The Non League Football Show

[Rhodes]

On 08/03/2024 at 10:58, Rhodes said:

good luck to former SSML Club North Greenford United tomorrow (Saturday 8 March) against Romford at Berkeley Fields

Just to say that it wasn't to be then for former SSML outfit North Greenford United in their FA Vase Quarter Final tie against Romford at Berkeley Fields, for those interested see over 400 photographs courtesy of photographer Chris Benn:

[Rhodes]

This week's other Non League Show previewing Non League Day:

The Non League Football Show / 22nd March 2024 - Non League Day, Plymouth Parkway, Peter Miller's Stats and Stowmarket Town (audioboom.com)

It’s Non League Day this weekend so we celebrate Non league, I’ve tried to find something for everybody, celebrate the quirkiness, enjoy the camaraderie and applaud the success in adversity. This is the Non League Football Show and this is Non League.
First up a returnee with 15 games still to play until the end of the season that can’t be extended, by the time you listen to this, that will be 14, because with their own ground not in use due to the International break, the local pro Club have offered up use of their stadium to my first guest to help his Step 3 Club get through their fixture backlog. Lee Hobbs is very thankful for the support and practical about the job facing Plymouth Parkway in the coming weeks to avoid relegation.
Also returning to the show another statistician, of the like only Non League creates, it began over a decade ago as a way of providing answers to his own questions as to whether his Club could get promoted, now it’s this Non Leaguer’s and many more’s, go-to resource, as the season draws to a close. A big hat-tip to Peter Miller and his Google Sheets.
Our Chairman this week could easily have become a Club's in crisis feature when his Club lost its long-term financial supporter. However, a strong team of volunteers, a string of Community based projects and a desire to improve within realistic budgets means whilst relegation looms from Step 4, other elements of the Club are thriving and the long term sustainability of the Club is now well within reach at Stowmarket Town thanks to Kevin Blundell and his team.
Helping us round off the show and round-up the week's news, Matt Badcock of the Non League Paper. Titles won and not quite won, Managerial moves and plenty more we can read in this week’s paper.

[Rhodes]

Don't forget Ollie Bayliss's BBC Three Counties Radio Non League Show this evening (Monday 25 March) between 6.00 and 7.00, Ollie is currently tight lipped on who and what will be featured on the show, and keeping us on tenterhooks, however all will be revealed later:

BBC Three Counties Radio - The Non-League Show, 25/03/2024

Edited March 26 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

So who listened to it then, it goes without saying that I am referring to Ollie Bayliss's BBC Three Counties Radio Non League Show yesterday evening which featured Hitchin Town, Langford and Real Bedford as well as features on New Managers, Non-League Day and Title Races. It was a great listen particularly the interviews with Real Bedford supremo Rob Sinclair and Langford boss Stuart Robertson as well as with Brett Donnelly who recently left Stotfold in the lurch, with little or no notice, to join Hitchin Town as their new Manager (see Club statement below):

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0gf93lc

Edited March 26 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

This week's other Non League Show previewing the two FA Vase Semi Final ties with no other than special VIP guest Phil Annets:

The Non League Football Show / 29th March 2024 - FA Vase Semis, Lincoln United & Grimsby Town (audioboom.com)

It is FA Vase Semi Final time, we open the show with Phil Annets with his @FAVaseFactfile hat on, giving us insight into this season’s competition and the four sides remaining.
Then we head north to one of the Club's involved, this week also has a creative arts feel, so we speak to the media guy putting in the hours to ensure Lincoln United is a Club people are talking about up and down the land and across the world. Charlie Fytche is still in his early 20s but already doing great stuff for the world of Non League.
Talking about the world of Non League, my next guest is a filmmaker but at heart a non league fan too, Jack Spring has made a documentary series about his beloved Grimsby Town’s last magical season back in Non League out now on Amazon Prime. It’s driven by the kind of human interest people-led stories that make us love Non League and well worth a watch.
Rounding up the week’s news is Jon Couch of the Non League Paper in another bumper show, ahead of an Easter weekend hopefully just as packed with Non League action.

