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Field of Dreams and Broken Fences: Delving into the Mystery World of Non-League Football
Fields of Dreams and Broken Fences lifts the lid on the little-known world of non-league football. From being hours away from folding in the Essex Senior League and turning semi-professional because of YouTube to dropping out of the Football League and trying to find a way back, this book shines a vital spotlight on clubs from various levels of the National League System and shares their stories. The tales include the dramatic null-and-void decision of the 2019/20 season, Chichester City making history in the FA Cup, Leyton Orient and Notts County battling to get back into the Football League, Hashtag United turning semi-professional and Steve Castle, the former professional player, returning to the lower levels to pursue a career in management. Filled with compelling stories from multiple sides of the game, Fields of Dreams and Broken Fences brings non-league football to life as it delves beneath the surface of the lower levels of the English game. This book is written for the love of football.
272 pages, Paperback
Published August 15, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
March 24, 2026
To start with, I have to say that I think the tagline here of "delving into the mystery world of non-league football" is a bit of a misrepresentation. Maybe 20/25 years ago, non league was a mystery to a lot of people, including myself, but with the rise in prices of the pro game driving fans to the much more affordable non league grounds over the last 15 years or so, it's become so much more open and visible.
I was on the committee of a non league club for over a decade, so I've seen its rise over that period.
So on to the book, and for football historians its a great resource, as the author has done their research and got plenty of detail down on paper. But as a groundbreaking or eye opening account of how it all works, it's not that.
The author has seemingly picked a random selection of players and clubs, had a look at their respective histories and then how they all got essentially shut down or stopped when the pandemic hit and halted football for two seasons, and that's it. Sadly I felt no emotional connection with the players or clubs involved, it feels very matter of fact rather than drawing the reader in and grabbing your attention. It can almost feel like a reference book at times.
For the players and clubs involved, it's great to have this to bring their names to the forefront of people's minds, but I'd not recommend this to anyone other than the die hard non leaguer who wants a bit more info on teams away from their own.
It got to a stage midway through that I was just coasting through this book. It's not bad, but it's also not great either. I'd score it straight down the middle at 2.5/5, so it's rounded up to 3 for Goodreads.
I was on the committee of a non league club for over a decade, so I've seen its rise over that period.
So on to the book, and for football historians its a great resource, as the author has done their research and got plenty of detail down on paper. But as a groundbreaking or eye opening account of how it all works, it's not that.
The author has seemingly picked a random selection of players and clubs, had a look at their respective histories and then how they all got essentially shut down or stopped when the pandemic hit and halted football for two seasons, and that's it. Sadly I felt no emotional connection with the players or clubs involved, it feels very matter of fact rather than drawing the reader in and grabbing your attention. It can almost feel like a reference book at times.
For the players and clubs involved, it's great to have this to bring their names to the forefront of people's minds, but I'd not recommend this to anyone other than the die hard non leaguer who wants a bit more info on teams away from their own.
It got to a stage midway through that I was just coasting through this book. It's not bad, but it's also not great either. I'd score it straight down the middle at 2.5/5, so it's rounded up to 3 for Goodreads.
May 16, 2022
I wouldn't say "delving into the mystery world"..... but a good behind the scenes look at teams mainly based in the SE of England. Maybe a chapter about match officials would have been good, as some only officiate within non league and not further up the pyramid.
October 24, 2025
Great read, Moore really explores the topic of non-league football in some incredibly unique ways. It would’ve been easy just going round National League/NLS/Isthmian clubs and players to ask them about their journey for 13 chapters, but there’s a unique angle to each story. I particularly enjoyed the chapter about the London Underground Football League, I had no idea such a thing existed but being a NL groundhopper I would love to see a game or two. Moore gives voice to all Steps, as well as the women’s non league too.
There were a few things I wasn’t a massive fan of. I’m aware that this was possibly more of a passion project than a serious Rothmans-like undertaking of non-league in the country as a whole, but the majority of the book is London-based, specifically East London. I would’ve found it fine if it had been labelled as a book specifically about the South-East, but it’s so London. Walthamstowe especially get a lot of air time. Maybe if there was a follow-up, Moore could look at other areas of the country. Also, there weren’t actually that many pictures in the book, but the pictures that are there are of multiple of very few teams - including one from the League One playoff final. Moore’s an Orient season ticket holder, and he talked about their demise, but it has no bearing on a book about non-league, and I felt that space could’ve gone to another team. The chapter on Ipswich Ladies is also only 9 pages long. Hashtag United’s story has been done to death too, but that’s more a different gripe.
I do like the book a lot though, despite my minor criticisms. I would love to see a follow-up of non-league in another area of the country.
There were a few things I wasn’t a massive fan of. I’m aware that this was possibly more of a passion project than a serious Rothmans-like undertaking of non-league in the country as a whole, but the majority of the book is London-based, specifically East London. I would’ve found it fine if it had been labelled as a book specifically about the South-East, but it’s so London. Walthamstowe especially get a lot of air time. Maybe if there was a follow-up, Moore could look at other areas of the country. Also, there weren’t actually that many pictures in the book, but the pictures that are there are of multiple of very few teams - including one from the League One playoff final. Moore’s an Orient season ticket holder, and he talked about their demise, but it has no bearing on a book about non-league, and I felt that space could’ve gone to another team. The chapter on Ipswich Ladies is also only 9 pages long. Hashtag United’s story has been done to death too, but that’s more a different gripe.
I do like the book a lot though, despite my minor criticisms. I would love to see a follow-up of non-league in another area of the country.
January 15, 2026
Thought it would have been better but it centred on in and around London mostly. Enjoyed the chapter about the league of teams for tube lines. Interesting concept which works. Would have been nice to have non-league times from all over the UK.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews