Toms 92 Club.

      

I first started the 92 Club in August 2000. It was something I had wanted to do for some time. I had in my lifetime done somewhere between, lets say 30 to 40 football grounds, mostly supporting Tottenham and Brentford, the latter because I lived near by as a child and I used to go with schoolmates, and Tottenham as when young my mother was a widow, we moved out to west London (Bedfont near Heathrow airport) from the inner city. Mum had a few jobs a day to make ends meet for the four of us (I had two older sisters Linda and Jean) so after school I was looked after by a family those father was Tottenham mad. Before we could leave the room to have the evening meal each of us (and this was two boys and two girls from the family) would have to answer questions on the Spurs. This was just before Tottenham won the double, so it was very good times too start supporting them.

    As a child (I was born in 1952) in the fifties and sixties there was none of the trappings that there is today, if a person was into football that was it. We used to play after school every night, at playtimes, at weekends and holidays, in fact even when I was on my own I would be kicking a ball. I was lucky and went to a lot of games and of course would watch as many as possible on TV, which was not much in those far off days before SKY TV.

    I got divorced in the mid nineties, so after nearly 25 years and bringing up 4 children I decided to try and do something which I had always wanted to do. Being football mad the 92 Club was a natural thing to do. So, I said that I would forget the ones I had done and start again, and go around them all. I brought the book from the club to keep the records, so off I went. Thinking nine or ten a year and it would all be over in, oh let’s say, what nine or ten years.

   I had made up my mind to do it, but had not started when I went for a long weekend to Blackpool with three mates from my local pub. The idea to start with was for us all to go to see the local team, but having started drinking early in the day come the time of the match they did not want to do it, so I went on my own.

As I went to the grounds sometime ago now any comments I make which are from now will be in bold italics like this. 

1. Bloomfield Road Blackpool. Saturday 26^th August 2000. 3-o/clock kick Division 3 Blackpool 2 Leyton Orient 2. 4,816.                                                                                                                   

   

As I said I had been drinking most of the morning, and was very disappointed when the others said they would not come as I had been looking forward to it. In my half-cut state I set off in search of the ground, armed with fish and chips, as you do when at the seaside. I think it was because of the before mentioned alcohol bouncing around in side me that made go into the club shop and buy their home shirt, and even wear it for the game, of course after I had been in the supporter’s club bar to top up with the said beer.

    Inside the ground was very poor, with only two side’s open, the others being rotting old wooden stands; I believe they are doing it up so it would be nice to go back some day. It was in fact a good game with good goals scored; I would have said Orient where just about the better side. I did enjoy standing with the Blackpool fans before leaving early and re-joining my mates in the pub. £10 to get in to stand.

I now know (December 2021) the whole ground has been redeveloped, but I have not been back yet.

                                                                          

2. The County Ground Swindon. Sunday 8^th October 2000 2-o/clock kick off. Division 2. Swindon 2 Oxford 1. 7,975.                    

This I suppose was the first game I planned to go to, if you call making your mind up to go just over two hours before after seeing the fixture in the Sunday newspaper, then flying down the M4 (not exceeding the speed limit of course) that was because I did think it was a 3/00-clock kick off to start with then released it was 2/00pm.

     Not only was it a local derby but also a relegation clash. There was a lot of passion from fans and players a like, when you don’t care who wins it is great to sit back and watch the fans perform, and that they did.

     Good ground, all seater, catering was poor. Over all it was a good game, my idea of buying a home shirt at every game did not last long as that could end up costing a lot of money, and where would a person put them all? So, I made do with a program instead. £15 to per seat.

3. The Majejski Stadium Reading. Saturday 14^th October 2000 3-o/clock kick off Nationwide Division 2. Reading 2 Wycombe Wonderers 0. 15,000.                 

An overcast and showery day, just right for football. Another derby game, and just fifteen minutes down the M4 for me. On top of the fact they were two local teams it was 5^th playing 6^th just to add to the tension. A tight first half, but some good football played at times. Two well taken goals in the second half for Reading and a sending off for Wycombe My first sending off on the new 92 Club. A lovely ground, at the time almost brand new. Good value at £14 to sit. 

4. White Hart Lane Saturday 21^st October 2000 3-o/clock kick off. FA Carling Premiership. Tottenham 3 Derby 1. 34,483.

                                                                                

The fact that Spurs are my team adds up that I should put them on the list early on, if not the first, I’ am now a season ticket holder along with my daughter Jean, but was only a member then, going when we could. I have always liked the Lane and think it is a good ground, but it does need to be bigger.                

