Non-League Gems’ Post

A really insightful and thought provoking article from NPL Chair, Mark Harris who looks at six statements often heard on the terraces, or in social clubs at non-league grounds: 1. The FA doesn't like Non-League 2. Non-League is starved of investment. 3. The Premier League does nothing for Non-League. 4. More should be done to protect clubs. 5. We should get rid of midweek fixtures. 6. Nobody understands geography (i.e. the post season allocations process). He ends the article with this. "Solutions exist to some of these myths but not to others without radical changes to the numbers of clubs in the NLS (National League System). Or maybe there are too many clubs already? That's another myth for another time." Interesting times indeed for Non-League.

Many of you will have read or listened to the news of the passing of Rob Burrow, Leeds Rhinos rugby league’s all-time great, who contracted motor neurone disease (MND) and campaigned right to the end, to raise MND awareness. Some of you may have seen the tribute this remarkable human being on BBC last night (03 June 2024), “There’s only one Rob Burrow”. Rob ended the documentary with this:  “In a world full of adversity, we must dare to dream”.  Words which are now inscribed on the side of Leeds Beckett University’s student union. But how does all this link to the world of events? I hear you ask…. In an industry where so much more needs to be done to open up the doors and deliver events and experiences which are truly accessible to everyone, I urge you all to do more than just dare to dream. The events industry is packed full of creative talent that has the power not just to dream, but to make pretty much anything possible. So don’t let yesterday’s news be tomorrow’s fish n chips paper. Get the conversation going with your team. Get in contact with consultants who can help you on your events accessibility and inclusion journey, and make access and inclusion part of your every-day events agenda. Let’s dare to do more than dream. #eventprofs #accessibility #eventinclusion

The Power of Tradition and Community in Football Discover the impact of tradition and community in football through the journey of a head coach. Learn how football ties in with the community, administration, and coaching staff, creating a strong bond. Explore the mix of football brands and leagues and the importance of preserving tradition. #FootballTradition #CommunityBond #HeadCoachJourney #FootballCommunity #PreservingTradition #FootballLeagues #CoachingStaff #FootballImpact #FootballCommunityBond #FootballJourney

Croke park v Lansdowne road…? Like Irish unity there’s a thought you’d think might never happen. However, money always talks. It could solve a lot of problems- 1. Athmosphere “Compared with the regular Six Nations crowd, the World Cup attendees were younger and more boisterous, drawn from across the spectrum of sports. When it comes to spring, many of those supporters find themselves locked out by the model that sees the union distribute their tickets through the clubs, who often bundle at least some of them and sell them to corporate entities and travel companies. The income they generate funds the sport at a local level, but an additional capacity would allow the union to investigate ways to tap into the latent interest from the World Cup” Enjoyment- It will stop the boozers in the stands destroying the enjoyment of the others. Far more can attend. Money- It would generate a lot more, and perish the thought, the IRFU might even reduce prices to encourage real fans. So how about leaving the RDS and Lansdowne road? Allow Leinster use it. The GAA use it. More Concerts. As the IRFU don’t really care about their Patrons once they get their money that won’t be an issue. They side step a changing culture towards boozing.

Children in Oxfordshire are SIGNIFICANTLY less likely to be active if they have a special educational need or a disability. However, try telling that to the legends down at Gosford All Blacks, Witney Wolves or Wallingford every Sunday. There's loads of fun, loads of movement, loads of rugby as a vehicle for socialising, moving and playing. We've got a heck of a long way to go but considered commissioning, building capacity and peer to peer support in this way breaks out of the cycle of grant funding short term-ism and builds something to last. If you have any questions about how it all works, co-founder Jessica Harrison is the person at Active Oxfordshire or Darren at GAB is the fly half pivot around which this all flows *jargon glossary: the last line means that Darren is the person making it all happen.

The introduction of a second-tier league to support the A-League has sparked an important conversation about the future of Australian football. While the ambition behind a national second division with promotion and relegation is undeniable, its potential impact is still up for debate. On one hand, a second-tier league could act as a safety net, ensuring professional football's continuity even if the A-League encounters challenges. On the other, the current state of the A-League necessitates careful consideration before such an expansion, as any decline could disrupt talent development and the growth of the sport in Australia.  We know that Football Australia met with eight National Second Tier (NST) Foundation Clubs earlier this week and it marks a significant milestone in this journey. The strong commitment and collaboration demonstrated by all parties highlight a shared vision for a sustainable and successful NST competition.  As these discussions continue, it's crucial that we explore how best to strengthen professional football in Australia. This will require more than just the creation of a second-tier league—it will demand investment in grassroots, collaboration across all levels of the game, and building strong connections within our football community. Is a second-tier league what Australian football needs? Please place your thoughts in the comments  #AustralianFootball #SecondTierLeague #ALeague #FootballAustralia #NXTGENFOOTBALL Tony Baddour John Szabo Patrick Skene Kory Babington Craig Kiely Suzie Stojanoska Aqua Wang Craig Foster AM Club Respect

The National Rugby League's inaugural Las Vegas Round attracted over 40,000 fans and showcased rugby league to Americans audiences. This historic event has built the foundations for the NRL to enter the most lucrative sports market in the world. But what should happen next? And how can the NRL use this platform to strengthen the code globally? Capturing attention as a once-off and generating a lasting interest are two different things. Research demonstrates how preferences for sports are formed when they are perceived to satisfy certain wants and needs. In order to capitalise on this opportunity and make the US expedition a success, the NRL should focus on awareness, celebrity involvement, American ownership, and expanding the women's game says Dr Jason Doyle.   Read more: https://lnkd.in/eN3gt_G9

Holistic approach  develop good people and then good Futbolers who understand the clubs values and project them  on and off the field .

I was sent this a few days ago, and I want to give kudos to Adam Peacock, who has done a stellar job highlighting the current state of the world game in Australia. I am sure there is more to uncover here. Great work!!! We will support the football party!! I highly recommend the four-part series, but this one dives deeper into grassroots football. Enjoy! #EmpoweringYouth #ActivePlay #informalsport #PhysicalLiteracy #FutureLeaders #TRIQArena #CommunityPlay #FutureSuccess #PositiveImpact #RecreationRevolution #Innovators #AustralianSport #CommunityWellness #ActiveLiving #RecreationHu #FunAndFitness #InnovationInPlay #EmpowerCommunities #CouncilLeadership #HealthyHabits #TogetherWePlay #BuildingConnections #UnityThroughSports #PositiveYouthDevelopment #InclusivePlayground #PlayForChange #StrongerTogether #RecreationForAllAges #HealthyLifestyle #CommunityBuilding #FutureOfPlay #CollaborationWins

With many national sports organizations and clubs driving a desire to increase participation across all levels, we must all be prepared to ensure that our clubs, facilities, and staff are ready to meet this need both for today and tomorrow. Key events of significance in our region, such as multiple high-profile World Cups, as well as an increase in the profile of local events and competitions such as the National Basketball League (NBL), ASB Classic, National Rugby League and A-Leagues have all made community sport an attractive choice and in turn funnelling people into grassroots sports clubs up and down the country. But are you ready to deal with the demand? Do you have enough staff? Are there enough fields and courts? Do you have the technological resources to deal with this significant uptick in interest? How are you dealing with this surge in interest in participation? Full article to come! #sportsmanagement #clubdevelopment #clubmanagement #sportsdevelopment