Non-League Day date announced

The brainchild of James Doe, a lifelong fan of both QPR and the Ryman League’s Harrow Borough, and taking place for an eighth consecutive season, Non-League Day 2017 is kicking off around the country on Saturday 7 October after being announced on Thursday as the nation went to the polls.

NLD was launched in 2010 as a social media experiment to give Non-League clubs a chance to promote themselves by running free or discounted entry to season tickets holders at Premier League and EFL Championship clubs with the weekend off for one of the season’s international breaks.

This year’s annual celebration of Non-League football was chosen with England taking on Slovenia in a World Cup qualifier at Wembley on Thursday 5 October before travelling to Lithuania on Sunday 8 October.

To qualify for free or heavily discounted admission all supporters need to do is produce a valid season ticket at turnstiles. In many cases, EVO-STIK League Southern clubs also use NLD to extend admission offers to new fans who can prove they live locally as well as members of the armed forces and emergency services.

As in previous seasons, thousands of pounds are expected to be raised by fundraising fans for good causes led by NLD's official charity, Prostate Cancer UK. For information on fundraising ideas and other tools for clubs supporting Non League Day 2017, visit www.nonleagueday.co.uk.

Follow the EVO-STIK League Southern on Twitter at @SouthernLeague1