Why Non League Football Is The Greatest Thing On Earth

Here is COPA90's rundown on why Non League Football is one of the greatest things you can spend your time on...
Footage courtesy of:
Vlado Perovic, Film My Match, Edmonton Rovers FC, South Shields FC, FC United of Manchester, Wealdstone FC, Stockport County, Dulwich Hamlet FC, Leamington FC, North Shields FC, Bath City FC, Weymouth FC, Risca United, FC Video and Maidenhead United
Music Licensed By:
Hooked
Track: london-elektricity-wishing-well-danny-byrd-remix
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At COPA90 we believe that football is the universal language. We’re here to entertain, inform and celebrate football and its fans. Whether it’s chats and challenges with your favourite footballers, in depth documentaries about fan culture or amazing animations and explainers about the biggest stories in the game, COPA90 is how football feels.
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Leave us a comment below!

[@SuperPrumpur]

I'm from the Faroe Islands, and our best league is just like this😂

[@sagent9919]

Black Jesus lol

[@kobethegr8mambathon497]

here in the philippines too

[@PolskiProdigy]

Erik Eliasen Im from Poland and we have VAR

[@dysfynnction]

Erik Eliasen I'm Welsh, and I support Aberystwyth and the Welsh main league. Sometimes it can get a bit boring, so I cheer Swansea from the PL on as well!

[@yeahbee8237]

best leagues? you have several?

[@adamsutter5336]

“Without fans football is just 22 men chasing a ball around” 2020 be like 😰

[@ferdinandimposter691]

Painting is just some lad rubbing a canvas with a brush Classical music is just some people sitting around blowing and banging and fiddling Football is.... 'Gods make their own importance'

[@aaron5keaveney]

that aged well

[@AKUNJIG]

Yeah it's really hard to watch Games without fans and the pumped in crowd noise doesn't help.

[@lastsecondshot5779]

I feel really bad for the non-league clubs non having fans especially. They’re such a huge part of the game at that level and many clubs rely on attendance as their main source of revenue. I really hope they’re doing well right now

[@alfredlear4141]

@@ferdinandimposter691 I think his point was that even without an audience an art still exists and can express itself with greatest freedom

[@Jrodsly]

I'm an American living in the US and I find non-league football much more fun to watch than I do the Prem. It's football at it's purest. It's local lads going down to watch a club from down the street. Reminds me so much of the local sports I watch here. The fans I've encountered in non-league football are so much friendlier than the fans I've met higher up the pyramid. I feel more at home with non-league, even if I'm thousands of miles away.

[@alfiemartine996]

Absolutely fantastic to see my club, Stockport County, make an appearance in a Copa 90 video. The fact they chose an amazing away game where we pitch invaded is amazing, so thank you to Copa 90!

[@ukihatter2422]

Shark Master56 just what I thought when I saw the county boys. Bout they got some recognition.

[@kindmulberry7196]

Shame you lost 1-0 to West Ham. You did well to get to the Third Round.

[@LeamingtonFCTV]

Many thanks for putting this video together - great stuff!

[@ethans67]

Brakesssss

[@LeamingtonFCTV]

@@ethans67 💛🖤

[@jonathanflores699]

I follow y’all on TikTok lol !

[@skully345]

Try and get to league 2 from a Sheffield United fan

[@LeamingtonFCTV]

@@skully345 We'd love to!!

[@camyu19]

The best part of non-league football is that it's so easy to get involved with the team. Inspired by Copa90's old video about Fisher FC way back, I contacted my local team and did webcasting for home games and was their commentator. It was way too much fun.

[@alphonsoelm5652]

That does sound like fun

[@nofurtherwest3474]

How do you define non-league?

[@james6417]

@@nofurtherwest3474 I'd say anything below national league north/south is proper non league

[@nofurtherwest3474]

@@james6417 so these "non league" teams actually do play in a league? Just not a professional one?

[@james6417]

@@nofurtherwest3474 yep the 'league' is traditionally the top 4 divisions so anything below that is non league but the 5th and 6th divisions still have some professional teams so most of the clubs in this video are about 7th/8th division

[@mgibuk]

When I have time I go and watch my non league home town club of Bishop Auckland F.C who are famous for being one of the most successful amateur sides of all time in the 1950's, and also for loaning players to Manchester United after the Munich air disaster.

