The Time Machine

Strap yourselves in, accelerate to 88mph and let Semi-Professional take you on a nostalgia trip round some of the greatest moments non-league football has seen.

TIME MACHINE: When a Brazilian Icon played for a local Leeds club

Believe it or not, The Brazilian Socrates played for non-league’s Garforth Town back in 2004, in a one off game at the age of 50. 

ON THIS DAY: The founding of AFC Wimbledon 

Currently competing in the EFL League Two, AFC Wimbledon, a club based in Merton, London, were founded on the 30th May 2002.  Former supporters of Wimbledon who disagreed with the FA’s decision to move the club to Milton Keynes, arguing that it no longer represented...

Nantwich Town’s day in the sun

Nantwich Town are a proud club of 140 years and sit in the heart of South Cheshire. Despite all of the history it is quite clear which sits at the very top of the club’s moments. Time to go into the Semi Pro time machine back to a spring day in 2006…

FLASHBACK: Tranmere Rovers vs Solihull Moors – The biggest National League victory ever

On April 8 2017, Tranmere Rovers played Solihull Moors at home in a league game which saw the biggest victory the National League has seen.  The game played at Prenton Park saw two Rovers players, Cole Stockton and Conner Jennings, bag hat tricks on the day. The game...

Why Bamber Bridge FC were the reason Czech Republic made the Euro 96 final

The weirdest friendlies tend to involve non-league clubs and this fixture was no exception. So, why did Bamber Bridge end up playing the Czech Republic National Team? Bamber Bridge FC, located on the outskirts of Preston, were tasked at being the Czech's final...

Jimmy Greaves: How non-league football helped him escape alcoholism

The story of how one of the best strikers of all time used grassroots football to kickstart his sober journey. Jimmy Greaves. Wow, what a player. Just say that name to your grandparents and there's a pretty high likelihood they'll give off a little bright smile. He is...

When Aubameyang netted two against non-league Heaton Stannington

In preparation for the 2012 London Olympic Games, Gabon were looking around for a warm-up friendly when they arrived in the North-East of England. Both Newcastle and their Under-21's squad were busy in the run up to the tournament and it was Heaton Stannington who...

Fly YOUR TARDIS

Dive Into The Time Machine Archive