A full-length programme this week but just the two in-depth guests. As we roll into March we discuss ground grading or rather Stadium Assessment the new system of baselining and auditing the stadia in operation across the National League System. Mark Harris Chairman of the Northern Premier League offers an expert view into why the new system was needed, what it is, and how it will impact clubs this year and in years to come. In insightful discussion including how fans can play a part in ensuring football stadiums of the future meet their needs and the necessities of health and safety.

Matt Badcock is back from The Non League Paper.  This week there’s a discussion on the season unravelling, managers moving and crisis clubs converging.






S8 Ep28: 01st March - Ground Grading or Stadium Accreditation Assessments

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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.






S8 Ep35: 26th April 2024 - Barnet and Biggleswade Town

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.






S8 Ep34: 19th April 2024 - South Shields and Real Bedford

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 clubs 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.








S8 Ep33: 12th April 2024 - Ware and Quorn

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 clubs 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 Semi-Finals fo the FA Vase and FA Trophy and see a multitude of managerial rejigs.






S8 Ep32: 05th April 2024 - Fixture chaos and Colne FC

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 clubs 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.






S8 Ep28: 01st March - Ground Grading or Stadium Accreditation Assessments

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