Welcome back to another TTTONLF meets Joe Pope the founder and editor of the Off-The-Line Blog. If you are on X then you may have seen the sheer amount of work Joe has put in over the past few weeks with an incredible amount of club centred transfer articles – an absolutely incredible workrate and one that makes me feel lazy!

If you haven’t heard of Off-The-Line before this, I aim to introduce him to you now!

So lets do it!

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Q) When did you start your blog and what was the motivation behind you starting it?

I started my blog during COVID.

When I started, it was mainly to provide me with a platform in which to publicise my views and opinions on football. I’ve been going to “the football” since the age of nine with my dad and have always been passionate about non-league, and I’ve always been one to analyse players and managers. Before every home game when I was younger up until the age of around 11, I always used to produce my own Football Programmes previewing the teams that Torquay United were playing that week, and the games from the previous week, so I have always been one that likes to write down my thoughts on football.

I saw COVID as a good opportunity for me to dedicate some time in setting the blog up.

Q) What have you found the most rewarding aspect of it all?

Two things spring to mind; the opportunities that I have been able to experience, the people that I have met and spoken to along the way.

In terms of opportunities, the one that stands out is the National League play-off final. I have been lucky enough to be on commentary with podcast colleague and good friend Rob Worrall in each of the last two National League play-off finals at Wembley, seeing Notts County and Bromley triumph, and it is so incredibly rewarding to be able to speak to the fans, the players, the staff of the winning teams and to experience up close and personnel their stories.

I have also thoroughly enjoyed being able to cover the England C team. I went to Llanelli, Wales and in Altrincham to watch and report on the England C team in previous years, as well as at The EBB against Nepal, and it has been so inspiring to see so many aspiring players at the start of their footballing journeys being given the opportunity to represent their country. I’ve met so many amazing people through that – Paul Fairclough and Mick Payne to name just two – and I have loved every minute of it.

The highlight for me was going to Anfield for the Football Content Awards. I have never – and will never – be one to big up my blog; I still suffer a little bit with Imposter Syndrome! Yet, to not only be nominated by my readers for a FCA and to get the chance to go to Anfield. Even though I wasn’t successful on the night in terms of winning an FCA, just the fact that I was even nominated meant so much to me you wouldn’t even believe. I cannot thank my readers enough to think that they liked what I did enough to nominate it; it meant the world.

In terms of people… wow, where do I even start?

I have to start by giving a mention to my good friends at the NL Full Time podcast; Rob, Dickie, Luke and Christian. I was given the opportunity to get involved and join the team as a result of my blog, and it has honestly been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. To be a part of a team talking about what I love, with people that I have come to be so inspired by; it’s a real privilege, and given me some opportunities that I would only ever dream of.

The blog has also given me the chance to speak to so many players and managers up and down the country, quizzing them on their experiences in the game and their aspirations. I have been lucky enough to get to know some of them such that I now can call them close friends. I won’t name names, but you know who you are! As a budding young fan of football when I started going to watch Torquay United, to starting my blog in COVID, to getting to interact with the players and managers that I have been in awe of from the sidelines; it’s so rewarding!

I’ve always had the opportunity to get to know so many amazing fellow content creators, podcasters, bloggers etc. who all continue to inspire me with their passion and knowledge.

Q) What is your writing process like, do you have a set plan and criteria you follow for each one?

This is something which I get asked about a lot. I would say that my writing process differs depending on the type of piece that I am writing.

For Manager Pieces where I am analysing who a club should appoint, I put together a list of “non-negotiables” that the new manager MUST have depending on the job they are inheriting. This will include factors such as; budget, location, players at their disposal, league, etc. I will compile a shortlist of a number of different options, and then will cross-check these options against these factors (e.g. like a decision matrix).

For Transfer Pieces, I will turn a player list for a club into a formation as to how that side plays, update (i.e. remove players) based on injury situations, and identify possible positions in which they may be a) light of numbers or b) lacking in quality. I will then write down a list of potential criteria (e.g. loan / permanent, budget, age profile, location etc.) I’ll then look through my “bible” of players that I maintain and select players based on what the club needs.

In general, I try to follow a rough guidelines / set of rules when writing new pieces,

1) Make use of sections to break up long text to make it easier to read.

2) Try to use terminology people use / can relate to (i.e. don’t overcomplicate with “fancy” words / terms).

3) Think of how the piece will format on a mobile; that is the platform most people will access it on.

4) Add character and personality; you want the readers to get a sense for YOU as the author.

5) Use a central graphic to support the written text.

6) Define a USP. Something which sets you apart from others.

Q) What’s been your favourite piece you have written to date?

Good question! To date, I have published 1,444 pieces so I’ve got lots of pieces to choose from.