[Rhodes]

Apologies, I meant to reliably inform you that, incredibly, there was no BBC Three Counties Radio Non League Show yesterday evening with Ollie Bayliss due to the lame excuse of it being a Bank Holiday, it's ridiculous isn't it, and typical of the BBC, particularly with so many fixtures over the Easter weekend:

There’s no Non-League Show this evening on @BBC3CR due to the bank holiday. The show will be back next Monday at 6.00pm.

Edited April 2 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

The latest Podcast aII about footbaII in Bedfordshire covering last night's Bedfordshire FA Senior Trophy Final live on Twitter between Totternhoe and Bedfordshire County League Premier Division Elstow Abbey:

[Rhodes]

This week's other Non League Show, previewing the two FA Vase Semi Final Second Leg ties, this season's competition was very disappointing for SSML Club's with only two, London Lions and Biggleswade United, reaching the Third Round and none at all reaching the Fourth Round:

The Non League Football Show / 05th April 2024 - Fixture chaos and Colne FC (audioboom.com)

The beautiful game, the World of Non League football is magical for the people within it, a few years ago the pandemic did its best to impact and tear it apart, but IT came back stronger, we came back stronger.
This season a new force threatens to rip apart our world, a natural force that surely can't be controlled. The weather across the Country has played havoc with the playing season, Games postponed, games abandoned, and a fixture pile-up with an FA hardline backstop that leaves many Club's with back-to-back days to play matches to complete the season. We speak to one man who has tried to rally the troops for change, Colne FC is one of those who face a multitude of matches in a matter of days with burdens not only on pitches and players but also on volunteers and fans, media man Ben Metcalfe admits he has no answer but knows it is time for change. 
Rounding up the week’s news is the Non League Paper’s Matt Badcock as we hit the Semi-Finals of the FA Vase and FA Trophy and see a multitude of Managerial rejigs.

[Rhodes]

The latest Podcast aII about footbaII in Bedfordshire:

Edited April 9 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

So who listened to it yesterday evening then, obviously I am referring to Ollie Bayliss's BBC Three Counties Radio Non League Show which featured Bedford Town, Chesham United, Berkhamsted FC, Amersham Town and Boreham Wood, who announced that long serving Manager Luke Garrard is stepping down at the end of the season. There are also features on Title Wins, Promotion Races and Relegations, for LondonEagle's benefit the feature on Bedford Town, and interview with Lee Bircham, is 32 minutes in but it won't make pleasant listening for him:

The Non-League Show - Title Wins, Promotion Races and Relegations - Title Wins, Promotion Races and Relegations - BBC Sounds

[Rhodes]

This week's other Non League Show:

The Non League Football Show / 12th April 2024 - Ware and Quorn (audioboom.com)

First up an experienced Manager in possibly the tightest promotion battle across the Pyramid, Ware’s Paul Halsey is no stranger to play-off pressures but in a season of some Club's with 5 games per week, he’s got just 3 games on three separate Saturdays left to play in a Division when any Club from 6 could still pip the title.
Talking about experience, following our love of highlighting the great work done by so many off the field and the many jobs that can entail, we speak again to an old friend of the show Adam Etheridge. From volunteer to full-time administrator he’s now overseeing the off-the-field work at Quorn FC and has a multitude of hats and a multitude of stories about the wonders and magic of Non League to tell.
Rounding it all up in a bumper week of news too, is the Non League Paper’s Jon Couch, that FA Vase Semi-Final Second Leg, final movers and shakers in the National League, fairness for fans, and some Managerial moves all in the mix.

[Rhodes]

I wasn't aware, until now, that BBC Radio Northampton have their very own Non League Show, called 'Non League Scene', also on a Monday evening between 6.00pm and 7.00pm. It's a very good and informative listen, see links below to last Monday's (8 April) Show and previous Shows:

The Non-League Scene - 08/04/2024 - 08/04/2024 - BBC Sounds

BBC Radio Northampton - The Non-League Scene

[Rhodes]

