK Göteborg, who is one of 3 clubs in the Allsvenskan based in Gothenburg, is the only club in the Nordic countries that has won one of the main UEFA competitions, having won the UEFA Cup in both 1982 and 1987. IFK has won 18 Swedish championship titles, the second most in Swedish football after Malmö FF, and has the second most national cup titles with eight. The team has qualified for four group stages of the UEFA Champions League and reached the semi-finals of the 1985–86 European Cup. BK Häcken, another club based in Gothenburg, won their first-ever Allsvenskan in 2022 and are known as The Wasps; they have won the Swedish Cup 3 times as well. GAIS, the 3rd Gothenburg-based club, is one of the oldest football clubs in Sweden formed in 1894 and was a founding member of Allsvenskan and also the first champions of the league in 1924. They have won 4 league titles, with the last coming way back in 1954, and their only Swedish Cup title was in 1942. They play at the same ground as IFK Göteborg along with Örgryte IS who are in the second tier Superettan. Halmstad BK have won four national championship titles and one Swedish cup, with Roy Hodgson winning the Allsvenskan as manager in 1976 and 1979 in his first managerial role. Halmstad is a member-controlled club. Brommapojkarna, another team in Stockholm, are believed to be the largest football club in Europe in terms of the number of active youth teams of all ages; in 2007, there were 247 teams and 3,000 players! They have yet to win a major title other than the Superettan twice, but they have produced many great players through their youth system, including Dejan Kulusevski and Viktor Gyökeres in recent times. IFK Norrköping dominated Swedish football in the post-war era and won the first division 11 times in 20 years! They have won a total of 12 Allsvenskan, with the last one in 201,5 and have won the SwdushCupp 6 times. IFK Värnamo have spent most of their time outside of the Allsvenkan but have been in the top division for the last 3 seasons after winning the Division 1 Södra title in 2020 followed by the Superettan in 2021 The most famous player from the club is Jonas Thern, who was captain of the Sweden national team when they finished third in the 1994 FIFA World Cup. IK Sirius Fotboll, who is based in Upsalla, are another club who have spent most of its history in the lower tiers of Swedish football, but this season will be its 9th consecutive season in the top flight. Östers IF have won the Allsvenskan 4 times, most recently in 1981; in 1968, their first season in Allsvenskan, Öster became the first team ever to win the national title at their first attempt! And they have one Swedish Cup to their name which came in 1977. And lastly, Mjällby AIF, who were formed in 1939, the club has only played nine seasons in Sweden's highest football league, with the first time coming in 1980. They were runners-up in the Swedish Cup in 2022/23. Best of luck to all the sides this season!

The domestic football season kicks off in Finland this weekend, the country known as the 'Land of a Thousand Lakes' with an estimated 188,000 of them! The Veikkausliiga, which was founded in 1990, is ranked 38 by UEFA and consists of 12 clubs and splits into two groups later in the season. Previous to the Veikkausliiga, the top division was called Mestaruussarja (championship series) from 1930, which was an amateur/semi-professional league. Between 1908 and 1930 the championship was decided as a knock-out cup competition. Here's a brief look at the 12 clubs taking part this season. AC Oulu are based on the North Western coastline of Finland and were formed in 2002, this will be their 5th consecutive season in the top league where they finished 9th last term. They currently play their home games at Raatti Stadium, which is located on the Raatinsaari Island, about 1km away from the city centre. The club colours are navy blue and white, and they are known as The Navy Blues. FC Haka was founded in 1934; it is one of the most successful clubs in Finland, with nine Finnish championships and 12 Finnish Cup wins, but they haven't won the title since 2004 and finished in 6th place last season. Haka's best performance in UEFA competition was in the 1983–1984 season when they reached the quarterfinals of the Cup Winners' Cup, losing to eventual champions Juventus 0–2. FC Inter Turku was formed in 1990 and started in the 4th tier; This will be their 27th consecutive season in the top flight; they have one league title to their name, which was in 2008 and last season, the team, known as The Black and Blues, finished 7th. FF Jaro is one of the newly promoted sides who came up after finishing 2nd via the playoffs; this will be their first time back in the top league since 2015. HJK Helsinki are considered to be Finland's biggest club; they are the most successful Finnish club in terms of championship titles with 33 and have also won 14 Finnish Cups. HJK is the only Finnish club that has participated in the UEFA Champions League group stage, In 1998. Last season they finished 3rd after winning the title the previous 4 seasons. IF Gnistan were founded in 1924 and has spent nearly all its existence outside of the top tier; last season was its first season ever in The Veikkausliiga, where they finished in 8th place. The club, based in Helsinki, have strong Swedish roots after being founded by Swedish-speaking students, hence why the club colours are yellow and blue. IFK Mariehamn are based in Mariehamn, the capital of the Åland Islands and are managed by Englishman Gary Williams a former Chelsea youth player. Åland is in the Baltic Sea, situated between Sweden and Finland. The Seasiders have been in the top tier for 20 years and have won one title (2016) and a Finish Cup (2015) and last season finished 10th. Tampereen Ilves, commonly referred to as Ilves, which is Finnish for Lynx, was formed in 1931 and had their most successful season in The Veikkausliiga last time out, finishing runners up and have won the Finish Cup 4 times, last season they moved into their new stadium. KTP (Kotkan Työväen Palloilijat) are the other newly promoted side after winning The Ykkösliiga last season. They have previously won 2 top-tier league titles back in the 1950s and also have 4 Finish Cups in the bag. KuPS (Kuopion Palloseura) are the current Finish Champions winning their first title last season along with the Swedish Cup, their 7th title and 5th Cup in total since they were formed in 1923 and are known as The Cannaries or The Yellow and Black. SJK (Seinäjoen Jalkapallokerho) were formed as recently as 2007 after a merger between the first teams of TP-Seinäjoki and Sepsi-78. After starting in the third tier, the club won promotion to Veikkausliiga in 2014, and the next year won its first Finnish championship title! They have also won the Finish Cup and League Cup once and last season finished 4th. They are managed by Scotsman Stevie Grieve. VPS (Vaasan Palloseura) were formed in 1929 and are known as The Stripes; they won 2 top tier titles back in the 40s and are now back in the top league for what will be their 4th season on the trot, with the last 2 finishing in a respectable 3rd and 5th place. We hope you have enjoyed this little insight into Finish Football, and it may inspire some of you to visit the country and its stunning scenery.

