Ben Mapp

Freelance Football Writer

United Kingdom

I’m a freelance football writer specialising in non-league and lower-league football, with my work including features, analysis, interviews and match reporting.

I cover Billericay Town for The Non-League Paper and the Essex Echo, while also contributing programme features at the club, where I am a long-time supporter and season ticket holder.

My work has appeared in When Saturday Comes and across a range of publications and platforms, including Parks to Pitches, The Lower Tiers, Pure Football and Sporting Solutions. I also run my own Substack covering non-league football features, analysis and opinion pieces.

I hold an MA in Global Sports Journalism from the University of East London (2025). Alongside football, I also have a strong interest in cricket and Formula One.

Email: [email protected]

Substack: benmappjournalism.substack.com

Portfolio

Featured Work

The Student Sport Company
11/11/2025
Flag Football - The Newest Chapter for UK University Sport

Flag football, one of the fastest-growing sports in the world, is officially joining the BUCS programme for the 2025/26 season. Fuelled by surging student interest and global momentum, Flag Football has officially become part of the BUCS programme from the 2025/26 season, further expanding the UK university sporting landscape.

Pure Football
09/02/2025
Ishe Samuels-Smith: The Most Bizarre Transfer of the Summer?

Transfer windows are rarely short on drama, but even by football's chaotic standards, Ishe Samuels-Smith's summer has been a rollercoaster. The 19-year-old left-back looked set for a fresh start in France with Strasbourg, only to return to Chelsea just over a month later, and then immediately head out

The Lower Tiers
03/16/2025
Leyton Orient - Back Where They Belong - The Lower Tiers

Football fans seek success, live for hope, and endure the bad times believing that one day, better days will come. However, the story of Leyton Orient over the past decade shows how the work of one individual can diminish all hope whatsoever - and almost kill an entire football club.

Interviews & Features

The Non-League Football Paper
08/30/2025
THIS IS OUR TUDOR TIME - The Non-League Football Paper

Dowrich backs a Hemel charge By Ben Mapp ONES TO WATCH: Darion Dowrich says Hemel Hempstead Town can be a surprise package this season PICTURE: Jemma Sear HEMEL Hempstead Town's hopes of climbing the National League South table this season rest on manager Lee Allinson's summer squad re-build - and new full-back Darion Dowrich is [...]

Analysis & Long Reads

The Student Sport Company
01/21/2026
Inside the Second Half of the 2025/26 BUCS Season

As UK university sport returns to campuses today, attention turns to the business end of the 2025/26 BUCS season. With more than 70 events still to come over the next six months, UK university sport stands as one of the most extensive and competitive student sport programmes anywhere in the world.

UK University Showcase
12/05/2025
Why Loughborough University? - UK University Showcase

Why Loughborough University Was Chosen to Host the 2026 Showcase By Ben Mapp | Published: 5th December 2025 Loughborough University has been recognised as the UK's number one university for sport for more than 40 years.

Match Reports

The Non-League Football Paper
04/18/2026
Billericay set firm after 10th win in row - The Non-League Football Paper

BILLERICAY TN 2 WHITEHAWK 0 By Ben Mapp JON BENTON scored on his return to the starting XI to set Billericay on their way to a tenth straight league win. The Blues started well, with Frankie Merrifield flashing a header wide before the striker dragged an effort past an upright soon after.

The Non-League Football Paper
03/15/2026
SCOPES: TOWN'S THIS IS MINDSET - The Non-League Football Paper

By Ben Mapp BILLERICAY T 3 Cerulli 51 pen, 59, Collis 77 pen AVELEY 2 Aromolaran 9, Peters 40 pen SPOT ON: Teddy Collis scores Billericay's winning penalty, and, inset, Keon Lewis-Burgess and Callum Watts celebrate their 3-2victory PICTURE: Nicky Hayes DANNY CSCOPES praised the character of his Billericay Side after they fought back from [...]

The Non-League Football Paper
03/01/2026
LONG SHOT FIRES RICAY TO GLORY! - The Non-League Football Paper

By Ben Mapp BILLERICAY TN 1 Long 20 FOLKESTONE IN 0 FINISH: Elliot Long fires in for Billericay Town to take the lead PICTURE: Nicky Hayes BILLERICAY Town boss Danny Scopes said "it felt really good" to topple league leaders Folkestone Invicta as Elliot Long's first-half goal saw the Blues to victory.

The Non-League Football Paper
09/13/2025
SCOPES' RICAY OFF TO A FLYER - The Non-League Football Paper

BILLERICAY TOWN 3 BERKHAMSTED 0 By Ben Mapp FRANKIE MERRIFIELD'S second goal in a week capped off a commanding Billericay Town display as they swept aside Berkhamsted. It was a landmark afternoon for new Blues boss Danny Scopes, who took charge at New Lodge for the first time, and his side began on the front [...]