The Non-League Paper

Each week the Amateur Football Combination has a column in the Non League Paper, our report is being written by Danny McConnell on Saturday evening after the game.

To produce this report, we need as many clubs to submit brief match reports to Danny by 6.30pm on the day of the game, by leaving them on voicemail on 07847 501 454 (note the number, this is a special line for Non League Paper reports only). Please leave it on the voicemail, as I can then listen to it later and type it up at the same time.

We aim to cover as many matches as possible, within the 500-600 words allotted, although there will tend to be a bias towards 1st team football and the higher divisions, because this is most attractive to the Non-League Paper, we will try and cover as much of the league as possible. If we're short of copy, and the Accies 6th team keeper has had his usual storming performance, don't be shocked to see 9 North covered!

When you ring in the report, please try and give the names of key players (goal scorers, creators, etc) from both teams - that makes for the best sort of match report, and increases your chances of your report being included. And if you do send in a report, and I'm unable to use it, please accept my apologies.

It is our intention to send out text messages to remind clubs to send in reports on Saturday afternoon, but please do not wait to be asked. If you have a Senior or 1st Team match, ring in a report, and if we can use it we'll do so.

Sample Match Report

Here is an example of a decent report (from 28th October 2006), which filled just over 100 words, gave a flavour of the game, yet still managed to report the names of half a dozen of the key performers, and the key moments. Inevitably it's slightly biased towards Meadonians, because they rang it in - ideally I'd prefer to have separate reports from both clubs, and then I can write a balanced report mixing the two. Nevertheless, it gives an idea of what we're looking for:-

"In a high quality match, Meadonians opened the scoring after 15 minutes, as Leon Smith took the ball down the right wing, beat his man, drew two players and then crossed for Jack Costello who met the ball first time to score from the edge of the box as his shot flew in off the far post. Meadonians continued to press but James Holdsworth held firm in the Hamptonians goal, but with 75 minutes gone Ed Glover got in front of his marker to head a second into the top corner and send the holders through, as a defence marshalled by Brain Hanley and Ally McCombe seldom looked likely to be breached."

Summary

More than anything, we need clubs’ co-operation with the Non-League Paper. If we don’t have a report, we can’t include it, and the better the report, the more likely we are to be able to use it.

If you want to see your club and players’ names in lights, this is your opportunity.

Danny McConnell (AFC Publications Secretary, 07847 501 454 for match reports)