[@szithaanu9934]

I've been sort of following Leyton Orient since 1995 as a second team and a few years ago a few of us went over to a game at Brisbane Road. I've been to Anfield numerous times and a few other Premier League grounds but never experienced passion from both fans and players as I did in Brisbane Road that day. Proper game of football and the fans were electric. I must make the trip over again some day.

[@eme1one]

if non-league games were televised with late 90's/early 2000's UK dnb/garage, in the background, the world would be a better place.

[@RyxnFX]

If you really love non league football then you wouldn't want to have a thing to do with Salford City and Billericay Town football clubs. They are the polar opposite of what non league is and are much hated by proper non league supporters.

[@boz2666]

RyxnFX so true when they said that they are offering an alternative to premier league they are doing the polar opposite

[@ukihatter2422]

RyxnFX couldn’t get any truer. I’m a Stockport fan and to think 3 years ago the team top,of our division(Salford) where 3 leagues below us 3 years ago is a joke. They are funded by the class of 92 and they’re going to get football league before we return

[@nofurtherwest3474]

What exactly is non league?

[@Superhiknapada]

@@nofurtherwest3474 amateur league,no profi

[@ethanwatson1236]

I’m a Salford fan it’s true but that’s because we just too good for non league

[@MrJoystickid]

Retired non-league player here. Played with some actual pro players in my time too. I remember watching Dez Hamilton score at Wembley for Bradford City then 3 years later playing in midfield with him. Long live non-league.

[@HazardNP]

Watching my local team (newport county) rise through the ranks from non league to league two a few years ago was special. Watched them from eleven years ago when I was just 9 years old. Our rise to league two and great escape last season was without a doubt two of the greatest things I will ever experience. Although theyre in league two now and ticket prices have risen So I tend to go to less games and watch/take part in more sunday league with my friends. Ps: I may be biased but a copa 90 feature on newport county would be incredible. So much history, our nickname 'the exiles' from not having a home ground, our rise and our survival is truly incredible. Even now in league two we share a pitch with two, YES TWO, rugby teams. God bless those groundsmen.

[@DevilsChild222]

HazardlyNP OMG IM FROM NEAR NEWPORT TOO MATE

[@dysfynnction]

HazardlyNP I support Aberystwyth, but I love watching a TV game with Swansea, Cardiff or Newport now and again.

[@t8spy526]

Crazy that you'll rise to league 1 this year

[@venturer9400]

I really don't watch a lot of english football but I remember seeing the newport v tottenham fa cup match a few years ago which went into a replay, cheering for the underdogs really is beautiful

[@Steve-nq8jc]

I couldn't agree more, I'm a Chatham Town FC fan that left all that premiership nonsense behind a long time ago. Fair play to the people who do but I prefer the sense of community that the lower leagues bring. Nothing beats the feeling of watching your local team.

[@jacobstevens2753]

Sutton United!!! Man I loved their cup run last season... Mad!

[@WillieDuitt1]

If not for non-league clubs worldwide sports may no longer exist. Watching the professionals are great but watching amateurs in any sport engaging in competition can be very enjoyable, plus it is great exercise for the participants that can improve the quality of one's life! Thank You for the video and greetings from Cleveland, Ohio USA.

[@bisrimustofa4067]

This pure football....just for fun, just the game but still with pure passion

[@deannorman6026]

I’d rather watch non-league than England. Who agrees ?

[@louiescfcgaskell4314]

Dean Norman I'd rather watch it than the premier league

[@FatalFox]

YES

[@Dan-pp4nh]

midnite69 well mate it’s true

[@sunkvng]

Dean Norman 👎

[@MS45636]

non-league > premier league

[@TheLucreziia]

Gave up on paying stupied amounts of money to go to Man Utd. Now I go to my local club Stockport County. Absolulty love the real connection between the players the managment and the fans. Real football Real football fans.

[@rossworrall1663]

The crowd when we (stockport) play fc United is incredible

[@TheJamesroberthyde]

Ross Wozza agreed

[@jamiethompson9519]

Ross Wozza nice one smashing our pubs up creating damage in club house fighting us wow some holigans u like

[@nonleaguematchday]

Thanks a lot for putting one of my videos in (2:09- 2:15) really appreciate it :)

[@charlottelacey8229]

Totally agree! Great video but please don't mention Billericay - very much against the non-league ways

[@bangboom1625]

How?