    It was all Spurs for the first 20 minutes in which time they scored but could not finish them off, a goal for Derby got them back in it, but a goal each side of half time sorted it out for Tottenham, the fact that my first wife came from Derby and the fact I lived there for 5 years made it fitting this should be my first Spurs one in the 92 Club, oh and the fact we beat them! £27 per seat.

                                                                                 

 5.  The Matchroom Stadium Leyton East London. Saturday 4^th November 2000. 3-o/clock kick off. Leyton Orient 2 Mansfield Town 1. 4,165 Nationwide Division 3.                                                                            

I had been in London that morning to a meeting regarding some charity work I was going to do over  Christmas time. I had looked in the paper to see who was playing in town then made my way over there about lunch time. It was £15 to get in not a bad ground and okay catering for a small club. 

    Orient deserved the win, but Mansfield got a goal back near the end to make a game of it. Bobby Mimms the ex Tottenham goalkeeper played for the away side and made about four very good saves. £15 per seat.

6. Priestfield Stadium Gillingham. Saturday 12^th November 2000 1-00 o/clock kick off. Gillingham 1 Nottingham Forest 3. 9,884 Nationwide Division 1.                                                                                  

This was a very good game with a lot of goalmouth action; both teams were near the top of the division at the time. It was Gillingham, who started the better, but Forest took the lead and never looked back from going 2-1 up, and they should have scored a lot more. Dave Beasant the ex Wimbledon goalkeeper still looked good at 41. Construction work was on going at the ground but it was starting to look ok, it still had one open standing end, for away fans of course. Big queues at the catering points, but I did manage to get a burger on the way out, it was ok but very dear at £2. £20 per seat.

 

7.   Pride Park Derby. Saturday 3^rd March 2001 3-00 o/clock kick off. Derby2 Tottenham 1. 29,410 Carling Premiership.                                                                              

This was Derby first season away from the Baseball Ground which I had been to many times from when I lived there, I used to go in the away end and support the other side, so long as it was not another London team. It was a nice ground, but most of the new ones look the same, apart from they are in different colours.

     Tottenham were very poor in the first half, but could have got a draw out of it in the end. My daughter and I went to my bother-in-laws Bert's pub at the other side of the city before the game and we all went over by taxi as the ground is a bit out of the way. £19 to sit.

8.  Anfield Liverpool. Saturday 24^th March 2001 3-00 o/clock kick off. 42,000 World Cup 2002 Qualifiers. England 2 Finland 1.                                                                              

Did not think much of the so-called great Anfield, the toilets were very small, catering poor, and they had run out of programs when we got there. But did enjoy the game very much. Finland played very well to start with and scored a goal after 15 minutes, all be it an og from Neville. But England came back well and got one back just before the break and got the winner early in the second half. Had a really good night out in Liverpool in one of the big pubs, I had taken an England flag with me so I got every one in the pub to sign it, even the DJ was calling out to people “to sign Tom’s flag.” Rip off at £42 per seat.

9. Old Trafford Manchester Sunday 8^th April 2001 1-30 kick off 63,541. FA Cup semi final Arsenal 2 Tottenham 1.                                                                                                                                                               

If I was not impressed with Anfield it was the other way around here, (I am by no means a fan of either team) I thought it was a really good ground. My daughter Jean and I got there early and spent a fair time wondering around before the game, which was enjoyable in its self. It was a long way for two London teams to go, and a lot more too come back on the motorway in the pouring rain after getting beaten by "that lot from down the road." But it was done for money for the FA, they don’t care if the fans are put out, and of course you could say the northern fans have to come down to Wembley. 

     I have to say it was that day that I realized how far we were behind "that lot" at the time, we were very poor and the truth is we were lucky too keep the score down. It was Glen Hoddle’s first game back in charge, before the game he and his assistant John Gorman (ex Spurs) walked on to the pitch and the PA played “The boys are back in town,” which I thought was a nice touch.  £25 per seat.

 

10. St James Park Newcastle Sunday 21^st October 2001 2-00 o/kick off. 50,593 Premiership Newcastle 0 Tottenham 2.                                                                               

   

If you are an away supporter at St James Park, take a iron lung with you to get up to the height that you are told to sit, and when you are up there please do not have vertigo, as it is so far up you would not believe, and no lift!

     A very good win for Tottenham, they played some good football. Good ground (apart from being so high up) £26 to get in, catering ok but very dear, but also very wet day, and not only a long way up in the stands but also a long way up North, as far as one could go to a league ground. 

     I was up that way staying at friends for the weekend and we went to the Metrocentre in the morning and had lunch there. The first phase opened in 1986. It has over 300 shops which occupy over 2,000,000 sq ft.

 

11. Adams Park Wycombe. Saturday 27^th October 2001 3-00 o/clock kick-off. 7,127 Nationwide Division 2 Wycombe Wanders 1 Swindon 1.

