The Local Non-League Thread

[MulticulturalMag]

My most local non team is Millwall FFS

[Speedo]

My most local non team is Millwall FFS

I'm pretty sure they're not non-league...

[MulticulturalMag]

my bad



Will have to be the mighty Fisher F.C. then

[overseasTOON]

I once made up the numbers for Crawley Town in 2001 so they could have a training session. They walked into the pub across from the training ground/local park and asked a few of us if we could run about a bit and kick a ball.

[Micky Quim]

I went to a Darlo game and thought I could go on and actually make a difference

[Micky Quim]

I went to a Darlo game and thought I could go on and actually make a difference

[TJR]

I went to a Darlo game and thought I could go on and actually make a difference

[Micky Quim]

DP mystery happens again

[Tomski]

My local non-league team could be Pompey soon

[beardface]

DP mystery happens again

<perv>

[Gallopski]

On the subject of Blyth Spartans, which started off this thread;- I wish to here and now declare one of my few genuine ( ) claims to footballing fame;- I was one of the 40,000+ at St James Park on the night of Monday 27th February 1978!

Yep, I was there 36 years ago (as a young student) on the night the Spartans' legendary Cup Run finally came to an end in the Fifth Round reply against Wrexham.

The truly ironic thing was the gate was way in excess of any of the Newcastle United games that season! The Mags were having a poor season, whereas the Spartans' Cup run had captured the imagination of the whole nation and they were massive heroes in the North East.

So it was a total sell out and yet it hadn't been an all ticket match;- as Newcastle United (and everyone else) had been caught totally by surprise by the level of interest and demand. So there were massive queues at the turnstiles, and a lot of upset people left locked out of the ground at kick-off. Some reports said 10,000 people were turned away when the turnstiles closed.

We were amongst the lucky ones. We lived locally, and had been all set for another couple of pints in the Belle Grove Pub before wandering down to the ground. But our mate Mick, a wily Yorkshireman, had a sixth sense that the crowd was going to be massive, and insisted we went down early. How right he was, we queued for ages and only just got in, in time for kick off.

The atmosphere was unbelievable, yet it seemed to inhibit the Spartans, who were clearly not used to playing in front of crowds like this. They were subdued in the first half, which allowed Wrexham to take charge and go 2-0 up with a penalty and an excellent volleyed goal that got generous applause, despite the crowd's disappointment.

In the second half Blyth came out and had a real go, restoring their pride with an increasingly dominating performance, and Wrexham were forced back on the defensive. Wave after wave of Green and white attacks swept forward, and corner after corner was won. But the Spartans just couldn't break through, until six minutes before the end, when they finally made it 1-2.

The bedlam that then ensued was amazing, with the massive crowd absolutely howling for an equaliser. But Blyth had left it too late, and the remaining time flashed by. It seemed more like six seconds than six minutes. Blyth needed some Fergie time and they didn't get it.

The Crowd reaction and applause at the end was quite something. Blyth went on a lap of honour and you would have thought they had won the Cup! Tremendous scenes which I will never forget and the like of which (in all honesty!) I have never seen at St James Park before or since.

One of my own traditions is to always buy a programme for any match I go to see. That night, there was no chance, they were all sold out. the number produced was probably less than a quarter of what they actually needed. But to my huge delight, I actually managed to get one on e bay a couple of years ago! About 34 years late, but hey-ho!

Needless to say, like anyone who saw that game, I'll always be a Blyth Spartans fan in the non-League scene

[Micky Quim]

1978. The grand year of my birth

[Speedo]

Excellent set of results for Gateshead last night in the conference

Going to Wembley

I think the real danger for them is Grimsby. They're the best team in the conference play-offs, for sure. Probably the best team in the league behind Luton, too.

[Heisen]

It'd be brilliant if Gateshead got promoted. Jamie Chandler's mam and dad used to live on my street.

[DarrasHallStalker]

Needless to say, like anyone who saw that game, I'll always be a Blyth Spartans fan in the non-League scene

Agreed, I wasn't there but I remember me and my mates listening to it on the radio in my bedroom. I think it was the first time I was enthralled by any sporting event. Everyone was talking about it, the head beak even did a morning assembly on it at school.

[Blue & Maroon]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/27065675" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Gateshead game vs Southport on Radio Newcastle

[Matthieu]

Spoiler

On the subject of Blyth Spartans, which started off this thread;- I wish to here and now declare one of my few genuine ( ) claims to footballing fame;- I was one of the 40,000+ at St James Park on the night of Monday 27th February 1978!

Yep, I was there 36 years ago (as a young student) on the night the Spartans' legendary Cup Run finally came to an end in the Fifth Round reply against Wrexham.

The truly ironic thing was the gate was way in excess of any of the Newcastle United games that season! The Mags were having a poor season, whereas the Spartans' Cup run had captured the imagination of the whole nation and they were massive heroes in the North East.

So it was a total sell out and yet it hadn't been an all ticket match;- as Newcastle United (and everyone else) had been caught totally by surprise by the level of interest and demand. So there were massive queues at the turnstiles, and a lot of upset people left locked out of the ground at kick-off. Some reports said 10,000 people were turned away when the turnstiles closed.

We were amongst the lucky ones. We lived locally, and had been all set for another couple of pints in the Belle Grove Pub before wandering down to the ground. But our mate Mick, a wily Yorkshireman, had a sixth sense that the crowd was going to be massive, and insisted we went down early. How right he was, we queued for ages and only just got in, in time for kick off.

The atmosphere was unbelievable, yet it seemed to inhibit the Spartans, who were clearly not used to playing in front of crowds like this. They were subdued in the first half, which allowed Wrexham to take charge and go 2-0 up with a penalty and an excellent volleyed goal that got generous applause, despite the crowd's disappointment.

In the second half Blyth came out and had a real go, restoring their pride with an increasingly dominating performance, and Wrexham were forced back on the defensive. Wave after wave of Green and white attacks swept forward, and corner after corner was won. But the Spartans just couldn't break through, until six minutes before the end, when they finally made it 1-2.

The bedlam that then ensued was amazing, with the massive crowd absolutely howling for an equaliser. But Blyth had left it too late, and the remaining time flashed by. It seemed more like six seconds than six minutes. Blyth needed some Fergie time and they didn't get it.

The Crowd reaction and applause at the end was quite something. Blyth went on a lap of honour and you would have thought they had won the Cup! Tremendous scenes which I will never forget and the like of which (in all honesty!) I have never seen at St James Park before or since.

One of my own traditions is to always buy a programme for any match I go to see. That night, there was no chance, they were all sold out. the number produced was probably less than a quarter of what they actually needed. But to my huge delight, I actually managed to get one on e bay a couple of years ago! About 34 years late, but hey-ho!

Needless to say, like anyone who saw that game, I'll always be a Blyth Spartans fan in the non-League scene

The Blyth story

I feel like my weekend will be a bit more cheery after reading that.

[Donkey Toon]

I bought the home and away shirts for my NL team this week, they arrived yesterday. I should probably be concerned that I care more about a team playing in the 4th tier of non-league football than NUFC these days.

[Blue & Maroon]

Grimsby vs Gateshead Thursday on BT sports after we beat Cambridge with a magnificent performance brilliant atmosphere as well, return leg is on Sunday at half four.

[Speedo]

Grimsby vs Gateshead Thursday on BT sports after we beat Cambridge with a magnificent performance brilliant atmosphere as well, return leg is on Sunday at half four.

It was great today Were you there as well? Me and TJR briefly discussed it in the weekend football thread. I can't get to the semi-final, but if they get to Wembley I'll be there. And it'll be awesome