Navigating the challenges of non-league football

By Lee Edmondson

Senior Lecturer in Sport Business Management. School of Sport & Physical Activity, Sheffield Hallam University.

In this blog, I share some of my recent research and offer some tips to help players tackle some of the challenges they face in non-league football. The research used in this blog is based on interviews with 10 semi-professional football players (from step 2 to 6 of the National League System).

“You get a bacon butty off the van and get back to work”

Semi-professional football occupies a vast and unique space within the English football pyramid, bridging the gap between amateur and professional levels. The National League System (NLS) comprises of six levels that operate directly below the professional game. The NLS has 991 clubs across steps 1 to 6 (or levels 5 to 10 of the football pyramid).

Therefore, based on an average squad size of 23, there are just shy of 23,000 players competing in the NLS compared to just under 2,400 players from the 92 clubs across the four professional leagues (based on an average squad size of 26).

The life of a semi-professional footballer in England is marked by a complex set of challenges namely due to balancing football careers alongside non-football commitments. Most players (step 2-6) manage a dual career i.e. they work full-time and play part-time*. Typically, non-league football operates on a Tuesday (training or match), Thursday (training) and Saturday (match) schedule. Players often don’t get home until late at night or early hours of the morning following midweek matches, and on a weekend, they are often out the entire day due to the nature of travelling involved. Players are also expected to do some fitness/gym work themselves during the week to ‘keep ticking over’, which is often monitored by clubs.

“You spend a lot of time out of your house really for non-league football.”

You can probably sense how demanding it is for players to balance their football careers alongside their jobs, family and personal life, plus any education and/or vocational training. The physical and mental strain of juggling two careers can lead to conflicts and fatigue, and affect performance on the pitch and life off the pitch. Put simply, non-league football is intense.

Here are some tips to help players tackle the challenges they face.

Planning & Time Management

One of the biggest challenges for semi-professional footballers is managing time effectively. Whilst players tend to have a stoic attitude towards maintaining a dual career, planning and time management is crucial. Players stated how preparation is key and creating a structured schedule that allocates time for football (and recovery), work, and personal life can help. Using digital calendars or apps to set reminders and organise days can ensure that commitments do not overlap and help players can maintain a healthy balance.

“It’s all in the preparation. If I know I'm training Tuesday and Thursday night, on Monday I’ll pack a full bag of everything I need in case I don’t get home, so I can go from wherever I am working to football and get changed there.”

Build A Strong Support Network

Having a reliable support network of family, friends, and teammates can make a significant difference. Results from my study found that support from significant others e.g. partners and families, were a strong influence in decreasing inter-role conflict (work, football, and family) and achieving a healthier work-life balance. The most common example was players partners and/or their families assisting with childcare responsibilities to enable players to attend training and matchdays. Of course, not all players have the luxury of having immediate support from partners and/or their families. Therefore, developing strong relationships with friends and teammates that understand the unique challenges faced can provide further support to players.

“I was going to stop playing because I was going to struggle for support with kids on a Saturday but grandparents have said ‘right we’ll help you on a Saturday’ so every Saturday morning now, mother-in-law has the kids so I can play football.”

Prioritising Health & Wellbeing

Players should make time to prioritise their physical and mental health. Most players in my study stated the negative affect of maintaining a dual career on their wellbeing, namely a lack of sleep and tiredness, and feeling mentally drained and burnout. This is understandable given a non-league players schedule coupled with a lack of rest and recovery time and limited access to medical care, training facilities and support staff compared to their professional counterparts. Consequently, semi-professional players may face greater injury risks which can potentially disrupt the development of their playing careers.

“I’d probably say that’s where we’ve got it harder, because we have to go and do our own recovery. You know almost what to do, but they’ve [professional players] got the professionals to support them, we [semi-professionals] have to research it.”

While semi-professional clubs may lack resources, it is important for players to make the most of what is available e.g. engaging with club physios and coaches. There are also ‘self-help’ tools that players can utilise to aid their own recovery such as; prioritising sleep (7-9 hours), quality nutrition (protein and carbohydrates), keeping hydrated (water/electrolytes), active recovery (light exercise, mobility/stretching, foam rolling, massage guns), ice and contrast baths, compression garments, practicing mindfulness, injury management, and wearable technologies (monitor workload, sleep, and recovery stats, and adjust activity and recovery protocols). Incorporating adequate rest and recovery strategies into a players calendar can help players deal with the demands of non-league football, reduce the risk of injury and help maintain performance levels.

Further, the pressure to perform both on and off the pitch can take its toll on a players mental health. According to players in my study, whilst senior players are most likely to offer support to their teammates, in particular junior players, because of an environment of ‘lad culture’ it is unlikely that players would be forthcoming to seek support. Players stated that the first people they would turn to would be their families, hence the importance of building a strong support network. Players should also not hesitate to seek mental health support, which can provide coping strategies for dealing with stress and anxiety.

The links below provide details on organisations that offer help:

Transparent Communication

The demanding schedule of non-league football inevitably means that conflict arises. In my study, players cited that ‘flexi hours’ were a major support factor in facilitating players football commitments. Being able to adjust working hours for training and matches enabled players to separate work and personal life. Players also felt that if their workplace (management and/or colleagues) were advocates of sport themselves, this made discussions around ‘flexi hours’ much easier. Therefore, it is recommended that players have open and honest conversations with their employers regarding their football commitments to find a mutually beneficial arrangement. Similarly, it is also important for players to hold discussions with their football club so that they understand players work, family and wider commitments.

“The best manager I have had in terms of understanding work commitments was [manager] at [step 3 club]. For example, I did from here to Exeter, to Basingstoke, to Fulham and back in a day and had training. I set off at 3 o'clock in the morning to get back for training and I was driving back up the M1, rang the gaffer and said ‘I'm going to be at training but might be 10-15 minutes late pre-match meeting’ and he just said, which sums him up ‘don’t worry about the meeting and don’t worry about training, just go home and rest, if you train tonight you’re going to be even more knackered’ so he let me have the night off and I played that Saturday.”

Financial Considerations

Unlike their professional counterparts, most semi-professional footballers do not earn enough from football alone hence the need to manage a dual career. In non-league football, player contracts can vary significantly depending on the club's level, financial situation, and the player's status. There are generally two main types of agreements: contract players and non-contract players. A contract player has a formal agreement with a club which outlines the terms of the player's employment, including wages, bonuses, and length of contract. Non-contract players do not have a formal long-term agreement with the club and instead operate on a more flexible basis e.g. paid for the games they are selected to play. All players in my study managed dual careers and highlighted that the remuneration from football, albeit a nice ‘top-up’, was not enough to earn a comfortable living. In addition, injuries, work and family commitments can severely impact the level of remuneration for players, particularly non-contract players. Therefore, financial instability at this level may be mitigated by players seeking financial advice and personal injury insurance.

“If you get injured and you’re self-employed you’re a bit f####d, aren’t you? I think there probably needs to be something in place for that because you see a lot of fundraisers going round for so and so who’s done his cruciate and can’t work for 9 months.”

Summary

So, whilst semi-professional footballers in England navigate a unique landscape filled with opportunities and challenges. By utilising some of these tips, semi-professional footballers can look to enhance their careers, maintain their wellbeing, and continue to enjoy the beautiful game.