The Non-League Football Paper
FULL THROTTLE!
STUART MAYNARD labelled his York goal machines ‘incredible’ after Ollie Pearce hit a hat-trick as the National League leaders demolished Braintree at the LNER Stadium. Pearce’s second treble of another prolific campaign took his league tally for the...
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IT’S A HAPPY LAND-ING!
ALEX Reid scored an 84th-minute penalty as new owner Landon Smith saw Hartlepool United win for the first time. The US businessman, who has taken over from Raj Singh, was unveiled to fans before kick-off and then watched on as Pools beat Altrincham...
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YOU TOO CAN SEE THE LIGHT
MIDLAND League club Ingles say they are already seeing a brighter future thanks to their new LED floodlights. The Leicestershire outfit are one of 280 NonLeague clubs to have benefited from installing energy-efficient lights though the Premier League...
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ELL OF A JOB!
GATESHEAD have turned to FA Trophy-winning manager Rob Elliot to inspire an upturn in form and preserve the club’s National League status. A run of nine consecutive defeats left the Heed languishing at the bottom of the table following yesterday’s 3-1...
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JOHNSON: I’VE STILL GOT FIRE!
GARY JOHNSON insists his passion for management is undimmed after returning to the dug-out with Step 3 Taunton Town. The 70-year-old has enjoyed a glittering 1,326game managerial career, the vast majority spent in the EFL. He guided Yeovil from the...
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‘TIS THE SEASON TO BE OLLIE!
OLLIE Pearce brought festive cheer to York City with a first-half Christmas hat-trick to topple bottom club Truro City. The Minstermen goal machine took his tally of the season to 20 as the National League promotion chasers waltzed to a 4-0 win. It’s...
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SOL: DON’T WRITE ME OFF
SOL CAMPBELL reckons black managers are ‘swimming upstream’ in football these days – but believes he deserves the chance to help stem the tide. The former Spurs, Arsenal and England defender has been a prominent voice highlighting the lack of black...
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BEST WESTON EYE BIG GUNS
WESTON-SUPER-MARE swept into the FA Cup third round for the first time in their 138-year history as they upset National League South rivals Chelmsford City. Two goals from Louis Britton – including a spectacular opener – ensured a 2-0 victory for the...
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BILLY’S THE KID!
BILLY ROWLEY got his new era at Yeovil Town up-and-running with a timely victory over Boston United. Luke McCormick struck twice in the 2-1 triumph that brought the Glovers’ winless seven-game National League run to an end. Highly-rated Rowley was...
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DON’T COUNT US OUT!
KEVIN MAHER’S Southend United delivered a timely reminder to the National League promotion chasers on another enthalling day in the top-flight. With all talk of a breakaway top six, the Shrimpers warned their rivals they mustn’t be counted out after...
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TIME FOR ACTION
THE National League hope Saturday’s 3.03pm kick-offs will continue to ramp up pressure on the EFL to finally put a third promotion spot into League Two on the agenda. As part of their 3UP campaign, ‘A Day of Action’ is taking place to shine a light on...
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COLEMAN’S MUSTARD!
ALDERSHOT Town chairman Shahid Azeem says he doesn’t need to give the club’s new manager John Coleman a target – as ‘winners’ like him set their own! The 63-year-old was announced as the new Shots boss on Friday night following the shock resignation...
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BRIGHT SPARKS!
MARK Hughes earned the bragging rights over his former player and fellow Welshman Robbie Savage as Carlisle United swept to a 4-2 victory over Forest Green Rovers in a topof-the-table clash at Brunton Park. Regan Linney capped a magnificent...
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WE’RE JAMMIN’
MALDON & Tiptree are the lowest ranked club in tomorrow night’s FA Cup first round draw after seeing off fellow Step 4 club Flackwell Heath. Former West Ham and Ipswich striker Freddie Sears scored the winner after the Jammers had Zack Littlejohn sent...
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REAL DEAL DALE!
ROCHDALE shot to the top of the National League table after ending Forest Green Rovers’ unbeaten start to the season. Kyron Gordon’s 44th-minute header proved the difference between the sides at the New Lawn, prompting proud manager Jimmy McNulty to...
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WE WILL ACT
NON-LEAGUE is united in grief following the tragic death of Chichester City striker Billy Vigar – with the game promising to review safety measures. Tributes have flooded in from the world of football after the 21-year-old died following an incident...
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SEN-SATION!
SUBSTITUTE Ali Sen scored a stoppage-time winner as Westbury United reached the FA Cup third qualifying round for the first time in 77 years with victory over Oxford City. In a day of cup shocks, the Southern League Division One South side came back...
