By Chip Kidger
Marathonbet is all about the ‘Extraordinary' and the 2017/18 Non-League Challenge shortlist is just that.
In its third season, the online bookmaker continued its search for the most eccentric, passionate and audacious goal celebrations gracing Non-League grounds up and down the country.
Only ten Non-League clubs are left in the running to receive a lucrative £20,000 cash prize, as well as the chance to play a group of footballing legends on their home turf this summer.
Aldershot, Brackley, Darlington, Grantham, Leamington, Maidenhead United, Needham Market, St Albans, Whitehawk and Worthing will now battle it out to follow in Wealdstone and Corby Town's footsteps by winning this year's Non-League Challenge. Last year, Jason Lee's pint-swigging antics for Corby Town were enough to secure a major cash boost for the Northamptonshire-based outfit.
Voting Open
For the last few months, Marathonbet have been scouring the Non-League circuit for ingenious goal celebrations – and now fans have the chance to vote for their favourite.
They had a little help along the way in the shape of punditry royalty – Match of the Day and BBC Radio 5Live stalwart Mark Lawrenson joining forces with Arsenal legend Perry Groves to whittle down a fiercely-contested shortlist to just 10 entries.
All the shortlisted clubs now need your votes to help win the cash prize, prestigious friendly and coveted Marathonbet Non-League Challenge title for 2018.
Highlights from this year's shortlist include Darlington players Reece Styche and Gary Brown nonchalantly shaking off the winter blues to enjoy a dive in the snow, Leamington's Liam Canavan doing the ‘dead fish', and Harry Pritchard bringing some moves of Premier League quality to Maidenhead United with his uncanny imitation of Liverpool star Roberto Firmino.
And who needs expensive VAR technology? 2018 looks to be the year of the GoPro at Non-League level, with Needham Market's Gareth Heath making the shortlist by celebrating his finish with an up-close and personal celebration to remember.
You can watch all this year's shortlisted entries at nlc.marathonbet.co.uk/nlc-shorlist-vote
In addition to scooping £20,000 to spend as they like, the winning club will have the chance to take on a team of Premier League legends at their home ground on Sunday, July 29, managed by England's 1966 World Cup hero Sir Geoff Hurst. The winning club will receive 90 per cent of gate receipts from the game, with the remaining 10 per cent donated to charity.
Star names already confirmed for this year's game include Kieron Dyer, Danny Mills, Wayne Bridge, Joleon Lescott and Emile Heskey, with extra legends to be unveiled over the next few weeks.
Last year, Corby Town secured a memorable 6-1 win against Marathonbet's Non-League Challenge team – but who will be inheriting their crown this summer?
Voting closes at 10am on Sunday, April 15 so don't miss your chance to crown the best celebration on the Non-League scene for 2018…
