Now we are back for another TTTONLF meets and this time I have an extremely interesting one for you all. Growing up I was, like many many others, a massive fan of Gillette Soccer Saturday and the pair I am about to introduce you to most certainly are leading the Soccer Saturday vibes for all of Non-League football across Leicestershire. I am genuinely so impressed with their matchday offering and I know for sure at the end of this you will be too – a high quality production for the amazing clubs they cover – lets get into it!
Name – Harry Parsons
Age – 21
Favourite team – Leicester City
Occupation – Social Media Manager, Volunteer Radio Presenter
Thing I love about football – The impact and influence it can have. As well as the opportunities it can create, whether playing, coaching, working in a off field role or volunteering.
My football pet hate – VAR! I’ll leave it there.
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Name – Weetoze (Craig)
Age – Walking Football Maturity
Favourite team – Shepshed Dynamo, if I had to choose one Non-League team.
Occupation – Part-Time Non-League Media Production
Thing I love about football – Scoring a goal!
My football pet hate – Professional Game
Q) What have you guys created and what was the inspiration behind it all?
Craig – We felt that Non-League Football within the County of Leicestershire was becoming neglected, coverage wise, by the main stream media.
Weetoze Productions started, initially with a weekly ’round up’ show, which was audio only, no graphics, bringing match reports and results to an audience via X and also scripted for Leicester City’s “Pre-Match” show, ahead of their own fixtures.
The show was initially dropped, due to Covid, with attention turning to live coverage and graphics of games across the County of Leicestershire that were played behind ‘closed doors’. Forward thinking, the idea was initiated to create a platform to broadcast live match updates and eventually the graphics to compliment the already produced audio, with video posted across our Socials.
The current format, was an inspired decision, on the back of the closure local radio station Hermitage FM, we acted quickly to acquire the services of Harry Parsons, a competent addition to our production team, in terms of coverage and presentation.
Q) What has the overall reaction been to doing what you do?
Harry – It’s been really positive. Everyone we connect with is more than happy to get involved. We’ve had some great experiences doing live commentary at Ellistown F.C. and Quorn when they lifted the league trophy last season. And of course over at Holmes Park for the County Cup.
It’s nice to chat to players, coaches and volunteers about what they do. And give them more credit for what they are. Anyone who reaches out to us, we really appreciate it. It is nice to have people reaching out off their own back to promote the club they’re involved with and we’re more than happy to help. The more access we can get, the better quality content we can make for the supporters.
Q) What you do is very much like a soccer Saturday approach – how do you manage the technical aspects of making that work?
Harry – Craig is the figurehead of NLC, and the graphics master. I am learning as much as I can about it, however my knowledge is in the audio broadcasting and radio side of things.
I’d say there’s an unbelievable amount of work that goes into the graphics, time and effort spent through the night to perfect it. I know with Craig, his passion for it results in quality graphics the like that you would see on Sky Sports and other platforms. He has that skillset.
On a Matchday, there’s a lot going on for Craig, everything you see on screen is pretty much done manually.
Q) How much joy do you both get from doing what you do?
Harry – Being as we fund it ourselves for the most part, we’d have to get some joy out of it! It’s been brilliant for myself, to be able to interview coaches and staff from non-league teams across Leicestershire. It has taught me so much, same with presenting the show every Saturday I’m always learning. And when we’re invited into clubs and welcomed, it means the world to us to be able to help raise the profile of grassroots football, and also have some fun whilst doing so. The more people we can have connecting with our live show, the more enjoyable it gets. It’s great to follow over 30 teams seasons again this year and stay tuned to their journey.
Q) How has the offering changed in what you do/offer to fans?
Craig – We are constantly updating our graphics when we are live, and social networking too with new and relevant content, produced and distributed by Harry.
Our new website http://www.nonleagueconnect.live is very much active during our broadcasts, with live score graphics complimenting our Radio Show.
Q) Why should someone tune in to a show?
Harry – I think first of all, if you have an interest at all in non-league football you’ll like our show. Not only do we provide graphics that as previously spoken about, are top quality. We also have a great radio show which plays some quality music, and we frequently have live phone ins from grounds across the county, which gives it that professional ‘Soccer Saturday’ feel.
I always think that on a Saturday if you’re out and about, instead of tuning into a major radio network or fiddling to get your playlist sorted. If you tune into us you are guaranteed brilliant tunes, constant updates on local football and you are also making it worth while and supporting a small, non-for profit project ran by volunteers.
If you’re someone who loves the non-league scene and has the chance the watch/and or listen along, we really appreciate it. Especially if you’re a follower of a local side and cant make it to away games, we can bring the very best coverage of those to keep you updated.
Q) What does the future look like for you both and the channels offering?
Harry – First of all, we’d like to have another good season this year. Getting ourselves down to more outside broadcasts and doing more live commentaries and short features. We’d also like to have more club reps sending audio updates into our show from matches, which overall makes the show higher quality for viewers. And of course there is an aim to have our show broadcast in more clubhouses across the county.
Additionally with Non-League Connect, we’d like to become self sufficient. At the moment we have had to dip into our own pockets to fund the start up of this project, something because we love it so much we are willing to do. We’re on the lookout for advertisers and with our show displayed in clubhouses (and we’re hoping to get it shown in many more!) we think we can offer a good level of exposure for businesses locally. We have our music licence to pay for, our website, any investment into our Outside Broadcasting kit etc . . the list goes on! So another aim of ours is to pay for the production side of the show via advertisers. Anyone interested can contact: matchday@nonleagueconnect.live
We have a niche audience, as anyone watching our show likely has an interest in local sport, not just football on its own. So for local businesses we can offer a great deal.
Q) Why in your eyes is non league football so special?
Harry – Because it is more accessible. Let me break it down.
If you think of any career, sports therapy, sports journalism, coaching, catering. How difficult is it to make it ‘big’ in those professions, and how tricky can it be to get into a larger corporation doing those things? Very!
Non-League offers a route for everyone. It can be a better place for people than elsewhere. There’s always the big bonus of being able to watch 7 or 8 non league games for the price of 1 premier league match!
Take a match photographer for example, they can prove their skillset, get real experience on a matchday, build a portfolio and make contacts. I am speaking from experience here in the Sports Journalism field. Non-League Connect is proof of that.
And finally, more importantly the football is way better! End to end stuff for 90 mins most of the time, you’re up close to the pitch and you can walk home in some cases.
A big thank you to yourself Christian for publishing this, and also for the work you do around non league. It is very much appreciated and hopefully both of our projects can grow providing more people with excellent coverage of non league.
What did i tell you….what a project this duo are running and I am incredibly impressed at just how professional everything looks and feels. The coverage is great and the fact that they have launched and run this without any major benefactor is a huge.
I can see this model being scalable and overall growth potential being huge. The duo cover the area of Leicestershire currently but I definitely feel with some financial backing and more support the core of an incredible wider reaching product is definitely there.
Non League Connect could very well be the Soccer Saturdays answer to all of Non-League Football – the sky is the limit and I am here ready to enjoy watching their rise.
Keep up the amazing work you do guys!
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