There's no doubt watching live Premier League football is an expensive game, but a viral tweet bemoaning West Ham United's £7.60 pints sent fans into meltdown.

But it doesn't have to be this way. Non-league football is a much more affordable option, so ahead of a bumper bank holiday weekend of fixtures across Kent, we sent reporters Rhys Griffiths and Sean McPolin off for an evening on the terraces...

Rhys Griffiths: Folkestone Invicta vs Hastings United

Football fans do love a moan, it's true. Be it VAR, mega-bucks contracts for mediocre players, or the threat of a European Super League, as a breed we are seemingly never happier than when given grounds for a grumble.

So it is unsurprising that the price of a pint at West Ham's London Stadium set the internet ablaze at the start of the season.

For Hammers fans it's a chance to lob angry accusations of price-gouging at the stadium operators. For rivals it's a perfect opportunity to take the mickey over the other lot being ripped off.

But for those of us who get their kicks outside the rarefied heights of the top flight, it's a chance to smugly reflect on how good we have it.

I've been going to games at Folkestone Invicta's Cheriton Road ground (known currently, for contractual reasons, as the BuildKent Stadium) for almost 30 years.

When I first went in 1995 I was delighted just to be watching live football, enthralled by seeing the game and the players up close.

Some things may have changed over the years, but one thing that remains the same is the buzz I get walking towards the ground, full of anticipation of what awaits, knowing that today's match could be 'the one' you will be reminiscing about in the pub years from now.

Entering the ground (£12 for adults, £3 for kids) it appears, if replica shirts are anything to go by, that visitors Hastings United are better represented among the crowd with around an hour to go before kick-off.

A number of our guests from the Sussex coast are already taking their places in the queue which snakes away from the window of the club's kitchen, where the Just The Ticket team are frantically taking orders and yelling out numbers for those waiting to collect their food.

You may accuse me of home-town bias, but I believe they are about to tuck in to some of the very best football grub you'll find at any level of the game.

Like a slightly nervous centre-half in the opening minutes of a cup final, I like to play it safe and opt for the tried-and-tested cheeseburger, which sets me back £6 and is worth every penny.

The beef, which is sourced from local butchers, is succulent, the onions caramelised perfectly, and I even appear to have blagged some bonus bacon thanks to the organised chaos taking place over the grill.

It's an absolute delight. And worlds away from the traditional image of terrible football food: sad-looking grey patties, cold cheese slices unmelted, stale bread that crumbles in your hand.

The food being served at Invicta is excellent, but there are still some people who bemoan the prices.

It is true that you can find a cheaper burger at some Premier League grounds. But when you are feeding crowds numbering in the tens of thousands it's inevitable that mass-catering methods are required, and in my experience this inevitably leads to a decline in quality.

Burger polished off in a time that would likely concern medical experts, it's time for a pint. Or, in my case, 440ml from a can. A tip for those visiting the BuildKent, pop into the bar above the changing rooms and you'll find shorter waits and cheaper prices. If you see me there, you can buy me a Guinness to thank me.

The mood before the game - Folkestone's first home league fixture of the season - is buoyant. Invicta fans are excited by the return of forward Ira Jackson Jr, who has signed on for a second spell at the club after leaving for stint in the Football League with Grimsby Town.

Sadly for the crowd of 883 who turned out to see it, the match ends in a goalless draw. Hastings, who were promoted to the Isthmian Premier Division last season, look well organised and should have more than enough to compete at this level.

Despite the lack of fireworks on the pitch, behind the goal we're all in full voice, our drummer Tom bashing out a steady beat in between swigs of his beer.

Word gets around that a group of Canadian squaddies, recently stationed at the town's barracks, are in attendance. Apparently they've snapped up just about every piece of club merchandise in the rather ramshackle but much-loved club shop.

We invite them to come and join us around the drum, their state of increasing inebriation making them a useful addition to the effort of keeping the second-half singing going right until the final whistle.

By all accounts they've greatly enjoyed their first taste of live 'soccer' and after the game we all wind our way back to the Nailbox pub for some post-match refreshment.

It's been a night to capture the real joy of watching football at this level. The quality on the pitch may not be up there with what you watch on TV every week in the Premier League, but if you want great fun, a sense of community, and a few pints with your mates on the terraces, why would you be anywhere else?

Sean McPolin: Maidstone United vs Dorking Wanderers

There's not much better in the world than football under the lights, but add a pint and a burger into that and you've got perfection.

Well, that's usually the case unless you're the fan of a Premier League club charging loyal fans outrageous prices.

West Ham were rightly slammed recently after it was revealed supporters would have to fork out £7.60 for a pint of Heineken or Moretti, while Arsenal rob fans of £18.05 for a burger and chips.

Now, it's no secret that the country's biggest league has been corrupted by money and greed - but how do Kent's non-league sides compare?

I took a trip down to the Gallagher Stadium, home of National League South champions Maidstone United, to find out.

The Stones faced Dorking Wanderers at home in their third game of the season, having picked up four points from their first two games.

Arriving at the gates at 6.45pm, an hour before kick-off, things weren't off to a good start when I was told there were no scanners for my e-ticket.

A 15-minute wait later, I was finally let into stadium, where a sell-out crowd of 4,175 had watched the final game of the season in May, happy to fork out £19 for the pleasure (£9 under-16s, £3 under-11s).

Clearly earlier than most Stones fans, I was able to dodge queues and grab my burger and beer fairly quickly.

In fairness to the London clubs which charge extortionate prices, it was their most expensive products which went viral and were slammed, so I went for the same at the Gallagher.

A refreshing pint of Singha - Thailand's first lager - set me back £5, while Kent's own Spitfire lager cost £4.50.

Costing at least £2.50 less than the London Stadium lager, it was good to see people gathering round with their pints and not moaning about the prices.

Although, the experience would've been made better if it wasn't for the National League's odd rules about drinking alcohol within view of the pitch - which meant drinkers were forced inside the bar or behind stands.

After something more filling, I was met with a basic - but still long - list of options on what to have for food.

Between a pie, burgers and hot dog, I went for the bacon double cheeseburger - a colossal combination of soft white bun, two beef patties, bacon and cheese - which cost £8.

If I wanted to add chips it would've been £10 - a whole £8.05 (or almost two pints of lager) cheaper than Arsenal's fans are paying.

The food wasn't gourmet, but it's better than you'd expect from a burger shack at the football, and I was eyeing up my pal's £5 bacon and sausage baguette, which looked great value for money.

Full of food and beer, I settled down with the other Stones fans to watch on as individual errors led to a 4-2 defeat.

But it wasn't about the result, it was about the experience - put on by a club that doesn't rip its fans off.

Supporters put their hard-earned money into supporting the club and expect a reasonably priced pint and burger in return.

It's not much to ask, even if you are a Gooner or a Hammers fan.

Some places where you can watch non-league football in Kent this weekend

Today, 3pm

Bromley vs Scunthorpe United

Dartford vs Worthing

Dover Athletic vs Hemel Hempstead Town

Herne Bay vs Kingstonian (at Ramsgate)

Maidstone United vs Torquay United

Monday, 3pm

Cray Wanderers vs Margate

Ebbsfleet United vs Dover Athletic

Folkestone Invicta vs Herne Bay

Tonbridge Angels vs St Albans City