Doughboys deliver the delight on Derby Day! NPL Midlands Division Attendance - 792 Derby day is always a momentous occasion and the Proper Football boys were treated to a proper rivalry as we embarked on our travels once again, this time pitching up at the The Dog & Duck Stadium, home of Wellingborough Town. Thankfully, it wasn’t raining cats & dogs making suitable weather for ducks, we were instead graced with glorious sunshine, adding a buoyant spring to our step equally as evident as the spring-like weather. After clambering through the turnstiles, it was clear to see from the very off that the club possesses an enviable set-up, further highlighted by the Immaculate playing surface, so much so that you’d be forgiven for thinking we were attending a game much earlier in the season. Overlooking the playing surface is the main seated stand, supported by the remaining stands that are all safe standing areas providing the football purist with a traditional feel at what is a ground steeped in history and tradition. Complimented by an outdoor food kiosk serving up some proper footy nosh and an indoor bar where fans can whet their whistle before, during and after the match action, it’s safe to say the facilities on offer surpass the requirements of any prospective visitors. The man behind our visit, from whom we received an exceptionally warm and friendly welcome, was Match Day Secretary and long-time associate of the club, Steve Galloway. Steve has a long-standing connection and history with the club, having started out as many of us do, as a Dad on the sidelines cheering on his boy, who at the time was playing in the youth ranks. Fast forward to the present day and Steve provides a safe pair of hands along with innovative solutions, helping to grow the club’s profile and move forward, as it looks to attract more acclaim and not to mention a stronger following to The Dog & Duck Stadium. Steve was kind enough to step in front of the Proper Football cameras to reveal all about his connection with the club, the challenges the club and wider non-league community can face and also his wishes for the future of his beloved Wellingborough Town. After our glimpse of what the future potentially holds for the club, we were introduced to a man known locally as ‘Mr Wellingborough Town’ in what turned out to be a historical, educational journey tapping into a wealth of experience and knowledge. In my experience, you find this type of individual at many clubs, where they quite literally live and breathe the club, and nobody that I’ve ever encountered embodies this spirit and profile more than club secretary Mick. It quickly became clear to me that we were in the presence of a man who holds this club dearly close to his heart and was kind enough to tell a tale or two on his 60+ year association with the club. Quizzed by Darren, Mick shared an insight into the life of a club stalwart having held just about every role within the club presented to him over the years, plus why he still holds a passion for the club and his role within. Such is the close proximity of these two clubs; with only 5 miles separating them, the Derby day atmosphere was building ahead of kick-off. Burgers and beers were being knocked out and consumed like there was no tomorrow, with fans enjoying their pre-match delights and sharing their predictions for the game ahead. Non-league, for me, is all about the connections between different sets of fans, in that you can have a conversation about a shared love of football and enjoy a pint together whilst still maintaining the rivalry that fuels our passion and love for the game. Of course, allegiances then kick in as the game gets underway, with both sets of fans raucously channelling their inner 12th man, willing their teams to make the all-important breakthrough. A competitively contested start to the game saw both sides cancelling each other out for large parts, with both defences well-organised and standing firm. A continuation of full-blooded challenges expected in a derby ensured this one remained a captivating spectacle - both sides created the odd chance with some decent deliveries into either box; however, with the first half coming to a close, it was a tale of two dominant defences. A more open second half provided far more goal-mouth action; however, neither side was clinical enough to break the deadlock. That, of course, was until a glorious edge-of-the-area strike, from the moment he hit it, found the back of the net as the clock ticked into the 94th minute. The Doughboys had stolen it at the death with what turned out to be one of the last touches of the game and naturally, the home crowd erupted into vivacious celebration. Whilst celebrations of the match-winning goal could be heard far and wide, a common theme kept rearing its head during our time at Wellingborough Town, with many that we spoke to bemoaning the lack of support within the local area for the club. After further probing to understand the data that supports this notion, proof does, unfortunately, seem to be in the pudding - with a town population of approximately 60,000 and an average gate this season of around 250; understandably, this subject kept popping up. Now, not all of the town’s population will be football fans, of course. However, my intuition would tell me that the majority are spending their time following clubs higher up the pyramid; many, I would hazard a guess, are doing so from their armchairs. That then presented the question of why this is and why said individuals don’t go to physically watch football and support their local club. Whilst I do not have a definitive answer to that, I’m sure I’m not alone in my suspicion that the ‘modern’ football fan prefers the comfort of their armchair when taking in their football fix. A person who this description certainly does not apply is club volunteer Amanda. Front and centre at full time leading the celebrations, I knew from observing her passionate celebratory cries that I had to speak with her. Considered part of the furniture having held various roles since the start of her involvement with the club, Amanda far surpasses what you would expect in a club volunteer. Willing to take on any job thrown at her, Amanda really puts in the graft - her passion for the club, her role and non-league football as a whole is immensely admirable. Bringing with her a beaming ear-to-ear smile, bags of charisma and natural charm, Amanda joined us in front of the Proper Football cameras, touching on her love for the club and her leading role in what the club is going to be doing in the community in the near future to fulfil the objective of drawing more fans to The Dog & Duck Stadium. With the 3 points and local derby bragging rights secured, match-winner Tom Laciofano was kind enough to give up some of his time for a post-match chat. Reflecting on his last-gasp winner having only been on the pitch a matter of minutes before securing the points for his team, Tom provided an insight into the life of a non-league player, his love for the game at all levels and how he stays motivated while juggling his football and everyday life commitments. With our day coming to a close, it was time to reflect on what was a thoroughly enjoyable day - we were lucky enough to be able to meet some truly amazing people at what is a club that gives so much to the local community and provides a home from home for fans young and old. With teams right through the age groups, Wellingborough Town and all associated with the club deserve immense respect and acclaim as they provide the pathway for the next generation to flourish. Such is their continuation to the local community, sometimes the clubs that give us so much need something in return - the very existence of clubs like Wellingborough Town relies on its volunteers giving up their spare time, undertaking roles without which the club would not be here. Providing a safe space and solitary outlet for many, it’s time for the local football community to come together to support and contribute to this great club. After a solid season a step higher than last, this is a club on the up with exciting times ahead, so I challenge all within the local area with an interest in football to take themselves down to The Dog & Duck Stadium on a match day - you will not be disappointed. A personal heartfelt thank you must go to the club for having us and we wish everyone at the club the very best for the remainder of the season and beyond!