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LEADERS OF THE PACK!
A FOUR-midable title race is developing at the top of the National League table with all four early pacesetters recording impressive home wins yesterday. Leaders Forest Green Rovers beat fellow high-flyers Hartlepool United 1-0, while secondplaced...
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BRING IT ON!
STUART MAYNARD insists he’s ready for the York City pressure cooker. The former Wealdstone and Notts County manager was appointed as the Minstermen’s new boss just hours after the shock sacking of Adam Hinshelwood. Maynard knows the remit is...
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BACK IN BUSINESS
MORECAMBE’S new manager Ashvir Singh Johal dedicated his side’s lastgasp victory over Altrincham to the supporters on a day of celebration at the Mazuma Stadium. Sub Daniel Ogwuru struck in the eighth minute of stoppage time to hand the Shrimps a 2-1...
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HOWE’S THAT!
DECLAN Howe delivered a deadly double for Scunthorpe United as the newly-promoted Iron made it two wins from two on their return to the National League. Andy Butler’s men clinched a 3-1 home victory over Woking to go second in the embryonic table...
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NEW BEGINNING FOR ACE FLEETS
STUART FLEETWOOD is only too happy to pull on his goalscoring boots again for hometown club Newent Town – even if he’s had to borrow his son’s shinpads! The 39-year-old former Hereford, Forest Green Rovers, Luton, Eastleigh and Sutton striker has...
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SEASON PREVIEWS AT STEPS 1-4
IF this was a boxing match, judges would have needed to make a points decision. Runcorn Linnets would still have emerged as victors given Naim Arsan’s jab – or, to be precise, poke from short range – just before the break inflicted the most damage on...
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AND WE’RE OFF!
THE SUMMER drew to a close and football returned for clubs at Steps 5 and 6 yesterday as ten leagues kicked off the new 2025-26 season. Sherman Artmeladze entered his name in the history books as English football’s first goalscorer of the new season,...
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MORE MISERY
WEARY Morecambe fans have reacted with scepticism to claims that a new owner is set to take over – amid fears the club may not be allowed to kick off the new season. Controversial owner Jason Whittingham announced on Friday that a consortium led by...
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WE VOW TO GET TOUGH!
YORK CITY have vowed to dish out the ‘strongest possible sanctions’ should allegations a supporter aimed racial abuse at an opposition player be proven. The Minstermen’s pre-season friendly with Salford City on Friday night was abandoned following...
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PREECE SO IMPRESSED WITH HIS MAGPIES
FA CUP, TROPHY & VASE DRAWS GRAYSON ON HIS BIG POOLS TEST FANTASY LEAGUE – ENTER NOW!
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SHRIMP & SAVE US
WORRIED Morecambe fans were last night pleading for their unpopular owners to finally end the Shrimps’ takeover saga. The National League new boys’ board and prospective owners, Panjab Warriors, say the club’s existence is at risk if Bond Group...
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WE’RE UP FOR IT!
NEW Step 1 gaffers Adam Lakeland and Alun Armstrong say they are ready for the rigours of the National League as they gear up for their big re-building jobs this summer. Lakeland, 40, has made the step up from King’s Lynn Town to take over a FC...
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TREASURE HUNT!
NON-LEAGUE gems continue to glisten in the eyes of EFL clubs after a host made the step up to the elite 92 this week. League Two Walsall pounced to snap up a Step 2 pair in Eastbourne Borough’s Courtney Clarke and Harrison Burke from Chester. And...
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NATIONAL LEAGUE PROMOTION FINAL SPECIAL
BEDLAM, pandemonium, carnage – perhaps a mix of all these and more. Finding the perfect word for the celebrations of Oldham Athletic fans, players and management when Kian Harratt’s cross onebounced past everyone and nestled inside the far post is a...
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ALL ABOARD!
FIFTY THOUSAND Oldham Athletic and Southend United supporters will pile into coaches, cars and overground trains to overcome travel chaos and cheer on their team at Wembley. A record-breaking National League Promotion Final crowd is expected under the...
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THE CAP DON’T FIT
SUNDAY’S huge National League Promotion Final at Wembley has been rocked by a ticketing chaos. The clash between Oldham Athletic and Southend United had been expected to attract a record attendance for the fixture, topping the 47,029 which saw Bristol...
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HONOURING THE STARS OF 24/25
ALDERSHOT Town supporters haven’t had too much to shout about over the years. All that changed at Wembley last Sunday. Twenty thousand impassioned fans turned the West side at the Home of Football into a sea of red and blue and witnessed history being...
