In an age when football is on television almost every night of the week, it’s easy to see why many supporters choose the sofa over the stadium. Every channel and streaming service offers wall-to-wall coverage of the Premier League, Champions League and international fixtures — all in high definition, complete with replays, commentary and statistics at your fingertips.

But while televised football brings the game closer to millions, it has also made it harder for smaller, community-based clubs to compete for attention. When you can flick on the TV and watch your favourite stars at the click of a button, the pull of live non-league football can be overlooked. Yet those who’ve spent an evening or an afternoon at The 1878 Stadium watching Burnham FC’s first team know that what we offer can’t be replicated through a screen.

Televised matches are convenient — you can stay warm, grab a snack, and watch world-class players perform. But it’s a one-way experience. You can’t feel the cold night air, hear the shouts from the bench, or sense the raw emotion of a goal that means everything to the players and supporters. Non-league football gives you that. It’s unpredictable, passionate, and real. You’re not 100 yards away from the pitch — you’re right on top of the action.

There’s also something special about the connection between supporters and players at this level. You can chat to them before the game, congratulate them in person, and share time together. That sense of belonging and togetherness is what football was built on — and it’s alive and well in non-league.

Of course, watching from home will always have its place. Not everyone can make every game, and televised matches keep fans engaged with the wider sport. But the soul of football lives in the stands, not on the screen. The sound of the whistle, the crunch of a tackle, the smell of hot food from M&Ms — these are the moments that remind us why we fell in love with the game.

So next time you’re deciding between another televised fixture and a trip down to The 1878 Stadium, remember: nothing beats being there. Come and experience the game as it’s meant to be — live, local and full of heart.