Die-Hards Deserve Fan-Tastic Reward

NON-LEAGUE football fans are a special breed of people, often seen as the driving forces behind their beloved clubs.

You could head down to any local club on a Saturday afternoon and stumble across a number of loyal, die-hard supporters who have their own special story to tell.

Non-League is often seen as football without the glitz and glamour and where only the most committed of fans brave the terraces.

But you could search through the grass-roots game and find plenty of people who go that extra mile to follow their team – regardless of what league they’re in, who they’re playing or even where they’re playing.

Once again this year, we’ll be honouring that one true stand-out supporter with the William Hill Fan of the Year award at our National Game Awards in association with Budweiser Club Futures.

Many die-hard fans not only go that extra mile for the benefit of the team they love but also for the good of the local community.

And that’s part of the reason why Marine fan and Community Officer Barry Lenton (below) picked up the award last year. Lenton  has been a Mariners supporter since 1963 and performs various jobs around the club’s Arriva Stadium home.

He also visits schools in the Merseyside area to drum up support for its numerous initiatives and helped found their first supporters’ club.

Lenton embodies the true Non-League spirit which is on show in grounds across the country. Without the efforts of these people, many clubs would struggle to survive.

From helping with a club’s supporters’ association to mucking in with maintenance work to organising the half-time 50-50 draw, committed fans can make all the difference.

They don’t do it for money, a pat on the back or indeed for validation, but that’s where we come in. A pure love for their club is what fuels them to sacrifice their time for the greater good.

And who can forget the stories of fans travelling hundreds of miles to watch their side. And even after that 5-0 drubbing on a Tuesday night in December, their enthusiasm doesn’t wane.

Fans are the lifeblood of a football club and that’s something that is thankfully still a main part of the Non-League game.

If you think you know a fan who deserves to be honoured at our bash at Fulham’s Craven Cottage on May 15, let us know!

Budweiser Club Futures is a programme investing £1m into grassroots football. Season two applications will be live on thefa.com from July 2013.

NGA 2012-13 LIST OF AWARDS

OUR GAME Player of the Year

SPORTSBEAT Young Player of the Year

REUSCH Goalkeeper of the Year

PRO DIRECT Golden Boot

SK KITS Step 3 & 4 Player of the Year

MARK HARROD Team of the Year

ESPN Cup Run of the Year

POWER HORSE Lifetime Achievement

PREMIER SPORTS Goal of the Season

WILLIAM HILL Fan of the Year

THE FOOTBALL FOUNDATION Community Club of the Year

THE PFA Fair Play Award

BUDWEISER CLUB FUTURES PROGRAMME Unsung Hero

S&C SLATTER Manager of the Year

THE FA England C Player of the Year

VOTING IS NOW OPEN!

SEND IN YOUR NOMINATIONS TO [email protected] OR BY POST TO: THE NON-LEAGUE PAPER, TUITION HOUSE, ST GEORGE’S ROAD, WIMBLEDON, SW19 4EU.