AFC Fylde: The Most Hated Team In Non-League Football

Fifteen years ago, AFC Fylde were an obscure local football team competing in the eleventh tier of English football, and playing under the name Kirkham & Wesham.
Everything changed for Fylde when a multimillionaire arrived at the club, investing heavily in the playing squad, building a huge new stadium, and setting out some enormously ambitious aims.
This week, Fylde went viral due to a controversial job ad - so it seemed like a decent opportunity to do an HITC Sevens documentary taking a deep dive into AFC Fylde, the man behind them, and why they are so disliked in non-league circles.

[@michaelpuiu9152]

They sacked me on Football Manager 5 years ago and ever since I’ve always had a dislike for them, good to see I was justified!

[@talesoleatsekatane6267]

😂😂😂

[@rorywilliams4470]

Hahahaha

[@nathanrochfortsmith]

I feel sorry for you

[@noobdad1]

🤣🤣

[@jackbauer4762]

Had to pick up the kids eh?

[@rhysjackson2597]

The owner of Fylde sounds like a guy that would ban anyone who's watched this video from being able to attend the club. Another class video Alfie.

[@wolfmauler]

So, like about 2 people who might want to 😆

[@kevinrussell8005]

You

[@ivrishcon-abarth38]

Maybe Alfie should apply :) This video would make an excellent piece for his CV to this job!

[@callumhayes7502]

The mere mention of OYSTON gave me shivers. Haythornthwaite... sounds like a made up PES master league player.

[@mikkelolesen6292]

Oh my God that was exactly my thoughts. It sounds like an AI generated British surname. 😂😂

[@BigPurp9]

I am actually shocked to hear the guys a nonce, I just thought he was hated because he’s a terrible owner. How can the league allow a nonce to own a football club 🤢

[@supersasukemaniac]

@@BigPurp9 because he isn't in the League.

[@BigPurp9]

@@supersasukemaniac I only just found out they didn’t still own the club I’ve not been keeping up hahaha

[@HarryWessex]

Sounds like a Cumbrian Town of 8,000 people

[@forechunkukee]

As a football fan from California, the fact that this video about a non-league team from a town I've never even heard of could capture my interest and attention for 25 minutes says a lot about your quality. Great stuff.

[@aidy6000]

Don't worry no one outside of Lancashire has heard of it either.

[@ablair37]

your lucky i live 5 miles as the crow flies from mill farm

[@elias3782]

@@ablair37 my dad got his covid jab there, literally a 5 minute drive away

[@vanillaboichris6735]

I used to pass it every day driving to my old job

[@richl6966]

That's because you don't understand football. Unlike in California we don't like the fact that everything can just be won by money.

[@nathanholland6584]

Hey Alfie, there’s a protest planned before the Oldham game on Saturday. Would be a great opportunity for you to speak with fans and understand what’s going on at the club!

[@danny9008]

What club?

[@archstanton6102]

@@danny9008 Oldham

[@gordonferrar7782]

Good luck Nathan I was reading about what the dirty bastard is doing earlier. There was a time when supporters would come together for a riot or to support a club in trouble I'm not sure about today. Hope it goes well bud some of us remember.

[@MikeGcdi]

Just out of interest what is happening? Im a Lincoln fan and it wasn’t good to see a club ruined by an owner like yours

[@rosstaylor1039]

A video on Sutton United - a proper grinding historic Non-League club, with an entire history floating between the Isthmian League and the National League, fan-owned, run entirely by volunteers, promoted to the EFL for the first time ever for this season, and currently holding our own well in 16th.

[@itzshadowz7467]

Is that Sutton Coldfield?

[@bobcarolgees8278]

@@itzshadowz7467 No, Sutton United are based in Sutton which is one of the Boroughs of South London

[@bobcarolgees8278]

@My.Digital.Platform Sutton are now in the football league (League 2)

[@raymondbonington9355]

They’ve done wonders with Chelsea Fulham qpr on there doorstep .

[@play4dc]

I lived in Sutton a few years back during their incredibly FA cup run. It was awesome seeing the whole community get behind a tiny club. Was the first time I really got into non-premiership football

[@fanofatrophylessclub9881]

Man, you seriously need your own podcast about various bizarre football story. I also would really like you and irish guy make a video together

[@anikeshmidya4882]

An appearance on Tifo pocast can help get things rolling

[@fanofatrophylessclub9881]

@@anikeshmidya4882 Yoo he and JJ Bull will make a great duo

[@TheCheesyNachos]

@Ian Thompson i'd want a one-off vid with the two of them, but definitely not a series of vids or something

[@gabsnandes7818]

@@TheCheesyNachos i would love a premier league trivia video were they go head to head

[@nandomdabit1807]

That Irish guy just scream bs and totally annoying.