The welcome that was extended to me and Greg when heading into the valleys on our visit to Merthyr Town FC was truly amazing. "The land of our fathers" truly did open their arms to welcome two Englishmen who immediately fell in love with the club, its facilities, the Stadium and, of course, the fans. Our Non-league day trip turned out to be a truly amazing experience that any groundhopper or fan of football should make. Pen-y-Darren Park was the venue where Merthyr welcomed Chertsey Town in the Southern Premier League South division. Merthyr, who are flying high in the league, sit top and are on a remarkable 30-game unbeaten run. As we arrived in Merthyr, we were greeted by Matthew George, a board member at the club. He was an absolutely lovely man who took time out of his hectic schedule to show us around! We were shown the wonderful facilities Merthyr have, including the boardroom, two bars, the private boxes and the balcony. We absolutely fell in love with the Penydarren stadium, a proper, proper old school ground and an amazing backdrop of scenery to boot. The old-school terracing just gives you that feeling of when you first fell in love with football, a feeling you would not find higher up the football pyramid. This stadium is so worth a visit as a football fan or a groundhopper. You will truly not be disappointed. Looking back in history, in 1987, Merthyr took on Italian side Atlanta in the UEFA Cup Winners Cup, winning at home 2-1, which was a magnificent achievement for the semi-pro side. Unfortunately, the dream was ended in the second leg with Atlanta winning 2-0 giving them a 3-2 aggregate win. Matthew was wonderful and a genuine asset to Merthyr Town Football Club. No question was too much, and his time was for us, which was greatly appreciated; Matthew introduced us to former Chairman Meurig Price, who, at 87 years young, gave us a great interview recalling his first-ever game. As we'd finished our look around, it was swiftly approaching kick-off, we managed to grab an interview with a couple of Merthyr fans (Owen Money 😉 and John Strand) the videos can be viewed below: We also were delighted to have the opportunity to speak to Merthyr Town’s record appearance holder, Matthew Harris ( no relation 😂). He is unfortunately out with a serious injury but hopes to be back next season. He was in good spirits all things considering> It was time for the players to make their way out, and Merthyr were led out by a fan who was having his 91st birthday in what was a lovely The game got underway, and Merthyr had the majority of the ball, but some careless play at the back let Chertsey in, and their player was bought down by Merthyr goalkeeper Jamie Cogman, Penalty to Chertsey. The crowd held their breath as the ref went to his pocket but it was only yellow, I think most Merthyr fans will think they got away with one from a very generous ref but at least it didn't spoil the game, Chertsey scored the penalty to put the strugglers 1-0 up against the odds, as the first half progressed, Merthyr had all the ball but couldn't break Chertsey down. And at the back looked a little vulnerable on the odd occasion Chertsey did push forward. Deep into the first half, Merthyr looked to have upped the tempo and had a few very good chances, but as the half-time whistle blew, it was Merthyr Town 0-1 Chertsey Town, Half time, and it was time for a bit of grub and a pint. The service was lovely and the food quality was good. The photo below shows the sausage, chips and gravy in what we'd describe as a boat of bread! And the photo doesn't do it justice as this thing was huge! At only £5.50. Modelled superbly by our good friend Alan Jones and the amazing Mr George It's time for the 2nd half, where the Martyrs really upped it! They looked like a side possessed to turn things around, and that they did. Cox and Ricardo were denied by the Chertsey keeper within 10 minutes of the restart, but eventually, Merthyr found the back of the net with a wonderful strike! Callum Ryan-Phillips with a worldie! He cut inside from the left and bent one into the far top corner! It was a goal to mark the occasion of non-league day! A wonderful strike and Merthyr didn't look back thereafter. Two more goals followed for the hosts as they took the lead and swiftly took the game away from Merthyr, both goals coming from Tom Handley, Merthyr managed to control things and see the game out well, winning 3-1 in front of a crowd of 1,519, Merthyr fans were absolutely buzzing they'd not only come back from 1-0 down to win 3-1 but also that closest challengers AFC Totton had lost, meaning Merthyr were now 8 points clear. After the game, we were delighted to be joined by 2 goal man Tom Handley, who was brilliant and gave us a good assessment of things! Our final act of the day was to visit Merthyr's memorial garden Situated just behind the open-air terrace at one end of the ground a place the like of which you will not find anywhere else in the world as you look over the stadium from the garden and the magnificent backdrop of the valleys with its memorial bench’s and headstones. I can’t think of a better place for a lifelong town supporter to have their ashes buried or scattered. It is truly an amazing place. A couple of years ago, we did an article on this very memorial garden; actually, coming here and being in the garden ourselves was truly a moving experience. It was a fantastic day, a club on the up, run by wonderful people who had so much time for us, facilities that were professional standards and views to match anything in the UK. Thanks again Merthyr Town. It was our pleasure Gary & Greg

Our latest away day saw us take a trip to Nottinghamshire to visit our good friends at Carlton Town who were taking on North Ferriby in the Northern Premier East Division clash, with Carlton Town still having an outside chance of reaching the playoffs and North Ferriby sitting in a playoff place, this game had all the makings of an intriguing game. When arriving at the Bill Stokeld Stadium, you are greeted with a nice sized car park, always a good start, you enter through the turnstiles which I must say look like museum pieces, proper old school, I loved them! I found out later they were donated by Leicestershire County Cricket Club. As you come through the turnstiles, you have a large clear tarmacked space to the left of the Chuck Fowler suite that houses the board room, changing rooms, Snack bar and Club shop. To the right is the clubhouse, which is a nice size with 2 screens showing football and a well-stocked Bar. The stadium itself consists of a covered area on the side of the Chuck Fowler suite, a small covered standing area at one end of the ground with a covered seated stand at the other end, there is a covered area overlooking the pitch with tables and chairs just in front of the clubhouse and the club's colours of yellow and blue are very prominent around the stadium, all in all, a nice tidy little stadium. Carlton