Discounting my Team of the Season shortlists, my most successful piece on non-league football that I have published on my blog came in 2023, looking at players from Step 3 and below that were worthy of a January move. That piece has fetched in the region of 6,500 views and so I was delighted to see how well received the piece was and how much interest there is in the non-league pyramid below just the fifth tier. I enjoy those styles of pieces – showcasing players from Step 3 and below of the pyramid – as it allows me to shine a light on players that perhaps seldom get recognition yet are still hugely talented and deserve a platform.

Players from Step 3 and below worthy of a January move

I also really enjoy my Transfer Pieces, whereby I recommend a player (or players) for each team in the EFL and non-league to sign. These are great fun, as it allows me to challenge myself to think logically about which players are potentially a good fit for a club based on a whole range of criteria (e.g. age, budget, playing style, geography, links to the manager etc). I would say that one thing that sets me aside is that I like to really hone in on providing some rationale behind why I have chosen players to sign for certain clubs. Often that may lead to certain players being recommended which may seem a little odd to choose, or unknown names, but I like to think that showcases my mindset for recruitment.

As it happens, I have just taken on the mammoth – and slightly stupid, yet all the while fun – task of producing a Transfer Piece for all of the EFL and National League sides ahead of the 2025-26 campaign; a total of 144 pieces to do! I am going to provide a retained list, an overview of what I feel each club needs to sign in the summer and provide an explanation as to who I think they should try to target. It’s a big task, but that one I am thoroughly enjoying!

Q) Covering both the EFL and Non league football is a huge ask why did you choose to take on this task?

It was certainly a big task, but it is something I am hugely proud of; the fact that I am able to provide coverage of both the EFL and non-league. The “Lower Leagues”.

I decided to provide this coverage because it is so seldom afforded the time and attention that I feel it deserves. The lower leagues are the bedrock of English football; without them, we would have nothing. So many of the players that are plying their trade in the top tier and analysed on Match of the Day every Saturday by Gary Lineker and co are indebted to the time that they have spent playing in the lower leagues of the pyramid – especially non-league – in getting their careers up and running.

In particular, I feel non-league doesn’t get enough attention. So many fans and pundits view non-league as some sort of departure lounge of talent, when in actual fact non-league is awash with good players, good managers, and some brilliant community-focused clubs that deserve the spotlight on them. I like to think that I am a platform that provides them with that spotlight. I try to showcase as many players and managers as I can from largely Steps 1-4 of non-league, and feel that it provides an insight to a level of football that would otherwise not get.

As much as I am a huge advocate of both EFL and non-league, non-league is my bread and butter. My passion. I am a Torquay United fan after all, so it’s what I have grown up with and enjoyed, endured and become encapsulated by.

Q) You have built up quite the following on social media, how does it feel to see people enjoying your content?

To be honest, I still can’t quite believe it.

When I started my blog, I couldn’t have even envisaged that I would get the level of support and following that I have been able to amass.

I am just so grateful for everybody that has read, commented, shared, supported, followed and listened to my pieces and content. All of the lovely comments that I have had make me hungry to keep going, keep getting better, and keep bringing even more content to the readers.

Q) Non league football is seeing a dramatic rise due to top level football feeling and being out of reach to many now. Have you seen this change in the subjects you have covered over time?

Potentially. The topics that I have tended to cover during my time on the blog have remained fairly consistent; manager pieces, signing suggestions, and both team and player analyses. As the non-league continues to grow and get more popularity and wider acceptance within the game as far as a reader’s audience is concerned, it has allowed me to expand my coverage of the players that I feature in the blog beyond simply Step 1 of the non-league pyramid; I try to cover players right down to Steps 4 and 5 of the pyramid, too.

The space for non-league coverage is certainly expanding; I feel fans are more readily demanding of that authentic offering and reading / learning about / talking about non-league clubs instead of the perceived “grandeur” of the top level game. Certainly from my perspective as a blogger and reporter, I enjoy non-league more as you can get closer to the “crux” and the action of lower level football and so you feel more of a connection and appreciation for the players and clubs that you are writing about. I love it.

Q) How do you find the time to work on the pieces you write?

Not much sleep and a lot of coffee!

I’d say that in a week I usually spend North of 20 hours writing on my blog.

I do all of my pieces in my spare time, and so whenever there is an opportunity to “tap away” and write some words for my blog, I will. Usually, I try to set aside a couple of hours every night to write pieces, but be it waiting in the queue at a shop, on my lunch break, on the train to a football match, if there is some free time then I try and fill it with writing!

I often find that I do font it a tad tough to keep on top of the tight schedules; I often find it hard to stay awake in the evenings, so I apologise to readers that are so eager for some of the pieces. Hopefully they are worth the wait!

Q) You have been recently releasing multiple transfer window articles tailored to different teams, these are incredibly detailed and insightful, how long do they take you to put together and how difficult do you find them to compile?

Thank you for your kind words on them!

They take quite a while to write, as I try my best to profile every single signing and position that a club may need rather than just picking out signings.

