It’s difficult to know where to start, but the fact that Bracknell Town’s manager has delivered his thoughts on Monday night’s defeat to more than eight million people feels like as good a place as any.
The footage that was posted on Bracknell’s official X account later that evening, at 10.19pm, in the wake of their Southern League Premier South fixture against Gloucester City, features one question (actually, more of a request than a question) and one answer.
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It was filmed after a match in the seventh tier of English football played in front of a crowd of 502 people at the SB Stadium, which is in Berkshire and about 30 miles west of central London. It’s not exactly on the football map. Or at least it wasn’t until this week.
Matt Saunders speaks to us after the defeat to Gloucester City. 🎙️ pic.twitter.com/toY5dncvcI — Bracknell Town FC (@BracknellTownFC) Non-League football and alcohol go hand-in-hand for many players and fans (Getty Images)“So, listen, it’s been very clear to me — probably from a week of being here — what the problem’s been and why this club has been where it’s been, and again today is another example of exactly that. And people can say, ‘You should protect the players’. Not when we’re not professional enough to be fit and to be able to run. I’m not protecting people that can’t do that.”That’s a short extract. The full transcript is more than 900 words. But the fallout, and the debate that has taken place across non-League football and beyond ever since, has largely centred on one word in particular that Saunders mentioned: drink.AdvertisementFor some people, especially those of us who played during the mid-to-late 1990s, when there was a ‘win or lose, we’re on the booze’ culture and Underworld’s iconic Born Slippy anthem felt like the soundtrack to our lives, alcohol and non-League football go hand in hand. Play together, drink together. And in some cases, drink a lot.Times change. That was then — 30 years ago — and this is now. Society isn’t the same and the non-League game looks different, too. Salaries have improved considerably — a lot of players will be earning £300-£500 ($400-$670) a week at Bracknell’s level, and some closer to four figures — which brings higher expectations for conditioning, not just performance. On top of that, there’s far greater knowledge about health, fitness and nutrition among the players, as well as the staff. Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane poses with a beer in August 2025 (Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images for Paulaner)Broadly speaking, the non-League game is more professional now, yet that doesn’t mean the social side isn’t important or valued anymore and that alcohol after games is totally off limits. For some coaches, it’s still a key component of creating team spirit. “A lot of opinions flying around about this, but ultimately, no one is right and no one is wrong,” Brett Munyard, who manages Aveley, a non-League club at the same level as Bracknell, posted on X in response to the Bracknell video. “The game has changed, the players are paid enough money now to look after themselves. But, on the other hand, football is about enjoyment. My teams will always be told to get in the bar.”At this point, it’s worth remembering that we aren’t talking about the Premier League. At Bracknell and Aveley’s level, which is three promotions away from the Football League, the game is semi-professional or part-time. Typically, the players will have a day job, which means they train on a Tuesday and a Thursday evening, usually straight after finishing at their place of work, and play on a Saturday. Enjoying a drink at the end of all that doesn’t feel like a crime.AdvertisementPerhaps it was much more than that at Bracknell. Perhaps there is a drinking culture that Saunders doesn’t like.Either way, it’s hard to escape the feeling that Saunders’ biggest mistake wasn’t saying what he said, it was saying it all in public. Whether his senior players were letting him down or not, Saunders was throwing them under the bus — the bus that the Gloucester players were cracking some cans open on as they made their way home after beating Bracknell that same night.“The lads were having a beer while listening to the interview,” Dafydd Williams, the Gloucester City manager, says matter-of-factly. “They were doing that because they played on Saturday, too, they’ve worked their backsides off, they’ve just put in a massive shift again on Monday night, they’re about to embark on a tough day’s work (the following morning), and they’ve won the game and they got a clean sheet. Why can’t they have a beer?” 55’| Tense game. 