[@seangoodland9775]

A documentary on the oyston family at Blackpool would be extraordinary, the whole family are crooked and the time where they only had 8 first team players a few days before the start of the championship season. There would be so much content could be a 2 part mini series

[@tangerinemisfit]

There’s a book, How Not To Run A Football Club, coming out about Blackpool & the Oyston’s coming out soon

[@dlamiss]

@@tangerinemisfit That will be interesting Junior was known to "pick legal fights" with fans disagreeing with him

[@tangerinemisfit]

@@dlamiss Karl Oyston’s suing of fans was the final straw that led to fans boycotting for years

[@bobmiller7502]

@@tangerinemisfit tell me more please

[@tangerinemisfit]

@@bobmiller7502 he sued fans for saying he kept the premier league money for himself. Which was found to be true in high court

[@walincoln7033]

I get the feeling that Alfie's rant about work-life balance was also a dig at his boss

[@plkrtn]

What? Into a mirror?

[@DR3ADER1]

@@plkrtn Yup, considering his own uploading schedule.

[@benjaminrei1319]

i think it’s more a dig at the exploitative relationship between the boss and worker in our capitalist world

[@DR3ADER1]

@@benjaminrei1319 Again, to quote Glengarry Glen Ross "The leads are weak? The fucking leads are weak, YOU'RE WEAK!" Never underestimate the collective stupidity and high likelihood of the workforce to project their own insecurites.

[@benjaminrei1319]

@@DR3ADER1 what?

[@wolfmauler]

A club that rose from absolute obscurity, to relative obscurity, thanks to Alfie 😄

[@railrunners]

Fun fact, my stepdads father was their first ever season ticket holder

[@garetho03]

I love how the captions put "Failed" instead of "Fylde" Quite accurate

[@supersasukemaniac]

Leicester City is a weird case, their Owner is pretty loaded, but they are one of the cheaper outfits in the Premier League, and it's obvious the Owner actually loves the team, and the city loves the team ownership. Last year when they won the FA Cup, the team called the owner down and he celebrated along side his team, when they gave him the trophy to celebrate. He actually tried to give it back to the captain.

[@gabecunningham2717]

We're dangerously close to being a what on earth is going on with video currently

[@stephentrout7879]

The former owner was a crook and broke financial fair play twice in the championship with no repercussion but of course no-one mentions this.

[@sm1ggy847]

@@stephentrout7879 a crook that donated millions to children's hospitals.

[@NegaRenGenX2gay2lift]

@@stephentrout7879 Milan Mandarić?

[@sidvicious05]

Bin dippers enjoy the championship all that cheating will hopefully catch up with you 😂😂

[@DumbFuckChris]

My local non League side (3 leagues down from Fylde) went on a particularly good run in the FA trophy not long ago getting to Round 3. They drew 5-5 with Fylde at home and we went down to watch the replay, the atmosphere was surreal, there was more of our fans than theirs in the crowd and we were the only ones making any noise, the stadium was beautiful but being barely full, it really felt like a shell of a club. The only people there seemed to be a bunch of schoolkids and their parents who went on the pitch at half-time to do a crossbar challenge type thing. Very weird going down there, certainly wouldn't go back, felt like a project simply for the owners ego from the start.

[@DumbFuckChris]

Oh and also I remember the brexit sign lmao

[@gillpnefc]

@@DumbFuckChris Ramsbottom United?

[@DumbFuckChris]

@@gillpnefc You guessed correctly, up the rams!

[@cameron9385]

I actually went to an AFC Fylde home game back in what I think was 18/19 when they were whiskers away from promotion. It was a great game! Fylde actually scored a last minute winner, but I now understand the quite aggressive chants from opposition fans singing that Fylde will never get promoted a bit better now! Thanks as always Alfie

[@vincentlewis838]

Once again, Alfie you are educating and entertaining the masses all in one video. Great job bro.

[@gebirg1]

When Salford came to Hartlepool in their promotion season we took great delight in telling them "You can stick your f***ing money up your arse" as we beat them. Just a sideline, our manager now is Dave Challinor, who was manager at Fylde for several of their promotion seasons.

