City Chairman Mansell Wallace can’t wait to celebrate the benefits of the grassroots game at Non-League Day this Saturday as the Clarets host Dover Athletic at 3:30pm, claiming: “I’ve supported my local club since I was a boy… and I’m proud of it!”

Mansell will be one of many excited spectators anticipating a bumper gate for the huge Blue Square Bet South fixture at Melbourne Stadium as Chelmsford meet one of their main rivals for promotion in an early-season match-up. And the day will be made extra special as one of the main focus matches in Non-League Day , with a posse of ‘ground hoppers’ taking-in games in all three Conference divisions in one day.

Following the success of last year’s campaign, the Non-League Day team will again be celebrating of the semi-professional and amateur game, offering a chance for fans of bigger clubs to experience football at a level they may be otherwise unfamiliar with. Moreover, it is a chance to shine a light on the hundreds of clubs who are almost exclusively volunteer run, and do so much good for the local community.

“Football isn’t just about the money clubs at the top of the game - there’s so much more intrigue for me in non-league where the players play with passion and for the love of their team, not the big bucks,” the Clarets’ Chairman explained. “At this level a club is all about its fans and the people who give their time free of charge just to be a part of their local club, many of which are deep-rooted in their local neighbourhoods.”

“I also really enjoy meeting the directors and supporters from other clubs as they’re all the same as us really, people who are fanatical about making their own team a success - a side they grew-up with which can run through generations of a family. Non-League Day is a great idea as it helps to put the spotlight on these setups.”

This year the aim is to make the day bigger and better than ever. Macmillan Cancer Support have come on board as the official charity, ex-England international Chris Waddle is the official ambassador and backing has been secured from the All Party Football Group. In addition, Blue Square have organised a special three game ‘Hop’, with countless other clubs running special events all over the Country.

Ben Chenery, Coach for the Clarets alongside Manager Glenn Pennyfather in the dugout, has played hundreds of games both at professional and non-league level for Luton Town, Cambridge United, Kettering Town, Canvey Island and Chelmsford themselves and he said: “The banter in the dressing room is always a crucial part of the game as it’s always buzzing, especially when you’ve got a successful team.”

“A good run in the FA Cup is always more special when you’ve fought through several qualifiers to get to the First and Second Rounds Proper like we did last season when we took over 1,500 fans to Wycombe Wanderers. For me, that’s one of my favourite characteristics of non-league football as well as the way that volunteers put in such hard work to pull everything together for the love of the club.”

For Kitman and long-term supporter Trevor Hales it’s the simpler things which keep him involved from the terraces. A veteran Clarets fan who celebrated his 600th match in a row towards the end of the last campaign, he added: “I like a cigarette and a beer and I can enjoy both freely at non-league games! Sometimes, at games where there are thousands of people, restrictions apply and it’s not always possible.”

“There are open, safe smoking areas at most grounds and you don’t have such long queues for a place at the bar. It’s all part of the matchday experience and I can enjoy these in good company as it’s easy to build-up a group of good friends when you get properly involved in a club. I can recall a lot of great memories from my time supporting City and I’ve met plenty of great people, from our club and others.”

Three Leagues in a Day ‘Ground Hop’ Betting Preview (By Alan Alger)

Blue Square’s historic Non-League Day ‘Ground Hop’ will enable fans to see three matches on Saturday 3rd September - one from each of the three Football Conference divisions. The three matches on offer look ultra-competitive according to the betting markets and the league sponsors have also introduced special bets to commemorate the day.

The event kicks-off on the Essex/Herts border at Bishop’s Stortford. They face last year’s third-placed finishers Boston United. With two wins in their last three matches the home side are slowly adjusting to life in the Blue Square Bet North division. Former Tottenham and England goalkeeper Ian Walker took over at Woodside Park last season and has had their late shift to the North section to contend with.

In the opposite dugout will be another former Premier League player, Jason Lee. Boston were one of the market leaders for the title in pre-season and are building-up some momentum after a slow start. A win at Harrogate and a draw at home to fellow title contenders Halifax Town is good enough form to see them quoted as 11/10 favourites for this trip. A Stortford win is priced at 2/1 and the draw is 5/2.

The middle match of the trio is City vs Dover. Both featured towards the top of our pre-season title prices, but Blue Square make Dover the slight favourites at 7/5 despite not winning in their last four. City have managed wins at Havant and Eastbourne in the last couple of weeks but are yet to win in front of their home fans. Glenn Pennyfather’s Clarets are 8/5 to end that sequence here, and the draw is priced at 23/10.

TV cameras will be at the Premier game between Braintree Town and Lincoln City. Alan Devonshire’s Braintree were beaten at Cressing Road for the first time on Monday so he’ll need to pick them up for the visit of the relegated Imps. The away side have just one win from their first six and are yet to keep a clean sheet. Town are the narrow 6/4 favourites, with a Lincoln win priced at 13/8. A likely draw is offered at 11/5.

Blue Square are offering enhanced treble bets on the three matches. Three home wins can be backed at 20/1 and three away wins is available at 14/1. Remember you can earn money for your club when you register and place bets with Blue Square - visit www.bluesq.com/chelmsford for more information.

The Braintree Town vs Lincoln City match is live on Premier Sports TV so visit www.premiersports.tv for subscription details. Those wishing to take part in the ‘Ground Hop’ can find more details at www.bluesqfootball.com and you can follow Blue Square’s expert Alan Alger on Twitter @AlanBlueSquare.