Non League Away Day of the Year 2021/22 announced across Steps 1 to 4

Non League Away Day of the Year for the 2021/22 season has been announced across Steps 1 to 4 following the National Game Awards.

The award is said to be an extension of the Football Supporters’ Federation’s ‘Away Fans Matter’ campaign and it’s the third time they have announced this award from steps one to four.

2017/18 winners were Tranmere Rovers, Bognor Regis Town, Bamber Bridge and Kings Langley who are the overall winner.

2018/19 winners were Harrogate Town, Chorley, Lewes, Ossett United, and then the awards weren’t able to go ahead for 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic.

It returned in 2022 and you can see a full list of winners by clicking HERE, then you can see the Non League Away Day of the Year 2021/22 announced across Steps 1 to 4 below…

A National Game Award for @Blyth_Spartans as they are awarded the @WeAreTheFSA Away Day Experience of the Year pic.twitter.com/ghtSElYUjE

— Mark Carruthers (@MarkCarruthers_) June 14, 2022

FSA STATEMENT:

Blyth Spartans have been named as the 2021-22 overall winners of the Best Away Day in non-league at the National Game Awards in association with Buildbase. It is the third time we’ve partnered with the Non-League Paper to recognise the clubs who are the best at welcoming fans from Steps 1 to 4 of the National League, and the first since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The winners at each level were:

Step 1 – Maidenhead United
Step 2 – Blyth Spartans
Step 3 – Merthyr Town
Step 4 – Clitheroe

We recognise that facilities and resources vary at the different levels of the game and categorise nominations at each of Steps 1 to 4 of the National League System. A judging panel sifted through the nominations we received before deciding the winning club at each level. The winners at each level were then assessed for the overall winner and Blyth Spartans were judged as overall winners.

Each of the winners at the different steps will be receiving an award from the FSA at the start of the new season.

We want all clubs to make away fans feel welcome and our award acknowledges those clubs who go that extra mile.

Travelling supporters are vital to the atmosphere at matches and away fans also bring additional revenue, improving the financial viability of our football clubs. Without away fans, grounds are far quieter, less vibrant places. A noisy and colourful away end can make even a mediocre game more memorable.

The cost of travel and tickets can be barriers to supporters, but that cost is worthwhile if you have a good day out helped by considerate stewarding and a welcome from the host club. The evidence from our annual survey of fans demonstrates that those clubs who make away fans feel welcome attract more supporters and reap a financial benefit from both home and away fans alike.

Our award acknowledges best practice, and we hope that it will encourage all clubs to look at how the matchday experience for away fans at their own club can be improved.

Football Ground Guide said on Blyth Spartan’s ground: “Segregation is rarely in place but for high profile games visiting supporters are accommodated in the Plessey Road Stand where up to 1,200 fans can be housed in this covered terrace. In addition, a number of seats will also be made available in The Port Of Blyth Stand. Refreshments in the ground are usually supplied from a burger van which serves chips and burgers. Gino’s Fish and Chips are located at 200 Plessey Road (by the away turnstiles) and are excellent. Further afield on The Broadway Circle is the Broadway Chippy another gem. Fish and Chips are also available at Coastline by the beach car park (free parking). There is also a great cafe and ice cream parlour next door.”

Football Ground Guide said on Maidenhead United’s ground: “What was a bit of a quirky ground has now started to get a more modern fresh look, with the opening in 2014 of a new covered seated stand on one side of the ground. This stand, which is known as the Railway Stand, is comprised of seven rows of seating and has a capacity of 550. Although fairly simply constructed, it is smart looking and is free of supporting pillars. It runs for about half the length of the pitch, sitting astride the halfway line. The Bell Street end of the ground is a simply covered terrace which is split into two separate sections. It is quite eye-catching as ‘Maidenhead Utd FC’ has been painted onto the back wall of the terrace in large black and white letters. Opposite at the other end is the smaller East Terrace, that does have some cover towards its middle. The other side of the ground lets the ground down somewhat. Apart from one small open terrace and the team dugouts, it is home to a large ugly radio mast and an outline concrete open-sided building that contains amongst other things; a 3G training pitch. 

“A trip to Maidenhead United is a must for any football ground enthusiast. As the York Road football ground is officially acknowledged as the oldest continually used football ground in the world, having first seen the game played there in 1871. Bramall Lane is Sheffield is an older ground (1862) but has not been continually used by one Club, as Maidenhead’s has.”

See more of Football Ground Guide’s reviews by clicking HERE.