[@davidprescott5690]

As a fan of a team in the same league as Fylde, I can unequivocally concur that they are the most easily detestable outfit outside of the football league.

[@fletch397]

Who do you support?

[@davidprescott5690]

@@fletch397 Southport

[@davidprescott5690]

@@fletch397 And before you say anything, we were robbed at your place and I'm so glad we don't have to go back to that Ikea ground for the next round of the FA Cup

[@fletch397]

@@davidprescott5690 hahaha, the return fixture at your place will be good. Apparently there was abit of a scrap in the tunnel after the game

[@fletch397]

@@davidprescott5690 "Robbed" we had 10 men for a challenge that wasn't even a foul

[@e_than_h5314]

This is my local non league team, my step brother is a goalkeeper in the academy lol. Didn't quite realise the full scope of how much theyre hated

[@adampark4238]

Think it depends on your ideology

[@e_than_h5314]

@@adampark4238 suppose so I still love the club coz I've been going to games for a few years and it was the first real taste of grassroots football I've had

[@adampark4238]

@@e_than_h5314 wish you all the best in getting into the leagues

[@bradz5285]

@@e_than_h5314 can’t hate a non leauge club just because it got money behind it. I’d love someone to come along and put money in Sittingbourne FC. It just ain’t gonna happen. Consider yourselves lucky 🍀

[@isaacpeachey8609]

@@adampark4238 I hate the owner way more for how he treats his players and staff than his shitty political views. He just seems like an entitled jerk for wanting his players and staff (who all make a pretty meager salary compared to his vast wealth) to take pay cuts during an economic crisis, work unpaid hours, and have no work life balance. I hope all of the people working under him can find better conditions and I hope the owner is unsuccessful in his pursuit of the football league.

[@400Awesomo]

I imagined what if AFC Flyde hired a Japanese manager? Their work schedule in Japan is more insane than the British.

[@Ri_F]

Is it like the chinese? 9 to 9, 6 days a week.

[@paulie-g]

@@Ri_F No, it's 5 days a week, but you have to stay at work until everyone above you in the hierarchy has left even if it means you miss the train home. Going drinking with your boss is also mandatory.

[@LegendNinja41]

@@paulie-g Tbf nowadays things changed a bit it seems, when it comes to average woking hours per Year, Japan is only listed at 43rd out of 66 countries in a statistic from 2017 with 1740 hours on average, for the UK it's 1670, while us Germans coming in last place with ''only'' 1350 hours per years (think that's still a decent amount, rest of the world should work less too lol). There are 20 Countries with over 2000 Hours per year, from the richer/bigger countries Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Vietnam, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, South Korea, Poland, Greece are in these Top20.

[@paulie-g]

@@LegendNinja41 Unpaid overstays by salaried employees like in Japan are guaranteed not to be in the figures.

[@digitalfootballer9032]

@@LegendNinja41 Where does the U.S. rank? Just curious because the standard here is 2000 hrs a year (50 weeks of 40 hrs a week, two paid vacation weeks). But in reality if you are salaried and not hourly (therefore "exempt" from overtime pay), you work much, much more, and work the extra hours for free.

[@liamtaylor1973]

I went camping nearby mill farm and I must say it is quite the development. I had never heard of them until that point. Now I know all about them, cheers Alfie

[@EpicSolutionzZ]

First time I heard of AFC Fylde was looking for a nice hotel to stay in in the area. Was a really nice stadium and hotel for the price, never realised how hated the actual club were

[@jimmycheese6875]

My mum’s from they fylde coast and a couple of years ago we watched them play Sheff Utd in FA Cup in the away end

[@englanduk6131]

It's not hate, it's jealousy, they'd love that owner at their club!

[@joeboyes7567]

@@englanduk6131 the owner sounds like a capitalist pig. Would always rather support a club with a soul and not run by a greedy ghoul

[@1882osr]

@@englanduk6131 I'd bet a fair amount of money that a majority of non-league fans identify as that because they really don't enjoy the corporate throw money at it approach....

[@englanduk6131]

@@1882osr, so you don't think a non league club wants massive investment?... Tell that to Salford City fans who's team have rushed through the non league pyramid right into the league on the back of famous millionaires and a billionaire!..I'm sure their fans couldn't care less about the hatred they have attained in every league they walked through, the biggest joke is regardless of the money pouring into their coffers sky decided they needed their sponsorship!!!!! .

[@balham5606]

The rise of AFC Wimbledon pls A video on how they lost their club The rise of AFC Wimbledon Nine promotions in eleven years And how they have a stadium in plough lane again.