Town is a member-owned club, and the success of this club on and off the pitch comes down to the blood and sweat of its membership and volunteers, all credit goes to Mick Garton (Chairman) and his team for all the efforts and many cases, financial support that they give to this wonderful club. The North Ferriby team bus arrived, also bringing with it approximately 30 away supporters; well done to them! On arrival at the Bill Stokeld Stadium, the Ferriby Supporters did their best to make their presence felt. I counted a dozen flags around the ground, and yes, the obligatory drum made an appearance. A good friend of Proper Football and an absolute Football legend, Ian-Storey-Moore had popped in after attending the Forest vs City game up the road at the City ground; I managed to catch up with Ian, touching on his role as ambassador for Carlton Town/Nottingham Forest and the late great Dennis Law of whom Ian had the pleasure of playing with. It has become a regular theme on our journeys that we like to shine a spotlight on the community aspect of football clubs and Carlton Town is no exception, they have a youth academy system which also encompasses a scheme in which deprived children from inner-cities have the opportunity to join the club and have a potential route to the first team as well as being part of an educational program. The main pitch at Carlton Town is grass; however, they have a 3G pitch at one end of the ground as well as a smaller pitch, which in the near future will become a 4G playing surface as it is currently grass. Once again I found as I do on all my journeys the importance of clubs at the grassroots level as they are not just football clubs in many cases they are the hub of their local community, they provide both young and old, male and female the opportunity to play football or be involved in other ways, and for the young, it teaches them life skills, teamwork which gives them a sense of achievement and something to look forward to, it’s quite ironic that today the club attended an anti-knife crime rally and without the contribution of this and many other non-league clubs many more children would potentially be roaming the streets with nothing to do and we know too well unfortunately what that leads to, so my message to the FA and the government is that you underestimate the importance of these community clubs, they need more support and financial help for a sport awash with money much more could and should be done! I had the opportunity to catch up with Gary Clarke, AKA Boatsy, who puts so much time and effort into this club, all credit to him! Very interestingly earlier in the morning Gary and others attended an anti-knife crime, and we also touched on his beloved Nottingham Forest who had just beaten Manchester City to give them a real chance of Champions League football next season. With the game finishing Carlton Town 1 North Ferriby 0, the table now looks like this: A big THANK YOU to both teams and we wish them both all the very best for the rest of the season. A big apology to Andy (assistant Manager of Carlton Town) and Mick (Chairman of Carlton Town), who both gave me great Interviews, only for me to wipe the SD card and lose their interviews, as they say, "sacked in the morning, you're getting sacked in the morning!" Part 2 Carlton Town v North Ferriby THE FANS VEIW will be released Sunday 16/3/25 You can watch the highlights of the game below courtesy of Carlton Town TV.

Waking up on a Saturday morning to minus temperatures and icy conditions with the intention to leave the warm confinements of a comfortable bed isn’t something that those not of a football background would relish, however whisper the sweet words of ‘away day’ in the ear of a football enthusiast and watch them bolt out of the stalls like a lurcher that hasn’t been around the track for a fortnight! Burton Here we come It was an early start for the travelling Shoe Army heading to Burton Albion’s Pirelli Stadium due to the ever considerate (insert sarcastic tone here) time constraints that a certain broadcaster feel is acceptable for TV coverage, and whilst far from the worst example in terms of distance travelled so early in the day, in my opinion only further demonstrates the dwindling importance to key decision makers of travelling fans. Whilst this is indeed no laughing matter, we football fans have a way of adapting and making the most of such circumstances, evidenced by the full breakfast and inebriant(s)that accompanied it we enjoyed – after all, it was 5 o’clock somewhere I’m sure! With full stomachs, the distinct aroma of bacon fat and a sense of ‘we could get a result today you know’ in the air, we set off for Northampton train station, a short Uber ride away. Boarding the 09:10 train along with a number of others within the Cobblers contingent, it was a rather buoyant journey for the time of day, fuelled by the aforementioned inebriants and optimism of most of the travelling Cobblers on board. Following two changes, encounters with other well-wishing travelling fans and conversations centred around methodical predictions of what the game ahead of us may hold, we arrived at our destination, Burton-Upon-Trent train station. First port of call (if you discount the toilet) was of course the closest pub to the ground, which after another short Uber journey of approx. 10-15 mins, we arrived at. Three pints of the black stuff was the order of choice, enjoyed within the characteristic and atmospheric walls of ‘The Beech Hotel,’ a well-renowned haven for away fans visiting the Pirelli Stadium. During our visit, I met the lovely Millie, a self-confessed away crowd reveller, who with her warm nature made us as a fan base feel very welcome and was even kind enough to pose for a photo or two with the Shoe Army. Offering a quality pint (or considerably more in our case), plenty of banter and a welcoming aura, The Beech Hotel is the perfect place for an away fan to enjoy their pre-match delights – we cannot thank Millie & her team enough for the fantastic treatment whilst there! It was then time to head to the ground in anticipation of kick off, and upon arrival, we were presented with a ‘newer’ sort of ground having been built in 2005, however there was still a feeling of tradition around the place. We were housed in the ‘Away Terrace,’ a safe standing area that provided a real old school feel resembling that of a much older ground and something I personally prefer to your more modern ‘sit down, be quiet and enjoy the game’ type approaches you see so much more frequently these days. For me, it provides a real sense of freedom to express yourself when on that 90 minute rollercoaster of emotions. With a total attendance of 2837 on the day, it’s fair to say us away fans made up a fair proportion of the attendance and with a close to sell out allocation, the shoe army could be heard making our contribution to the atmosphere. A far from classic game contested by one