Non League season preview

Luke Petherbidge Non League correspondent, caretaking for Jim
Grassroots editorial column

The new season is now approaching fast, with clubs wrapping up their pre-season programmes and preparing anxiously for the campaign ahead. In Essex, this will be the first time in a long time, that none of our clubs are playing at non-league footballs summit. This means the attempts of clubs such as Chelmsford City, Braintree Town and Thurrock to gain promotion from the Blue Square South, and restore Essex pride, will be followed with particular focus - No pressure lads.

In the Ryman Premier League we will have the first ‘Island Derby’ to look forward to. Concord Rangers take their place for the first time at this level following their meteoric rise from the Essex Senior league in recent seasons. Concord have developed a strong squad for the season ahead and the ambitious club will be looking to finish the season as top dogs on the Island. On the other hand Canvey Island FC their more established neighbours will be keen to rise to the challenge and maintain their supremacy.

The Essex Senior League will again be one of the most competitive divisions in all of Non-League football, as member clubs compete for that one automatic promotion place. This is an issue which has attracted attention recently from others covering the non-league game; the number of promotion places offered varies greatly from the Conference to Step 7 and surely standardisation is the only long-term solution – it would certainly help efforts to make the non-league game more commercially attractive and would also help to breathe life back into our game at the lower levels. Concord Rangers only add weight to this argument. The Island side have gone from strength to strength since finally gaining promotion from the ESL a few seasons back, showing the progression potential clubs at Step 5 possess. Rant over!

Whichever club you are following this season, Grass Roots will be offering all fans a new perspective on their clubs, with match reports authored by your fellow fans. We are currently looking for fans of all clubs in the Non-League game in Essex, from Step 7 through to the Blue Square South, to send us their reports. Your reports will be published on the website and full credit will be given to the authors – so don’t just read the headlines, write them! Send your reports to us info@grassrootsreports.co.uk.

Grays begin on the long road to redemption.

Last season was a very difficult time for Grays Athletic Football Club, they suffered relegation on the pitch, off-field problems and have also been evicted from their New Rec ground.

At one stage this summer having opted not to take their place in the Conference South, it appeared that Grays would not have a league to play in this season. The Ryman league opted not to offer the club a place in their leagues and the club was faced with the very real possibility of a return to step 5, in the Essex Senior League. The club launched a serious of appeals to the Ryman league, that have resulted in them taking their place in Ryman One North.

So on August 21st the club can look forward to a new beginning, and attempt to take their first steps on the long route back to the upper echelons of the non-match league game. As one of the most successful Essex sides in the non-league game in recent times, we wish them a successful future and look forward to following their endeavours over the course of this season.

RIP Nobby Johnson.

Great Wakering Rovers last week suffered a devastating blow ahead of the new campaign, with the news that club talisman Nobby Johnson had died at home at the age of 65.

Myself and Owen were lucky enough to meet Nobby recently when we went down to Burroughs Park to cover their pre-season game with Billericay Town. Nobby was engaging and very knowledgeable about the entire local non-league scene and will be sorely missed.

Grass Roots Reports would like to offer our sincere condolences to Nobby's family and to Great Wakering Rovers FC.

Non-League football Day – 4th September.

I was listening to the BBC Non-League Show last night (Monday 02 August) and was made aware of this worthwhile campaign to get people in to see their local non-league clubs. The idea is simple, on the 4th September fans that would usually watch league matches, or people that may not even usually watch a game at all, give their local clubs a chance, go along, and take in a match at their local ground.

Grassroots urge all football fans in Essex to get involved - go along and support your local club, we are sure you'll enjoy the experience! Local clubs and fans can support the campaign on facebook - search Non League football day.