Review: View from the Allotmend End

The View from the Allotment End is an independent fanzine created by the supporters of North Ferriby FC, a team competing in the Northern Premier League Division One East.

The club was founded by fans of North Ferriby United, which was dissolved in 2019 due to financial problems.

The fanzine is not just a matchday programme for the club but rather a magazine with rich content, extending beyond the city and the East Riding of Yorkshire.

View from the Allotment End first launched at the beginning of the 2016/17 season, when North Ferriby United was at its footballing peak, competing in the fifth tier of English football, the National League.

The fanzine was created by Darren Norton with the support of Dom Taylor. In addition to covering club-related topics such as its rich history, the magazine includes interviews, football stories beyond the UK, and cultural topics.

I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the magazine is also sent outside the UK—which is rare, as most fanzines require you to be on the "Island" to get your hands on one.

When I received three issues of VFTAE, I started flipping through them and noticed the beautiful writing and rich content.

In issue 26, I really enjoyed the history of the club in the 1980s, featuring black-and-white photographs and concise writing that explains each year in a few words—only the disco music was missing! Also, the interview with Barry Crossan, editor of the Irish Shebourne fanzine, Red Inc., was very interesting. What stood out was the groundhopping coverage of German stadiums, particularly the Dynamo Berlin vs. Lichtenberg 47 match for the Berlin local cup. Throughout its 55 pages, the magazine offers pure football magic.

In issue 24, there are articles about the club, as well as groundhopping in Scotland and Clapton CFC! The 45 pages of this issue alternate between club history, interviews, and general-interest articles.

In issue 19, the opening pages feature an article by Helen Jones, an amateur birdwatcher, drawing an unexpected connection between her hobby and football! Additionally, Rob King's article on the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 held in England is informative and well-written. Finally, the article about the historic Scottish club Third Lanark brings back wonderful memories.

What also left a very positive impression is that the profits from VFTAE go to charitable causes, including local youth football.

For me is five stars!