🫣 Both teams are well structured and hard to break down. Gloucester have been adamant in their press but are unable to beat Harvey Randle. Bracknell themselves have looked good on the break. 🔴 0-0 🔵 pic.twitter.com/Q3Aor3KF8L — Bracknell Town FC (@BracknellTownFC) Most footballers at Bracknell’s level are part-time (Zac Goodwin/PA Images via Getty Images)Clearly, there is a balance to be struck. That said, the reality is that most managers won’t worry too much about how players are living their lives away from football as long as they are performing on a matchday. Push the boundaries and play badly, however, and you leave yourself open to criticism — albeit criticism that would normally stay in-house.AdvertisementThere’s another important strand to this story that’s easy to overlook, largely because we’ve become so conditioned to the social media world and the way in which it has normalised things that aren’t actually normal at all.Not that long ago, a non-League football manager could have said what he wanted after a match without his comments appearing anywhere other than in the local newspaper or on the local radio station. In the social media age, however, the Bracknell Town manager is one answer away from his thoughts being viewed five times more widely than a White House update on President Donald Trump’s talks with Vladimir Putin.“It’s scary,” says Tommy Killick, who is manager of Dorchester Town, a non-League club in the same league as Bracknell. “I remember quite a few years ago I put a tweet out saying, ‘Pre-season training starts next week and my attacking midfielder has disappeared onto Love Island!’. The next minute, my phone went ridiculous. And you think, ‘Jesus Christ, the power of this’. Pre season training starts next week and my attacking midfielder has disappeared on to love island !! — tom killick (@tomkillick) “Now, you’ll get a step five team (two levels below Bracknell and Dorchester) doing all these graphics announcing a new signing and it’s Bob from the Red Lion (pub). And Bob comes wandering out with the scarf and the shirt.”Killick, who has been involved in the non-League game for the best part of 40 years as a player, coach and manager, can laugh about that kind of thing, but there’s a serious point that he’s making, too.“I think everyone is getting a bit precious now,” he says. “We’re getting interviewed more (in front of a camera) and there are all these views. Clubs are playing highlights.“When me and you played non-League football, we didn’t get that much publicity. If you got into the first round of the FA Cup, it was amazing because you got projected into that (spotlight) for that brief period. But as soon as you got knocked out, you were back to being two lines in the (Bournemouth) Echo (newspaper) on a Monday.Advertisement“I do feel that — and not in a good way — social media has affected quite a lot of people in non-League football, who get a bit carried away with a) the level they’re at and b) their importance.”Saunders clearly wasn’t looking for publicity on Monday night, but it found him anyway.“If you spoke to 10 non-League managers, they’d probably agree with what he said,” adds Paul Tovey, who is assistant manager of Yate Town, who also play in the same league as Bracknell.“They just wouldn’t have handled it in that way.” Nov 16, 2025Connections: Sports EditionSpot the pattern. Connect the termsFind the hidden link between sports termsPlay today's puzzleBundesligaCollege SportsCultureFA CupFantasy HockeyFIFA Women's World CupGolfLeague OneMixed Martial ArtsNASCARNWSLPremier LeagueSoccerTop Sports NewsWomen's HockeyHeadlinesUSBay AreaChicagoDallasIndianaLos AngelesNashvilleOregonSacramentoSt. LouisWisconsinCanadaOttawaCollectibles by eBayGroup SubscriptionsHQEditorial GuidelinesForgot Password?Support
Matt Saunders speaks to us after the defeat to Gloucester City. 🎙️ pic.twitter.com/toY5dncvcI
— Bracknell Town FC (@BracknellTownFC) Non-League football and alcohol go hand-in-hand for many players and fans (Getty Images)“So, listen, it’s been very clear to me — probably from a week of being here — what the problem’s been and why this club has been where it’s been, and again today is another example of exactly that. And people can say, ‘You should protect the players’. Not when we’re not professional enough to be fit and to be able to run. I’m not protecting people that can’t do that.”That’s a short extract. The full transcript is more than 900 words. But the fallout, and the debate that has taken place across non-League football and beyond ever since, has largely centred on one word in particular that Saunders mentioned: drink.AdvertisementFor some people, especially those of us who played during the mid-to-late 1990s, when there was a ‘win or lose, we’re on the booze’ culture and Underworld’s iconic Born Slippy anthem felt like the soundtrack to our lives, alcohol and non-League football go hand in hand. Play together, drink together. And in some cases, drink a lot.Times change. That was then — 30 years ago — and this is now. Society isn’t the same and the non-League game looks different, too. Salaries have improved considerably — a lot of players will be earning £300-£500 ($400-$670) a week at Bracknell’s level, and some closer to four figures — which brings higher expectations for conditioning, not just performance. On top of that, there’s far greater knowledge about health, fitness and nutrition among the players, as well as the staff. Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane poses with a beer in August 2025 (Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images for Paulaner)Broadly speaking, the non-League game is more professional now, yet that doesn’t mean the social side isn’t important or valued anymore and that alcohol after games is totally off limits. For some coaches, it’s still a key component of creating team spirit. “A lot of opinions flying around about this, but ultimately, no one is right and no one is wrong,” Brett Munyard, who manages Aveley, a non-League club at the same level as Bracknell, posted on X in response to the Bracknell video. “The game has changed, the players are paid enough money now to look after themselves. But, on the other hand, football is about enjoyment. My teams will always be told to get in the bar.”At this point, it’s worth remembering that we aren’t talking about the Premier League. At Bracknell and Aveley’s level, which is three promotions away from the Football League, the game is semi-professional or part-time. Typically, the players will have a day job, which means they train on a Tuesday and a Thursday evening, usually straight after finishing at their place of work, and play on a Saturday. Enjoying a drink at the end of all that doesn’t feel like a crime.AdvertisementPerhaps it was much more than that at Bracknell. Perhaps there is a drinking culture that Saunders doesn’t like.Either way, it’s hard to escape the feeling that Saunders’ biggest mistake wasn’t saying what he said, it was saying it all in public. Whether his senior players were letting him down or not, Saunders was throwing them under the bus — the bus that the Gloucester players were cracking some cans open on as they made their way home after beating Bracknell that same night.“The lads were having a beer while listening to the interview,” Dafydd Williams, the Gloucester City manager, says matter-of-factly. “They were doing that because they played on Saturday, too, they’ve worked their backsides off, they’ve just put in a massive shift again on Monday night, they’re about to embark on a tough day’s work (the following morning), and they’ve won the game and they got a clean sheet. Why can’t they have a beer?” 55’| Tense game. 🫣 Both teams are well structured and hard to break down. Gloucester have been adamant in their press but are unable to beat Harvey Randle. Bracknell themselves have looked good on the break. 🔴 0-0 🔵 pic.twitter.com/Q3Aor3KF8L — Bracknell Town FC (@BracknellTownFC) Most footballers at Bracknell’s level are part-time (Zac Goodwin/PA Images via Getty Images)Clearly, there is a balance to be struck. That said, the reality is that most managers won’t worry too much about how players are living their lives away from football as long as they are performing on a matchday. Push the boundaries and play badly, however, and you leave yourself open to criticism — albeit criticism that would normally stay in-house.AdvertisementThere’s another important strand to this story that’s easy to overlook, largely because we’ve become so conditioned to the social media world and the way in which it has normalised things that aren’t actually normal at all.Not that long ago, a non-League football manager could have said what he wanted after a match without his comments appearing anywhere other than in the local newspaper or on the local radio station. In the social media age, however, the Bracknell Town manager is one answer away from his thoughts being viewed five times more widely than a White House update on President Donald Trump’s talks with Vladimir Putin.“It’s scary,” says Tommy Killick, who is manager of Dorchester Town, a non-League club in the same league as Bracknell. “I remember quite a few years ago I put a tweet out saying, ‘Pre-season training starts next week and my attacking midfielder has disappeared onto Love Island!’