[@thomasfclc5606]

Agreed

[@marteast]

Non league should never be about money or owners, but about the players,, fans and volunteers,clubs like billericay, Fylde, Salford etc are the main reason people are turning away from the pro game

[@kindmulberry7196]

@@MrRyanBatty They're in League 2 now, better for them to not be in non-league. They were the anti-non-league club

[@luurchify]

As am Australian, thank you to this channel because I get to see a side of English football that never gets shown really outside of the premier league. It's really heartening to see clubs are still around for the pure love of the game, not because they are money making machines.

[@Chebab-Chebab]

I'm not really into football, but I watched this with a smile on my face.

[@reubena7854]

Went to my first little football game at my local park. I could walk up and down the pitch, get up close to both goals, and relax in the cozy clubhouse at half time. Good stuff.

[@AphFootball]

Copa90 this video is fantastic! Maybe you could make one on my league? The League of Ireland is highly under appreciated. With the premier league on the tv and bigger sports like GAA, who would turn up? True fans like me would.

[@billyvinilly8104]

This is exactly why i love the Australia A League!

[@zakhayes4180]

I support Tranmere Rovers who are currently in the top tier of non league, and as great as it is for smaller clubs, we really don't belong there. A 15,000 seater stadium and our attendances higher than some clubs in leagues 1 and 2. Just hope we can get out in the next couple of years

[@Stevesmith-xj7xe]

Zak Hayes debt vs careful money management maybe?

[@willrobinson8628]

All of the teams will get back to the FL soon stockport Tranmere Wrexham Leyton orient etc

[@TheWoollyFrog]

I was going to insult you, but then you said nice things about Wrexham.

[@neddkelly741]

@@TheWoollyFrog UTFS

[@mrnewton86]

I went to a non league game for the first time the other day (Sheffield FC - Shildon AFC) I thought it was a great atmos and Im not the biggest football nut. Its just so much more chilled out, no animosity between home/away fans, half time pies, manually operated scoreboard, and got my ticket at the turnstile for 11quid on the day.

[@YoungMulaBaby808]

It’s what football should be! Watch a game of hard tackling and have a pint! Cheap prices, pure passion, free to move, chat to opposition fans, chat to the coaches and stewards

[@patrickwraith2387]

Why does that kid have two pints of beer?

[@nsj4214]

Callum James Genuis!

[@tysontom1]

Patrick Wraith Cos he’s double parking

[@locke9308]

Because this is england

[@matthewhay2038]

This is England mate I’m more surprised the kid only has 2 pints

[@gordon1545]

He's got a drink problem. Two pints, one mouth.

[@djpeekay25]

I am a Spurs member but also go to my local club Wealdstone. It’s great afternoon out!

[@Reggaeshark.]

I live in Trinidad and Tobago and we have 1 professional league, 1 semi pro, and a nationwide amateur league split into zones. The highest level is probably like League 2 football BUT there are talented fellas up and down the leagues but lack of proper structure, infrastructure and more means that the leagues never really go anywhere and fan participation is shamefully low. We do play in the CONCACAF champions league whenever a team qualifies though so it gets exciting then - I just think of it as a champions league, no uefa or concacaf. It's always a great experience to see Seattle Sounders or NY Red Bulls play down here though.

[@brianbks02]

I love Non-League. It's amazing

[@RVN-cz2lu]

This was awesome! Truer words couldn't have been said. I rarely attend matches but I love hearing about non league football. Lots of great stories as well as experiences and great players.

[@grassrootsfootballlive]

So true. Happy to share this with Warminster Town Fans!

[@gabrielpurves7156]

Thousands at seventh tier matches watching teams climb the football pyramid 👌⭐ - England's football atmosphere throught the leagues is genuinely second-to-none.

