Non-league football fans are turning away from traditional pies and burgers in favour of jerk chicken, plantain, stone-baked pizza, and Vietnamese street food. Clubs such as Tooting and Mitcham, AFC Wimbledon, and AFC Croydon Athletic are among those catering to more adventurous palates.
At Tooting and Mitcham, supporters can buy boneless jerk chicken with plantain and rice for £13 from The Shak Caribbean food shop. Croydon Athletic offers jerk chicken with waffles and coleslaw for £10, while Cray Wanderers serves jerk chicken burgers for £7. AFC Wimbledon provides Vietnamese street food, stone-baked pizza, and skin-on fries.
Fans have welcomed the change. Sheryl Young, 53, a supporter of AFC Wimbledon, said: 'I love the food offering at non-league football. Not everyone wants a stodgy pie or burger – I certainly don’t.' George Czubak, 38, a Croydon Athletic fan, added: 'It’s lovely to try something new and a bit healthier while watching some great football.'
However, some traditionalists fear the loss of classic matchday snacks. One sceptical fan wrote online: 'Goal gets scored; those chicken wings go flying.' Another said: 'Christ, with the temperatures out ‘ere at the minute that’s getting cold in about two seconds.' A third added: 'Wtf who eats this in the stadium?'
Premier League clubs are also expanding their offerings, often as part of hospitality packages. Newcastle United offers a Middle Eastern lamb main in its £650 Rooftops package, while Aston Villa’s Lower Grounds includes chips with curry sauce and loaded nachos for £190. Liverpool serves Cajun chicken burgers in its £299 Anfield Code VIP tickets, and Burnley’s Jimmy McIlroy suite features a street food buffet with chicken and fish hotdogs for £120.
