Favourite lower/non-league team

[Alioune DVToure]

Just been reading the Stockport thread and I'm surprised just how many people know/care about County, even though it's true that we've always had a strong base in SEGM.

Just out of interest, I've added a poll to see which non-rivals people give a shit about. I'm primarily interested in local teams who people have a genuine connection to (as opposed to things like 'Brentford because of Uwe').

For me it's Rochdale, simply because it's where I was born and grew up. When I was a kid and City were away, I'd go and watch Dale. I remember in the early 90s when it cost £2 for kids to stand in the Sandy Lane. The place was always rocking when PNE or Burnley came to town. Sometimes we'd even get free tickets at school, which was nice. I've still got a few mates who go to every home match and a fair chunk of their away games. They've got a very passionate if relatively modest support.

People might not realise that a lot of players - particularly forwards - were plying their trade at Dale before going on to have greater success elsewhere. I reckon Lambert, Holt, Le Fondre and Murray all played upwards of 100 games for Dale. Other notable alumni are Craig Dawson - a local lad - and Paddy McCourt, who's just moved to Barnsley from Celtic.

[Slim]

Lived in Stockport, don't like the venom that comes from them towards City but still have a soft spot for them.

Shame about Jim Gannon coming back to the club as a manager and getting the sack, twice.

[Nige]

Droylsden AFC, as they are the club I supported first. Local team, but play some shite football these days.

[Tokyo Blue]

For me it's Rochdale, simply because it's where I was born and grew up.

Bury for me because it is where I grew up.

[dario2739]

Droylsden AFC, as they are the club I supported first. Local team, but play some shite football these days.

Yeah used to watch them as a kid when City were away - keep an eye on Chester too as i used to do their programme.

[Dunnylad]

Chester as its my home town & I used to be crowd steward there many years ago and also Altrincham as a great uncle used to be groundsman, turnstile operator etc

[Two's Kompany]

Stalybridge Celtic. Went as a kid and used to love my trips to Bower Fold when Colin Skillen was an absolute hero to me.
Still go ocassionally now, but it's always bloody cold!

[gillie]

Oldham my Dad used to take me to Boundary Park when i was a kid.Still go to the occasional match.

[Twobob]

For me there's two, Mossley AFC as thats my home town, wish they were doing better but struggling in Evo Sick 1st North at present.

Then its Latics (Oldham) lots of mates are Latics fans and always keep an eye on them - plus most latics dans hate the scum as much as we do ;-)

[Piccsnumberoneblue]

For me it's Dale. When I was at school a group of us decided that we would follow a second team. We picked Dale as they were so utterly shit. They seemed to apply for re-election to the Football League annually. Sort of 'gloryhunting' in reverse. It's a strange thing that since the introduction of promotion/relegation, they have never gone down, nor even been in any major danger of it. Hope i haven't cursed them now.
I used to watch them on an international weekend for years but I haven't been for a while.
During the fantastic season of Kevin Keegan and promotion, the most thrilling game I saw was Dale v Fulham in the cup. Dale were in front going into injury time of extra time by 2-1. Fulham scrambled an equaliser and then won a marathon penalty shoot out 6-5 if memory serves.
Must get there again sometime soon.

[maddog fenton]

Bury here always keep an eye out for them

[bobby brows]

Thanks to having written the previews here last season I am know the press officer of West Didsbury & Chorlton in the North West Counties Premier Division but there are a few clubs that I look out for.

I always used to go to Stockport in mid week when I was a kid before we shared the same division as them.
Used to watch Altrincham when they were in the Unibond League so still look out for their results.
My dad is from Buxton so always keep an eye on them.
There are a few clubs i've been to where I've had a really good day out such as Atherton Collieries, Hyde and Trafford.

[Alioune DVToure]

For me it's Dale. When I was at school a group of us decided that we would follow a second team. We picked Dale as they were so utterly shit. They seemed to apply for re-election to the Football League annually. Sort of 'gloryhunting' in reverse. It's a strange thing that since the introduction of promotion/relegation, they have never gone down, nor even been in any major danger of it. Hope i haven't cursed them now.
I used to watch them on an international weekend for years but I haven't been for a while.
During the fantastic season of Kevin Keegan and promotion, the most thrilling game I saw was Dale v Fulham in the cup. Dale were in front going into injury time of extra time by 2-1. Fulham scrambled an equaliser and then won a marathon penalty shoot out 6-5 if memory serves.
Must get there again sometime soon.

I was there that night. I bet that if you think hard enough you'll be able to remember the precise date without googling it.

[Slim]

For me it's Dale. When I was at school a group of us decided that we would follow a second team. We picked Dale as they were so utterly shit. They seemed to apply for re-election to the Football League annually. Sort of 'gloryhunting' in reverse. It's a strange thing that since the introduction of promotion/relegation, they have never gone down, nor even been in any major danger of it. Hope i haven't cursed them now.
I used to watch them on an international weekend for years but I haven't been for a while.
During the fantastic season of Kevin Keegan and promotion, the most thrilling game I saw was Dale v Fulham in the cup. Dale were in front going into injury time of extra time by 2-1. Fulham scrambled an equaliser and then won a marathon penalty shoot out 6-5 if memory serves.
Must get there again sometime soon.

I was there that night. I bet that if you think hard enough you'll be able to remember the precise date without googling it.

I did it without googling....

http://www.soccerbase.com/teams/head_to_head.sd?team_id=1055&team2_id=2175

Who the fuck uses google for this shit?

[mr_nool]

I obviously don't have a local, English lower league team as "second team". I do follow my local team FC Utrecht, though, but not fanatically. I watch them on the telly when I have the chance and very occasionally go and see them live.
In Sweden I still follow the team I used to play for, but they're so far down the league pyramid that you could probably compare them to a pub team in England.

[Alioune DVToure]

For me it's Dale. When I was at school a group of us decided that we would follow a second team. We picked Dale as they were so utterly shit. They seemed to apply for re-election to the Football League annually. Sort of 'gloryhunting' in reverse. It's a strange thing that since the introduction of promotion/relegation, they have never gone down, nor even been in any major danger of it. Hope i haven't cursed them now.
I used to watch them on an international weekend for years but I haven't been for a while.
During the fantastic season of Kevin Keegan and promotion, the most thrilling game I saw was Dale v Fulham in the cup. Dale were in front going into injury time of extra time by 2-1. Fulham scrambled an equaliser and then won a marathon penalty shoot out 6-5 if memory serves.
Must get there again sometime soon.

I was there that night. I bet that if you think hard enough you'll be able to remember the precise date without googling it.

I did it without googling....

http://www.soccerbase.com/teams/head_to_head.sd?team_id=1055&team2_id=2175

Who the fuck uses google for this shit?

It was honestly the strangest atmosphere I've ever experienced at any live event ever. I'd spent the previous five hours glued to the television screen. Nobody knew what exactly had happened, who was responsible or what was going to happen next.

[mr_nool]

Nine eleven?

[Alioune DVToure]

Nine eleven?

Yep.

[mr_nool]

I can imagine that must have been weird. I was glued to the telly all day. I don't think I would've been able to focus on a football game after what happened.

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

I bet no one has spent hours glued to television watching shit unravel in Syria. Maybe quick shake of the head during night news, a yawn and then off to bed.

Just saying, like.