[@Joe-pw9rt]

Brilliant I’m a Bromley supporter and at the end of 16/17 season George porter gave me his worn boots and always sees me and always ask if I’m ok the connection between fans and players in unbeatable

[@TobinPT]

Non professional football matches are the best in my opinion. The players really enjoy the match, and are focused on the team and not on the wallet €€££€£€£

[@eddyvideostar]

To Copa 90: I am in love with non-league football and also with your narrative and essay: Your wonderful articulate summary of the value of this type of football compared to the elites, has more to offer at a reasonable price. Grounded in the community is the ultimate aspect of the game. People and fans are what drive the enthusiasm, the enthusiasm drives the game. Local players find an opportunity to play the game they love, not just for the stipend/ emolument, but for the purpose of sharing their skills with satisfied consumers making this sport salient and sacrosanct. This harkens back to the days were everyone not only knows your name -- but can pronounce it! I, you, they, the youth, the older professionals can be afforded the opportunity to aspire to greater football from this level. If there is one word, to describe the non-league aspect of the game today, it is -- *community.*

[@adiado8340]

what a freekick from that lad at 0:47

[@rappers5719]

My wife and I have season tickets to our village team here on Rhodes (Greece). Real passion!

[@benhowe6214]

2:16 was my local team that goal won us the match in added time

[@kloppite1967]

I SAW THE HAMLET ON HERE

[@richl6966]

My team Leamington at 1:38. So proud. Thanks.

[@richl6966]

And shown a couple more times :-)

[@dankibble8481]

Agreed, I've played against both Bromsgrove and Leamington

[@conorbutcher3053]

Was all going so well until you mentioned Billericay and Salford. Whyyyyyyyyyy

[@SamWB13]

Great to see my local side Corby in this video with that pint swig

[@tybaltyrant1]

LOVE this video. The corporate leagues are even replacing voices of fans/ chants with .wav files that a guy clicks after a goal or a foul. Pathetic. Football belongs to fans, not corporate stooges with more money than sense.

[@LiamK1998]

I’ve been Dulwich Hamlet's last 2 pre season games and tbh I can’t wait to watch them in the league

[@joshb8025]

I went to a Charlton game for £10 as my first ever football game, and it was the best time i have ever had

[@unlockedaccount]

Josh Berry charlton are not non league

[@kiandodd5670]

Ive been to a few Manchester city games and ive got to say watching my local team afc fylde is far better and only missed one game this season. Fucking love it

[@spicynan925]

2:44 i actually met this lad after watching a shields game at the pub in mariners park

[@eoinh1]

How could anyone give a thumbs down to this video. One thing lacking in Irish football is the fact we have no pyramid system. Just two divisions.

[@terryodams2244]

The player who scored the first goal for Chorley against Derby county used to play for the Oldest football club in the world .he was Great then and still is..

[@Mayaman67]

Great commentary , fella.

[@parody_pals]

Ok you convinced me to go watch my local non league team which its actually about 3 streets away ... when attendances are allowed again 😀

[@nizamknight]

absolute chills

[@PatrickMapper]

I support Charlton but I’ll occasionally go to my local non league teams and back the boys

[@ImTheMousse]

that last goal was such a banger

[@rhmreaper]

I go to non-league as much as I can, and the atmospheres there on some nights are genuinely better then any professional football game, I still have vivid memories of my local down 3-2 in the FA Vase and in the 93rd minute, our striker curves one into the top left with the very last kick of the game to take to 3-3, we ended up losing on penalties but the reaction from the crowd when that went in was amazing, so much so away fans started to try and fight some of the more louder fans. That was what non-league football was meant to be like. All for £6.

[@durhamcityafctv6473]

Fantastic video .... we are bout to bring some glamour to our league with an unbelievable managerial appointment... fancy following us this season and doing a documentary?

[@Zephy-kun]

Wish I lived in England or somewhere where nonleague existed :( In the United States it's super commercialized "franchises"

[@damn_jaz9895]

Not gonna lie,i'm not even british,but the football culture there makes me desire to move to the uk and breath football like you fellas do

[@oddities-whatnot]

Used to live near a small club, standing in the bar with my cider watching the match. Proper footy.

[@Cal2929]

Blyth Spartans fan, Most Famous Non League side in the world. Currently 3rd in the NLN

[@Grouundedkidz]

Very well done- Cheers.

[@jamescowie7461]

Little story about the thumbnail, it's corby town my local team and he downed a beer after a goal. I've also seen him score a 30 yard volley in a cup final against our bitter rivals Kettering town. (He's a centreback)

[@PictureHouseCinema]

Scottish Highland League, North Caledonian League and Caithness County League- where the action is at! :D

[@declanthomas1996]

I was behind the goal when that goalkeeper scored from his own half.