[@roycropper698]

Copa90 done two really good stories on that.

[@balham5606]

@@roycropper698 we need a update ROY plough lane stadium and all The club in Milton Keynes need to get liquidated

[@tonightwefly]

@@balham5606 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@MenWithVen]

Once again I'm plugging for a "What on Earth is Going on at Sunderland? I saw you sneak Ricky Alvarez and Jack Rodwell into the intro of the "Restrictive Transfer Policy" video. I love these type of videos you do and I think we are definitely worth a deep dive given the ineptitude on show over the years. Sunderland til I die showed our relegation to league one and failed attempt to get promoted back to the Championship, but a detailed look at the Premier League years before our relegation would be great, also looking at how things went after STID. The amount of bad luck and awful decisions and from board level down to the pitch is staggering. In the Ellis Short era, and then the Stewart Donald era. And now we are owned by a 24 year old heir to a billionaires fortune whose father owned Marseille. -England losing against Iceland essentially resulting in us losing Allardyce, a great manager for us at the time, only for him to be sacked by England after 1 game. -At one point having the 6th highest wage bill in the Premier League with nothing really to show for it. -The purchase of Ricky Alvarez, not playing him, trying to back out of signing him, losing a lawsuit to Inter Milan and still suffering financial implications to this day. -Signing the appalling Jack Rodwell and being financially crippled for years again -Playing Adam Johnson when the execs knew he was under investigation for sexual activity with a child. -Signing Emmanuel Eboue, announcing him, then terminating his contract 3 weeks later as he was banned for all football activities for failing to pay an agent. -Well known drinking culture among players, general poor professionalism. -Darron Gibson getting arrested for drink driving after a car crash. Gibson also filmed on social media off his tits bad mouthing the team and manager whilst still a player. -Didier Ndong being our record signing, flopping and literally disappearing in the off season after we were relegated -Losing our top scorer in League 1 in January -Buying Will Grigg for 3 million pounds in League 1 because the owner at the time wanted to look like a big shot and then going on to be a Rodwellesque flop. -Losing twice at Wembley in League 1 including in the playoff final in the 95th minute. -Missing out on the playoffs after the season was cancelled due to COVID -Losing again in the playoffs last season. -Losing our top scorer last season to Wigan for nothing -Losing our club captain last season to Wigan for nothing

[@michaelfisher7159]

100% want to see this video idea

[@simonn2045]

Even as a Newcastle fan I do, that's some awful info. makes our club look competent!

[@paulie-g]

That video would be too depressing.

[@MenWithVen]

@@simonn2045 and there's still heaps of stuff I missed off. It's a ridiculous story. Bruce's second season onwards really, when he failed to push on with us (sound familiar?) Started blaming everyone else and made horrendous recruitment decisions, but it was the post Advocaat years and Ellis short losing interest when it all fell apart

[@jngsafcFTWSAFC]

We fucked off Our "Captian" and "Top Scorer", KLD is a good owner, ive never heard so many chairman's talk so good about another owner. If anything we're club on the up, again

[@Robin-yf6yl]

Ever thought of doing a video of Rayo Vallecano? Pretty amazing club from Vallecas in Madrid with a unique identity and left wing ideologies… unfortunately the fans are currently at war with the owner Raul Presa who is the personification of the clubs antithesis - for example, last year he invited representatives of VOX (Spain’s hard right political party) to the stadium and the fans responded by sterilising the ground! Also, Bebe is a hero there and somehow they got promoted to the Primera last year!

[@kindmulberry7196]

It was hilarious how at the Vallecas when Rocío Monasterio visited the ground the Rayo fans disinfected their stadium from the "fachas" with proper like disinfectant suits. Alfie should defo cover this at some point

[@bfzsgaming6068]

I guess it's a place which attracts social outcasts from all around the Spain.

[@Robin-yf6yl]

@@bfzsgaming6068 yep - including Falcao…

[@bfzsgaming6068]

@@Robin-yf6yl He is almost 10 years past his prime what did you expect?

[@danielevans5286]

Sounds fascinating 👍👍

[@OcEleven]

A video on VFL Wolfsburg, the most inconsistent team in the Bundesliga.

[@nairolffootball]

Wolfsburg underrated

[@supersasukemaniac]

They have inconsistent form, but that form has yet to turn into Relegation.

