Non-League Day 2023

Following the record-breaking event last year, Non-League Day now reaches its 12th season on Saturday 25th March.

Non-League Day provides a platform for clubs to promote the importance of volunteer led community football while giving fans across the country the chance to show support for their local non-league side.

For the ninth time, Non-League Day has partnered with Prostate Cancer UK to encourage clubs and fans to raise funds to stop the disease which kills one man every 45 minutes.

Using the Non-League Day map, there are four big non-league matches that can be found less than 25 miles away from our home, the MKM Stadium on the 25^th of March. The fixtures are:

• Beverley Town v Staveley Miners Welfare (NCEL Division One), Norwood Park, KO: 3pm, [7.6 miles]
• Brigg Town v Armthorpe Welfare (NCEL Division One), The EC Surfacing Stadium, KO: 3pm, [13.9 miles]
• Grimsby Borough v Long Eaton United (Northern Premier League East), The Bradley Football Development Centre, KO: 3pm, [17.1 miles]
• Bridlington Town v Dunston (Northern Premier League East), Queensgate, KO: 3pm, [24.7 miles]

The closest of the fixtures is Beverley Town’s test against play-off hopefuls Staveley Miners Welfare. Beverley are currently on a four-game unbeaten run, winning their last two games. In-form forward Joe McFadyen has netted five goals in the last two games while ex-Hull City academy defender Matty Plummer netted the winner in their last fixture, a 3-2 win over Armthorpe Welfare.

The Beavers possess Hull City loanee Ben Voase, with the goalkeeper making 15 appearances for the club, former academy player Charlie Dunkerley and ex-Serie A midfielder Danielle Mannini amongst their ranks.

In the same league, promotion-chasing Brigg welcome Armthorpe. Possessing a few ex-Hull City players in Nathan Peat, Harvey Carew, Joe Pugh and Will Taylor, the Zebras will be looking to return to winning ways after suffering a 5-1 defeat against Selby Town last time out.

Two divisions above, seventh-placed Grimsby Borough take on fourth-placed Long Eaton United. Borough are currently on a four-game unbeaten run, winning their last game held at The Bradley Football Development Centre 3-1 against Grantham Town, courtesy of goals from Jack Debnam, Lewis Collins and Luis Adlard.

Staying in the Northern Premier League East division, Bridlington Town host play-off chasing Dunston. Bridlington progressed to the final of the East Riding Senior Cup after defeating Hessle Sporting 4-0 last Tuesday.

A first-half brace from Lewis Dennison and second-half finishes by Jake Martindale and ex-City academy defender Jack Bulless saw Adrian Costello’s side progress, with Hessle being reduced to 10-men after Callum O’Connor was shown a straight red card.

The Seasiders also have former Hull City duo Benn Lewis and Matty Dixon, with the latter making one appearance in the first-team in August 2015. Dixon (stood in-between David Meyler and Sam Clucas) came off the bench in a 4-3 penalty shootout win against Accrington Stanley in the first round of the League Cup, after originally playing out a 2-2 draw. 

There are also six fixtures in the Humber Premier League Premier Division and three in Division One on the 25^th of March, with all those games kicking off at 2pm.

Bridlington Town v Hull City U21 Image: Dom Taylor

Ben Voase Image: Paul Adamson