Another local derby, some nice football played. £17 to get in, nice little ground out in the country. I parked miles away and followed some home fans to the ground though some woods and down a step slop in the trees which was really wet from the rain, came close to breaking my neck. Catering ok, Neil  Ruddock the ex-Spurs player was captain for Swindon.  Another local one for me. Not a bad game.

12.  Memorial Stadium Bristol. Sunday 8^th October 2001 2-15 kick-off. 6,889 Nationwide Division 3 Bristol Rovers 1 Plymouth Argyle 2.

Very poor ground, the stand I was in was like a makeshift tent, and how rude were the people? Gerry Francis the old Spurs boss was in charge of Rovers. As results go there was not much in it, but Plymouth were far the better team and should have won by far more. Had a tea and pie, which was poor, saying all that I believe they were between grounds and this was meant to be temporary. £14-50p for a seat in the tent. 

13. Griffin Park Brentford. Saturday 3^rd November 2201. 3-00 kick-off 7,605 Nationwide Division 2. Brentford 2 Blackpool 0.

Always enjoy going back to Brentford, it really has not changed that much since I was a kid, and is looked upon as a family club. Classed as the only ground in the country as having a pub on each corner, so as this was an important day (doing the 92 club) it would have been rude not to have a pint in each before the game.

    Blackpool was far the better team in the first half, but the Bee’s took over in the second to win it, their first goal was very good. Catering was dear and poor, but was a good day out. £15.

Brentford are now in a new ground, near Kew Bridge (January 2022) I have yet to go there.

14. The New Den Millwall Saturday 24^th November 2001. 3-00 kick-off 15,214.  Nationwide Division 1. Millwall 2 Gillingham 2.                                   

Good game, at times some very good football played. A nice ground, on the new side. I somehow got in with the away fans, but everything was ok. £15 to sit, catering was all right. Gillingham brought a lot of support with them. 

     My Dad was a Millwall fan, so from that point I was pleased to go there. Police videoed everyone coming off the train. When I was a kid we went to see Brentford at home to Millwall in the cup, their fans were behind us (fans were not separated in those days) at one end and someone threw a hand grenade on to the pitch, it ended up not to be real, but the grounds man did not know that as he went running off with it in a bucket of sand. 

15. Bootham Crescent York. Saturday 15^th December 2001 kick-off 3-00 2,082. Nationwide Division 3 York City 1 Cheltenham 2.

A very wet and cold day just a week before Christmas. I had been in York with a friend shopping; so, what more do you do in a new town? See who is playing at home of course. Went into the supporter’s club and program shop before the game and had a chat with the locals, all very friendly.

     £12 to sit in the main stand. York was going though a bad spell and both teams were near the bottom of the division. The passion of the home fans was there for all to see as their team lost. Cheltenham fans (less than 100) were in the open end and must have been soaked; many of them were in fancy dress and seemed to enjoy their selves, as did I. 

16.  Layer Road Colchester Saturday 2^nd February 2002 kick 3-00 3,657 Nationwide Division 2. Colchester 1 Brentford 1.

I drove up to Colchester for this game then spent the night in a hotel just outside Ipswich, then went on to see Norwich the next day, after spending the morning walking along the sea front in Cromer. It was a nice day, for the time of year.

     It was a good match; a draw was about right, some fairly good football played at times. Very small old ground (I was told by some locals that a new ground was on the cards, another one to do) but only £13 to sit. Went in the supporter’s club before the game and sat in the main stand, locals all very friendly. 

17. Carrow Road Norwich. Sunday 3^rd February 2002 kick-off 2-15 17,348. Nationwide Division 1 Norwich 2 Sheffield Utd 1.

A good night in the hotel, (in the bar that is) then up early and on the road after breakfast to Cromer, then on to Norwich. One hell of a job parking, had to walk a long way to the ground, but did have time for a short walk around the city, which I enjoyed. 

    Not a very good game, but I suppose it did have its moments. Good ground, I have worked in these parts and had holidays around here and always find the people very nice, as I did this day. £20 to get in, good seat and a nice lounge to sit in before the game and at half time. 

18. London Road Peterborough. Saturday 16^th February 2002 kick-off 3-00. Nationwide Division 2. Peterborough 1 Brentford 1.

   

The Bee’s had most of the first half, but could only get the one goal. The Posh got well back in to it in the second half and should have won. £10 to stand. 

   The ground had one good grandstand, but the rest of the ground was very old. Went with my mate Graham a Brentford season ticket holder. Had a few pints in some local pubs but did not eat in the ground.

