We are best in the Basque!

NON-LEAGUE DAY – 25.03.23

James Doe NON-LEAGUE DAY FOUNDER

TOP OF THE BIL! Athletic Bilbao fans have also embraced the idea of Non-League Day

PICTURE: Alamy

■ The Essex Senior League is offering fans a Groundhop weekend for Non League Day. Groundhoppers are offered five kickoff times for the matches: On Friday night, all 7.45pm kick-offs, Athletic Newham v White Ensign, Romford v Clapton and Woodford Town v Halstead; on Saturday lunchtime (12.30pm kick-off) West Essex entertain Southend Manor, then, at 3.00pm, there are Buckhurst Hill v Saffron Walden Town, FC Clacton v Sawbridgeworth Town, Ilford v Takeley and Stansted v Barking; at 6.30pm, Stanway Rovers host Redbridge, and on Sunday leaders Enfield welcome Little Oakley, 1.00pm

NON-LEAGUE Day’s reach and appeal never ceases to surprise me.

Coming to the end of last year I was thinking, ‘Do I have the time, energy and resources to go again?’

Then, out of blue, I had a LinkedIn message from Athletic Bilbao! It was from the new directors who had recently been elected to takeover the club. They said, ‘We really like Non-League Day and want to do something like this in the Basque Country’.

I’m thinking, ‘Is this for real?’ It was! They want to really re-engage with their community and highlight grass-roots football in the region.

Fast-forward to January and we flew out there to meet them – they treated us like new signings! First we went to their training ground for a full tour – the first team area, academy, women’s area. It was amazing.

We also met a former captain who once lifted the Super Cup with them. Next stop was back into the town to their headquarters, which is in a stunning 19th century silk merchant’s house. Your jaw drops when you walk in.

That night we went to see their game against Osasuna, which we watched from the President’s box.

Originally they wanted to host their day at the same time as us but, because they have other things on, it will be in September instead.

We said, ‘That’s no problem, do it whenever you want. But, if you’d like to, you can support our day too’.

Supportive

So that’s what they’re doing. They played Dulwich Hamlet many years ago so they’re coming over to be at their game on Saturday against Oxford City. They’ve even got travel packages for supporters to make the trip from Bilbao. It’s created quite a bit of press out in Spain.

When I first came up with the idea of Non-League Day, I didn’t expect it to go beyond my circle of friends. To be national would have been a miracle, let alone further afield.

Non-League Day itself is not the thing – it’s all about the clubs, the players, the teams. That’s what is most important. Non-League Day is a celebration of that.

Our t-shirts and badges are flying off the shelves. We’ve had to get more printed!

Another first will see the Premier League trophy out at grounds – somewhere on the Friday night and somewhere on the Saturday. It’s a secret for now.

The Premier League have always been so helpful and supportive of what we do so we’re really happy to have the trophy this year.

We’re pleased to be working with Prostate Cancer UK and Kick it Out once again, and a special mention to Francis Duku’s Our Game – without him, NLD wouldn’t be happening.

BT Sport have also got two live games, which is a first. Slough Town versus Ebbsfleet at 12.30pm before Wealdstone play Barnet at 3pm.

I am proud of what Non-League Day has become. One of our own volunteers, Elsa Jones, first watched Hanwell Town in the FA Cup on Non-League Day. Now she’s involved with the club and her dad is on the board.

And, as we always say, Non-League clubs are a great source of work experience. Journalism, front of house, stewarding, behind the bar, on turnstiles. There are all sorts of things to get involved with to keep things ticking over.

Saturday, March 25 promises to be another great celebration of the Non-League game.