FIFA has changed the international football calendar to create a ‘super window’ just five games into the new men’s English Premier League season.
Instead of the usual two-match international break, the first window of the season will contain up to four international matches every season until at least October 2030 and run from 21st September to 6th October.
This means England will play four matches against Spain (home – 26th September), Czechia (away – 29th September), Croatia (away – 3rd October) and Czechia (home 6th October) in the Nations League Group Stage. Wales and Scotland will also play four fixtures apiece.
It remains to be seen, but the extended International Break could be an early season boost for non-league and women’s football clubs. The sun is still shining, the FA Cup is in full swing – the FA Trophy and Vase aren’t all that far behind, and enthusiasm for the new season is hanging on.
But this is an opportunity to market your club to audiences that might just be looking for some live football – and it doesn’t involve offering Premier League season ticket holders free-entry. A bit like Non-League Day later in the season, there’s an opportunity for ‘Non-League Fortnight’.
The FA Cup brought a huge crowd to Wokingham Town in August:
But if you are wracking your brains for some ideas, then we’ve put our heads together here at Football in Berkshire HQ to try and help make the most of the Premier League and Championship-less fortnight.
There really is only one big idea though, and its a bit of a gateway to online ticketing which (and this article isn’t sponsored by them) if you used a company like our friends at INTIX then you could start to create a database of supporters and keep them up to date with further offers.
Ticket bundles then..
If the fixture computer has been kind, your club may have two or three home games during this period. Wokingham Town have two on 26th and 29th September, plus Broadfields United at home on the 10th which might make a very nice three for two ticket offer.
FA Cup heroes Tadley Calleva could do the same although negotiating FA rules around the FA Cup tie with Dartford could be tricky – still, buy a ticket for Sutton Common Rovers, Dartford, and get Yateley United at home on the 13th October for free.
Windsor & Eton could go one further with home games on the 26th and 29th September, 6th October and 10th October.
However it falls, it’s an opportunity for a bit of publicity for you club. Throw in a food and drink deal and you’ve got something of real value which is very straightforward to do with a service like INTIX (again, not sponsored – although we’ll happily take their money)
Online ticketing..
From something we wrote in 2022: “The way we look at it, an online ticket isn’t aimed at your regular attendees. They know how it works. They’ll be at the game come rain or that really heavy rain.
“Where an online ticket should work is for your casual or away support. Depending on how you advertise your games, maybe you’ve got a web link or QR code on posters, sharing links on local Facebook groups and social media channels, you’re offering someone the opportunity to buy a ticket at the point of interest, rather than giving them three days to think of something else to do. That’s where an online ticket should come into its own.”
All of this could be aligned with a themed day..
It’s the international break so lets see crowds littered with their favourite international football team shirts.
Perhaps your club has seen someone head off for international duty like Caiden Carty at Langley who is in the Anguilla squad. Celebrate it.