19.  Aston Gate Bristol. Saturday 2^nd March 2002 kick-off 3-00 11,421 Nationwide Division 2 Bristol City 0 Brentford 2.

Brentford played very well, in particular in the second half, scored 2 very good goals. £14 to sit which was okay, food was also okay and a very good all seater stadium. Maybe I have been unlucky but the times I have been to Bristol the people I have come into contact with on the whole I have found very rude. Maybe I will have go back there to prove myself wrong, sometime! 

    I went in a nearby pub before the game with Graham, and they were playing all the Wurzels songs. They are a Scrumpy and Western band from Somerset, England. They are best known for their number one hit, "The Combine Harvester and a number three hit, "I am a Cider Drinker."

20. Dean Court Bournemouth Saturday 9^th March 2002 kick-off 3-00 6,322 Nationwide Division 2 Bournemouth 5 Northampton Town 2.

My idea that day was to go to Wrexham to see Brentford, but as I was on the way it came on the car radio that it was snowing up north, and lots on the M6 the way I would have gone, so the paper came out and I headed south. The Brantford’s game did go ahead as it happens.

   Good game for the home team, but not the visitors as they had a player sent off early on. In the second half it was all the Cherries. A nice new ground with one end still to finish. £18 to sit, which was on the dear side as was the food, but it was ok. Good size car park outside the ground.

   When the home players came out they all had flowers which they gave to women in the crowd for Mothers Day, which was the next day. Jermain Defoe the West Ham player (later of Tottenham) who had been on loan at Dean Court and had set a league scoring record in his time there had come to the game as his team were not playing, they walked him around the pitch before the match, he got a hero’s welcome. 

21.  St Mary’s Stadium Southampton. Saturday 16^th March 2002 kick-off 3-00 30,012. Premiership Southampton 2 Leicester 2. 

A good game Leicester who were near the foot of the table were well worth the 2 goal lead they had and should have won but let it slip and conceded a last-minute penalty. Nice new ground (mind you most of them look the same just a different colour) but no parking, had to walk from the town centre, food ok. 

    Ian Walker the old Spurs keeper was in goal for the visitors, he took a lot of stick from the home fans who did not seem to like Tottenham because their boss, Glen Hoddle had recently gone to them as manager, I did not let on who I supported! £25 to sit.

22. Craven Cottage Fulham Sunday 24^th March 2002 kick off 4-00 15,885 Premiership Fulham 0 Tottenham 2.

A good win for Tottenham who were near the bottom of the table at the time. A good game of football, some nice stuff played at times. An old ground, I had a friend at school who was a Fulham supporter and we went there a fair few times in the 60’s, I don’t think the ground had change much in that time, they were meant to be doing it up this coming summer. 

    One of those times as a child we saw the boat race pass at the river end. £22 per seat. Walking around the ground before the game with my daughter Jean, we were filmed by Sky TV and we were in the ground just before kick off when my son Paul rang to say we had been on TV, it was also on BBC Match of the Day that night but we never saw it. As the guy was walking backwards to film us, we just could not stop laughing.

23. Riverside Middlesbrough Saturday 30^th March 2002 kick-off 5-35 31,258 Premiership Middlesbrough 1 Tottenham 1.

I took a friend with me, Kate, who had not been to a football match in over 30 years but she enjoyed it very much. It was an Easter Saturday night and the day was nice and warm (for the north east that is) but got cold later on. 

   A good game and both teams had chances to win it; Brough had a good penalty turned down. Nice new ground, and as the name says, it on the riverside, there was a ship moored there, which was lit up when we came out and looked really nice. Parked on some near-by wasteland. News at half time was that the Queen Mother had just died. Did not eat there. £24 to sit.

24. Loftus Road west London. Saturday 13^th April 2002 kick-off 3-00 18,340. Nationwide Division 2 Queens Park Rangers 0 Brentford 0.

First goal-less draw, I’ve seen since I restated this, so not bad out of 24 games. QPR were just about better in the first half but all Brentford in the second but could not score, a win would have given the Bees promotion. Not a bad ground but it is really the old one done up. Catering so-so. £15 to get in, nice sunny day. Went with my mate Graham.

25. Reebok Stadium Bolton. Saturday 20^th April 2002 kick off 3-00 25,817 Premiership Bolton 1 Tottenham 1.

New stadium, I really liked it. Some real thought had gone into this stadium, and it is far different from others I have seen. Very good parking for away supporters, catering ok, good value at £20. The ground is in a shopping complex, which has bars and restaurants, but the down side is they don’t let in away fans. Went with a friend, Sean, who is a Tottenham fan and lives nearby.

