Welcome back everyone to another spotlight piece on a brilliant volunteer of the Non-League Football world!
This time I sit down with Nick Wilson and discuss what it takes to be a matchday commentator and how he found himself in the role, we also touch on developing your own style and things fans might not realise happen behind the scenes
Let's get stuck into the questions!
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Name – Nick Wilson
Age – 31
Favourite team – Leeds United
Occupation – Operations Manager at a company that helps to train dogs as Assistance Dogs
Thing I love about football – The emotions, ups and downs and community aspect within fanbases
My football pet hate – Goalkeepers feigning injury to allow pitchside team talks!
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How did you first get into matchday media and end up at Basingstoke Town?
I was interested in getting into football journalism and a friend of a friend let me know that Portsmouth Ladies were looking for someone to commentate on their games and asked if I was interested. I gave it a try and really enjoyed it and ended up looking for local non-league team to keep doing it. I contacted Basingstoke and they took me on board to start media duties for them.
What do you enjoy most—commentary, interviews, or writing match reports?
I enjoy the commentary the most, being in the moment and conveying the game to fans who can't be there.
How do you switch between those roles during a game without missing key moments?
Making use of the breaks in play to note chances, incidents and potential talking points as they develop at the time and when I have a co-commentator, using the time when they're speaking to do the same. The more you do it the more you get into a rhythm of picking the right time to make notes and how long you have to do so.
What’s the hardest part of doing live commentary at non-league level?
I think it feels like it's just a little bit more chaotic and unpredictable in nature to the game at a higher level. You have to be prepared to think on your feet just in case, there's always the chance of a curveball at some point. Some of the charm and appeal in non-league football is its rawness and how it's less sanitised and seamless than the game at higher levels which brings challenges but add to the fun and enjoyment involved.
Have you ever had a moment on commentary where something totally unexpected happened?
Yes! I once had a fan collapse out their seat next to me mid-game (they were fine, thankfully!), an on-field protest by fans at Basingstoke's final game at the Camrose with a fan handcuffed to the goal and then there was Paul Hodges' goal from the edge of his own box to seal a late-season victory a couple of years ago.
How do you prepare before a match—stats, team news, or just go with the flow?
Yeah, collecting as much info as I can in the lead up to a game, stats, player and team info, form, background on the opposition, partly to use to add colour to the match as it unfolds and partly for background context to inform the commentary, be aware of possible storylines and key points to be aware of or prepared for such as injury concerns during the game, history between teams, big news for either side that may have come up in the preceding days/week and particularly coming to this point in the season particularly permutations for promotions/playoffs/relegation.
What makes a really good post-match interview in your opinion?
Openness, honesty and insight are the main things. Answers and information that fans won't necessarily be aware of or might not have thought of themselves, the kind of things that come from players and managers being involved in the games rather than watching from the sidelines. It's important too to have the right sense of what fans are talking about most and want to know and pick out the right talking points before and after games.
What’s been your favourite game to cover so far and why?
I could pick a few! Away from Basingstoke I was lucky to commentate on games at the men's and women's Euros in 2021 and 2022. For Basingstoke our title decider in 2023 stands out, a stoppage time goal elsewhere winning us the league in unlikely circumstances and then an even later winner in the Hampshire Cup final a couple of weeks later at Fratton Park. There was a 10-3 win back at the Camrose Stadium in 2019 against Staines and a 4-3 win on Boxing Day against Thatcham that featured four goals in the last ten minutes.
How do you keep your energy up and your commentary engaging over 90 minutes?
There's usually a bit of ebb and flow to match the pace of the game and make sure listeners can get a feel for when things are more frantic and desperate and when things are in control. I do feed off the atmosphere in the crowd a bit too as the game's going on and, ultimately, I'm a fan too and I'm invested in the team doing well so I'm going through all the anxiety and excitement at the same time. As much as I try to remain balanced and fair, I think that definitely comes through at times as well.
Have you developed your own style or catchphrases over time?
I have. When I first started, the tempo of my commentary was something people mentioned as an aspect that stood out as more specific to me so I've looked to refine that and there are always familiar words and phrases that are helpful to fall back on when at certain times, whether describing areas of the pitch or the way a move flows, set ups for set pieces or summing up broken/chaotic passages of play more easily.
What’s something fans might not realise about the work that goes into matchday media?
I think probably the amount of background info and research that ends up not coming up depending on the way the game unfolds. I try to be as prepared as I can and have stats and info to cover as many eventualities as possible so it can't all come to fruition.
If you could commentate any match anywhere, what would be your dream fixture?
The 3rd round of the FA Cup, Basingstoke vs Leeds, whether at Elland Road or down at the Winklebury Football Complex, that would be the dream!
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