Welcome back to another TTTONLF meets, this time I sit down with Author, Ray Margetson. Non-league Football is full of wonderful grounds and the people to match and across his two books Ray covers and looks at many of those around the UK in a brilliant way.

So lets speak to Ray and find out a little more!

---

---

What first sparked your love for non-league football, and how did your journey into groundhopping begin? 

Going back to 1987 when I first got involved in the revamped Ilford FC. Played for the club and helped them get a base at their current ground through the local council, aside from becoming Secretary of the club during their nomadic period. After finished playing football I got in travelling to a few other non league grounds

Can you remember the first non-league ground you ever visited, and what made it special?

It must have been the likes of Catford Wanderers, Walthamstow Trojans, Swanley Town, East Ham United, Brook House, Eltham Town when playing for Ilford FC. I wouldn’t say they were special just nice to visit different grounds and play there at the same time.

What inspired you to write Beautiful Grounds and Beautiful Grounds 2? Did you ever expect them to gain such a following?

I first started out writing about non league grounds, on my visits, and posting on facebook as a general interest and a bit of laugh really.  I upped my game a bit, in reporting, and friends remarked’this is good Ray, you should write a book!’ So, I thought why not.

The Beautiful Grounds 2 followed on from 1, but with a real in depth feel, and interviews with club officials comprising of 62 clubs and two other ‘alternative’ reviews with 3-4 pages per club.

The first book was a real whistle stop tour of 180 different grounds, of which a lot of the reviews in the book were written well before I even thought of producing a book. These comprised of 1 page per club including photos. Book 2 also covered a collage of different photos from grounds in colour.  

Out of all the grounds you’ve visited, which one surprised you the most—either in a good or bad way?

I never know these days what to expect from a club when I turn up, so its really nice to be surprised when you see the grounds and stadiums.

I’ve been impressed by the old grounds at Crook Town and Great Yarmouth Town, as well as at South Shields and Bath City. These type of stadiums are not going to be around for ever. They are either going to get re built/replaced so worth catching them now before they all end up as identikit grounds!

Non-league football is full of characters—who’s the most memorable person you’ve met on your travels?

As a character that would have to be Don Amott (King of the caravans!) at Mickleover. A lovely positive friendly character who will always try and help.

Was there a ground you visited that turned out to be completely different from what you expected?

I’ve very recently visited Hednesford Town and was surprised at how good a stadium it actually it for this level, and improving all the time.  

What’s the most unusual or quirky feature you’ve come across at a non-league stadium?

Hmmmm…..there’s the Buddha statue at Hertford Town, Herts behind one of the goals, the ‘Ceefax Brian’ stand at Raynes Park Vale, SW London – a small wooden open hut with a chair and a table to view the game!The ‘scoreboard’ at Banbury United – its just number’s to turn over when the teams score, and situated higher up on wire fencing. No one ever bothers, so the score stays 0-0 all the time!  

If you could only recommend one ground for someone to visit from your books, which one would it be and why? 

I’d have to say Crook Town, for both its old stands next to each other, coupled with the friendliness of fans and officials alike.

Have you ever faced any challenges or funny moments while trying to visit or photograph a ground?

Trying to find Blyth Spartans ground with my sat nav as ended up driving around in circles! 

Rusthall (in Tunbridge Wells, Kent) is not an easy to place to find in the dark mid week, driving down unlit country roads with no signs.

Have never come across any problems regards taking photos though. 

After writing two books on non-league grounds, do you feel your perspective on football has changed in any way?

Good question and I would say there is such a diverse way of how clubs are run, both good and bad. 

The enthusiasm is there, money is definitely a big factor with how to run clubs but also the players being more mercenary in their attitude towards their own clubs – i.e. they would happily take an extra £50 extra per week to jump ship and join another club.

Some chairman are just there to enhance their own business and make money on the back of clubs before they leave.

On the whole though I’m very impressed with most clubs with the help of volunteers, and how they really ‘invest’ into the local community to improve the clubs for years to come.

It’s very positive! 

————————————————————————–

Thanks to Ray for taking some time to sit down and speak to me, if you are wondering where you can pick up a copy of The Beautiful Grounds 2….well here you go!

https://margetsonpublishing.com/product/the-beautiful-grounds-2/

Non-League needs more people producing quality content like this and I am a massive fan of Ray and the work he has done and continues to do. Keep your eyes peeled…surely number 3 will be not too far behind!

Until next time!

———————————————————————————————-

Non-League magazine ‘Parks to Pitches’

Beanies

Pin badges

Scarves

All available here: https://tttonlf.square.site

———————————————————————————————-