26. Ewood Park Blackburn. Sunday 6^th October 2002 kick-off 3-00 26,203. Premiership Blackburn 1 Tottenham 2.

Not a bad trip up there but there was a crash on the motorway coming back and it took hours and hours. Parked miles from the ground not knowing the area. Nice ground, it has been done up in recent years.      Not a bad game, Tottenham had the lead for a long time (6 minutes) then lost it 10 minutes into the second half, and it had a draw written all over so, I left a few minutes early to beat the crowd, and yes you have guessed it I was at the gate downstairs on the way out when I heard the roar from the Spurs fans, 89^th minute winner Jamie Redknapp. £23 to sit.

27. Fratten Park Portsmouth. Saturday 2^nd November 2002 kick-off 3-00. 18,695 Nationwide Division 1. Portsmouth 0 Leicester 2.

What a match this was, don’t know how the referee let it go ahead, it had been raining all morning, and never stopped during the game. I picked this one out of the paper a few weeks before; it was top and second in the table, the home team being in pole position. The weather added to the excitement of it all, it was like a throwback to years ago. 

    Leicester were well up for it and deserved the win. On the BBC radio phone in '606' all the Pompey fans rang up and said they were robbed and it should have been called off, which was sour grapes they lost and didn’t like it. 

   A very old ground, one not bad stand, the one I was in. Had a beer in a local pub before hand and parked along side the ground, enjoyed the day out? £18 per seat. 

 

28. Turf More Burnley. Wednesday 6^th November 2002 kick-off 7-45 13,798. Worthing Cup. Burnley 2 Tottenham 1.

I went up by coach from Tottenham, I picked it up at Toddingham Services on the M1 motorway, when we got there we got a police escort in and out of the town, which was good.

   It was all Spurs in the first 30 minutes and they scored, but Burnley made two changes that turned the game around they got two goals in the second half and then held on, Robbie Keane (a newish signing) came on as sub at half time and missed 4 very good chances. £16 per seat, did not eat there.

  It was a Wednesday night and I got home at 3/00 am on the Thursday morning, and had to be up no later than 6/00am the next morning for work, which I did manage, just!!!

 

29.  Stamford Bridge Chelsea west London. Saturday 1^st February 2003 kick-off 3-00. Premiership. Chelsea 1 Tottenham 1.

Sat in with the Chelsea fans as I went with a mate, Dave, so I could not make a noise when my team took the lead. Tottenham had the better of the first half, but the home team second. Been to the bridge a lot over the years but this was the first time since they rebuilt it, nice ground. Very costly at £45 to sit.

30. Walkers Stadium Leicester. Wednesday 3^rd June 2003 kick-off 8-00 International Friendly. England 2 Serbia and Montenegro 1.

I had been to the old ground Filbert Street ground a few times over the years, so it was good to see the new one. Nice ground but disappointed as it was just like a lot of the other new grounds. Very nice summers evening, and a lot of local families in the ground, which is good to see. Four of us went up in Grahams car and had a few drinks in pubs around the town, it was very rowdy in some and as I have felt at a lot of England games trouble was just around the corner, all fuelled by alcohol. I think there would be problems at most games if it was not for the fact that the so-called fans (yobs) know we would be kicked out of the big competitions. £20 per seat.

31. Highfield Road Coventry. Wednesday 24^th September 2003. 8-00 kick-off Carling Cup Coventry 0 Tottenham 3.

Went up on the coach again, it is handy and saves a lot of driving. Found the people around there very friendly, which I must say is nice. Old ground but I believe they are moving to a new one in the next few years, which means I will have to do them again. 

   This was a few days after Glen Hoddle had been sacked as manager, the Spurs crowd got well behind them. Spurs had the best of the first half and went in 2 - 0 up at the break, Robbie Keane got both but would not celebrate there as they were one of his old clubs. The home team played well in the second half but Spurs got the third though one of the subs Ricketts and that killed it off. £15 per seat.

32. The Hawthorns West Bromwich. Wednesday 25^th August 2004. Kick-off 7-45 Premiership West Bromwich 1 Tottenham 1. 

Been nearly a year for one reason or another since I went to an away game, so it was good to get started again. Went up on the coach, it was a lovely summers evening. I had not eaten since lunchtime and in my wisdom decide not to get anything when we stopped at the services but to eat when we got there. Best laid plans of mice and men and all that. There were no vans near where we got dropped off so I went in to eat, what a mistake that was, I queued for over half an hour for a rotten burger and a pint of warm beer, and they say about the beer down south! Not a bad game both teams had their chances to win it but I think a draw was fair in the end. £28 per seat.