I usually go through the same process when writing these pieces:

1) Assess the retained squad, and identify positions in which a club needs to sign

2) Detail the basic requirements for each position (e.g. what profile of player the club needs etc).

3) Identify prospective signings

4) Re-verify the new signings against the basic transfer requirements

5) Write the piece

I would say that on average a single piece takes me half a day to write, so you can perhaps understand why staying strict to such a tight schedule has had its challenges!

Q) I see you have just released a brand new book ‘Diamonds in the rough’ what can you tell us about that?

Thank you for asking.

Yes – I have got a book coming out called “Diamonds in The Rough”.

It was an idea that I had over two years ago now, and it has been an enjoyable process between now and then in writing the book.

In essence, I look at players and managers that started their careers in non-league, but who have since gone to to have strong careers in the EFL, Premier League and above.

I have interviewed a number of players and managers that have undergone such journeys from non-league, and tried to shine a light on those that hail from the humble roots of non-league that potentially might not be household names but who may have an interesting story to tell.

Q) If you could predict the next Diamond in the rough to make it big, who are you backing?

Good question!

There is lots of choice; that’s for sure.

The best player “currently” in non-league that I think will go on and have a really successful career is Kyrrell Lisbie. He is a player that I picked out when he was at Cray Valley Paper Mills and said that he’d go on to have a good career; he’s since done really well at Braintree Town, and looks set to join Peterborough United.

If I had to pick a new “gem” that may well go on and have success, I would probably go for Kiki Oshilaja. Another player that has come through at Cray Valley Paper Mills as it happens, and I think he has got everything to play in the professional game.

Q) What would you say to someone looking to try what you are doing for themselves?

Go for it.

The more coverage the better when it comes to the lower leagues. The writing / content creating community has so many brilliant personalities, podcasts, bloggers, and there is always space for one more!

Blogging is easily accessible to everybody, and can be achieved with relatively low cost. I use WordPress to write my blog pieces, and there has been very minimal financial outlay to be able to get to the point I am now, and so the opportunities are open to all to get involved and have a go themselves.

I am always happy to help people start up their own blogs, so feel free to reach out and I am happy to provide any guidance you need.

In terms of some general advice to consider when looking to start out themselves, I would say this:

1) Don’t get too low when you receive criticism – Everybody has an opinion. As long as you put out a product which you yourself are proud of then that’s all that matters.

2) Don’t be afraid to ask for feedback – Feedback is always healthy in understanding how you can improve as a writer, but also what your readers want to see. Feedback allows you to sharpen up and fine tune the product that your offering for the reader so that it is professional and more effectively laid out.

3) Keep it Simple – The readers don’t want pieces that are full of jargon or a recall of the dictionary with technical terms that no-one knows. Keep the writing relatable and in simple English to make them easy to read and follow.

4) Always put yourself in the minds of the reader – You may well be happy with a piece and how it is structured, but it is always beneficial to consider “What will the reader think?” in terms of how it reads and appears on their phone.

Q) What’s your plans for the site in the next few years?

I have some big plans for the site (if I can find the time!)

Depending on when this piece, I have a big announcement coming out in the coming weeks about a project that I have been working on for the last year or so that is comfortably my proudest achievement within the writing space and something that I’ve always wanted to do. So, I am really excited to bring that to everyone!

In terms of what I would like to achieve with the blog, my main focus is in continuing to bring people what I personally feel is a rather unrivalled coverage of the three National League’s; while I cover both the EFL and the National League, the National League is my real love, and I am so proud to have built up a following of people that read my blog on a fairly regular basis that appreciate the coverage that I give them that perhaps other channels do not.

I’m not one for “goal-setting”, but if I was to set out three main objectives for what I would like to achieve, I would love to do the following:

1) Champion and re-vamp the England C team – I think it is the biggest privillege you can have as a non-league player, yet hasn’t got the level of support I personally feel it deserves; it hasn’t been run this year (in 2025) as an example. I would love to be the one to get it back up and running and thriving, as it is such a special experience.

2) Put on a Player Showcase event – I continue to champion players at all steps of the pyramid in terms of showcasing what they are about, but I would love to put on an event for players perhaps out of contract / without a club in helping them to get moves with a one-off game during the off season.

3) Commentate on the National League/EFL – I love presenting, and so I’d really like to get the opportunity of doing more commentary and the buzz of being on the microphone or in front of TV camera.

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Now. I don’t know about you but I for one have to applaud the work that Joe is putting in and also say that it has motivated me personally to crank up the workload and do more too!

I have great respect for the work that he is doing and also for the quality of it, I have seen in the past where people focus on quantity over quality, in an effort to do more. That is not the case here, Off-The-Line Blog is definitely one for you to add to your favourites and keep a close eye on for all future news and overall Non-League content.

I hope you enjoyed this interview with Joe – make sure if you did to check out his website and also his brand new book “Diamonds in the Rough” which will be released on the 21st July.

Until next time everyone!

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