Non-League Day, first introduced in 2010, returns this weekend on March 23, and is your chance to help support football clubs at either the semi-professional or grassroots level.
With the international break still looming over us, it is the ideal time to head down to your local side and give them one extra supporter this weekend.
Non-League Day 2024 goes international
Contents
What is Non-League Day?
Non-League Day is always scheduled in such a way that it occurs during those international breaks that many of us loathe. The idea behind this is that all Premier League football stops, while there are also fewer fixtures throughout the entirety of the EFL as well.
As a result, the vast majority of us have no excuse not to get involved, improving the overall effectiveness of the campaign. So give it a go and take a trip to your local non-league side this weekend.
Athletic Bilbao get involved
Remarkably, the movement has gone international this year, with Spanish outfit Athletic Bilbao doing their part to ensure as many clubs benefit from the campaign as possible.
The eight-times La Liga winners recently released a statement, saying: “As a tribute to the British event and the role English football played in Athletic Club’s origins, we have collaborated with the seven active English non-league sides that have taken on Los Leones at some point in our history: Civil Service FC, United Hospitals FC, Eastbourne Town FC, Bromley FC, Merton FC, Dulwich Hamlet FC and Corinthian-Casuals FC.
“Athletic has sent each club a flag to hang up at their respective ground and a retro jersey to raffle off among their fans. In return, the aforementioned sides have sent a flag of their own for us to use during our Euskal Non-League Day events and later donate to AC Museum.”
It is a truly astonishing act of kindness from the Spanish club, who will of course gain far less from the partnership than those seven non-league clubs, who will all benefit a huge amount from a financial point of view thanks to Bilbao's generosity.
Why supporting your local side is important
Many of us, myself included at times, are or have been guilty of becoming wrapped up in the glamour of Premier League football. The crowds, the money, the television coverage – life for those at the very top of the pyramid in English football is relatively easy.
However, for those right at the bottom, that couldn't be further from the case. Revenue is a massive issue for non-league clubs, who, due to struggling to attract crowds, often find it difficult to fill even half of their stadium's full capacity.
Multiple clubs rely on cup runs and other avenues to keep them in business, most of which are inconsistent streams of income. As an industry and a society we need to do better by these teams, and getting involved on Non-League Day is an excellent way to do so.