33. Villa Park Birmingham. Monday 22^nd November 2004 8-00 kick-off. 42,000 Premiership. Aston Villa 1 Tottenham 0.

A cold Monday night in November in Birmingham, life can’t get much better than that can it? Oh, and of cause your team losing. That’s one of the pains of the new coverage of football, Monday night at home with beer and your feet up watching the match is great, travelling half way up the country getting home at 2 am, then up at 5/15 am for work is not so. Good ground, I went there 100 years ago, well a long time ago!  Not a good game and a draw would have been fair I think. Was not happy where I was sat right down the front, so low it made it a very bad view. Catering very poor, and no beer on sale. £23 per seat.

34. City of Manchester Stadium. Saturday 11^th December 2004 kick-off 3-00. 45,000. Premiership. Manchester City 0 Tottenham1.

Flew up for the weekend (Friday till Sunday) with Anne my then fiancée for her 50^th birthday had a really good time, went the Lowry Gallery then took in a show after a meal all in the same complex. We went to the ground early on the Saturday morning to have a look around the Commonwealth Games complex; it was really good, and a nice stadium, well set out. Tottenham had to hang on a bit in the first half but finished  it well, then was all over them in the second and should have got more, so all in all a good weekend. £25 per seat.

35. Selhurst Park London. Saturday 22^nd January 2005 kick-off 3-00. Premiership Crystal Palace 3 Tottenham 0.

   

What a crap ground, well at least where the away fans go, is really poor. Tottenham were not bad in the first half but could not score.  In the second half, I’ am not sure if Tottenham were very poor, or Palace very good, what ever, the away team got a thumbing, the home team did need the points as they were in the bottom 3 after just coming up at the start of the season. £35 per seat.

36. Victoria Ground Hartlepool. Tuesday 22^nd February 2005 7-45. 4,872. Hartlepool 3 Brentford 1. Coca Cola League 1.

Where do I start with this one? Who would book to go to the north east of England in February? Me and my mate Graham, when he asked me about it in September he did say later he didn’t think I would want to do it. It was snowing very heavy down south the night before, by telephone Graham and I decided to see what it was like when we were due to drive to Stanstead airport the next morning at 5 o’clock.       

    We got there ok and flew up to Newcastle and spent most of the day there before getting the train to Hartlepool. Graham had said to me when we got to Newcastle (it was snowing) “I bet we see a mad Geordie half naked,” low and be hold we had not been there 5 minutes when we pasted a bloke in just a tee shirt. The hotel we had booked for the night was near the Victoria ground but right on the coast next to the North Sea, oh boy was that wind cold coming off the sea.

    The match itself was a good game, but I don’t think I have ever been so cold at a match. It snowed for most of it but it was the wind most of all. I think it was a fair win for the 'monkey hangers;' the Bees had taken the lead but could not hang on to it. Good support for Brentford, nice little ground and the catering was ok, people were very friendly. I must say I really enjoyed the two days, oh the planes wings froze at the airport before we took off to come home. £15 per seat. 

37.  City Ground Nottingham. Wednesday 2^nd March 2005 Kick off 7-45. 28,591. FA Cup 5^th round replay. Nottingham Forest 0 Tottenham 3.

 

A week later but still cold in the Midlands, but not as bad as the week before, thank God. Went up by coach again, meet a young bother and sister on the way up (he was sat next to me) and went in the ground together, but were not sat together, but had a good chat. Had been to the City ground many, many years before, and saw Martin Chivers score a wonder goal, the ground had changed a lot in that time, but it looked ok, ate outside before going in.

    Bit of a dull first half, but all Tottenham in the second and run out fair 3-0 winners. There was a lot of good banter between the fans without getting too nasty. £20 per seat.

38. The Valley South London. Wednesday 16^th March 2005 kick off 7-45 26,892. Premiership. Charlton 2 Tottenham 0.

Not a bad ground overall apart from the fact the away end is a bit of a shed. Charlton took an early lead, Tottenham played well in the first half but could not get back in it, and the home team were the better in the second half and dissevered the win. Danny Murphy was going to join Tottenham the season before, but it broke down for what ever reason, the away fans jeered him all the way throughout the match so one just knew that when he stepped up to take a free kick just outside the box in the last few minutes it was going to go in, as it did! £30 per seat. 

39. St Andrews Birmingham. Saturday 2^nd April 2005. Kick off 3-00. 29,304. Premiership Birmingham City 1 Tottenham 1.

The away team did enough in the first half to have it won by the interval but could not score, overall a draw was fair. Not a bad ground but found the men’s toilets very poor, I say this as I meet Rick and Sarah who sit near us in the east stand at Tottenham, Sarah said 2 years before she had written to the home club after a visit to complain about them, she did not hear back but the women's had improved, she said, but not the men’s though. Looks as if one side of the ground has to be rebuilt to make it all the same. Went up on the coach again, a very nice spring day but a bit cold in the Midlands. £35 per seat.

