As many seasons come to a conclusion, for some the most exciting week of the season is upon us. We speak with a manager one point behind but a game in hand at the top of his table looking to secure the title this week. Adam Murray has been at AFC Fylde for less than a season but could be just about to secure legendary status

 Rounding up the week’s news, as many leagues come to a close, the Non League Paper’s very own Matt Badcock.

It’s the time of season when their are tears of joy here and tears of sorrow there. Relegation, Promotion and the pain of just missing out, it’s what football is all about…. Unless of course you supports Rossington Main. They have spent the last 32 seasons in the same division of the Northern Counties East League at Step 6, with limited highs and lows. But now the air is a little bit more expectant. Third place means a home semi final play off this weekend and media man Jack Ciullo (still a twinkle in his parent’s eye the last time his club played in any other division) tells us why this might just be the year.

Rounding up the week’s news after a busy Easter the Non League Paper’s very own Jon Couch.

We speak with a player manager who effectively has 5 possibly 6 ‘cup finals’ between now and the end of the season, hoping to secure promotion, a title and a county cup too. Jamie Coyle is no stranger to the manager’s role, nor to combining it with playing too and asince taking on both mantles at Ramsgate in February he has tweaked the side to sit top of the ISthmian South East with 4 league games remaining all against opposition with at least play-off aspirations themselves. 

It’s been a busy week in Non league with plenty of admin and debate. Editor at Large at the Non league paper Matt Badcock helps sift through it all and provides a round up of what we can expect to read in the weekend’s edition.

We reach the semi final stage of the FA Trophy and the FA Vase. All single game affairs with penalties if scores are level after 90 minutes, putting ateshead, Barnet, Altrincham FC Halifax Town, Corsham Town, Ascot United, Congleton Town and Newport Pagnell Town just over one hour and a half of football from a Wembley appearance.

We talk to a man formerly of this very parish. Now head coach at Barnet Dean Brennan has his side firmly in the play-offs but also in the semi finals of the FA Trophy, a competition he won as a player during his time at Grays Athletic. There’s no doubting he’s keen to get back to Wembley but a finish as high up the play-offs as possible and another chance of Wembley is certainly in his sights too.

Phil Annets returns to the show with his FA Vase Factfile hat on as we discover the quirks and patterns of success in the cup competition that gives Step 5 and 6 clubs that incredible chance for a Wembley appearance

Rounding it all up, Jon Couch from the Non League Paper, previews this weekend’s edition and helps with commentary on the news of the week so far.

A slightly shorter show this week due to availability of our planned guests but hopefully as engaging as ever.

So close in recent seasons, Berkhamsted are now just a point from the title at Step 4 in the Southern League and Chairman Steve Davis believes his club is more than ready for the next step, but first that trip to Hertford.

As we reach Non League Day 2023 Matt Badcock is on hand from the Non League Paper to preview this weekend’s issue and discuss England C, New contracts and the managerial merrygoround’s latest hop on and hop offs.

A slightly different week this one our feature this week is really the love of the beautiful game.

As the two Bury football club factions seek to once again come together we speak with the half currently with a ground but no club. Not the non league experience, nor effectively a team to support just yet week in week out, but it does seem a sharing of values that are important to non league and important for his historic club to come together and build it’s future chapters.

With non league day also just around the corner we speak to a man on the inside. A veteran ground-hopper, a season ticket holder at Chelsea but also one of non league’s finest ambassadors and advocate from the work he puts in organising and promoting Non League Day, so it’s great to get to speak to Ian Bailey

Jon Couch provides the weekly round up from NOn League Towers with plenty on the agenda in another busy Non League week.

As the Trophy and Vase reach the Quarter Finals we talk with those at the top.

First up a Co-Chairman whose love for his club began decades ago with most of those spent admiring from afar. Now however, Bill Waterson is using that fans passion, and business knowhow to push forward his club Altrincham, now in it’s first year as full-time and going from strength to strength.

We have a return of our very own statto Phil Annets with his @favasefactfile hat on too helping us understand the magical facts behind this season’s last eight.

One of which is Peacehaven and Telscombe. Chair Sue Norwood took on the role seven years ago with the club in some turmoil. A new manager still in situe and a focus on community football means not only are the mens side in the last 8 of this season’s FA Vase but there is also a reserve side, Development side, U23s and two under 18s side plus a a wealth of youth and ladies football at the club.

Rounding up the week’s non league news it’s Matt Badcock from the Non League paper  phelping preview this weeken’ds paper

It's W week

First up, we speak with Craig Parry the manager at Worksop Town who have already secured their play-off place this season and now focus their attention on the Northern Premier League Division One East title. He knows it won’t be easy but is pleased that the club seems to be on the right footing on and off the field.

We also speak with a non league legend. Nicky Ironton won 3 Conference titles as a player, 2 FA Trophies and gained England semi-pro caps. As a manager he’s done well too and seen pretty much all there is to see in non league, but last Saturday was different in a game that had almost everything he saw his club come back from what looked like a 90th minute ‘winner’ from their visitors to see his Walthamstow side run out eventual 6-4 victors.

Rounding up the week’s non league news it’s Jon Couch from the Non League paper with all the usual clubs in trouble, managers on the move and National League title tussles.

A big week in football with the new Government White Paper? We get the thoughts of old friend of the show, fan engagement expert, turned lecturer, Kevin Rye on what it all means, especially for non league and how people can get involved and influence the likely legislation it is set to bring. 

On a slightly different note we speak with a man who has just notched his 2000th game at his club. From Assistant Secretary through a variety of roles behind the scenes Dave Phillips still runs the turnstiles now at Melksham Town now well into his 70s.

Rounding up the week’s non league news Matt Badcock from the Non League paper and what a week it has been.

In a week when the BBC are citing the awful statistics of referees being abused, injured or attacked, we speak with old friend of the Show Martin Cassidy. CEO of independent charity Ref Support he’s actually in positive mood - not that the darker side of football isn’t there, but that the publicity means things are a changing with the FA looking at body cam roll-outs to help referees, help players and help the game,

Our next guest has a tale to tell. His side 3-0 down with 8 minute of normal time to play in a real six pointer in a potential relegation battle. Not only did they win 4-3 deep into injury time but their goalkeeper was the one to score the equaliser too. Ahmet Rifat has been at Wingate & Finchley for nearly a decade and a half as player, Director of Football and now manager and this is likely to go down as one of his favourite memories.

Rounding it all up Jon Couch from the Non League paper as the season really does begin to reach the exciting final third