Just a few miles away from the colossal LED stadium facades, the nine-figure strikers and the tepid pints that come with a remortgage application form, a number of non-league football clubs around Greater Manchester offer an organic, inclusive, close-quarters football experience with all the passion of a Champions League semi-final second leg and none of the prohibitive costs.
Here are some of the best non-league football teams to watch around Greater Manchester.
Playing at the 4,000 capacity Tameside Stadium, East Manchester’s Curzon Ashton FC ply their trade in the National League North. Adult tickets are £15, concessions and students £10 and 16s-18s pay just £5. The stadium also offers a large function room for birthdays, wedding receptions and office parties.
Born by a group of Manchester United supporters in protest of the Glazers’ takeover in 2005, F.C. United of Manchester play in the Northern Premier League and draw some of the highest attendances in non-league football, as they continue to write their Odyssean story that has already seen FA Cup glory against Rochdale, financial jeopardy during lockdown and, not too long ago, their first ever European tie against Warsaw’s AKS Zly.
Adult tickets are £13 (and just £3 for women’s team fixtures), while concessions cost £9 (£2) under-18s £3 (£1) and under-5s are free.
Prestwich Heys unites 1,000 North Mancunians every weekend as they also battle through the North West Counties Football League Premier Division at Adie Moran Park. Adult tickets are just £7, concessions are £4 and under-16s go for free.
Fan-owned Bury AFC are still dusting off the ashes from their inspirational rebirth. Founded in 2019 in the wake of Bury FC’s liquidation, the club is in the middle of a long but seemingly inexorable ascent to the peak of non-league football, with everything to play for thereafter. Tickets to matches at the 3,500-capacity Neuven Stadium – known as Stainton Park – cost £10, 16-17-year-olds £5, under-16s are £3 and under-5s go free, while season tickets are available for £196 (£50 for child tickets).
Birthplace of Marcus Rashford MBE, Wythenshawe play their games at Ericstan Park, a convenient five-minute walk from Baguley tram stop. Tickets on the gate cost £6 for adults, £4 for concessions and under-12s go free.
Thirteen miles north of Wythenshawe Town, Avro FC of Failsworth wear the fabric of British wartime history in their black-and-blue striped kit. Named after aircraft and munitions manufacturer A.V. Roe, the club began life in the shadow of the Chadderton factory which first produced the Lancaster Bomber and the Avro Vulcan. Games are played at the Vestacare Stadium, with tickets priced at £10 for adults, £8 for concessions, under 21s for £6, £3 for under-16s and free for those under the age of 8.
- Words:
- Wolf McFarlane
- Published on:
- Fri 14 Jul 2023
Freshly promoted to the North West Counties Football League Premier Division, South Manchester community favourites West Didsbury & Chorlton AFC are one of the city’s oldest amateur clubs. Regularly boasting 1,000-strong crowds, ‘West’ offer an affordable, entertaining and inclusive matchday with adult tickets available for just £7, concessions £5 and under-12s free when accompanied by an adult. To secure a spot for the year, you can buy an adult season ticket for £110. Head down the road to The Bowling Green after the game for the full West Dids experience.