On Sunday, 22nd March, Non-League Day 2025 will take place, as many English non-league football clubs across the country celebrate the game below the EFL.
Non-League Day is an annual event that takes place during the international break. It started as a social media experiment by James Doe in 2010. It is now an event that is backed by Premier League and Football League clubs, MPs, celebrities, media organisations, charities, and, of course, non-league clubs themselves.
All games in Steps 1-6 taking place on 22 March are on our match finder.
If yours is missing, your club plays at a different level or in another country and you want to be included, let us know:https://t.co/FcsB1DAQ11 pic.twitter.com/mblkGAFkgl
— Non-League Day (@nonleaguedayuk) February 13, 2025
The day is an event to encourage people to support their local non-league clubs and maybe attend a game that they haven’t previously or don’t usually.
These visitors could be vital for some non-league clubs, which are mostly run by volunteers. The funds raised through the turnstiles are the lifeblood of many of these clubs.
A good idea during the international break
There are no Premier League or Championship games on 22nd March due to a break for international games. Therefore, it is a chance for fans of clubs in the top two tiers of English football to get to know a non-league club and experience what they have to offer.
Many clubs are participating in the day, with special events planned, as well as some highly competitive action taking place on the pitch.
Clubs such as AFC Fylde, Welling United, Maidenhead United, Oxford City and Buckingham Fc all offer ticket concessions. Many of the ticket concessions are connected with being a season ticket at a Premier League or EFL club.
Many clubs, such as AFC Fylde and Maidenhead United, are allowing under-12s to get into the games free of charge. This should bring in younger people who may never have been to a non-league match or even a football game.
The rest of the clubs involved in the day will be offering tickets at very affordable rates or other incentives to attend a non-league game on Saturday, which makes attending a non-league game this weekend even more enticing.
Discover the attractions of non-league football
Many who follow non-league football and are fans of clubs outside of the Premier League and the EFL are well aware of the beauty of the game outside of the top five divisions of the game in England.
You won’t have the glamorous surroundings of some of the more plush stadiums. However, what you will have is a return to grassroots football. A place where you can still stand, eat a pie and enjoy a pint or two.
The non-league experience strips football back to its rarest form of passion and why we, as fans, fell in love with the game in the first place. And maybe the best thing about these non-league games is that there is no VAR to ruin it.
Another incentive to attend
Digital marketing experts Seventy7group have teamed up with Non-League Day in an effort to promote the game beyond the league. They have offered their marketing expertise for free to promote the day online.
The company, which has offices in both Manchester and London, is leading the social media campaign to promote the event and encourage more people to visit their local non-league club.
There is an extra incentive to attend, as the social media campaign includes a chance for attendees to win football-related prizes. Here is how it works:
How Fans Can Participate:
- Attend a local Non-League Day match.
- Upload a photo of their NLD experience on Instagram.
- Use the hashtag #NLD2025 and follow @nonleagueday_uk.
- Win exciting prizes, including:
- £50 voucher for mystery football kits.
- £100 to spend with their local club.
Talking about their involvement in the day, CEO of Seventy7group Jayne Riley stated:
“Having worked in football marketing for the past 20 years, we want to give back to the community aspects of football and support growth in grassroots and non-league football, especially as most of these clubs are volunteer-led. That’s why we reached out to Non-League Day to see how we can support and drive engagement for a great cause.”
A good way to promote non-league football
Although it is only a day event, it is a good way for non-league clubs to promote their offerings. These clubs are often the heartbeat of communities and work hard to provide more than just football.
As mentioned earlier, many clubs are run by volunteers, who give their time to ensure that these often-historic institutes survive. They deserve a chance to prove that there is far more to English football than big money and VAR. So, get down to your local non-league club this weekend to show your support.
Des McEwan