ISUZU Unsung Hero
NON-LEAGUE legend Tim Fuell was taken aback when he was surprised with the Isuzu Unsung Hero award.
Fuell has been a stalwart and relentless champion of the Non-League game for over three decades through his association with Hayes & Yeading United as well as presenter and producer of The Non-League Football Show and regularly writing for The Non-League Paper.
His award was kept secret from him until the awards ceremony at AFC Wimbledon’s Plough Lane, and Fuell revealed he was flattered to be honoured by those who have also dedicated themselves to the Non-League game.
“It was certainly a surprise, I wasn’t expecting it,” he said. “These guys are my friends – they were my friends but didn’t tell me I was going to win this award so maybe I’ll have to reconsider that!
Stronger
“I’ve known these guys since they first started at The Non-League Paper and have put their whole lives into reporting the Non-League game and it is stronger than ever.
“It’s just great to be in a room full of people that enjoy Non-League football.”
Fuell was part of the original team working on The Non-League Paper and has continued to contribute ever since, alongside running media duties for Hayes & Yeading United and previously at Yeading FC.
It means Fuell has an impressive record of service to the game, and he revealed it is the people that keep him coming back season after season.
Original
“My first big story was a piece in the Daily Express when David Emery, founder of The Non-League Paper and sadly no longer with us, commissioned me and from there I went to go and work for him at Sport First,” he continued.
“And then I was part of the original team behind The NLP and have been writing reports and columns ever since.
“It’s the people, there’s a different passion that you get from people in Non-League football.
“It’s a relationship of trust, there’s an unwritten rule that everybody understands and there’s a certain thing that runs through your veins that makes you passionate for Non-League football.
“It’s those relationships you build up over the years, people you haven’t seen for 15-20 years but there is still that understanding.
“It’s real football. People talk about the disconnect with Premier League football, at Non-League you get to speak to the players in the bar afterwards, speak to the officials afterwards sometimes.
“It’s accessible for everyone, you can enjoy an afternoon out with your family, and it’s football in its rawest form.”
