18th March 2022 - They run our clubs: Macclesfield, Woking & Ascot United

This week we talk to the guys who run the clubs. They take the flack, they take the glory but in most cases deep down, they are fans too like you and I.

First up, possibly Non-league’s most famous owner. When Robbie Savage was first approached to get involved in a phoenix Macclesfield club not only did they not have any players but they also lacked a playable pitch. Now before the end of their first season, they are the first promoters from the top 9 tiers of the pyramid and Champions of the North West Counties Football League. It’s been hard work, but rewarding on a number of levels for Savage and the team around him on and off the field. 

An American with more knowledge of baseball than football as a CEO of a non league football club? It may sound like a Hollywoodisation but in fairness, John Katz’s research and organised approach to learning about his club Woking FC, fan culture and non league is hard to fault. In recent weeks he’s had to let go the charismatic manager he backed publicly only weeks before, and see two valuable board members resign, but he’s not swayed from his belief that this could become a Football League club within three years.

Lower down the pyramid but no less successful is a club running over 75 sides and over 700 registered players across genders, ages and abilities. Ascot United Chairman Simon Negus took on the role as COVID hit and as his club prepares for the mens first team to host Wycombe Wanderers in a County Cup semi Final, the biggest game in it’s history he’s excited and philosophical that success comes in many guises when running a non league club.

Rounding off the show Editor at Large at the Non league paper Matt Badcock is back with a round up of the week’s news and what we can expect to read in the weekend’s edition.