Rod Stewart pays £10 to watch non-league Bishop's Stortford in crowd of 322

Sir Rod Stewart swapped the stadium spotlight for a terrace of 322 on Saturday, paying £10 — the over-60s rate — to watch non-league Bishop’s Stortford host Alvechurch in the Pitching In Southern League Premier Central.

The rock legend was there to support Stortford right back Joe Nardelli, one of son Alastair’s closest friends. The visit did not deliver the result he was hoping for: Alvechurch won 3-0, and when they netted their second goal, their travelling supporters — standing directly in front of Stewart — cheekily broke into his classic hit “We Are Sailing.”

Bishop’s Stortford chairman Ian Kettridge welcomed the cameo appearance. “It was great for Rod to come and watch us,” he said. “We were just sorry we couldn’t give him a home win. He was really friendly and took time to speak to fans from both teams and joined in the banter. He’s very welcome any time here at the Grundon Community Stadium.”

Stewart chatted with supporters from both sides, posed for selfies and shook hands with club owner Steve Smith. Alvechurch fan Terry Bennett, 47, from Birmingham, said: “I shook his hand and congratulated him on beating cancer. He was very friendly. I told him I had oesophagus cancer and he asked me about that. What a great surprise to see a music legend at a non-league game. It really made our day.”

Before kick-off, players and supporters observed a minute’s applause for Stortford fan Dave Ewart, who had passed away suddenly earlier in the week. Stewart, a passionate Scotland and Celtic supporter, left shortly before the final whistle to return to his nearby home.

Bishop’s Stortford, formed in 1874, are one of England’s oldest clubs. They marked their 150th anniversary in 2024 with a reunion of former players, including Dwight Gayle, who later played for Newcastle United and Crystal Palace. The club remains the last holders of the FA Amateur Cup, won at Wembley in 1974, and also lifted the FA Trophy at Wembley in 1981 with former Arsenal striker John Radford in the side. The ground itself straddles a county boundary, meaning a player can score at the Essex end in the first half and the Hertfordshire end in the second.