Essex clubs and conference Sponsors Vanarama get behind Non League football day

Great Wakering Rovers are one of numerous Essex teams embracing Non-League Day this Saturday (6th September) by offering free entry to their game against Cray Wanderers as clubs across the country ask fans to support their local side on a day when there are no Premier League or Championship fixtures.

There will be 19 First Team games hosted by Essex clubs on the day, including the Ryman League North clash at Burroughs Park. Rovers have also designated the game to express their support for the ‘Kick it Out’ campaign whilst revisiting their ‘Players Conditions of Registration’ which set a benchmark for behaviour.

Chairman, Tony Butcher, explained: “It’s our belief that kids or adults should be provided with the opportunity to play football whatever their ability. This has been embedded through the club for decades and it highlights the similarities that the newly formed FA Inclusion Advisory Board look to express and expand upon by promoting guidance on all equality matters.”

Meanwhile the new sponsors of the Vanarama Conference have launched a campaign to break the Non-League Day attendance record. Core to the campaign, backed by former start Matt Le Tissier, is a ‘call to arms’ to recruit other personalities who love the game, to put their “thumbs up” for Non-League Day and raise awareness.

Van-leasing business Vanarama will take to social media to encourage managers, players, media, celebrities and fans to post pictures of their support using the hashtag #thumbsup4NLD. The target is to achieve an attendance of more than 50,000 at Vanarama Conference games, breaking the existing record of 39,210 set in 2012.

Vanarama, will make a donation to Prostate Cancer UK, the event’s charity, on behalf of every fan attending a Vanarama Conference fixture. Based on last year’s attendance this will be a donation of £4,000. If the matchday attendance across the Vanarama Conference is higher than 50,000, Vanarama will donate at least £10,000.

Le Tissier, Thumbs Up for Non-League Day Ambassador, said: “Non-League football is close to my heart and the lifeblood of the beautiful game in this country. I am excited to be supporting this campaign and encourage everyone to get down to their local club this coming Saturday. Let’s break the record and raise money for Prostate Cancer UK.”

Essex grassroots football information is available at www.essexfa.com, on Twitter @EssexCountyFA and by searching for ‘EssexFootball’ on Facebook. Full details on Vanarama’s campaign can be found at www.­vanarama.­co.­uk/­thumbsup4nld. To help raise awareness for the campaign, post pictures of you and your friends with ‘thumbs up’ to @Vanarama using #thumbsup4NLD.