Don't forget Ollie Bayliss's BBC Three Counties Radio Non League Show this evening (Monday 15 April) between 6.00 and 7.00, the show will feature Biggleswade FC, Ware FC, Royston Town, Holmer Green and, no doubt, Boreham Wood's sorry plight as well as Real Bedford following the record attendance of 1,031 at McMullen Park on Saturday and the recently announced $4.5 million of investment in the Club. There will also be features on Cup Finals, Investment and Promotions, fill your boots at 6.00pm:

BBC Three Counties Radio - The Non-League Show, Cup Finals, Investment and Promotions

[Rhodes]

Also a reminder that BBC Radio Northampton have their own Non League Show, 'Non League Scene' this evening, also at 6.00pm, hosted by a guy called Chance Litchfield who seems to know his onions:

BBC Radio Northampton - The Non-League Scene, 15/04/2024

[Rhodes]

The latest Podcast aII about footbaII in Bedfordshire including a feature on Real Bedford following the recent announcement that $4.5 million will be invested in the McMullen Park Club:

Edited April 16 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

This week's other Non League Show featuring, who else, Club of the moment Real Bedford:

The Non League Football Show / 19th April 2024 - South Shields and Real Bedford (audioboom.com)

This week  bumper show and one all about the people and not necessarily the lifting of trophies, despite the time of the season. 
First up a fan who has had a week he will surely always remember but perhaps not for the best of reasons, Dean Knight this time last week was a typical fan helping organise a supporters bus to a play-off chasing match at the weekend. On Saturday evening he was being rushed to hospital 120 miles from home after a bus crash left him and another 15 or so South Shields fans injured and shaken up. Thankfully, everybody survived and are on the mend, but it was the reaction from fellow fans, fans from all clubs even rivals that captured my attention and captured the heart of Dean as the non league football family pulled together. 
Talking about the non league family pulling together, my next guest is a Chairman who has been the focus of some ridicule since coming into the game, however back to back promotions, for his Real Bedford side and new investment from American Billionaires, suggest Peter McCormack might just be onto to something with his non traditional approach.
Rounding it all up is the Non League Paper’s Jon Couch, previewing the National League’s final set of normal fixtures, Managerial changes and the scrapping of FA Cup Replays in the proper rounds.

[Rhodes]

There's good and bad, sorry, grave news folks, the good news is that Ollie Bayliss's BBC Three Counties Radio Non League Show will take place this evening (Monday 22 April) between 6.00 and 7.00 however the grave news is that Ollie is 'absent without leave' and has handed the reins to another presenter, namely Sam Avery. Should you still wish to listen the show will no doubt feature Boreham Wood who, following a dreadful season under departing Manager Luke Garrard, were surprisingly relegated to the National League South after finishing in the play-off's for the EFL last season and having reached the FA Cup Third Round for three successive campaigns including the Fifth Round in 2021/22:

BBC Three Counties Radio - The Non-League Show, Sam Avery sits in (22/04/2024)

[Rhodes]

Another reminder that BBC Radio Northampton have their own Non League Show, 'Non League Scene' hosted by Chance Litchfield, and it is aired again this evening (Monday 22 April) at 6.00pm. I assume that it will preview tomorrow evening's SSML Division One Cup Final between local Club's Northampton Sileby Rangers and Moulton FC at Willen Road:

BBC Radio Northampton - The Non-League Scene, 22/04/2024

[Rhodes]

This week's other Non League Show featuring, amongst other Club's, former SSML Club Biggleswade Town:

The Non League Football Show / 26th April 2024 - Barnet and Biggleswade Town (audioboom.com)

Two Non League Show debutants in a very busy week for non league.
First up an assistant Manager at a Club competing in the biggest game in English football this weekend. Barnet's number two Connor Smith, has seen success as a player and also in his first player coach role at Boreham Wood. Now in his second season with Barnet and his first as number to Dean Brennan, their second-place finish in the National League sees them just one win away from that glittering Wembley final.
Just one game away from promotion is Danny Payne, in his first season as boss at Biggleswade Town he knows it’s in his hands on Saturday but with a second place play-off berth the worst-case scenario this busy entrepreneur seems to let little worry him.
Rounding up the week’s bizarre non league news is Matt Badcock of the Non League Paper, FA Cup fall-out, play-off hiccups and more Managerial shifts are the order of the day.