In the first edition of a new feature giving a voice to our loyal supporters, Dominic Bliss speaks to a man who has quickly become part of the fabric of our fanbase…
Kev, tell us how you first came to Casuals and how you ended up becoming a die-hard fan.
The first time I went to a Casuals match was the day I moved to Berrylands in March 2023. My mate George, who has been going for years, asked me to go to get out of the way of the removal men. It was against Enfield Town and we lost 3-0, but I’ve been going ever since.
What is it about this club that has drawn you in and which keeps you coming back?
I come back because it’s only five mins up the road, and I feel welcome at the club. I’m not just George’s mate or a number and I’ve made lots of friends through going to Casuals. The football is only a part of it.
How important is the social side of matchday for you?
The social side is important to me. I don’t think I’d do half the things I do now if I didn’t talk to other supporters – things like going to away games, including getting on a plane to Jersey. Then playing and managing a walking football team, or going to watch cricket at the Oval.
Does non-league football appeal to you more than the professional game, and why?
The professional game has got too much money in it. How can you have the drive and determination on getting better if you are a millionaire at 16-17? Also, at the end of the game, you don’t see the players go over to the fans after a loss – they run down the tunnel. It is such a different game!
You’ve commented in the past that it’s unusual to see disabled supporters at non-league grounds. Why do you think that is?
I really don’t know why there are not ANY disabled supporters at non-league grounds. George and I have been to seven-ish away games and haven’t seen another wheelchair. The facilities have been good at most of them – some a little bit strange (like going through a DIY shop to get to the toilet), but that’s all part of an away day.
What do you think non-league clubs could do better to make the grounds easier for disabled fans to navigate and welcome more disabled people to their matches?
The biggest thing is access, and I don’t mean putting a ramp in where its steeper than a ski jump. Think about what you are doing, ask a wheelchair user what they would like. Next for me is getting to a useable toilet. Many grounds at this level have got good facilities but believe me I’ve been in some which is similar to an escape room. One thing which I enjoy about non-league grounds is I can sit wherever I want to, with all the other Casuals supporters, not being forced to sit with all the disabled fans who I don’t know!
What have been your stand-out moments as a Casuals fan?
Going to Jersey for the weekend to watch Casuals play has to be the top highlight so far – seeing them play in Europe (sort of), and hopefully I’ll get to do it again someday. Another moment is getting on the front cover of a Casuals programme. There haven’t been many footballing moments… YET, but that comeback win against Abbey Rangers was a great one.
How do you feel about the current setup and our prospects for the future?
The future of the club looks bright. Things look pretty stable at present. After two years of dross on and off the pitch, the club appears to be turning over a new leaf with a good manager and a core of players who really want to do their best to help Casuals move in the right direction. Hopefully, this will lead us to promotion in the next few years.
Is there anything else you’d like to get across that hasn’t been covered by my questions above?
I would like to thank the club for accepting me and making me feel like I belong. They’ve done little things to make my life easier – for example, they introduced a pitch-side bar, and how many clubs have one of those?! The supporters have been great to me too. Many of them find it difficult to understand me in the beginning, but we get there in the end. Finally, a very big thank you to my good friend George. He takes me to most of the games and I really do appreciate it.
Kev, tell us how you first came to Casuals and how you ended up becoming a die-hard fan.
The first time I went to a Casuals match was the day I moved to Berrylands in March 2023. My mate George, who has been going for years, asked me to go to get out of the way of the removal men. It was against Enfield Town and we lost 3-0, but I’ve been going ever since.
What is it about this club that has drawn you in and which keeps you coming back?
I come back because it’s only five mins up the road, and I feel welcome at the club. I’m not just George’s mate or a number and I’ve made lots of friends through going to Casuals. The football is only a part of it.
How important is the social side of matchday for you?
The social side is important to me. I don’t think I’d do half the things I do now if I didn’t talk to other supporters – things like going to away games, including getting on a plane to Jersey. Then playing and managing a walking football team, or going to watch cricket at the Oval.
Does non-league football appeal to you more than the professional game, and why?
The professional game has got too much money in it. How can you have the drive and determination on getting better if you are a millionaire at 16-17? Also, at the end of the game, you don’t see the players go over to the fans after a loss – they run down the tunnel. It is such a different game!
You’ve commented in the past that it’s unusual to see disabled supporters at non-league grounds. Why do you think that is?
I really don’t know why there are not ANY disabled supporters at non-league grounds. George and I have been to seven-ish away games and haven’t seen another wheelchair. The facilities have been good at most of them – some a little bit strange (like going through a DIY shop to get to the toilet), but that’s all part of an away day.
What do you think non-league clubs could do better to make the grounds easier for disabled fans to navigate and welcome more disabled people to their matches?
The biggest thing is access, and I don’t mean putting a ramp in where its steeper than a ski jump. Think about what you are doing, ask a wheelchair user what they would like. Next for me is getting to a useable toilet. Many grounds at this level have got good facilities but believe me I’ve been in some which is similar to an escape room. One thing which I enjoy about non-league grounds is I can sit wherever I want to, with all the other Casuals supporters, not being forced to sit with all the disabled fans who I don’t know!
What have been your stand-out moments as a Casuals fan?
Going to Jersey for the weekend to watch Casuals play has to be the top highlight so far – seeing them play in Europe (sort of), and hopefully I’ll get to do it again someday. Another moment is getting on the front cover of a Casuals programme. There haven’t been many footballing moments… YET, but that comeback win against Abbey Rangers was a great one.
How do you feel about the current setup and our prospects for the future?
The future of the club looks bright. Things look pretty stable at present. After two years of dross on and off the pitch, the club appears to be turning over a new leaf with a good manager and a core of players who really want to do their best to help Casuals move in the right direction. Hopefully, this will lead us to promotion in the next few years.
Is there anything else you’d like to get across that hasn’t been covered by my questions above?
I would like to thank the club for accepting me and making me feel like I belong. They’ve done little things to make my life easier – for example, they introduced a pitch-side bar, and how many clubs have one of those?! The supporters have been great to me too. Many of them find it difficult to understand me in the beginning, but we get there in the end. Finally, a very big thank you to my good friend George. He takes me to most of the games and I really do appreciate it.