From Scholarship to Sunday Football – Why I Built The Non-League Network
CREATED BY: David Leese
When I was 17, I joined a scholarship program at Chasetown – a non-league club in my hometown and a team I’d played for since the age of 7.
It was an incredible experience – training every day in an academy-style setup, playing football, and learning more than I realized at the time. I didn’t just improve technically; I learned about preparation, discipline, and what it takes to compete at a higher level.
We had an incredible staff and setup around us too. Andy Turner (ex-Tottenham and once the Premier League’s youngest scorer) was our manager, with Alan Smart (who famously scored at Wembley for Watford) and John Richardson (former Exeter City captain) also involved. And then there was Kev Sweeney – an old Chasetown legend who coached both the first team and us. What a great bloke he was, always a laugh, and someone who made the environment that much better.
With that calibre of coaching and mentorship, it was easily the best football experience I’ve ever had.
We played loads of academies, and some of my proudest moments were: beating Rotherham 2-0, scoring both goals as a striker; scoring against Halifax; and a perfect hat-trick against Torquay, among many others. I loved playing as a number 9 – my confidence was sky-high.
But this was short-lived. Managers outside of this setup didn’t see me as a striker. It killed me, because I knew where the net was and the runs I would make went unnoticed. Most teams played “clip it over the top and hope someone runs on to it” – something you see in almost every Sunday team. The poor standard and lack of structure ultimately dragged me down. While my technical ability remained, my fitness and overall standard dropped massively, leading me down a path I now deeply regret.
On-and-off Saturday football through my 20s never quite hit the same. That scholarship team was something special – we had a great squad and a strong connection, being together every day.
This experience showed me just how fragmented non-league football can be – and inspired me to build The Non-League Network.
My vision:
Bring academy-level resources to non-league football.
Create a network where everyone – from players, coaches, physios, and S&C staff, to volunteers, treasurers, secretaries, and chairmen – can pool their knowledge together.
Help develop the game from the bottom up, giving opportunities for players to grow and clubs to thrive.
Non-league football is full of talent and passion, but too often the right support is missing. By connecting the community, sharing knowledge, and providing guidance, we can give players the opportunities they deserve and improve the game as a whole.