SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
Non-League clubs are being invited to take part in the second season of Marathonbet’s Non-League Challenge, the competition that saw Wealdstone FC scoop a considerable £10,000 last season. 
The challenge, which is now open to a whopping 140 clubs from tiers five to seven, tasks teams with performing the best goal celebration in lower-league football. The inaugural campaign has been shortlisted for the SBC Awards Marketing Campaign of the Year award.
The winning team will bag themselves a massive cash prize and the opportunity to play a team of Premier League Legends at their home ground – with the majority of gate receipts going their way.
To help kick-start Marathonbet’s second-ever #NonLeagueChallenge (NLC), the company is also giving away £3,500 in prizes to football clubs and with fans also able to take part in this massive social media competition.
One club will pocket a cool £2,000 cash prize simply for gathering the most retweets during the week of 7-14th November and an individual fan selected at random will scoop £1,000.
A club, which will also be selected at random, will be given £500 worth of top-notch camera equipment to help film their goal celebration entry.
Tom Zanelli, Creator of the Non-League Challenge, is calling on clubs from as low as the seventh tier of English football, up to the National League, to get involved with this year’s competition. He said: “The concept is simple but full of fun. All teams have to do is come up with a brilliant idea for a goal celebration and pull it off after scoring in a competitive match.
“Make sure it’s caught on camera and then send it to the Marathonbet team. The five best celebrations will be shortlisted for a public vote and the winner will be given a massive £10,000 prize and a home match against a team of ex-Premier League Legends that’s sure to get your stadium packed-out.”
Clubs can do whatever they want with the cash prize. Last season’s NLC winners, Wealdstone FC, spent the money on improving its stadium and the purchase of a new player.
The London club surged to victory thanks to the Wealdstone Raider’s hilarious Dentist Chair celebration – inspired by Paul Gascoigne’s original effort at Euro 1996.
Zanelli added: “We recognise there’s life outside the world’s top football leagues, especially in non-league football in England. That’s why we’re keen to champion all the great clubs and fans that make non-league football in this country what it is today.
“All 140 clubs who are eligible to enter the NLC will shortly receive a welcome pack in the post and details on how to take part. In the meantime, follow @NonLgeChallenge on Twitter to keep up to date on all the news and exclusive content.”