[@OcEleven]

@@supersasukemaniac as in One season they qualify for Europe The next, they are in the Relegation playoff spot

[@supersasukemaniac]

@@OcEleven yeah that is really inconsistent, but they are still in top flight

[@jairmorales2017]

W one of the best jerseys this season

[@Wardieshire]

Great video! I live down the road from the Flidds and have to say, you're spot on with your research. I think the Flidds may still reach the football league as long as Haythornthwaites ego keeps an interest in being a football club owner (pretty sure that's what its all about for him) but they won't get the crowds that they want. Like you say in the video, when Fylde saw a big increase in crowd numbers, it was mostly just Blackpool fans who were staying away from BFC due to the NAPM protest against the Oystons. Now that the Oystons are history, these fans are back at Bloomfield road and with Preston and Fleetwood also being close (and even Blackburn, Accrington and Burnley being not far away) I can't see them ever pulling big crowds.

[@cfcmoi11]

Now my football knowledge has went up by a notch

[@grassrootsfootballlive]

Indeed!

[@matthewtrearty597]

Super interesting, love these videos. So much better than just listing players

[@marrybichaelmore3372]

I used to be based at nearby Weeton barracks, I recall Fylde coming in and offering us all free season tickets around that time. Had no idea they were so disliked

[@timholder6825]

Didn't think I'd be into this at all. But that opening monologue got me hooked. And I'm surprised how intersted and intersting it is. Good job.

[@ryuhayabaker]

They beat Salford when we were fighting for the league title with one game to spare. They were complimentary when they beat us in the FA Trophy final. They were very kind when Justin Edinburgh died; and sent a lot of nice messages and gained a lot of respect. I might be in the minority - but I have a soft spot for AFC Fylde for these reasons

[@callumjb7668]

cheers mate

[@fletch397]

Always liked Orient too, such a same what happened to Justin Edinburgh ❤️

[@AdamMiligan]

Another masterclass from Alfie! Didn't know the story AFC Fylde, here in Brazil, Salford is the only popular club in non-league because of the owners, so always good to know more about the things going on outside of the top four leagues.

[@stepheng8779]

Popular? 😂

[@ryuhayabaker]

@@stepheng8779 must be taking the piss. They were scum in non league 😉

[@AdamMiligan]

@@stepheng8779 by popular, I simple mean that people know the team, no that they support or something like this haha

[@ekvedrek]

Salford are in League Two

[@fletch397]

We actually have a Brazilian fan page on twitter 😂

[@Scotify25]

Great video (dont worry about the run time, it was informative and your dry humour is entertaining) I had no idea about the Fylde story. Thanks for the unscripted infor at the end 😅

[@Referee001uk]

That was an interesting video! The lad in charge does seem like a bit of a nut job lol will you be doing a video on the rise and demise of Gretna FC?

[@brianmunich553]

This was good!! Can you please make a video on the most successful non league clubs? The ones to look out for in the future. Non league football is booming these days and lots of fans supporting a second team, usually there local non league side.

[@carlfairhurst1359]

Hahaha yes!!!! Love it, I’m a Barrow fan from Fylde coast and we beat them 1-0 on Boxing Day couple years back! Football league by 2022 😂😂😂😂

[@SamyRajoo]

Brilliant investigative stuff. Thank you !!

[@MIKIEC71]

You mentioned my club, Stockport County, and showed Stockport fans trudging across a water-logged pitch while talking about how these more established league clubs have less money to spend, but we have our own multi-millionaire owner now, who has invested a lot of money into the club, refurbishing the stadium, training ground in Carrington, etc. It's been a mixed bag, I'll be honest, but there is hope we can get back into the EFL soon and back into the Championship eventually.

[@balham5606]

Good to have a non league video Alfie :-)

[@alainsuero65]

Excellent video, I didn't mind the length at all.

[@balham5606]

14:47 i understand some don’t like Wrexham, for wales it will be good if Wrexham can get into football league and stay there. Salford city want more promotions but they seem stuck in league two.

[@matthewatkinson5687]

At least Wrexham have a decent fanbase and potential there bigger than most league two clubs already.

[@garetho03]

@@matthewatkinson5687 and their owners and quite lovable too

[@OfficialFingazMC]

I remember going to Wrexham back in the day before they dropped out (Port Vale fan here). And most people in league 2 hate Salford!

