AFC Totton
NON-LEAGUE DAY WAS ORIGINALLY set up by James Doe in 2010 as a social media experiment, after being inspired by a pre-season trip to Devon to watch Queens Park Rangers play at Tavistock.
It has now grown to become an annual part of the football calendar, backed by Premier League and Football League clubs, MPs, celebrities, media organisations, charities and most importantly the non-league clubs themselves and the fans who turn up on the day.
Always scheduled to coincide with an international break, Non-League Day provides a platform for clubs to promote the importance of affordable volunteer-led community football while giving fans across the country the chance to show support for their local non-league side.
Many non-league clubs are almost exclusively volunteer run, with money taken at the turnstiles often funding thriving youth set-ups, projects and facilities which are of benefit to the whole community. The level of skill on offer at non-league grounds might not be the same as that at the Etihad Stadium or Stamford Bridge, for example, but there are other sides to the experience, from which the smaller club will always win hands down.
The vast majority of games still kick off at 3pm, ticket prices are realistic, you can often stand (and drink!) anywhere in the ground and will always be guaranteed a warm welcome by people who run their clubs for a love of the game.
Whether you’re a Premier League or Championship fan without a game, a League One or League Two supporter who can’t make an away trip, or just someone who is curious about what their local club has to offer, there is sure to be something to interest everyone.
For more than a decade Prostate Cancer UK has worked side by side with Non-League Day, raising money to fund lifesaving research and to increase the knowledge and awareness of prostate cancer – the most common cancer in men.
As the partnership heads into its 11th season, broadcasting legend Jeff Stelling MBE has once again challenged clubs and supporters to mark the occasion. The talkSPORT presenter and Prostate Cancer UK ambassador will see his club Hartlepool United host Boston United in the National League, while up and down the UK clubs will be supporting the leading men’s health charity on the day.
Stelling said: “Non-League Day is a really important – and influential campaign – something I always get behind. It’s such a good partnership which allows a brilliant charity which means so much to me to continue their lifesaving work across the football landscape. Non-League Day is the perfect platform to do that. See you there!”
Supporters across the UK can get involved on the day, from shaking a bucket, walking to the game or wearing the iconic Man of Men badge. Football fans can also check their risk of prostate cancer on the Non-League Day website ahead of the day, as well as finding a local fixture to attend.
This year clubs taking part will receive a limited-edition Prostate United shirt, showcasing their support for Prostate Cancer UK and continuing a theme of activity with the charity on the annual day since 2014. The shirt is modelled in the picture at the top of this page by the former Nottingham Forest, Arsenal, Manchester United and England defender, Viv Anderson.
From wig-wearing, branded armbands and a unique match ball inscribed by men affected by prostate cancer, to multiple match day collections, Man of Men badge-wearing, branded clubhouses, crossbar challenges and epic walks to games, Non-League Day has always caught the imagination among the grassroots game for those wishing to support Prostate Cancer UK.
1 in 8 men will be affected with prostate cancer; the disease is curable if caught early, but early-stage prostate cancer often has no symptoms, so it is vital that men know their risk. Men are at higher risk if they are over 50, Black or have a father or brother who has had prostate cancer.
Prostate cancer has become the most common cancer in England, with the number of diagnoses surpassing those of breast cancer for two years in a row, according to new analysis from Prostate Cancer UK.
Data from the NHS in England shows that 50,751 men were diagnosed with prostate cancer in England in 2022, compared to 48,531 breast cancer diagnoses in the same year. The following year, 55,033 men got a prostate cancer diagnosis, while there were 47,526 breast cancer cases.
The UK’s leading men’s health charity also reveals today that prostate cancer cases shot up by a quarter (25%) between 2019 and 2023.
Prostate Cancer UK Chief Executive, Laura Kerby, said: “We are excited to continued our long-term work with Non-League Day and are delighted that so many clubs are taking part. Our continued collaboration will not only put us at the heart of the action, but will be a gamechanger for those men and their loved ones affected by prostate cancer.”
AFC Totton will be playing away at Hanwell Town on Saturday 22 March. The Geordies are offering reduced admission prices to season ticket holders of any Premier League or EFL club, and kids will be admitted FREE.
