This feature is the culmination of MUNDIAL’s series with the Premier League Stadium Fund and the Premier League, The FA and Government’s Football Foundation. You can read the first two pieces, on Margate and Wythenshawe, by banging the links back there. Enjoy.

There’s something special about matchdays that kick-off in daylight and end in the flickering, gleaming light of early evening, especially in England, early spring, with that winter frost ebbing away and the air saturated with a promise of warmth, better days and happier nights. But still in the transitional period—the nip in the wind reminding you exactly where you are, rooting you firmly in place. It’s that kind of day in which we travelled to West Sussex, to see Haywards Heath Town take on AFC Varndeanians on Non-League Day, that holiest day of the calendar year for everyone here at MUNDIAL Towers. 

It also marks 25 years since the Premier League Stadium Fund was established—the £220 million in funding provided used to support clubs, men and women’s, up and down the country. A birthday party on Non-League Day? Don’t mind if we diddly do.

Haywards Heath play at the Hanbury Park stadium, an old-school marvel of banked stands and shingled roofing, big blue support struts and plastic seats. Its main stand is preposterously big, and walking up its steep slopes you feel like you’re ascending to the top of some sort of flat-roofed castle than anything related to non-league. It’s a beauty. The ultras in the Roy Hatt family stand are in fine voice: as they should be, as their team are about to enact a 5-1 triumph over their combined Southern Premier rivals.

But there’s nothing old school about Simmo’s cafe, where I bump into Claire Emery, club secretary, completely by accident. I’d been praising the unexpected delights of the cafe’s Biscoff cheese cake to all in earshot. Claire replies: “I made those hahaha, I make all of the cakes we sell here. And those girls you see behind the counter? Those are my daughters. They do all the cooking, too.

“For me,” Claire continues, “it’s all about the volunteers. It’s such a big family, and as you can see, business is booming.” At this, Claire points to the long, snaking queue for burgers, pints, and Biscoff cake forming outside the bar. Claire laughs before going on:

“This place just brings people together, you know? And having a space like Simmo’s really helps too. Because of the money given to us by the Premier League for refurbishment, we now have a space that people keep coming back to, and they want to support. Our matchday revenue from food has gone up by around 40% and that can only help the future of this club. We have girls’ teams, women’s teams, and the knock–on effect is that it’ll lift everyone up.”

Since 2021, Haywards have received £123,000 towards LED floodlights to illuminate their magnificent pitch, but also provide some hospitality upgrades that have everyone around the club near bouncing for joy.

 ”Originally we were serving food out of a little wagon, not offering this pristine level of service. The investment means we can provide better service with match day food, but now we have the flexibility to open in the week, for practices and stuff which brings more money in, and that means on a match day, you've got decent coffee, decent food, a better sense of hospitality. We can make more people feel welcomed at this level of football.”

“It’s an entry level into football,” actual Glenn Murray, sat next to actual Bobby Zamora, tells me during half-time, shortly after doing the obligatory vaudeville penalty shoot-out as half-time entertainment. “ It's easy to go down and be close to it and get the taste and the smells, that maybe you don't quite get that access at higher levels.”

“Also, non-league, I’d recommend to any developing player, be that Premier League or otherwise,” Bobby interjects. “I remember playing Newport away and getting booed and heckled up close and with that level of needle, along with, for example, at Bath City, learning that there were big, bruising centre-halves who I couldn’t wrestle with, that being physical with them didn’t work. I had to learn how to use my body.

“For me,” Claire explains, “it’s all about the volunteers. It’s such a big family, and as you can see, business is booming.” At this, Claire points to the long, snaking queue for burgers, pints, and biscoff cake forming outside the bar.

“I have such fond memories. Like my pre-match snack used to be a flask of baked beans and a jacket potato wrapped in six lots of foil to keep it warm. It’s an honour, to have grounded my journey and to have worked my way up and sampled each level of football in this country.”

“ I think my defining memories for me are all to do with my teammates,” says Glenn. “Them sticking up for me because I was so young when I played non-league and I can remember being a little bit timid at times. But they looked out for me and then all of a sudden I very quickly felt that connection with the team. I did my job. They did theirs.”

 Bobby: ”I would like to see almost every young player go out on loan for a non league club. Or not necessarily non league, but maybe lower league, and I think it will benefit them for sure.  Ultimately, what non league gives you and what lower leagues give you is the ability to hone your skills without too much pressure.  You are seen as a person here, an individual who's undergoing a period of development and that level of care shines through, because you’re so connected to these communities, these towns.”

“I think it’s so clever what the Premier League has done.  Look where we are now, look at this club, and see what they've done. In terms of building this bar, you can already see that there's a constant queue of people wanting food and drink. And it's not about just taking the injection and cash and putting into something that may disappear.

“It is this place and this building, which is constantly generating cash for the club so it's a way of staying sustainable. So are the flood lights that they've put in, which is great. 
“A lot of time and research has been done. This is the proof in the pudding, this place. It's doing fantastically well. The club is on the cusp of promotion and it’s a record breaking crowd today. Over a thousand through the door.”

Glenn:  “I think it's absolutely vital, We've got what is viewed as the elite league in world football, for that to filter down and benefit non-league and our country as a whole and give us that grassroots foundation and help with funding.”

It's a sentiment that Claire echoes. “ It's essentially just uplifting and boosting us,” she says. “Drawing attention to us, like today, seeing that beautiful Premier League trophy, getting to feel this town be put on the map, ever so slightly. This money has allowed us to do so many fun things because of the security of it, like we can do quiz nights and karaoke, and people come from miles around. People from all walks of life can come to our club and have a good time.

“I just want us to keep growing, keep going up the leagues. And for everyone to be smiling as they’re doing it.”

Could not have phrased it better myself, Claire.