[@ekvedrek]

@@OfficialFingazMC Most people in Greater Manchester hate Salford too

[@surinamesechicken9780]

This reminds me a lot of Lewes who did something similar, then dropped just as quick when the money was taken away

[@jimbob-robob]

Nice one Alifie! Highly enjoyable! 👍🏻

[@nleak92]

Brilliant documentary, if you ever get chance you should do a documentary on Billericay town

[@lunch7735]

shown this to my colleges. no-one has a problem with it. honest and straight.

[@cormachennessy14]

Has a video along the lines of "top 7 fictional football teams" been done yet?

[@user-xx6nf5tv4h]

AFC Richmond!

[@OsofoGriot]

Gotta give it up to Harchester United

[@benji274]

Melchester Rovers

[@doomesdayboy]

Great video, please keep up with these kind of videos

[@alanwylie7207]

New soccer fan from America. I’m learning a lot already, and I was just introduced to this channel. I’m trying to get into soccer, so this is teaching me a lot.

[@callumjb7668]

football*

[@NegaRenGenX2gay2lift]

@@callumjb7668 blame NFL. not the guy

[@MaximusOwen1]

Lost in the National League North play offs at the weekend. Highlight of the day was the tannoy announcer telling fans to ‘get off the f*cking pitch’ at full volume.

[@mrkipling2201]

There should be a 3 up, 3 down promotion and relegation system between league 2 and the National league in my opinion. The top 2 in the National league replace the bottom 2 in League 2 and the 3rd place team in the National league play off against the 3rd from bottom team in league 2. That doesn’t sound too bad actually. Pretty fair.

[@lukashradecky5492]

A video on what happened to 1. FC Nurnberg please. Apparently domestic league wise, they are the 2nd most successful club in Germany

[@michaelfisher7159]

Best football channel on KZbin hands down

[@Iamtheliquor]

I’m from Liverpool and a Liverpool supporter. I moved to Wesham just over 6 years ago almost opposite to Fylde’s ground at Mill Farm. I never knew they were a hated team. Need to sort parking out I know that much.

[@callumjb7668]

It's just jealous people making up lies

[@Iamtheliquor]

@@callumjb7668 Correct pal. They’re saying Fylde are bad cos the owner has a few quid. Are they telling me if their club got bought by someone with a few quid, they’d stop supporting them😂

[@jjjjjjjjjjjjji]

Could you do a video on Fc Vaduz and how it's basically impossible for them to qualify for the champions league (and Europa league)?

[@jamespage8593]

Went watching Bolton at Fylde in a preseason game a few years ago, probably the weirdest ground I’ve been to

[@fletch397]

In what way?

[@seltonk5136]

Farts in unison are not cool.

[@youknownothing8226]

Not been to Kirkham for six years, went yesterday on work and saw Mill Farm, stopped at the Starbucks for a coffee which was average :)

[@scottflannigan3062]

Brilliant documentary thanks enjoyed it thank you

[@rajivnair6778]

Money has always had a big influence on professional football. It goes back to the formation of the Football League in 1889. More so these days, without the restrictions of the maximum wage, and shared gate receipts, which survived (if I remember correctly) until the 1960s and 1980s respectively. And the formation of the Premier League in 1992.

[@Church_Of_Kloppism]

Need a video about Worcester city 😉. beating Coventry in the fa cup and Liverpool many moons ago, to having no home ground (pretty sure it was one of the oldest in the country) sharing with Kidderminster, a dodgy court case involving their sponsors for many years (drug and sexual assault) and are now finally back in Worcester as a support owned club with a capacity of 1000 for a city of 100,000+ our football team sits in the bottom tiers of football whilst our cricket, basketball and rugby teams play premiership its all very weird haha.

[@chonkassSM64]

This was such a great story and video really love hearing the crazy stuff in Non league football these guys are essentially trying to be the RB Leipzig of England it seems

[@exsandgrounder]

It’s not a unique story, it’s not the first non league club to gain a wealthy backer to bankroll their rise up the football leagues- some of the others I can think of being Rushden & Diamonds, Fleetwood Town, Forest Green Rovers and now Salford City. Fleetwood’s story is similar to Fylde’s in that their backer first tried to buy into Blackpool before investing in a much smaller club nearby, although he has actually taken them to League 1.

[@grassrootsfootballlive]

So glad I volunteer for one of the best nonleague clubs in THE WORLD! 😎

[@evanmcc1877]

Come on Warminster. I stayed in that town for a few days while travelling. Great spot, great people there

[@shivs_nb]

Ok u got my attention now. Let's go Warminster!

