People power tops public wish list

By David Watters

Northern Premier League chairman Mark Harris puts his faith in people power in Sunday's Non-League Paper.

The EVO-STIK League and Witton Albion chairman outlines his hopes and objectives for Non-League football and the game in general in 2018 and beyond in the paper's first 'State of the Game' column.

After being asked to pen the first column examining the big issues affecting football, Harris insists the recruitment of more volunteers and the lifeblood they bring is the number one challenge faced by Non-League clubs competing at semi-professional level.

As the NPL celebrates its 50th anniversary season, Harris also backs the creation of new divisions in the Midlands ahead of next season's league reshuffle but insists much more money must be found to fill the growing funding gap between the National League and grassroots football for clubs at Step 3 and 4.

The EVO-STIK League's long-serving chairman also took the opportunity to back new efforts to tackle homophobia in football, hailing the current contribution of Cleethorpes Town midfielder Liam Davis after he became the only openly gay player in English senior football last season and agreed to front UEFA's #EqualGame campaign before Christmas.

For more information on UEFA's #EqualGame initiative, click here: www.equalgame.com.

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Where next?

Surge on socials passes ten million! The Northern Premier League was setting record-breaking new figures on social media over Christmas and New Year before kicking off 2018!
Saturday's North Division action review South Shields still lead the way in the EVO-STIK League North after winning again on Saturday, writes Pitchero's Steve Whitney.

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