side rooted to the bottom of the table and the other not far above, it was fair to say the game lacked quality and definitely only served to showcase two teams low on confidence and in poor form for large parts. That said, what the game lacked in quality, it made up for in fighting spirit with both sides desperate for a result, which really added to the intensity of the game resulting in some full-blooded tackles flying in, which is as far as the action went in the first half with very little in the way of actual chances created. As the game progressed and we moved into the second half, both teams made changes and attempted to take a more attacking approach with Burton creating some decent chances and the Cobblers ‘keeper being called into action, making some top saves on a couple of occasions. It was however the mighty Cobblers who came away with the spoils, a hard fought 3 points and well-earned clean sheet to boot with impassioned chants of ‘we are staying up’ ringing out at full time further demonstrating the need for 3 points. A special mention must go to a man, who considered by many within the stands of Sixfields Stadium as a modern-day legend, has come to the aid of The Cobblers on many occasions with important goals and big performances when it matters the most – our very own ‘Super’ Sam Hoskins. A deflected winner when we needed it the most being the latest instalment in a catalogue of vital contributions produced whilst donning the famous claret & white, and all on his 400th appearance for the club, a feat rarely achieved at this level of football. This, for me, epitomises the model footballer and someone that should be showcased as a role model to the youth, rather than your £350k per week poster boys plying their overpaid trade in the glitz & glamour of the Premier League. With far too many examples of this nature for my liking, I for one salute players such as Sam for their dedication to their clubs, its fans, their wider communities and being able to provide fans with truly special moments time and time again. I’m sure we’ll be chanting ‘Hoskins again ole, ole’ a fair few more times before the season reaches it’s close. A big thank you to Tom Harvey the man behind this Awayday Blog! If you would like to send us an awayday blog contact us @ contact@properfootball.co.uk Or message us through our website www.properfootball.co.uk

To those with relevant interest, the name Nuneaton mentioned in a football context carries, in the eyes of some, a rather unsavoury reputation, with various examples of poor running and ill-intentioned ownership cited as the reasons behind this. The club’s ever loyal fanbase have seen their club hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons in the not-too-distant past, longing for stability and a club they can be proud of.   A New Regime in Town at Nuneaton!   Fast forward to the present day however and what we are now presented with is a club that bears no resemblance of the old regime, demonstrating that they are firmly on track and powering forwards in the right direction, providing fans with what they’d been longing for and more. Testament to the fans’ passion, dedication and unrivalled determination, a steering group was created and the wheels set in motion to bring football back to Nuneaton, which proved to be a huge contributor to the inception of Nuneaton Town FC.  As a result of the new set up and the club now having the right people in the right places (something I personally witnessed and experienced first hand), coupled with a completely fresh outlook and a real determination to move this club in a positive direction, fans now have the opportunity to support their local club and turned out in decent numbers with a total attendance of 405 on the day of my visit.   Whilst what I am about to reference can be demonstrated at various clubs regardless of the level they play at, and something I find is not talked about and celebrated enough are those within clubs like Nuneaton dedicating their time on a voluntary basis, purely for the love and passion they hold for their club. Nobody that I have ever encountered epitomises this and provides a more existential example than Phil, a match day volunteer that I met during our visit to the home of Bedworth United, where Nuneaton currently play their home games.   What was clear to me from my very first interaction with Phil was how much he loves the club and how much his role within the club means to him, he spoke with pure passion and brimmed with excitement when providing me with his thoughts on the new regime and what he hopes the future holds for the club, a full interview on which can be found below and is well worth a watch. Something equally apparent to me from the early exchanges with the hierarchy at the club is how much people like Phil and roles that can sometimes go criminally unnoticed are spoken about with such appreciation and clearly valued immensely. It was a real pleasure and a privilege to meet a real-life grassroots hero! As many a football fan will attest to, you can’t beat a bit of good old fashioned footy fare, which is exactly what I managed to get my hands on and finding decent value in terms of the pricing to boot made it taste that little bit better. Value in football is an ever-dwindling commodity, demonstrated in no small part by those at the ‘top’ of the game, who are quite frankly ripping the heart and soul out of football for me with inflated prices to match the inflated egos that dominate topflight football in this country, thus creating a corporate style environment no longer aimed at your traditional football fan. Drop a bit further down the pyramid however (where the entertainment value is just as high might I add) and you can enjoy your football fix for a fraction of the price and contribute to organic growth of clubs deserving of your hard-earned money and time.  ‘ Chicken Balti Pie & Chips with Gravy – £7.50 Pint of Guinness - £4.65 What’s not to love about that!’ ‘Tickets – Adults £8 Concessions (65+) £6 Young Adults (16-18) £6 Children (5-15) £1 Children (Under 5) FREE   Value for money if I ever did see it, and in case you were worried about a lack of atmosphere, you need not!’     For me, a day at the football isn’t just about the football itself, it’s the whole experience from the atmosphere to the food (and beer) on offer, your surroundings and the general feel within the stadium. A friendly, family, community feel around a club is immensely important to me and it would be an understatement to say that Nuneaton Town possesses all of this and more in abundance. There absolutely is a new regime in town and the fans have a club they can shout about once again. I cannot thank everyone at Nuneaton Town enough for their phenomenal hospitality or speak highly enough of their exemplary ownership model and vision for the future. It’s safe to say that I will be back, not just as part of the Proper Football team, but also as a fan!