. The next minute, my phone went ridiculous. And you think, ‘Jesus Christ, the power of this’. Pre season training starts next week and my attacking midfielder has disappeared on to love island !! — tom killick (@tomkillick) “Now, you’ll get a step five team (two levels below Bracknell and Dorchester) doing all these graphics announcing a new signing and it’s Bob from the Red Lion (pub). And Bob comes wandering out with the scarf and the shirt.”Killick, who has been involved in the non-League game for the best part of 40 years as a player, coach and manager, can laugh about that kind of thing, but there’s a serious point that he’s making, too.“I think everyone is getting a bit precious now,” he says. “We’re getting interviewed more (in front of a camera) and there are all these views. Clubs are playing highlights.“When me and you played non-League football, we didn’t get that much publicity. If you got into the first round of the FA Cup, it was amazing because you got projected into that (spotlight) for that brief period. But as soon as you got knocked out, you were back to being two lines in the (Bournemouth) Echo (newspaper) on a Monday.Advertisement“I do feel that — and not in a good way — social media has affected quite a lot of people in non-League football, who get a bit carried away with a) the level they’re at and b) their importance.”Saunders clearly wasn’t looking for publicity on Monday night, but it found him anyway.“If you spoke to 10 non-League managers, they’d probably agree with what he said,” adds Paul Tovey, who is assistant manager of Yate Town, who also play in the same league as Bracknell.“They just wouldn’t have handled it in that way.” Nov 16, 2025Connections: Sports EditionSpot the pattern. Connect the termsFind the hidden link between sports termsPlay today's puzzleBundesligaCollege SportsCultureFA CupFantasy HockeyFIFA Women's World CupGolfLeague OneMixed Martial ArtsNASCARNWSLPremier LeagueSoccerTop Sports NewsWomen's HockeyHeadlinesUSBay AreaChicagoDallasIndianaLos AngelesNashvilleOregonSacramentoSt. LouisWisconsinCanadaOttawaCollectibles by eBayGroup SubscriptionsHQEditorial GuidelinesForgot Password?Support
“So, listen, it’s been very clear to me — probably from a week of being here — what the problem’s been and why this club has been where it’s been, and again today is another example of exactly that. And people can say, ‘You should protect the players’. Not when we’re not professional enough to be fit and to be able to run. I’m not protecting people that can’t do that.”
That’s a short extract. The full transcript is more than 900 words. But the fallout, and the debate that has taken place across non-League football and beyond ever since, has largely centred on one word in particular that Saunders mentioned: drink.
For some people, especially those of us who played during the mid-to-late 1990s, when there was a ‘win or lose, we’re on the booze’ culture and Underworld’s iconic Born Slippy anthem felt like the soundtrack to our lives, alcohol and non-League football go hand in hand. Play together, drink together. And in some cases, drink a lot.
Times change. That was then — 30 years ago — and this is now. Society isn’t the same and the non-League game looks different, too. Salaries have improved considerably — a lot of players will be earning £300-£500 ($400-$670) a week at Bracknell’s level, and some closer to four figures — which brings higher expectations for conditioning, not just performance. On top of that, there’s far greater knowledge about health, fitness and nutrition among the players, as well as the staff.
Broadly speaking, the non-League game is more professional now, yet that doesn’t mean the social side isn’t important or valued anymore and that alcohol after games is totally off limits. For some coaches, it’s still a key component of creating team spirit.
“A lot of opinions flying around about this, but ultimately, no one is right and no one is wrong,” Brett Munyard, who manages Aveley, a non-League club at the same level as Bracknell, posted on X in response to the Bracknell video. “The game has changed, the players are paid enough money now to look after themselves. But, on the other hand, football is about enjoyment. My teams will always be told to get in the bar.”
At this point, it’s worth remembering that we aren’t talking about the Premier League. At Bracknell and Aveley’s level, which is three promotions away from the Football League, the game is semi-professional or part-time. Typically, the players will have a day job, which means they train on a Tuesday and a Thursday evening, usually straight after finishing at their place of work, and play on a Saturday. Enjoying a drink at the end of all that doesn’t feel like a crime.
Perhaps it was much more than that at Bracknell. Perhaps there is a drinking culture that Saunders doesn’t like.