[@Logan-fc5dt]

There is a lot of great stories to tell in league 2, or not so good in the case of oldham. Some videos from the clubs down there would be good

[@tyronedwards7049]

I support fylde because they're my local team but I have to admit that our chairman is a giant knob

[@kel1660]

hey what are your thoughts on steven dobbie

[@maxmcgarrity8636]

@@kel1660 he’s been decent tbf, but you can tell he’s getting on

[@kel1660]

@@maxmcgarrity8636 he was absolutely amazing for my club queen of the south, probably the best player to play for us in history

[@fletch397]

@@kel1660 fucking amazing, scores goals when we really need them. Not the fastest but he makes up for it

[@kel1660]

@@fletch397 he was so good in his day, should have played internationally for Scotland but he got snubbed every time

[@katiesmyth74]

After years of watching Stephen Dobbie (we have a ever so slightly odd wooden statue of him at Palmy), i was amazed he signed for Fylde (Lancashire's answer to Gretna). But i guess he's just playing out the last of his career until he goes into coaching and his kid plays for Blackpool so i suppose its all just geography

[@kromeboy1884]

Was nice to see him in the video, particularly since it reminds me that he’s down south now & can’t score against Saints again (like he seemed to do every bloody time we played Queens!! 😄)

[@fletch397]

He helps coach our academy as well as playing 👍

[@ericxpenner]

Nice video, Alfie. I was vaguely familiar with AFC Fylde, but didn't see the job posting. That is literally a parody of a terrible job posting... Well done, Haythornthwaite!

[@markhackett8014]

Excellent video. 👍🏻😀

[@kingdaniel69]

Great video, love it.

[@TheStuartGibson]

Amazing video pal.

[@rossomac21]

This was good stuff. Thank you.

[@Jtoogs]

Ive got to say what FC Fylde said is pretty much the case in football just they won’t sell it to you like that 😂 After working in football you realise working hours are a piss take and nobody can complain

[@chesbaret]

The content I live for

[@grassrootsfootballlive]

👍

[@williambewsey8864]

They also supported fracking in the local area, used to be sponsored by a company that wanted to start fracking

[@shawnmason5551]

Brilliant video. I don’t hate Fylde, in fact I wish them well, the only clubs I do hate are the ones that tried to form Super League. We’d all like an owner who has money, and will put some of that money into the club. We, Scunthorpe, are struggling this year, with a parsimonious owner who is trying the Premier League grift of taking assets out of the club (that parcel out parts of the club to himself, to be sold on for a profit). Interestingly, Swindon Town’s new owner seems a curious fellow.

[@jameslofton6823]

This hits me right in the FM save 😂😂😂

[@williamtrfc7360]

Great vid Alfie, as usual

[@Cal2929]

2022 expires on the 1st of Janaury and its absolute brilliant. Nobody knows where Kirkham & Wesham is either. I think people would know where Cleveleys or Squires Gate is more than them...

[@EFFEZE]

I do but then that's because I was in HMP Kirkham. So maybe not the best way to know where somewhere is

[@Cal2929]

@@EFFEZE Not gonna lie I laughed hard there. Class

[@imallen2253]

I love these videos bro

[@mafiousbj]

Love how people who were abused by bad bosses and never stood up to them just normalize and repeat the cycle afterwards with new employees. One would think they would want to avoid making people suffer in excess like they did.

[@unlockedaccount]

human nature

[@DR3ADER1]

That's because the alternative, unionization, causes more problems than it solves. It's why Kenny Everett mocked Arthur Scargill, and why most North American comedic writers make jokes about the Mafia running them. From one source all things depend.

[@mafiousbj]

@@DR3ADER1 one thing is your workers unionizing for better wages...the other is being treated like shit and being verbally and psycologically abused on a daily basis. Specially in smaller workplaces the latter is a big issue (and let's not even start on sexual harrasment). I'm referring to bosses being assholes like a school bully kind of behaviour

[@kiandodd5670]

at our game vs Bradford PA at 3:30 some of our fans had a banner saying "off to get the kids"

[@callumjb7668]

class

[@OfficialFingazMC]

And Salford are the most hated in league 2... (Port Vale fan here)

[@benhadley4089]

even as a stoke fan i can agree with you on this. i can respect my rivals not a fake team which is only there because of money

[@schnaarff1005]

Lmao, I live 2 minutes away from AFC Fylde’s home ground. Glad to see some local content on the channel

[@paulie-g]

How is the club seen locally? I understand the arguments against the spending and its impact on fairness, but the stadium and the whole complex looks fantastic.

