IT’S Non-League Day on Saturday and I hope fans of all professional clubs whose teams are not in action because of the international break, go take in a non-league game.

Non-league football is hugely important in the UK. And it needs all our support.

For many thousands of fans, players and volunteers, non-league clubs not only give them hours of joy alongside the hard work, but in many cases they embrace and at times bring together a community.

As someone who has reported on games professionally at Wembley Stadium (old and new), Old Trafford, St James’ Park, the Boleyn Ground, White Hart Lane and many more, non-league has a huge place in my heart.

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Indeed, for me, non-league is the heartbeat of our game.

While, yes, the pro game has a lot more pomp, show and atmosphere, TV coverage and big bucks, non-league has a down-to-earth and inviting spirit that makes one feel welcome from the moment you set foot through the turnstiles, or simply turn up at the side of a pitch.

My love of non-league football, having played little more than a bit of junior football on Saturdays and pub football on Sundays, back in the day as a nifty midfielder with a ‘sort of’ eye for goal, grew strongly when I took over as editor of the Green’Un football newspaper back in 1997.

I know many of you will remember the old Green’Un, a Saturday night edition (of which there were many around the country back then) that was out on the streets by 6pm and contained almost all local non-league results from that day.

While Ipswich Town’s result was always the main course, non-league was very much the lashings of dessert that filled page after page as you made your way through the paper.

Halcyon days.

As editor, I grew to love non-league. My colleague and former Ipswich Town legend reporter, Neal Manning who, by the way I can report is 80 years of age and living well in Cyprus, used to take me to non-league games every Tuesday night (I couldn’t go on Saturdays as I was in the office) to meet and greet chairmen, committees, fans and players

It was a perfect grounding.

“You want to do this job properly, you need to get out there and watch and meet the non-league folk,” Neal growled at me on my first day in the job as a young 20-something-year-old editor, keen as mustard, but, as I found out, with much to learn.

And so my love for non-league grew. It has never waned.

I watch club volunteers work so hard (they’ve always worked so hard), while players at higher levels are rewarded more now for their commitment to training and playing – often having to make long journeys representing their clubs, their towns, villages, cities, communities.

WATCH! Zach cam!

Non-league has come on leaps and bounds at the higher levels, better facilities and stadia, although let’s be honest, there is still much to do at grassroots levels, with a lack of referees and certainly decent pitches.

Clubs higher up the pyramid, non-league and professional, must remember where the majority of football is played each weekend – junior, Sundays, youth, girls and the women’s game. More funding is needed.

However, non-league is in pretty tidy shape, I suggest. Certainly it gets more exposure on many fronts, and this weekend, Non-League Day, a Day that was started back in 2010, is a good way to celebrate why we love it so much.

Back in Suffolk, Leiston Football Club is very fortunate – as are its loyal fans.

The Club has many hard-working volunteers and a strong committee. Step 3 football means one gets to see top sides on a regular basis.

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As fans, Leiston has a loyal base (yes, every club could always do with more fans, of course). And, with a 3G community facility on the horizon, the future has never looked so bright for Victory Road.

Where will Leiston FC be in 10 years? Where will non-league be in 10 years?

I don’t know the exact answer to both those questions, but I hope both Leiston FC and non-league football in general, will be in pretty 'rude health’.

Happy Non-League Day.

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Twitter: @mike_bacon