Welcome back to another Through the Turnstile meets, this time we are sitting down with Ben an aspiring football journalist, a passionate lover of Non-league Football and a key advocate for highlighting the stories that need to be told.

I am sure you will find this interview will provide you with yet another website that you will want to add to your reading list going forward, so lets get chatting to Ben!

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Q) What is your earliest memory of football as a fan?

Billericay Town 6-0 Hastings United – August 18th 2007. I remember that being the first game I really paid any attention to and I even remember one of the goals – mainly because the cheer made me jump and I dropped my sweets everywhere!!

Q) Did you ever play yourself, if so what position and were you any good!

Only at school! I started out as a centre-midfielder before moving to right-back. I was decent enough, popped up with the odd goal, but never played beyond the school tournaments.

Q) You are studying sports journalism currently, was it always something you wanted to study?

Yeah, journalism has been on my radar for years. Being able to combine it with sport for my Master’s has been brilliant. Publishing articles and getting to interact with people in the industry has been really rewarding.

Q) When did you decide you wanted to start a football blog?

Right at the start of my MA. Our course leader, Daniel Gallan, suggested we all create our own portfolio sites. It was a bit slow to get going, but now it’s really rewarding to see how many people read and interact with my articles.

Q) How do you plan what you are going to write about?

I usually just keep up to date with current affairs and go from there. Match previews or opinions discussing up-to-date, relevant topics are usually my most-read articles.

Q) What would your ultimate writing setup be?

Ideally, a big, quiet office with a second monitor for stats or match footage, a big comfy chair, and a decent speaker for some music! It would be great to have a proper setup where everything I need is within arm’s reach.

Q) What is your actual writing setup?

At the moment, it’s just me in my bedroom or at the kitchen table with my laptop. I’ll put my AirPods in and see what I can do. It’s not flashy, but it gets the job done!

Q) How long does it take you to put a piece together?

For match previews, lists, or longer features it normally comes together over a couple of days. I tend to put a day aside for gathering stats, facts, quotes etc. and then another day to write it. For shorter pieces like match reports or opinion articles, I can usually have them done within a couple of hours.

Q) What is it that you enjoy the most about writing?

For me, it’s all about being able to express myself as a journalist and tell a compelling story. Whether I’m informing readers about recent events, providing updates, or simply venting frustration over something in the game, I love the process of shaping those thoughts into a piece that works, something I feel proud of and others will hopefully enjoy reading.

Q) To date, what has been your favourite article you have written?

I loved making my Isthmian Premier League TOTS – it took a long time to put together and it is my most-read piece to date. It also gave me a chance to showcase my knowledge of the league and interact with others who agreed or disagreed with my choices.

The other articles that stand out are my feature with Billericay manager Gary McCann and physio Mark Findley, discussing the impact of injuries on the semi-professional game. My piece about Leyton Orient, published by The Lower Tiers and in the Pandemonium Fanzine, was also enjoyable to write.

Q) What is the biggest challenge you find in writing?

The hardest part is often coming up with a fresh idea, something that stands out and isn’t already being covered by everyone else. On top of that, finding the time to properly sit down and write while juggling studies and other commitments can definitely be a challenge.

Q) Non league football is on the rise, how much do you enjoy covering this growing market?

I absolutely love it. Non-league football is definitely on the rise, but it still feels hugely underreported. There are so many untold stories, of clubs, players, and communities, that deserve more attention. I find it incredibly rewarding to shine a light on those corners of the game that often get overlooked, and the sense of community in non-league football is something truly special, so being able to help tell those stories to a wider audience is a real privilege.
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Thank you Benn, keep up the excellent work. A huge advocate for Billericay Town and also making a name for himself with his own pieces on the beautiful game! Love it!

That is all for now so….Until next time!

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Edition 3 of the dedicated Non-League Football magazine, Parks to Pitches has just been released & you can grab your very own copy right here and now!!

https://tttonlf.square.site/product/parks-to-pitches-3rd-edition/16?cs=true&cst=custom