Features

By Stuart Croll (NonLeagueToday)

When AFC Sudbury fan, Brian Tatum started out in NonLeague football, fifty years ago, one of his first tasks was clearing cowpats off his club's pitch. He suspects that may not pass current ground grading requirements but a lot has changed in Brian's time in NonLeague football.

In 1958 Brian and his friends, being too old for youth football, started Sudbury Wanderers. They played on a farmer's field, hence the cowpat removal, and as well as playing Brian was secretary of the club from the beginning and eventually treasurer as well.

By the 1990s Sudbury Wanderers had progressed through the pyramid so successfully they had caught up with the older NonLeague Sudbury club ­ Sudbury Town and for practical reasons the two clubs merged in 1999 to become AFC Sudbury.

With the new club Brian continued as treasurer and with both clubs he is very proud that both clubs have always been in profit.

With club mergers such a worry for fans Brian admitted that at the time he had concerns but looking back it has benefited the football fans of Sudbury.

He said: "Of course there are fears about amalgamation but financially it made sense and the success of the club has won over the doubters. Following our merger, we went on to win the Ridgeons League title five years running".

The retired civil servant remains a fan first and is very proud that AFC Sudbury managed to reach three FA Vase finals but disappointed they lost all three.
But he added: "We have some great memories from travelling all over the country. "

Brian despite being in the game for 50 years remains very positive and forward thinking. "As a club we believe that we're ready to take the next step up. In the future, I'd love to be the new Histon."

"We've got great plans for a new clubhouse and to develop the youth set-up at the club ­ our future is very bright."

The father of three and grandfather of two live just five minutes from the ground and yet his wife loathes football. "She may have come to a couple of games when I was playing but basically she just can't stand the game."

Brian admits to also having a liking for Arsenal and decades ago would occasionally go to midweek games to see the Gunners play. The experience of doing so confirmed his preference for NonLeague football. "We were away fans and we were locked in for our own safety, I thought this is ridiculous, fans don't get locked in for their own safety at NonLeague games." 

Brian is the kind of fan NonLeague football needs to survive and flourish. This season to mark an outstanding 30 years of service the Suffolk Football Association presented Brian with a silver tray as recognition for his work to local and NonLeague football.