Either way, it’s hard to escape the feeling that Saunders’ biggest mistake wasn’t saying what he said, it was saying it all in public. Whether his senior players were letting him down or not, Saunders was throwing them under the bus — the bus that the Gloucester players were cracking some cans open on as they made their way home after beating Bracknell that same night.
“The lads were having a beer while listening to the interview,” Dafydd Williams, the Gloucester City manager, says matter-of-factly. “They were doing that because they played on Saturday, too, they’ve worked their backsides off, they’ve just put in a massive shift again on Monday night, they’re about to embark on a tough day’s work (the following morning), and they’ve won the game and they got a clean sheet. Why can’t they have a beer?”
55’| Tense game. 🫣 Both teams are well structured and hard to break down. Gloucester have been adamant in their press but are unable to beat Harvey Randle. Bracknell themselves have looked good on the break. 🔴 0-0 🔵 pic.twitter.com/Q3Aor3KF8L — Bracknell Town FC (@BracknellTownFC) Most footballers at Bracknell’s level are part-time (Zac Goodwin/PA Images via Getty Images)Clearly, there is a balance to be struck. That said, the reality is that most managers won’t worry too much about how players are living their lives away from football as long as they are performing on a matchday. Push the boundaries and play badly, however, and you leave yourself open to criticism — albeit criticism that would normally stay in-house.AdvertisementThere’s another important strand to this story that’s easy to overlook, largely because we’ve become so conditioned to the social media world and the way in which it has normalised things that aren’t actually normal at all.Not that long ago, a non-League football manager could have said what he wanted after a match without his comments appearing anywhere other than in the local newspaper or on the local radio station. In the social media age, however, the Bracknell Town manager is one answer away from his thoughts being viewed five times more widely than a White House update on President Donald Trump’s talks with Vladimir Putin.“It’s scary,” says Tommy Killick, who is manager of Dorchester Town, a non-League club in the same league as Bracknell. “I remember quite a few years ago I put a tweet out saying, ‘Pre-season training starts next week and my attacking midfielder has disappeared onto Love Island!’. The next minute, my phone went ridiculous. And you think, ‘Jesus Christ, the power of this’. Pre season training starts next week and my attacking midfielder has disappeared on to love island !! — tom killick (@tomkillick) “Now, you’ll get a step five team (two levels below Bracknell and Dorchester) doing all these graphics announcing a new signing and it’s Bob from the Red Lion (pub). And Bob comes wandering out with the scarf and the shirt.”Killick, who has been involved in the non-League game for the best part of 40 years as a player, coach and manager, can laugh about that kind of thing, but there’s a serious point that he’s making, too.“I think everyone is getting a bit precious now,” he says. “We’re getting interviewed more (in front of a camera) and there are all these views. Clubs are playing highlights.“When me and you played non-League football, we didn’t get that much publicity. If you got into the first round of the FA Cup, it was amazing because you got projected into that (spotlight) for that brief period. But as soon as you got knocked out, you were back to being two lines in the (Bournemouth) Echo (newspaper) on a Monday.Advertisement“I do feel that — and not in a good way — social media has affected quite a lot of people in non-League football, who get a bit carried away with a) the level they’re at and b) their importance.”Saunders clearly wasn’t looking for publicity on Monday night, but it found him anyway.“If you spoke to 10 non-League managers, they’d probably agree with what he said,” adds Paul Tovey, who is assistant manager of Yate Town, who also play in the same league as Bracknell.“They just wouldn’t have handled it in that way.” Nov 16, 2025Connections: Sports EditionSpot the pattern. Connect the termsFind the hidden link between sports termsPlay today's puzzleBundesligaCollege SportsCultureFA CupFantasy HockeyFIFA Women's World CupGolfLeague OneMixed Martial ArtsNASCARNWSLPremier LeagueSoccerTop Sports NewsWomen's HockeyHeadlinesUSBay AreaChicagoDallasIndianaLos AngelesNashvilleOregonSacramentoSt. LouisWisconsinCanadaOttawaCollectibles by eBayGroup SubscriptionsHQEditorial GuidelinesForgot Password?Support
55’| Tense game. 🫣
Both teams are well structured and hard to break down. Gloucester have been adamant in their press but are unable to beat Harvey Randle. Bracknell themselves have looked good on the break.