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COX IS KEEN TO MAKE A RETURN
EVER had an itch that just needs scratching? Well, Paul Cox knows just how that feels. So much so that the 53-year-old admits he is ready to end his near three-year exile from the manager’s dugout and return to the profession he knows and almost...
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IRON AND WOOD SEAL FINAL SPOTS
SCUNTHORPE United moved to within 90 minutes of a first promotion in 11 years after blowing away Chorley in an entertaining playoff semi-final at the Attis Arena. A first-half brace from Danny Whitehall – which sandwiched a Kole Hall equaliser for the...
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BEE-UTIFUL!
DEAN Brennan admitted it was “an amazing feeling” to steer his Barnet side to the National League title. The Bees finally clinched promotion to the EFL with a 4-0 win over Aldershot Town yesterday. And Brennan beamed: “The application and attitude of...
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MOVERS & SHAKERS!
BURY FC finally clinched the Step 5 North West Counties League Premier Division title yesterday – in front of a remarkable crowd of 8,719! Fans poured into the Shakers’ famous Gigg Lane home to watch Dave McNabb’s men seal the deal with a 4-0 win over...
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WE’RE GOING UP
STEP 4 duo Real Bedford and Cleethorpes Town are toasting title success after bagging the wins they needed to wrap up glory. Southern League Division One Central Real Bedford celebrated a third successive championship watched on by American...
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ALL THE ACTION FROM THE ISUZU FA TROPHY & VASE SEMI-FINALS
JACK Barham’s injury-time header saw Aldershot Town come from behind in an enthralling local derby and clinch a place at Wembley after almost a century of trying. Barham broke Woking hearts after Neal Ardley’s side looked set to earn a fifth FA Trophy...
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ADVANTAGE!
AFC Whyteleafe and Whitstable Town take valuable leads into next weekend’s Isuzu FA Vase semi-final second legs after a day of thrills and spills. Two goals from Dan Bennett and a Gaspar Mico strike handed Leafe a 3-1 win over Andover New Street in...
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KINGS FOR THE DAY!
JUBILANT Robbie Savage described winning promotion as Macclesfield manager as the “proudest moment” of his life after his side secured the NPL Premier title on Non-League Day. The Silkmen had to come from a goal down to beat Bamber Bridge 2-1 at home...
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ON THE VERGE
ROBBIE Savage is looking to celebrate Non-League Day in style – with a promotion party. His rampant Macclesfield side need just one more win to clinch the NPL Premier title and host Bamber Bridge on Saturday. Savage said: “If we’d have won the league...
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C’EST BONNE
SOUTHEND United moved menacingly towards the National League play-off places after a 2-1 win over Altrincham gave them hope of gatecrashing the top seven. The Shrimpers are now just three points adrift after goals from James Golding and Macauley Bonne...
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IN FOR A SPENNY!
SPENNYMOOR Town are the only non top-flight club left in this year’s Isuzu FA Trophy after two goals from captain Glen Taylor saw off Sutton United. Moors will be joined in tomorrow’s draw by Aldershot Town, who ended Sittingbourne’s gallant run,...
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GETTING DOWN TO BUSINESS
GATESHEAD solidified their play-off hopes as Barnet moved nine points clear at the top of the National League. The Heed are up to fourth after winning 3-1 at Solihull while the two teams chasing the leaders, York and Forest Green Rovers, dropped...
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WE’RE BUZZING FOR IT!
DEAN BRENNAN says Barnet can’t wait for the twists and turns of the title race. Brennan’s Bees beat Solihull Moors 3-1 yesterday to maintain their four-point lead over York City at the top of the National League table. The duo meet at Barnet’s Hive...
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3 IS THE MAGIC NUMBER
NATIONAL League CEO Mark Ives insists adding a third promotion spot into the EFL needs to be addressed now – or risk being kicked down the road for years. Backed by all 72 member clubs at Step 1 and 2, the National League have launched a national 3UP...
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HEAVEN SENT!
ANTHONY Church’s divine intervention knocked out big guns Southend United and sent Step 4 Sittingbourne into the FA Trophy quarter-finals. Substitute Church popped up with a winner three minutes into stoppage time at Roots Hall to continue the...
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IT’S A NO FROM US
MERTHYR Town fans last night gave a thumbs-down to the Football Association of Wales’ offer to join the Welsh top flight and will continue their pursuit for Step 2 football in the NonLeague pyramid. The Martyrs are eight points clear in Southern...
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CHIP CHIP HOORAY!
