Matchday guide
Grassroots Matchdays
A grassroots matchday is smaller, cheaper and friendlier than a professional one, and it runs on volunteers. Knowing how it works means you get more out of the afternoon and the club gets more out of you.
Finding a game
Start with what is nearest. Most local leagues publish fixtures on their own websites or on the club’s social pages, and many clubs pin the next home game at the top of their page. Kick-off times move more than you would expect: cup ties, floodlight curfews and waterlogged pitches all change plans. Check on the morning of the game.
Getting in
- Entry at community level is usually modest and often free for children. Some clubs take cash only at the gate, others only card; their page normally says which.
- Many grounds have one entrance. Arrive fifteen to twenty minutes before kick-off if you want a programme or a place under cover.
- Cricket and rugby clubs often have no gate at all. Walk in, find the boundary or touchline and keep off the playing area.
Where to stand
Small grounds are usually open all the way round. Regulars tend to move ends at half-time to stay behind the goal their team is attacking. Keep clear of the dugouts, technical areas and anywhere marked for players and officials. At cricket, sit or stand behind the boundary rope and move only between overs.
What to bring
- Waterproofs and a warm layer, even in spring. Covered space fills up fast when it rains.
- Footwear for grass and mud. Many grounds are a walk across a field.
- Some cash for the tea hut and the raffle.
Half-time and the clubhouse
The tea hut and the clubhouse bar are often the club’s main income after sponsorship. A tea, a pie or a raffle ticket matters more here than it ever would at a large stadium. If there is a programme, it was probably written and printed by one or two volunteers.
Being a good visitor
Cheer your side, applaud good play from both teams and leave the officials alone. At this level the referee is often doing it for little more than expenses, and abuse is the main reason people stop volunteering.
When it is called off
Pitch inspections happen late on wet days. If a game is postponed, the club will usually post it on its own pages first. A postponed game is a good excuse to try the next nearest club.