Blue Skies & 3 Points for The Millers! As many football fans will attest to, we often find ourselves trudging the length and the breadth of the country following our beloved clubs accompanied by the typical Great British weather, and I take my hat off to all who travel in such conditions simply for the love of the game. I however was treated to a blue sky and sunshine throughout my visit to Carlton Town, which was not only a rarity for the month of March but an added bonus on top of what was a thoroughly enjoyable outing. On arrival at the ground, set in the heart of Nottinghamshire and upon entering the clubhouse for the very first time, I received a welcome equally as warm as the ever welcome March sunshine, immediately being made to feel part of the family by many that consider the charismatic, atmospheric stands of the Bill Stokeld Stadium a home from home. During my early exchanges with the Carlton Town faithful, I met Hugo, part of the extended family of the club in that he does not live local to the area, however travels up from his home in Dorking for a day in the area he feels most at home in whenever he can. Naturally, this triggered my interest, and after speaking with him, it was easy to understand just why he uses his spare time to follow the club. One of the most intriguing elements of a day out at the football in addition to being somewhere completely new in this instance, is the characters that you meet, each with their own views and tales to tell that add to the camaraderie that us away day revellers crave. A quintessential depiction of which I managed to find in a man they call ‘The Bear,’ a self-confessed graduate of football’s ’darker side’ who took the time to speak with me, providing an insight into why he feels he and a number of others are, despite his initial scepticism, gravitating towards non-league football. The stage was then set for kick off with the players warm and readied, the dugout graced by pacing managers of each side respectively and each club’s ever-faithful following immovably placed in the stands in eager anticipation of the first display of action. Such is the close proximity of the stands to the pitch, fans may as well be part of the physical action themselves - often referred to as the ‘12th man,’ no ground I’ve ever observed provides fans with quite the opportunity to live up to this old epithet than the home of the Millers. Now, anyone who has read any of my previous articles will know I’m a man who loves value (and grub), so there’s no way I was going to let this day pass me by without sampling the cuisine on offer and demonstrate the phenomenal value and quality I was treated to. Steak & Kidney Pie, Chips, Mushy peas & Gravy Pint - £4.50 - £5.50 You can even pay with Bitcoin should you so wish! In addition to all of the aforementioned motivation to take yourself down to Carlton Town are those without which none of it would be possible - the real non-league grafters, devoting their time and passion to the cause, keeping the club running and readily available to many that benefit from what the club has to offer and are able to keep what is a solitary outlet to come alive. Casting our minds back to my arrival and entry to the clubhouse, front and centre was club stalwart Kelly, in her element, welcoming home and away fans alike with her natural warmth and well-honed ability to make people feel at home. In what she classes as her ‘happy place,’ Kelly and her team demonstrate how hospitality is done, showcasing what it means to be the heartbeat of the club with their hard work and dedication. I was lucky enough to catch up with the woman herself at full-time to understand just how much the club and role means to her. I couldn’t have planned a more fitting way to conclude my time at Carlton Town and would like to extend my personal thanks to the club and all that took the time to speak with me on the day. Non-league clubs like this really are the heartbeat of local communities and are inordinately deserving of our time and support. My opinion is that it is our duty as football fans to show support and contribute positively to our local non-league clubs that give so much to us in so many ways - I for one could not imagine a world without them and the community initiatives that benefit many.

With the games coming thick and fast as we head into the business end of the season, I decided to pick Leatherhead FC as my choice for a Proper Football Awayday for The Tanner's big Isthmian League South Central clash against Kingstonian FC in what was a 6 pointer with the home side making a late charge for the playoffs coming up against the K's who were 2nd in the league behind already crowned champions Farnham FC with the chasing pack breathing down K's necks. Leatherhead is a lovely town in the Mole Valley district of Surrey, with the River Mole flowing through the heart of it, and The Tanner's Fetcham Grove ground is just a short 15-minute walk from the train station. On arrival at the ground, you are met by a very impressive entrance above the turnstiles that says 'Welcome To Leatherhead FC', and they definitely made me and my mates feel welcome on the day! The club who were formed in 1907 have been playing at Fetcham Grove since 1946, a very picturesque ground with a capacity of 2,000 with 3 covered stands with banked terracing and plenty of seats, after paying £12 to get in and buying an excellent programme for £2 and the obligatory half-time raffle tickets (still yet to ever win one!) it was time to go in and join the rest of the fans which included an impressive following from the visitors. Check out a montage of photos here; I have to say the facilities were excellent and you can see the club are putting in lots of effort to give the fans a great matchday experience with a new Fan zone along with a very smart clubhouse and bar. FIRST HALF The K's started off on the front foot and soon took a deserved lead on 6 minutes with a new loan signing from AFC Wimbledon, Junior Nkeng causing all sorts of trouble for The Tanner's defence and looked like they would be out of sight by halftime, but Leatherhead started to grow into the game and worked out the K's weaknesses and had turned the game around by the interval and could've been well in front if not for a wonder save from the away keeper! HALF-TIME It was time to sample the food from the Tea Bar, which had loads of choices, and it didn't disappoint, with the very tasty 'Tanners Burger' hitting the spot! SECOND HALF The second 45 was a cagey affair with Leatherhead protecting their 2-1 lead, but in the 6 minutes of added-on time at the end of the match, the game exploded into life with 2 more goals! But who scored them? FULL-TIME What a game! A massive 3 points for Leatherhead, but a 3rd defeat in a row for The K's, whose fans you could sense were very disgruntled with their recent form. I got chatting to a Leatherhead supporter after the game and it only turned out to be the match winners dad, Mike Everitt who kindly agreed to come on camera followed by his son Matthew who scored the 95th minute winner! We always like to contact clubs before we visit them to see if we can interview some of the people behind the scenes but as this was a last minute thing I'd left it to late, BUT, I have to say the people at Leatherhead were amazing on the day and gave me their time at such short notice and it was a pleasure to speak with Mick Sullivan, a director at The Tanners and a former manager. At Proper Football one of the things we like highlighting the most is the role football clubs have in the community, so when I saw a fella with a Leatherhead hoody with Community Officer on it I made a beeline for him! His name was Dave and I hadn't realised I had already briefly spoken to him earlier in the day, probably because he was dressed up as a swan in the club mascot uniform and was playing the part of Swannell The Swan! aptly named after legendary Leatherhead goalkeeper John Swannell. Dave went on to tell about what he and the club do in the community. Every club needs someone like Dave! It was an absolute pleasure to visit Leatherhead FC, not only to see an enthralling match but to meet so many nice people and witness a club doing things in the right way. We wish them all the best going forward and fingers crossed they make the playoffs! You can watch the extended highlights of the game here on the excellent Leatherhead FC YouTube channel that also has loads of other great content and is well worth subscribing to.

