by Alan Burge
For many years keen amateur photographer and Cambridge United fan Alan Burge has combined his two passions by visiting non-league grounds up and down the country taking photographs and watching football. Alan had never really thought about sharing his photos until July 2016 when he started to send a few photos to the editor at TheNonLeague Magazine for use in their ‘around the grounds’ feature. Over the next few months Alan was persuaded to write some text to go with his snaps which in turn became a feature of its own: ‘Diary of a Groundhopper’ catalogues all 45 grounds covered by the feature.
I’m a journalist, author, and editor with a passion for football, storytelling, and creative writing. From working with clubs like Stockport County and Oldham Athletic to writing and editing books on football and beyond, I’ve spent over a decade immersed in media, sport, and the written word. Whether it's matchday reporting, children’s books, or spoken word poetry, my work is all about capturing the stories that connect us.
I’m a journalist, author, editor, and lifelong football enthusiast with a career rooted in storytelling and media. My journey began with roles at the heart of the game, as Press Officer and Media Manager at Stockport County Football Club, and later as Contributing Editor at TheNonLeague Magazine. Initially a regional publication for non-league supporters in the North West, TheNonLeague Magazine expanded into a national platform under my editorial leadership. I played a key role in its growth by securing advertising and sponsorship deals with major companies, helping to bring grassroots football coverage to a wider audience. In 2013, I published my first book, The Man from Uruguay, the biography of Danny Bergara. Its success allowed me to transition into full-time freelance journalism. Since then, I’ve contributed weekly football content, primarily non-league coverage, for newspapers, websites, and magazines across the UK. I’ve also worked directly with clubs, including a spell at Oldham Athletic FC, where I helped rebuild their social media and website presence during a period of internal restructuring. Alongside journalism, I’ve authored a range of children’s books in collaboration with illustrators Rob Purdon, Ric Pennington, and James Richardson. These titles include The Scarf, Football Alphabet, Cricket Alphabet, Football Football Football, Stay at Gnome – A Lockdown Tale, Tangerine Dream, and Granny’s Galactic Garden. As an editor, I’ve worked on several notable football titles, including the Non-League Groundhopper Diaries series and LOST – Football in the 1980s. My writing also extends into poetry, a creative outlet since my schooldays. I’ve written personal poems for family milestones and, more recently, have embraced performing my work at spoken word events, sharing pieces from my collections The Transient Curmudgeon and The Transient Mancunian. Whether through sport, storytelling, or verse, my work continues to explore the spaces where community, culture, and creativity intersect.
by Phil Brennan
by P. M. Brennan
by P. M. Brennan
by Phil Brennan
by Phil Brennan
by Phil Brennan
by Phil Brennan
by Phil Brennan
by Phil Brennan
by Phil Brennan
by Phil Brennan