[@schnaarff1005]

@@paulie-g honestly we all have nothing but respect and praise for the players themselves. They’re very talented and often perform very well. Haythornthwaite is extremely disliked though. The complex is definitely cool but didn’t really “need” to be built. There’s better things for Fylde council to invest money into but it’s still a great ground. Attitudes towards Haythornthwaite are the same as Blackpool FC and Oyston. Respect for the team, hatred for the manager

[@schnaarff1005]

@Barra NZ my comparison was meant as fans of the team but not fans of the manager. Obviously Oyston is a terrible person and I’m very glad he’s gone. Haythornthwaite has never done anything remotely as bad, but he’s still very much disliked locally

[@montehasspoken]

Can't wait for the extended cut where they talk about appointing the current manager and the accusations against him. Plus earlier in the seasons "If you want to pick the kids up twice a week, don't bother applying"...

[@richl6966]

Went to Kirkham and Weshem in the late 00's as my own team, Leamington, lost to them in a cup game. That was just before the big boys came in but it was a nice day spoiled by the Halifax lads.

[@Erikaaaaaaaaaaaaa]

Oyston is a great example of why fan ownership should be enforced throughout all of Europe

[@xRedemp7ionx]

I'd love a video on my club, South Shields. They're a non-league team backed by a rich owner, but are doing things the "right" way. They've invested in infrastructure and youth rather than bankrolling the first team and would be a really interesting subject for a video, especially considering the team was nearly bankrupt 10 years ago and now look set on getting into the Football League.

[@fletch397]

So have we though 😂, we've sold an academy player for a 6 figure fee, we have about 5 or 6 academy players in the first team squad currently, I think our academy won their league last season and they also reached the Youth FA Cup 3rd round and played Chelsea's academy (lost 2-1) but on the way we beat Sunderland, Morecambe and Cambridges academy...

[@newguy6491]

HIPSTER CONTENT BACK WITH A BANG BABEEE 💃🕺🏽

[@xxxdaggermouse]

Always great to hear Southend United being deemed in a good light

[@jasperlawrence5361]

where is the link to become the new account for Fylde? I am interested…

[@bhobg]

Why are football club owners so weird?? Great watch as always!!

[@christopherflux6254]

As someone who is friends with several former employees of AFC Fylde, the story about the job advert really surprised me. They’ve always come across as a very family friendly, community based club.

[@wangdangisleofman2824]

Title should really be AFC Fylde's owner isn't very nice. When my team was in the National League, the supporters and staff of this club were most welcoming. The playing surface was conducive to a good game of football and the facilities were excellent. Personally, I would be happy if this club did make it to the football league so I could visit again.

[@ccf3294]

The “Most hated in Non league” Derby AFC Fylde vs Hashtag United

[@benjaminrei1319]

why do people hate on hashtag

[@guguy00]

@@benjaminrei1319 I don't get it either. Possibly the cringeworthy name or might be because Hashtag's owned by a KZbinr and football fans can be insufferable snobs sometimes.

[@ekvedrek]

@@guguy00 definitely the latter

[@schlicktown]

Alfie, i love your channel. i am really glad youtube has flushed you in my recommendations. so much good stuff to learn. thank you very much!

[@TheBentiZ]

I want to see if you can find 7 football families, where grandfather, father, and grandson have played for the same team. Like the Berg family in Norway.

[@Ri_F]

This reminded me of the Águas family, of Benfica. (and fun fact, the daughter/sister/aunt is a famous singer!)

[@maniam5460]

The Maldinis at AC Milan must be the most high profile

[@guguy00]

Everyone sleeping on Marcos Alonso lol The question is which Marcos Alonso I'm talking about.

[@bbaIIer11]

Can you check out Chelsea Rovers FC. An interesting armature club based in Chiswick, and are owned by South Koreans, sponsored by Hyundai, upload player interviews with Korean subtitles, and even go on preseason tour to Korea for basically what is a Sunday League team

[@daikayll1897]

Great vid , ta.

[@LeylandWarrior7]

It's weird seeing something about a very local club to me. Not for the club itself, but for all the streets, businesses and schools I know, have been to and played football against when I was in school

[@vduigdtgfffhhjufd2042]

You should do a story on Hornchurch FC's FA trophy win last season! Unbelievable story!

[@bluesmachine1006]

You’re right, we’ve got Deadpool running the show, here at Wrexham 😎 Doing an amazing job too, bringing in world recognised sponsors allowing players to be bought purely with that money.