40. Boundary Park Oldham. Sunday 9^th October 2005 Kick off 2-00. 5,089. Coca Cola League 1. Oldham 0 Brentford 1.

First away game of the season, went to Manchester for the weekend, and Old Trafford to see England play Austria in a World Cup group game (Wembley was still being rebuilt) with the lads, so Graham and I went to this game the next day. Very cold at the highest ground in the football league. Home team was well on top in the first half but Brentford got a penalty, which was saved, then they had a player sent off, a straight red. But they played well in the second half and the sub Fitzgerald got the winner, in all a good game and of course another off the list. £15 per seat.        

41. JJB Stadium Wigan. Saturday 26^th November 2005. Kick off 3-00 22,611. Premiership Wigan 1 Tottenham 2.

Went up on the coach with my daughter Jean (her first time to go away on the bus) it was the day after George Best died, all grounds had a minute’s silence before the game. What was really good about it was not only the silence but also the crowd as one clapped him, which to me showed how much he was appreciated as a world-class player. I am pleased to say I saw him a few times in the 60s and 70s.

     Not a bad game, Wigan who had come up at the start of the season had, had a very good start to the season and had been second at one point. Early goal, after seven minutes from Robbie Keane and then one after 77 for Edger David his first for Tottenham. McCulloch got one back very late that made for a last few nervous minutes. I think all in all the away side did deserved the win. New ground, which was nice but a bit of a crush out by the toilets etc but everyone was very friendly so with an away win, made for a good day out. They had a big bar at the away end with TV’s with football on, which was really good.  £20 per seat.  

42.Williamson Motors Stadium Darlington. Saturday 11^th February 2006. Kick off 3-00. 4,579 Div 2. Darlington 1 Bristol Rovers 1.

The game with Tottenham and Sunderland was meant to be on this day, but was put back another day for TV. So, with a cheap flight booked some time before (it cost more to park at Stanstead Airport for 4 days than to fly to Newcastle and back) I   decided to still go that day and take in the Darlington game. After booking into the hotel at Newcastle airport I got a train and went to the game. Nice new ground about 3 years old, pitch was very bad. A very poor first half but it did liven up in the second half, it must be said after the visitors had scored. 

    Enjoyed the day out and had some good chats with some locals which is one of the best things about doing the 92 Club. Booked the ticket the week before on the Internet and got £2 off good value at £13 per seat. The only problem for the day was when I got in a cab at Darlington station to go the ground my trousers split at the crutch, by time I got back to the hotel that night it was down to my knee, luckily, I had a long coat on and it was raining so it looked ok to have it done up all day.        

43.The Stadium of Light Sunderland. Sunday 12^th February 2006. Kick off 1-30. 34,700 Premiership Sunderland 1 Tottenham 1.

So, the next day I was off to Sunderland, another new ground. I did find everyone very friendly and through the day had some more good chats. Not a good game, Tottenham scored in the first half but let one in, in the last minute, which they have done about 5 times this season. Sunderland were bottom of the league at the time with 9 points before the game, and it did show, but with Tottenham being 4^th at the time, and should have beaten them. Spent most of the night out in Newcastle, which was very good before flying back on the Monday morning. £25 per seat. 

44. Liberty Stadium Swansea. Friday 17^th March 2006. Kick off 7-45. 13,508 Coca Cola League 1 Swansea 2 Brentford 1.                     

Drove to Swansea on the Friday afternoon with my mate Graham, stayed the night. Nice new ground but like a lot of them in the middle of nowhere. Another very cold night, but a very good game. Both teams were near the top of the table, the Bees had games in hand because of a very good cup run. 

   The first half was even with a goal each, but it was nearly all Swansea in the second half, mainly after a double substitution, a late goal to win it, which I think was fair. Friendly people at the ground, I will say no more than that. Wales were playing France in the rugby the next day, we had a lot of our friends from across the channel staying in our hotel, I always thought it a was a fallacy about Frenchmen smelling of garlic and their love for croissant for breakfast, I now take that all back. More good value at £13 to sit.  

45. Roots Hall Southend. Friday 14^th April 2006. Kick off 3-00 11,195. Coca Cola League 1. Southend 0 Gillingham 1. 

It would be rude not to have fish and chips when at the seaside, well that’s what I told myself as I walked to the ground on a sunny Good Friday afternoon eating a greasy dose of "heart attack!" Very big crowed for what you could call a "local derby" and the fact that Southend were top of the table and on the brink of going up. 

