I live in a small town in North Wales. They have a football team and for years, I have always toyed with going to watch them. I remember playing on the pitch at the ground with school and local teams as a child but I guess once I saw the bigger stadiums in the English Premiership or First Division as it was back then on TV and the big crowds that filled it, lower league football was not as exciting so I never really stuck around and supported. Over the years, I had kids and my lad asked us to go and watch them but again it never really happened. I guess it wasn’t meant to be.
Until this summer when we were made aware of a Facebook post about working with said local team. I wouldn’t have batted an eyelid upon seeing it but for the fact my lad’s career of choice is a football manager and for years he has been trying to find ways of getting involved, we jumped at the chance to get him involved.
So for the past few months since June, I’ve been tagging along with him to games and training and helping him out where I can with what he’s trying to do there as well as achieving his hopeful future career.
What I have learnt in a nutshell since going to games, getting to know the club, the people, the other clubs and their people makes me wish I had been going since I was a kid. Here’s why.
Social aspect
First off, I’m not really a sociable person. I know who I like and just avoid those I don’t but my family have been telling me to get out more and be social. So this part of it has been the most rewarding and the most frustrating at the same time but in life, you meet those you get on with and those you don’t but definitely I have made some new friends and reconnected with some old ones. I try and sit on my own in the crowd and it’s become a bit of a joke that people ask me have I been home since I’m usually there before them all and usually waiting for a good while after everyone has gone as I’m waiting for the lad.
My lad is very like me and isn’t a fan of people so I was worried it would pass him by but fair play to him, he’s grown in confidence and even pushes me to get involved although we’re usually in the car and gone.
Part of me thinks maybe had I been more involved earlier on, I might not be the grumpy guy everyone avoids.
Volunteering
A lot of people I meet and know across North Wales are volunteers. The unsung heroes at times. It’s a lot of work and can take up a lot of time but you make a difference. Part of me wants to do more to help and maybe I will in time but even now, helping my lad out, driving him about, waiting for him, that’s a lot of time that adds up but with not much of a personal life, it has filled a void and given me a purpose. I’ve been considering learning more about data analysis in football and have started to look at courses. Maybe I’ll take on a role somewhere once the kids are old enough and I’m living alone with no responsibilities. This weighs on my mind a lot once the kids have moved on. I see it now as teenagers where my time is more my own now so I’ll need to do something.
It sucks you in
I never planned to go and watch much football. I used to have a Liverpool season ticket and gave that up because my weekends were not my own sometimes and much preferred to watch it on the TV and do something else alongside so spending two hours or so with people I probably won’t like much didn’t really appeal. But after a couple of preseason friendlies and watching training, I was hooked. The big difference maybe was my lad was involved so I got to know a few people, staff and players and before long, it started to feel like a team worth following not just because they were decent but also because of the people. And that is the big part of life, if the people are worth doing it for, you will do it. I’m the same at work and at home. Had I not felt welcomed into the club, I probably would have sacked it and just been a taxi for him.
But the results do matter, I get pissed off and annoyed like other fans and cheer and celebrate like them too. I look forward to match days.
Even my social media presence has changed. For years, it was my place to discuss my work and design but now, it is all football which I am sure annoys others more than interests.
The football is decent
Having watched Premiership football for years and various other leagues, the thought of watching lower league football never appealed as it was going to be just “long ball shite”.
But I will say, whilst there is an element of that at times down the leagues,, I don’t mind as often there is good football on show too. It’s entertaining and I would say being at the game, you don’t have commentators telling you the game is poor. You just watch and take in the moment and I think back to watching Liverpool and it was the same back then.
There are some very good players in this league. There are a few I’ve seen this season and you spend time watching them make it look easy.. Overall, the football on show is of a decent level. It helps that there are goals galore, almost 80 odd more than others in Wales.
It’s real
The biggest change in mindset for me and something both me and my lad have said is that it feels more real than any football on the tv but is probably how all football is if you are close enough to it.
Everyone tries their hardest. The players for the stick they get at games are human, same with the staff. They are just trying to win and do well and you see that when you talk to them and see them. You feel happiness for them when something goes well and you feel sadness when it doesn’t. It really is just a game. Also, these people have actual jobs too so football can’t be their priority at times. Life gets in the way.
It needs help and support
Some clubs have great support, some struggle to attract. I get why, it’s hard with modern life and other things going on but clubs at this level need support. Welsh football is on the rise with the Welsh Premiership expansion in 2026/27, something that needs careful thought not just about how it impacts the league but also the leagues supporting it. The national teams are enjoying some success, TNS are flying the flag in Europe and Wrexham are known in Hollywood now so we should be proud of as a nation seeing Wales do well but we need to keep going.
I can’t sit here and judge as I didn’t go for 45 years of my life and I don’t have the answers but I hope we can see some change over the next few years. It’s encouraging to speak to so many young people ( anyone under 30 is young to me) who go to games all over Wales so there is a fanbase there so I have hope.
In summary
I never thought I would feel like I do about football right now. I feel more involved and part of something meaningful than I ever did when paying £500 a year for my Anfield season ticket (we’re going back 20 years though). Just turning up and supporting feels like I’m part of it and I am sure that is how people have felt for years in the lower leagues and that is part of the charm. It’s 90 minutes plus stoppage time where you can forget your worries and focus on something else and it feels like a collective effort.