CASH-STRAPPED clubs, bobbly pitches and lionhearted fans. Non-League football has the best of the British game.
And now thanks to Marathonbet and charity partner Prostate Cancer UK, things are about to get even better.
One lucky Non-League club will soon pocket a cool £10,000 partnership with the online bookmaker and a huge share of the proceeds from a Premier League legends charity match – worth up to £40,000 – thanks to the Non-League Challenge (NLC).
Shortlist
For months, Marathonbet has been scouring the UK for Non-League’s best goal celebration. From Gazza impersonations to fans losing their heads in the stands, the 68 clubs from the National League, National League North and National League South have sent in entries in droves.
It all kicked off with Non-League football’s most famous ambassador of recent times,
the Wealdstone Raider. The Raider, real name Gordon Hill, re-created some of the most memorable goal celebrations of all time in a hilarious viral video to help launch the competition. It included an attempt at Ryan Giggs’ famous celebration in the 1999 FA Cup tie against
Arsenal at Villa Park and Cameroon’s Roger Miller dancing with corner flag at the 1990 World Cup. Effort was in abundance. Grace was not.
After a host of initial entries, former Charlton, Ipswich and Republic of Ireland legend Matt Holland whittled down the submissions to a final shortlist of five.
Holland, who will captain the Premier League legends side that plays the NLC winning club in a lucrative charity match, picked Wealdstone, Torquay United, Truro City, Whitehawk and Chelmsford as his final teams to face the public vote.
Dance Moves
Wealdstone caught the eye for the Raider’s brilliant Gazza impersonation, when he re-lived the legend’s famous dentist chair celebration from Euro 96. The Raider even donned a Gazza shirt for the occasion.
And Torquay also hit the headlines when a fan was caught pulling all sorts of shapes in the stands after they netted against Forest Green in the National League. Now dubbed the Plainmoor Raver, the super-fan with all the dance moves will no doubt be taking to the floor again if his efforts propel Torquay to the NLC title.
Brilliant entries from Truro City, Whitehawk and Chelmsford also impressed Holland. But now it’s down to the public to choose their victor.
The winning club can do what they please with the huge cash prize. It could fund a new stand, a renovated clubhouse or perhaps a new number 10. But before that happens, they need fans to head to the polls.
Voting is open until Thursday, April 28, and fans can watch all the finalists’ celebrations and vote for their favourite by visiting the NLC website.
As well as the £10,000 partnership with Marathonbet, the winning team will host a Premier League legends team that already includes the likes of Arsenal’s ‘invincible’ right-back, Lauren, and former Wales captain Danny Gabbidon.
It’s up for grabs now!
Watch and vote for your favourite entry by visiting nlc.marathonbet.co.uk.
