Non League Day 2023 with Radford FC & Frank Horsley #GreenLightRaddy

25th March 2023. Non League Day. Radford FC with Frank Horsley. 

Non League Day is always one on the footballing calendar to look forward to. A chance of clubs to invite supporters of their bigger neighbours and give them a taste of what non league football is all about. Radford FC are no different. You might just miss their Selhurst Street ground as you travel through NG7 on one of Nottingham's trams but they are a progressive club looking to work their way up the pyramid. 

In this blog I speak to Frank Horsley. The man on the tannoy at Selhurst Street known as "The Raddy Rude Rock Radio MC". Frank speaks to me about things such as the #GreenLightRaddy fundraising. The Radford ultra's affectionately known as "The Raddaeati" and just what to expect on a matchday down Selhurst Street. 

As it stands Radford sit in 6th in the United Counties League Division 1 (step 6) just 4 points out of the play off spots. After missing out on promotion with a loss in the playoffs last season. 

Looking ahead to Non League Day 25/03/2023. Radford face fellow Nottingham side Rainworth Miners Welfare in a bit of a Nottingham v Mansfield derby. With Radford looking to push towards playoffs and Rainworth comfortably mid table. It has to potential to be a cracking all action tie on Non League Day. With entry for adults just £6 you'll have enough change out of £10 for a programme, a pint or maybe a donation to either ProstateUK or the #GreenLightRaddy fund. 

Firstly Frank, a huge thank you for taking time out of you day to firstly answer my questions and help promote Radford ahead of non league day. 

Radford are currently in the process of fundraising under the banner of #GreenLightRaddy. What is the reason behind the fundraising? And how much are you looking to raise?  

Our old floodlights are part of the clubs heritage and exemplify the blood, sweat and tears commitment of all those who love Raddy. They were erected at Selhurst Street in the 90s after being bought and fetched back on a flatbed truck from a steelworks in Montrose. Our club was founded in 1964 as a factory side and that can do hardcore of engineers remains at the club with the likes of Chairman Bob Thomas and committee member Tony Osborne, both who played in that first match back in 1964. 

We are looking to crowdfund up to £5000 to help match an application we have made to the FA Premier League Stadium Fund. It will cost us around £30,000 to replace the dilapidated lights with new energy efficient and high quality LEDs. However, we don’t want to replace our beloved stanchions - they are our history and uniquely Raddy.

Radford's current floodlights

Are there any initiatives from the campaign donators can benefit from? 

Our #GreenLightRaddy campaign has a range of rewards to encourage donations and give something back for our supporters generosity. These include season ticket offers, floodlight sponsorship offers and discounted store cards. We also have an evening with Nigel Jemson in the pipeline so we are offering limited numbers of discounted pre-sale tickets for what should be a great night down the clubhouse.

We’ve also formed a wonderful new partnership with uber cool Nottingham football culture merchandisers Art of Football who are offering discounts and a £50 voucher for a prize draw. They’ve also been really excellent in helping us promote the campaign. They appreciate the grassroots DNA of Nottingham’s only inner-city football club.

For me, non league clubs are massive for their local communities. Just how key is the club & Selhurst Street ground for the community? 

Radford and Hyson Green (NG7) is one of the most deprived areas in the East Midlands and over the years the community has become more challenged and it is often hard to make the connections that the club had back in the 1960s when the factories were in full swing. We try to offer opportunities for youngsters to play through our developing youth system and reach out to the new communities that settle in the area (we are right next to the local primary school). However, we also recognise that the population of the city is changing especially with the expansion of our universities. We think that Raddy can be that traditional experience for young folk longing to hark back to the football days of their parents youth. We offer a direct contrast to the sterile, iPhone in hand overpriced fare of the top flight pro game.

The Raddy Ultra’s are some of the loudest and nicest fans you’ll meet at step 6. Does having this support make the club feel more of a family? 

Everyone at Radford feels like family, sometimes quarrelsome and dysfunctional at times but we have a deep bond and determination to keep our rough little club in the Green progressing. Over the past 2 or 3 seasons we have made a conscious decision to build an atmosphere at home and away. We see no reason why we can’t sing, shout and display our allegiance just because we in the lower end of the pyramid. You’ll find the Radderati in the Bell End every match, making a racket and getting behind our lads. And when we are away, they know the Raddy are in town with flags and relentlessly boisterous support. The management and the team tell us we make a real difference and I hope we’ve played our part in the last two promotion chasing seasons.

You'll know when The Raddy Ultra's are in town

If anyone reading this is planning on visiting Radford FC what would they expect on and off the field from their visit?

Everyone is welcome to visit Selhurst Street and be part of our unique but also very traditional matchday experience. You will always find a welcome in the clubhouse were we have a fully stocked bar manned by our legendary Chairman Bob Thomas and I’m on the tannoy with our “Raddy Rude Rock Radio” show as pre-match entertainment. Shirl’s Tea Bar will keep you fed and our football is competitive and entertaining. The Bell End is really something else when we are in full flow. We make a right noise! And all for 6 quid. Forza Radderati! Up the Pheasants!

A huge thank you to Frank for the blog above. I hoped you all enjoyed reading it as much as I did speaking to Frank and finding out what is going on at Radford. If you're at a loose end tomorrow. Head down to Radford and give them your support in attendance and if you can by supporting their crowdfunding. 

If you are reading this and wish to donate to #GreenLightRaddy. See the link below. 

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/green-light-radford-fc-floodlight-fund

Reading this and you'd like to feature on one of my blog series. Please get in touch on twitter and I would love to feature you. Everybody has a footballing story to tell and I would love to help you tell it. 

Until the next one 

Peace

Luke @PL2NL