Non-League Day, this Saturday

The annual 'Non-League Day' is upon us once more and it falls this Saturday, 7th October. As Charlton's home match against Peterborough has been called off due to international call-ups, why not take advantage and get out to your local non-league club and show them some support?

Regular readers will know I have been frequenting Park View Road this season and I will be there again on Saturday to see the Wings make a case to move into the top ten of the National League South when they entertain Chippenham Town.

I have been quietly impressed with the quality of the football in this division and Welling are a capable team when they get going. They aren't consistently strong from 1 to 11 but they make up for that in team spirit and when they are on form they can be irresistible. They have drawn too many matches this season but have only lost three from twelve and are on a bit of a roll.

It's only £12 to get in (£2 discount for Charlton season ticket holders who bring their passes) and only another pound to get a seat if the stands, although I have enjoyed standing once again as well as the customary non-league tradition of changing viewing ends at half-time. There are two tidy bars as well with real ale and live sport.

The banter can be pretty good too. At a recent match one wag kept screeching at the referee that "that's nowhere near ten yards" at every infringement. Eventually he bawled out "can you quote for my carpets?" Down at Havant & Waterlooville last week, a 1980's throwback with Pompey's '6.57' tattooed on the back of his neck wandered up the assembled away contingent with the tired offering of "who wants it" to be met with a spontaneous song of "new Wealdstone Raider, we've got a new Wealdstone Raider!" A tad embarrassed he turned tail and headed back to the home section where he was met with the same humiliating chant. Getting to love non-league!