5 Live airs fan's defence

Matlock Town's Steve Brown has been flying the flag defending football and highlighting Non-League’s attractions on BBC Radio 5 Live.

The Gladiators supporter and son of the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League's Vice Chairman Keith Brown texted the BBC's national news and sports station on Wednesday with a plea to 5 Live Drive presenters Peter Allen and Anna Foster to start promoting Non-League.

Brown flew to Non-League's defence during a debate on the spiralling costs of following a Premier League club. After hearing fresh calls for protesting fans to turn away from football altogether, Brown’s text was read out by Allen.

He told millions of listeners: "Quick text from Steve. You talked about Premier League prices. Can you encourage rather than tell people to stay away from football. Encourage the fans to visit their local team.

"I watch Matlock Town FC in the Evo-Stik League - £9 adults, £2 kids, pies, peas and gravy £2.50 plus a pint, sweets for the kids and you get the whole thing for under £20. You see good honest football with the same mistakes and great goals but with the added bonus of not having to endure endless TV replays."

Won over to the cause, in response Allen joked that no replays also meant you could head home after matches with your predjuces intact on contentious decisions by match officials!