Tough response needed by the FA

Just 20 minutes into the new season. That is all it took for the FA’s clampdown on poor behaviour towards match officials to get off to a bad start. Non League Football is meant to be a family sport and that idea went out of the window when Runcorn Linnets turned up at Hemsworth Miners  read more→

Zero tolerance is the right approach

The news that the FA, Premier League and Football League are clamping down on “intolerable behaviour” is long overdue. The level of swearing and intimidation towards match officials from players and coaches at all levels reached an unacceptable level a long time go, but the leading authorities have failed to act, until now. The news  read more→

The end for match day programmes?

Match-day programmes were once the essential item for football supporters, for some they still are. But, for anyone involved in the semi-professional game though, it can be the bane of their lives. By league rules, clubs have no choice, they have to publish one, but many club officials will be able to testify that the  read more→

Yorkshire NCEL Div One team of the year

The exciting Toolstation NCEL Division One season after a brilliant promotion race which also included the bonus of the inaugural play-offs system. Hemsworth Miners Welfare were the only Yorkshire-based promotion winner, but the likes of AFC Emley, Penistone Church, Hallam and Knaresborough Town made good fists of it. Every year we bring you our NCEL  read more→

Yorkshire NCEL Prem team of the year

The long and exhausting Toolstation NCEL Premier Division season is finally over after a brilliant race for top spot between Tadcaster Albion and Handsworth Parramore. The pair were head and shoulders above the rest, shown in their points tallies of 98 and 94. Every year we bring you our NCEL Premier Division team of the  read more→

Division One North team of the year

Unfortunately no Yorkshire team have enjoyed league success this season in Evo Stik Division One North. Scarborough looked certainties for the title in August, but their season took an unexpected slide. Ossett Albion climbed as high as third at one point and went onto finish in their highest position for years. Farsley Celtic’s poor start  read more→

Division One South team of the year

Shaw Lane Aquaforce and Stocksbridge Park Steels have enjoyed brilliant seasons in Evo Stik Division One South and they dominate Non League Yorkshire’s team of the year. Stocksbridge had a brilliant FA Trophy run, which included a defeat of the holders North Ferriby. They finished sixth after flirting with the play-offs, while Shaw Lane have  read more→

Who is to blame for Senior Cup fiasco?

The late withdrawal of Shaw Lane Aquaforce from the Sheffield & Hallamshire Senior Cup is a very sorry episode for everyone involved. Frickley Athletic are the innocent party and real losers of the story. As to who is to blame, everyone has a different view. There are numerous recent examples in recent years of clubs having to  read more→

Three players who could be the next Jamie Vardy

The sensational season that Jamie Vardy is enjoying at Leicester City has rekindled the dream that many non-league footballers have of hitting the big time. Just over four years ago, Vardy was a Northern Premier League footballer, plying his trade at Halifax Town, six divisions below the Premier League. Now, he is one of English football’s  read more→

A look back at 2015…part two

With the wet weather proving to be really disruptive to the Non League schedule, it seems an appropriate moment to look back at the second half of 2015. July Two shock manager exits open the month. Brian Davey resigns at Knaresborough Town and is replaced by assistant Paul Stansfield. Steven Brennan is sacked by Rossington Main after  read more→