I was lucky enough this week to be invited to join my good friend, Trevor Knell and the Sussex Statman, Chris Prior, on their weekly podcast about the Sussex Non-League scene, the Sussex Preview.

This podcast has become part of my essential listening, along with much of Trev’s social media and writing each week. The level of passion and deep understanding for the non-league scene across the county and beyond, is truly impressive.

I was quite anxious that I wouldn’t be able to keep up with Trev and Chris who have years of knowledge about the Sussex non-league scene and they both have a warm style on the podcast which has made it an essential listening for me. In the end the podcast recording went really well, with Chris and Trev putting me at ease and apart from one question, where I floundered a little, the conversation flowed and I was really pleased with the result.

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-sussex-preview/id6794022539?i=1000786339074

I met Trev initially via the presenter of another truly impressive podcast about the non-league scene in Kent, Jon Phipps-Glennon. Jon and his co-presenter Matt Gerrard, present the Kent Non-League podcast and have done for the past nine years. The depths of research, time and energy that goes into these podcasts is impressive and the results are professional and stand up to comparison with the best examples elsewhere in the field. Huge thanks should go to people like Matt, Jon, Trev and Chris, all over the country who recognise that people at local non-league levels want their teams and leagues to have coverage which sadly is limited via the declining mainstream local news reporting. They put hours of time into their work and it’s essential listening for many non league fans, players and even their partners, across the region!

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-kent-non-league-football-podcast/id1280904359

Just a final note to say that both podcasts have a human element, which helps the listeners connect to the presenters and adds to the power of each podcast. Whether it is hearing Jon talk about his love of Biffy Clyro, Matt describe famous people he meets in Broadstairs or London, or Trev and Chris discussing their plans for weekend football visits, I would really recommend giving these podcasts a listen, as there’s a real sense of the local football community that you’ll actually begin to feel a part of. I thoroughly enjoyed being a guest on the Sussex Preview and hopefully will get an invite back!