🔴 0-0 🔵 pic.twitter.com/Q3Aor3KF8L
— Bracknell Town FC (@BracknellTownFC) Most footballers at Bracknell’s level are part-time (Zac Goodwin/PA Images via Getty Images)Clearly, there is a balance to be struck. That said, the reality is that most managers won’t worry too much about how players are living their lives away from football as long as they are performing on a matchday. Push the boundaries and play badly, however, and you leave yourself open to criticism — albeit criticism that would normally stay in-house.AdvertisementThere’s another important strand to this story that’s easy to overlook, largely because we’ve become so conditioned to the social media world and the way in which it has normalised things that aren’t actually normal at all.Not that long ago, a non-League football manager could have said what he wanted after a match without his comments appearing anywhere other than in the local newspaper or on the local radio station. In the social media age, however, the Bracknell Town manager is one answer away from his thoughts being viewed five times more widely than a White House update on President Donald Trump’s talks with Vladimir Putin.“It’s scary,” says Tommy Killick, who is manager of Dorchester Town, a non-League club in the same league as Bracknell. “I remember quite a few years ago I put a tweet out saying, ‘Pre-season training starts next week and my attacking midfielder has disappeared onto Love Island!’. The next minute, my phone went ridiculous. And you think, ‘Jesus Christ, the power of this’. Pre season training starts next week and my attacking midfielder has disappeared on to love island !! — tom killick (@tomkillick) “Now, you’ll get a step five team (two levels below Bracknell and Dorchester) doing all these graphics announcing a new signing and it’s Bob from the Red Lion (pub). And Bob comes wandering out with the scarf and the shirt.”Killick, who has been involved in the non-League game for the best part of 40 years as a player, coach and manager, can laugh about that kind of thing, but there’s a serious point that he’s making, too.“I think everyone is getting a bit precious now,” he says. “We’re getting interviewed more (in front of a camera) and there are all these views. Clubs are playing highlights.“When me and you played non-League football, we didn’t get that much publicity. If you got into the first round of the FA Cup, it was amazing because you got projected into that (spotlight) for that brief period. But as soon as you got knocked out, you were back to being two lines in the (Bournemouth) Echo (newspaper) on a Monday.Advertisement“I do feel that — and not in a good way — social media has affected quite a lot of people in non-League football, who get a bit carried away with a) the level they’re at and b) their importance.”Saunders clearly wasn’t looking for publicity on Monday night, but it found him anyway.“If you spoke to 10 non-League managers, they’d probably agree with what he said,” adds Paul Tovey, who is assistant manager of Yate Town, who also play in the same league as Bracknell.“They just wouldn’t have handled it in that way.” Nov 16, 2025Connections: Sports EditionSpot the pattern. Connect the termsFind the hidden link between sports termsPlay today's puzzleBundesligaCollege SportsCultureFA CupFantasy HockeyFIFA Women's World CupGolfLeague OneMixed Martial ArtsNASCARNWSLPremier LeagueSoccerTop Sports NewsWomen's HockeyHeadlinesUSBay AreaChicagoDallasIndianaLos AngelesNashvilleOregonSacramentoSt. LouisWisconsinCanadaOttawaCollectibles by eBayGroup SubscriptionsHQEditorial GuidelinesForgot Password?Support
Clearly, there is a balance to be struck. That said, the reality is that most managers won’t worry too much about how players are living their lives away from football as long as they are performing on a matchday. Push the boundaries and play badly, however, and you leave yourself open to criticism — albeit criticism that would normally stay in-house.
There’s another important strand to this story that’s easy to overlook, largely because we’ve become so conditioned to the social media world and the way in which it has normalised things that aren’t actually normal at all.
