City boss Glenn Pennyfather has personally invited regular Premier and Football League fans to see their local team take on Dover Athletic on Non-League Day at Melbourne this Saturday and expressed: “semi-professional football definitely isn’t the soft touch some people think it is.”

The Blue Square Bet South fixture, which kicks-off at the slightly later time of 3:30pm to fit-in with a three-match ‘Ground Hop’ involving Bishop’s Stortford and Braintree Town, pits two of the fancied promotion contenders against each other in a crucial early meeting. And, with no top-flight matches due to an international weekend, Pennyfather thinks fans twiddling their thumbs should visit and enjoy grassroots football.

“Many professional players find the semi-professional environment very difficult when they drop down as the standard at this level has risen considerably since I’ve been involved,” he explained. “It’s not the easy ride some might think it is and you have to work as hard as ever to be a success. There are many players who combine playing with another job and get a bad press for the money they’re on.”

And Glenn’s tributes weren’t extended to just players, adding: “That goes for managers, coaches and staff as well. Sometimes it’s a 6:00am start right through until the evening so I take my hat off to anyone who puts their heart and soul into non-league. I really enjoy the family atmosphere and the tightness of the relationship between players and fans which means everyone is approachable. It’s a vital and unique ingredient.”

Glenn is in the position that there is currently “no need to rush” any of his previously injured players back into contention against Dover, with his only short-term doubt for Saturday being defender Adam Tann, who requires a fitness test. A midweek Reserve Team game enabled him to give match minutes to several of his squad, while Anthony Cook has now resumed full training after months on the sidelines.

City’s fellow title hopefuls from Kent started their campaign superbly, with consecutive 4-0 victories at home to Dorchester Town then at Thurrock. They’re now on a run of four winless games - although that includes three draws - and Pennyfather believes the two sides on display need to live-up to their pre-season billing.

He said: “That seems to be what others are saying - although both of us have got to make that a reality. We’ve both had OK starts to the season and we’re two sides who like to play football. We’ll be keen to get the ball rolling with our first win at Melbourne. Having watched the DVDs of our games so far I have a few ideas and have pinpointed some areas where we can improve.”

Non-League Day is a celebration of the semi-pro and amateur game, and a chance for fans of bigger clubs to experience football at a level they may be otherwise unfamiliar with. Coinciding with a blank weekend in the Premier League and Championship due to international matches - the initiative first took place last September, proving a huge success. A supporting website has been created at www.nonleagueday.co.uk.

To mark the occasion, bookmakers Blue Square have made it possible for fans to attend a match in all three Conference divisions this Saturday. The triumvirate kicks-off at 12:30pm with the North clash between Stortford and Boston United, then supporters can make the short trip to Melbourne at 3:30pm in the South and end their day at newly-promoted Braintree, who host Lincoln City in the Premier at 7:00pm.

Free for Under 11s! Bring your children along to the Clarets’ home games as any Under 11s can get in to watch their local club from the terraces for free! What’s more, the admission prices for adults (£11.50), concessions (£7.50) and children aged 12 to 16 (£3.50) represent a mere fraction of the cost of a Premier or Football League ticket. A seat in the Main Stand can also be secured for an extra pound.

Dover Athletic: Address: The Crabble Athletic Ground, Lewisham Road, River, Dover, Kent, CT17 0JB. Phone: (01304) 822373. Position Last Season: 7th in the Blue Square Bet South. Miles from Chelmsford: 88. Approx. Journey Time: 2 hours. Nickname: The Whites. Team Colours: White & Black. Ground Capacity: 6,500 (4,900 Covered Terracing). Seats: 1,000. Official Website: www.doverathletic.com.

Weather Forecast: Sunny. 24 degrees Celsius. Wind 10 mph.

Blue Square Bet Odds: Chelmsford City 8/5, Draw 23/10, Dover Athletic 7/5. Do you fancy a flutter? Then visit www.bluesq.com/chelmsford where you can register to earn money for the Clarets when you open a brand new Blue Square account.

Follow the Clarets Online! Stay up-to-date with all the latest Clarets news, results, offers and information through the club’s brand new official Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/OfficialClarets or search for, and follow, ‘OfficialClarets’. This new service runs in conjunction with the existing unofficial feed from ‘CCFCUpdates’ which is also a useful source of updated scores and match details.

Build-Up to Kick-Off in Style! Three-course meals can be booked before every home game, with a two-course service and soft drink provided in place of a starter for midweek matches. The package includes express gate entry, access to the Don Walker Suite bar, reserved Main Stand seats, half time refreshments, a programme and the chance to meet the players after the game. The price is £35 per person, with a discount for 10 or more guests. Drinks at the bar are not included. To book, contact Bev on (01245) 290959.

Supporters Club Man of the Match: For home games, all City supporters can vote for their Man of the Match. The winner will be announced in the Don Walker Lounge where Supporters Club members are invited to congratulate the winner after the game. To register your vote, simply text the name of your chosen player, to (07570) 244929 near the end of the game or up to 5:30pm, when the winner will be announced.