[@TheShandy123.]

Even though they are not professionals, this is real football, passion and balls

[@josephbanks2128]

Stockport County 🔵⚪️🔵⚪️

[@RealEyesRealiseRealLies]

I didn't know memelous worked for these lot

[@B3Band]

I only know these clubs because of Football Manager. I always add the non-league database updates, which are now all the way down to Level 22!

[@Saps_animals]

I love non league football! I'm a Merthyr town FC fan and the players are outstanding not just on the field but off it aswell, the standard of football is quality and it's a cheap day out compared to football league, the players are hero's to us fans and they are friendly but premier league players are smug unfriendly arrogant people!

[@mataslaukaitis9975]

The best couple of leagues in non league English football will play some of the most exciting and attacking football you’ll ever see

[@SamuelPearlman]

Thru Thin and Thinner - love this!

[@steviepat01]

I support witton Albion in the northern premiere league (3 leagues below league 2 I think) and I absolutely love going to the home and away games. I do support Liverpool as well but I only really knew about non-league football 5 years ago and I've been a Liverpool fan for my life due to my family, I'm 15 btw

[@Spentastic]

My club Pompey have signed two absolute gems who are former non league in the shape of Jamal Lowe and Ollie Hawkins. All the best to former non leaguer Nicke Kabamba who we’ve loaned out to Conference club Aldershot, great winning goal against Dover Athletic in your first appearance for the Shots Nicke!

[@anthonylong9067]

3 years ago i posted here saying i wouldnt mind playing for a non-league club. But in 2021, i think i predicted the future. Im going to the midlands to play

[@Forestgravy90]

Anyone in the Nottingham area go and watch Basford Utd at Greenwich avenue. Going for promotion and play some lovely football

[@tomspencer1471]

I go and support my local non league team can't wait to be back

[@illustrious1]

I love this video. What passion!

[@johnevans6399]

When my team got promoted to the Premier league I stopped going because of the cost. I checked out the local non-league team and haven't looked back. You get to know your club from top to bottom. I have seen some real quality players, some of whom choose not to be part of the grind of professional football. My advice check out your local team and you'll never look back. 🔙⚽

[@kakotokakoto2746]

2:03 it's actually Montenegrin first league. :D

[@ohskynyrdlynyrd]

The best video about football I’ve ever seen

[@phonemyatthu1364]

Football without fans quote really aged well

[@owen4828]

Very true love non league I go Dagenham and Redbridge every week

[@joelunchbucket0]

this looks like so much fun

[@HarryWessex]

My local non-league club has a unscrupulous owner. For some reason the trust who owned the ground sold him half the land, which he planned to sell, so he could build a new ground for the club, when the planning was rejected twice by the local council, he began the process of kicking the club out of the ground, and is demanding the money he's invested over the 20 years he's been the owner back, this has happened over the past 2 years (we're still in our ground though) which saw us, go from just losing out in the Play-Off Semi Finals (we finished 3rd in the league) of the conference South, to relegation the following season, to where we're not just a mid-table 7th Tier side, in a town of around 100,000 people.

[@darraghkearney1556]

im nearly sure the keeper that scored the long range goal is bouremouth keeper mark trevers

[@morgengabe1]

The wishing well remix is a very good look!

[@hugh1486]

The ticket peices aren’t very bad up here🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@rorirobert8775]

I play in the Finnish 7th div and its great!

[@jonasandersen8204]

My team in Denmark Hobro IK is kinda like this even tho we have played in the super league for a few years. I often meet players when going shopping and i have partied with the players a few times after big wins and i love it so much :) We got relegated so this season we are in 1. division and honestly its a good thing cus now we actually have some victories to celebrate lol

[@supreme302]

that's like the highland league you can bring a whole case beer in and no on would care

[@aquariussoda007]

thats gold .

[@highviewbarbell]

this is real football, for sure

[@samlogan1727]

SOUTH SHEILDS!

[@lautaromunar951]

I play a non-league here in Argentina and it's just like that, passion, beer and a lot of dirty tackles lol

[@blairdelarosa494]

I wish I lived in England :(( in US it costs $2000 a year just to play club, and it’s hard to even get a chance into lower level non league teams because it’s so community based and you have to know people. Let alone me trying to be on the top team on my club team.