Not that long ago, a non-League football manager could have said what he wanted after a match without his comments appearing anywhere other than in the local newspaper or on the local radio station. In the social media age, however, the Bracknell Town manager is one answer away from his thoughts being viewed five times more widely than a White House update on President Donald Trump’s talks with Vladimir Putin.
“It’s scary,” says Tommy Killick, who is manager of Dorchester Town, a non-League club in the same league as Bracknell. “I remember quite a few years ago I put a tweet out saying, ‘Pre-season training starts next week and my attacking midfielder has disappeared onto Love Island!’. The next minute, my phone went ridiculous. And you think, ‘Jesus Christ, the power of this’.
Pre season training starts next week and my attacking midfielder has disappeared on to love island !! — tom killick (@tomkillick) “Now, you’ll get a step five team (two levels below Bracknell and Dorchester) doing all these graphics announcing a new signing and it’s Bob from the Red Lion (pub). And Bob comes wandering out with the scarf and the shirt.”Killick, who has been involved in the non-League game for the best part of 40 years as a player, coach and manager, can laugh about that kind of thing, but there’s a serious point that he’s making, too.“I think everyone is getting a bit precious now,” he says. “We’re getting interviewed more (in front of a camera) and there are all these views. Clubs are playing highlights.“When me and you played non-League football, we didn’t get that much publicity. If you got into the first round of the FA Cup, it was amazing because you got projected into that (spotlight) for that brief period. But as soon as you got knocked out, you were back to being two lines in the (Bournemouth) Echo (newspaper) on a Monday.Advertisement“I do feel that — and not in a good way — social media has affected quite a lot of people in non-League football, who get a bit carried away with a) the level they’re at and b) their importance.”Saunders clearly wasn’t looking for publicity on Monday night, but it found him anyway.“If you spoke to 10 non-League managers, they’d probably agree with what he said,” adds Paul Tovey, who is assistant manager of Yate Town, who also play in the same league as Bracknell.“They just wouldn’t have handled it in that way.” Nov 16, 2025Connections: Sports EditionSpot the pattern. Connect the termsFind the hidden link between sports termsPlay today's puzzleBundesligaCollege SportsCultureFA CupFantasy HockeyFIFA Women's World CupGolfLeague OneMixed Martial ArtsNASCARNWSLPremier LeagueSoccerTop Sports NewsWomen's HockeyHeadlinesUSBay AreaChicagoDallasIndianaLos AngelesNashvilleOregonSacramentoSt. LouisWisconsinCanadaOttawaCollectibles by eBayGroup SubscriptionsHQEditorial GuidelinesForgot Password?Support
Pre season training starts next week and my attacking midfielder has disappeared on to love island !!
— tom killick (@tomkillick)
“Now, you’ll get a step five team (two levels below Bracknell and Dorchester) doing all these graphics announcing a new signing and it’s Bob from the Red Lion (pub). And Bob comes wandering out with the scarf and the shirt.”
Killick, who has been involved in the non-League game for the best part of 40 years as a player, coach and manager, can laugh about that kind of thing, but there’s a serious point that he’s making, too.
“I think everyone is getting a bit precious now,” he says. “We’re getting interviewed more (in front of a camera) and there are all these views. Clubs are playing highlights.
“When me and you played non-League football, we didn’t get that much publicity. If you got into the first round of the FA Cup, it was amazing because you got projected into that (spotlight) for that brief period. But as soon as you got knocked out, you were back to being two lines in the (Bournemouth) Echo (newspaper) on a Monday.
“I do feel that — and not in a good way — social media has affected quite a lot of people in non-League football, who get a bit carried away with a) the level they’re at and b) their importance.”
Saunders clearly wasn’t looking for publicity on Monday night, but it found him anyway.
“If you spoke to 10 non-League managers, they’d probably agree with what he said,” adds Paul Tovey, who is assistant manager of Yate Town, who also play in the same league as Bracknell.
“They just wouldn’t have handled it in that way.”
Spot the pattern. Connect the terms
Find the hidden link between sports terms
Play today's puzzle