Guest of honour Armfield watched Kirkham dramatically carve a crucial one-goal advantage at 3-2 in the first leg of the FA Vase semi-final after trailing 2-0 to East Anglian visitors Needham Market. The second leg is next Saturday.
Armfield, who was introduced to the teams before kick-off, said he had enjoyed watching Kirkham battle it out for a place in the final on May 11.
Continuing his recovery from throat cancer, the BBC radio soccer pundit said: "It's not normal that I get a free Easter weekend.
"I was pleased to come here for two reasons. It's a chance to really get my feet back on the floor and also to realise what the basis of football is all about."
He explained that the Vase was introduced to give footballers at the lower end of the ladder an opportunity to experience great deeds.
"We've seen that today. The result was about right – but considering the way Needham Market started, I thought it would be sorted by half-time and we'd have a cup of tea and be on our way home.