ALDERSHOT TOWN ace Josh Barrett hit two classy lobbed finishes on his way to a hat-trick to down promotion-chasing Oldham Athletic. The Shots playmaker inspired his side to a 3-1 victory and boosted their own survival hopes on an action-packed day at...
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EARN YOUR SPURS
ANDY Peaks has urged his Tamworth players to have no regrets when they take on Tottenham Hotspur in a crunch FA Cup third round clash this lunchtime. And Dagenham & Redbridge interim chief Lewis Young wants his side to recreate history when they too...
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BISH, BASH, JOSH!
ADAM HINSHELWOOD says Josh Stones adds another dimension to York City’s title tilt after the Minstermen splashed out on the powerful striker. The National League promotion hopefuls have spent a reported £350,000 to snap up the 21-year-old from Wigan...
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THAT’S A WRAP!
PROMOTION races are hotting up across Non-League as the curtain comes down on a memorable 2024. The last Saturday of the year saw a battle of the top two in the Isthmian Premier where Montel McKenzie’s winner, on the stroke of half-time, was enough...
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CHRISTMAS CARDS
NEAL ARDLEY has swapped a relaxing Christmas for a National League relegation battle – and the new Woking boss wouldn’t have it any other way. The former AFC Wimbledon, Notts County and Solihull Moors manager has replaced Michael Doyle, who was axed...
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THE CHASE IS ON!
ALTRINCHAM made their intentions to be in the National League promotion conversation known with a fine 1-0 win over Sutton United – as Yeovil Town and FC Halifax Town stayed hot on their heels. Regan Linney struck the winner for Alty, while Yeovil...
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REBELS WITH A CAUSE
STORM Darragh may have battered parts of the UK but it helped generate plenty of big upsets in the Isuzu FA Trophy. Sittingbourne fly the flag for Step 4 in round four after they came from behind to beat Enfield Town 4-2, while Stockton Town produced...
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YABBA DAGGER DO!
DAGENHAM & Redbridge continue to live the FA Cup dream after a sensational 2-1 win at League Two AFC Wimbledon sent them into round three – and a possible date with the big boys. Junior Morias and Josh Rees scored for Ben Strevens’ side, who are ball...
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BOSSING IT!
GRAHAM Coughlan got off to the perfect start as Boston United manager as the Pilgrims ended their 11-match winless run at his first attempt with a 3-1 victory over Braintree Town. Cameron Green put United in front inside 44 SECONDS before goals from...
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WE’RE GLAD ALL ROVER!
FOREST Green Rovers leapfrogged York City to hit the National League summit with a 2-0 victory over their closest rivals in a TV clash of the titans. Second-half goals from Harvey Bunker and Kyle McAllister handed Rovers a two-point lead at the top as...
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HOT ROD!
DEVANTE Rodney fired in a stoppage-time winner to power up Rochdale’s play-off charge – with York City still leading the way. The Dale ace’s late goal in their 2-1 victory over Sutton United sees them sixth in the National League table ahead of Yeovil...
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FIRST CLASS
MERCURIAL Nile Ranger scored an extra-time winner as Kettering Town stunned local rivals Northampton in a day of shocks in the FA Cup first round. The Poppies came from behind to win 2-1 and fellow Step 3 sides Gainsborough Trinity and Harborough Town...
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LATE SHOW!
YORK CITY soared to the top of the National League table but they left it late, very late, to see off FC Halifax Town at The Shay. Trailing to Jamie Cooke’s first-half strike, Adam Hinshelwood’s men looked like missing the chance to reach the summit...
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JOLLY OLLIE!
YORK CITY’S Ollie Pearce struck twice as the Minstermen thrashed Ebbsfleet to keep up their momentum ahead of a big midweek clash with Barnet. The former Worthing striker shone in the 4-0 win as Adam Hinshelwood’s high-fliers turned up the heat in the...
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BRING ON THE BIG BOYS!
NON-LEAGUE clubs are dreaming of a money-spinning tie in tomorrow’s FA Cup first round proper draw. Southern Premier Central Harborough Town are in the hat with the EFL clubs for the first time in their history after beating Bury 1-0. Step 3...
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COMEBACK KIDS
NATIONAL League title chasers Barnet and Forest Green Rovers capped a day of comebacks by coming from behind to underline their promotion credentials. Leaders Barnet went a goal down at home to struggling Boston United before roaring back to win 3-1...
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SHAKE IT UP!
STEP 5 Bury booked their place in tomorrow’s FA Cup fourth round qualifying draw with a dramatic victory in front of a sell-out crowd at Radcliffe. Bryan Ly hit a late penalty as the Shakers beat their National League North opponents 3-2. It means...
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