When the date was set for the 2025 Non-League Day, a wonderful concept that was set up in 2010 by James Doe to champion all that is great about non-league football, one of the toughest decisions, as always, was to pick which game to go to! The day that is always scheduled to coincide with the international break enables a platform for grassroots clubs to promote the importance of volunteer-led community football whilst the cash cow that is the Premier League along with the EFL Championship takes second stage and gives fans across the country the chance to show continued support or even discover for the first time all the joys and benefits that non-league football has to offer. For me, it was an easy choice this season. The famous grandstand at Wellesley Road, the home of Great Yarmouth Town, which is believed to be the oldest wooden stand still in use, had been on my football bucket list for some time, and it didn't disappoint! But what equally blew me away on the day and epitomised one of the things that have rekindled my love for our beautiful game was to see and hear about the fantastic work the club does in the local community! First impressions are always important and the lady on the turnstiles and the man selling the 50/50 halftime tickets just inside the ground set the tone perfectly for the day ahead with a very warm welcome! My first port of call was to have a chat with the Chairman of The Bloaters, Martyn Sinclair who had kindly agreed to spend some time with me after I had contacted the club during the week, I asked a fan if they could point me in the right direction to locate Martyn and he said, "Yeah, he's out their on the pitch" which he followed up by shouting out Martyn's nickname and called him over from where he was picking up a bit of litter and making sure everything was just right in the lead up to kick off. This little episode spoke volumes for the club and left me with a big smile on my face! Ahead of kick-off, I took the opportunity to have a chat with 'The Amber Wave', a lovely group of fellas who have come together to form a supporters group that creates a great atmosphere home and away following The Bloaters! It was now time for the kick-off in what turned out to be one of the most bizarre and entertaining matches I have attended in all the years I've been going to football! It may have been Non-League Day, but I will forever remember this as Red Card Day! After an even start, Cornard United took the lead in the 20th minute, but everything changed at the half-hour mark when the visitors received their first Red card of the day! Just before 'The Ards' went down to 10 men, I caught up with 'The Bloaters' Honorary Club Chaplin, The Reverend David Mills, who told me about his and the club's work in the local area with the GYTCIC Shop, which is the community arm of Great Yarmouth Town Football Club situated In the heart of the town and is the hub of opportunity, activity & community support. With halftime approaching, I had the pleasure to speak with The Bloater's social media man, Ian Honeyman, who is also the commercial manager, and we spoke about the importance of the role in growing the club profile. Yet again, whilst doing another interview, a second Cornard player was sent off in the 45th minute! I could sense a bit of a theme going on here! 😂 The referee, who it's fair to say had an indifferent first 45 minutes brought the half to an end with the away side still 1-0 up despite being reduced to 9 men. It was time to sample the food on offer and have a look around. The Tea Hut which is situated next to the famous old grandstand had hot pies and pasties on sale as well as the usual refreshments along with a merchandise stand manned by Tony '2 Hats' who was one of the many characters I met on the day along with the lovely lady who was in charge of the catering, I also met Paul, aka 'Squeaky' who is the stadium announcer. These were just some of the many volunteers who were dotted around the ground and were the heartbeat of the football club. There is also a very nice bar called Smudgers to the right of the turnstile once you come into the ground which has plenty of beverages to choose from and had a really nice buzz about it, I believe Smudgers bar was named after a former official at the club and outside the bar was a bench in memory of a former player Mike Sutton (Son of Chris) who played for the Bloaters for many years over the 70s and 80s which is another nod to it being a proper club who remember those who have passed, there was also a BBQ on the go serving up some quality burgers and hotdogs that went down a treat! It was time for the second half, and what a half it was! The Amber Wave lads had moved to the end where The Bloaters were attacking just outside Smudgers Bar, and the atmosphere was cranked up a notch! You can watch what ensued in the second 45 minutes here, including 4 goals, 2 more red cards, and a sin-bin!!! 👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼 Before I sum up the day I just want to tip my hat to what the club do in the community and highlight what the Great Yarmouth Town CIC shop in the town centre brings to the people in the local area. The mission statement for the GYTCIC is to “Improve People's Lives” and that everyone deserves access to opportunities that enable them to reach their full potential, regardless of background or circumstance. The second-hand shop provides affordable sports and leisure equipment, making it easier for everyone to stay active and healthy. They assist the homeless by providing essential items such as tents, sleeping bags, and groundsheets, offering a lifeline to those in need. They offer an employment support program that helps individuals overcome barriers to employment, offering resources and guidance to re-enter the workforce with confidence. They supply food and essential items, offer free haircuts and interview attire, and provide critical support to individuals and families in crisis. They also have a Football Against Dementia campaign that raises awareness and supports those affected by dementia and their families. Plus, lots more, including Nordic walking, to promote physical activity and social connection, and at Christmas, they distribute stockings filled with gifts to families facing financial hardship. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 I am so pleased I chose Great Yarmouth Town as my choice of game on Non-League Day as it embodied everything that the annual day is about and much more! This club is definitely on the up and with so many fantastic people who are like one big family working together alongside a very young talented squad of players the future looks very bright for The Bloaters and I urge anyone from the town who has not been to a game yet to get themselves down to Wellesley Road and be part of something that is ultimately great for the town! A massive thank you to everyone who made me so welcome on the day and we sincerely wish you all the best for the future. Great Yarmouth Town is a Proper Football Club!

Ravens Swoop for All Three Points! After a long week of toil and longing for our football fix, the Proper Football boys were out on their travels again, this time making the short trip to the Mander Cruickshank Solicitors Stadium, home of Coalville Town. On arrival, we were warmly greeted by Club Secretary Gary, who, whilst relatively new to the role, clearly embodies the spirit of the club and demonstrates a perfect example of someone who has the club’s best interests at heart, which we will touch on in further detail later in the piece. The ground itself consists of two seated stands (east & west) and two safe standing areas (north & south), complimented by a tremendously well-kept playing surface and overlooked by a seated balcony providing a captivating viewpoint for onlookers. An outdoor bar area with seating and a hot food kiosk provides fans with the freedom to snare a pint and revel in the delights of some proper footy fare whilst taking in the ambience of the pitch and surrounding areas. Should you endure a colder or rainier day, synonymous with atypical British weather, the club also has the indoor ‘Jack’s Bar’ offering a good selection of drinks and snacks, keeping fans well nourished and not to mention dry and warm where necessary. Naturally, the Proper Football nosey parker division, of course, took a full guided tour and captured a scintillating montage of pictures showcasing the exceptional facilities the club has at its disposal. Part of our initial introductions included meeting the Manager and Assistant Manager, Ash and Jay respectively, who after a quick cheesy grin and pose on the pitch, were kind enough to step in front of the Proper Football cameras, providing an insight on the workings of the club, their connections, targets for the remainder of the campaign and how things are shaping up for the future. Testament to the club’s ability to establish long-term connections and relationships, this season saw Manager Ash return to the club after enjoying a sterling 11-year spell as a player at the club, some of which he spent as club captain, bringing with him his trusty leftenant Jay as Assistant Manager. Jay, a man who is also a success story in his own right within the football world, provides the necessary support that any great leader would not succeed without. The future of a football club is always an important topic of discussion, something of equal importance however is understanding the journey, and how the club, now in a strong position to build for the future achieved the level of stability it now enjoys after a period of turbulence, which saw the club withdraw from it’s step 3 standing, dropping down to step 6. A decision I am told that was not taken lightly has proved to be a shrewd one, in that it has provided the club with the platform to rebuild and consolidate, ensuring stability is reinstated in a club that is held in immensely high regard within the local community. Credited for his spirit and holding the club’s best interests close to his heart earlier in the piece, a man exceptionally well placed to provide an insight into the persistent and relentless graft that was put in to restore order to this great club is Club Secretary, Gary. From my very first exchange with Gary, it became evident that in his and all within the club’s hands, the club is held in exceptionally good stead for the future. As touched upon in our chat with Gary, Coalville Town provides a safe haven and nurturing environment for, on average, over 900 young people every week to come into their own, utilising the club’s facilities to aid their personal development, not only as budding footballers but also as individuals. Providing a pathway for the next generation and offering the teaching of life skills, whilst potentially unearthing gems that can and have demonstrably gone on to play for the first team, the club delivers a far more important message to the wider community in that their doors are always open to the those that can benefit from what it has to offer, the importance of which cannot be emphasised enough. It was great to see the children on the pitch at halftime taking penalties, and with some well-taken pens and the Ravens Mascot in goal and not getting a call-up anytime soon, The kids won the day! With the stage set and all in attendance eagerly anticipating kick-off, a certain name kept popping up throughout our time at Coalville Town so far: someone who has held just about every voluntary role within the club but classes the club shop as her ‘baby’ was Val. Part of the fabric of the club having been associated in one form or another for over 20 years, Val is a true club legend and face of warmth and familiarity for many, whether that be young Ravens popping into her club shop just for a quick ‘hello’ or when she is being recognised out and about on her daily endeavours within the local area. Val, decked out in her club official attire, took time away from her busy and essential role to speak with me, revealing all about her 20+ years of association with the club whilst telling an intriguing tale or two referencing her many outings following the Ravens up and down the country over the years. Val, a personal message from Proper Football to you - we are so grateful for all you do for grassroots football and your achievements within the game are unprecedented. Without people like you, the game would not be the same, and we salute you and your relentless will to continue to do all that you do purely for the love of the game; your impassioned dedication to the cause is immensely admirable, and it was a real pleasure to meet you. Now, onto the match action - seated in the covered nearside stand, the game kicked off in what was in honesty, a midfield battle in the early stages, as both teams sized one another up, poised to try and take the initiative. Neither side achieved this in the first half unfortunately, with the action petering out somewhat as the first half drew to a close. The second half, however, saw the game come to life, with both sides having chances of their own after decent passages of play respectively. It was the Ravens in the end, who swooped to pinch what was a deserved 3 points, further consolidating their mid-table position in what has so far been a season of solid rebuilding, given the challenges faced in the not-so-distant past. A raucous home following, vocal throughout were understandably delighted with the result with the home players showing their appreciation for the support, further showcasing the demonstrably unbreakable connection between the club and it’s fans. We were even treated to some instrumental numbers from the Coalville Town resident drummer, who, in what is a rather unorthodox but effective set-up, fuels the atmosphere with his renditions of famous footy chants. Another person you hear before you see, in addition to the aforementioned drummer, is John, AKA ‘The voice of Coalville Town.’ John controls everything sound-related within the club, right from the pre and post-match tunes through to substitutions and various other pieces of relevant information. John, another quintessential example of a non-league hero and voluntary member of the Coalville Town contingent, gave up yet more of his valuable time for a chat in front of the Proper Football cameras. With the 3 points in the bag, the sun beginning to set behind the far side stand and our outing drawing to a close, it was time to reflect on what had been a thoroughly enjoyable day. The set-up at Coalville Town is incredibly impressive, contributed to in no small part by all of the aforementioned individuals we spoke with, the fans and all within the club behind the scenes. I don’t think there are words to justifiably describe quite how much this club offers the local community in terms of a hub to express themselves and satisfy their football crave, whilst contributing to the organic growth of grassroots football and being a safe space for fans young and old. This club gives so much back to those who take the time to come and enjoy what it has to offer, something that was abundantly clear throughout our visit. I think I speak on behalf of all at Proper Football when I say, we will be keeping an eye on the club’s progress and look forward to the continuity of a relationship with the club - we wish them all the very best for the remainder of this campaign and beyond, on and off the pitch! Match Highlights of the clash can be found below from Coalville Town FC TV.