    Old but neat all seater stadium, but with such a large amount off people trying to get in police and stewards did not cope very well in my opinion. The home team were worth the lead at half time, but could not turn the pressure into goals. The visitors played a lot better in the second half to get the win. Again, with it being two teams from not far apart it is very funny to see the abuse they give each other. £16.50 per seat. 

46. The Kassam Stadium Oxford. Saturday 15^th April 2006. Kick off 3-00. 6,948 Coca Cola League Two. Oxford United 2 Barnet 0.

Well halfway there, ok I know I will have to do more than 92 to finish it with new grounds and teams coming in and out, but all the same it is a milestone. 

    An easy game for me to get to, 50 minutes from home so not bad. Nice new ground pity it has only got 3 sides. I think I saw the fastest goal since I restarted doing the 92 club, 41 seconds. Tcham N’Toya whose goal celebration was nearly as colourful as his name scored it, he also got the second. It was all the home team in the first half and should have got more, but the away team came back well in the second half but could not get anything out of it. 

    Don’t know if you could call it a derby game but there was good away support. Catering not bad but dear, as they all seem to be now. Went to the old Oxford ground many years ago I think that was in the town, where as this one like most of the new ones are miles away from the town, which is ok if you have transport. £18 per seat.

47. Sixfields Stadium Northampton. Tuesday 8^th August 2006. Kick off 7-45. 5,707 Coca Cola League One. Northampton 0 Brentford 1.   

       

First game of a new season, good to get an early start; the Premiership has yet to start. Went up with my mate Graham in the car, not to far for a mid week game. A newish ground, I’ am told about 6 years old but I must say it did look a bit run down for a stadium that new. Another in a retail park. Did not think much of the catering, had a chicken and mushroom pie which was made of rubber. 

  Saw my first woman assistant referee Miss A Rayner. Not a bad game, the Bees had some good chances in the first half but could not put them away, the home side were on top in the second half when the away team scored against the run of play it was a very bad mistake by the goalkeeper for the goal. £16 per seat.

48. Withdean Stadium Brighton. Saturday 12^th August 2006. Kick off 3-00. 6,745 Coca Cola League 1. Brighton 2 Brentford 2.

Poor ground, not a much better game. The ground was at an old athlete’s stadium, which was all in the open. Luckily the rain kept off only a few showers. Went down with Graham in the car again and walked from a pub car park for about 15 minutes. The home side were much the better side to start with and had 2 goals to show for it after 13 minutes, but the Bees got one back after 38 minutes and then got the draw with almost the last kick of the game deep into injury time. Brighton have had problems getting planning for a new ground so this was all temporary, so it may be another I’ll have to do again when they get a new one. The bunter between the two sets of supporters was very good, with Brighton having a very large gay community there are an easy target for abuse which they got, but when they went 2-0 up they were signing “2-0 to the Nancy boys 2-0.” £15 per seat.

     At just over the half way mark in "The 92 Club" and I had a little check of what has happened. I have seen 119 goals, no hat tricks up to now. One goalless draw I have seen Tottenham 20 times and Brentford 10. I have seen 4 goals in many games but until now 7 is the most in one game, with the most for one team being 5. Two of the teams have gone out of the league and two have changed grounds at this point with more to follow no doubt.

   At the end I will try and work out a rough idea of how many miles and ticket cost but make no mistake this is an enjoyable but an expensive hobby.

49. Kenilworth Road Stadium Luton. Saturday 19-08-2006. Kick-off 3-00. 7,727 Coca Cola Championship. Luton Town 2 City 2. Stoke.

Another old, poor ground in an old run-down part of the town. Catering was very poor, what there was of it two young girls behind two tables on the concourse. I don’t know why I’ am ever surprised regarding the cost at grounds but £4 for a coffee and a pie in even these grossly inflated days is a total rip off. Ok I will climb down from my soap box, and report on the match, which was in pouring rain, but it was a good game, 4 goals and some good play. I think it was just about fair result maybe the home team just shaded it. 

     I stood near the toilets having the above said refreshments when a chap came up to me who I had worked with about 5 years before. What a small world, but you wouldn’t want to paint it, would you? £26 per seat.

50. Home Park Plymouth. Tuesday 12-09-06. Kick off 7-45 11,655 Coca Cola Championship. Plymouth Argyle 3 Cardiff City 3.

Another sort of landmark fifty games up this time it just happened to be on my fifty-fourth birthday. Anne and I had just had a week’s holiday in Italy and had the next week at home, well what you do with a week off, find a couple of games to go to of course. We spent two nights at a hotel in Plymouth and took in this game and one at Torquay the next night.

   Very good game, the visitors were top of the league at the time and for most of the game showed it but really gave it away from three nil up in the second half, gave away two own goals to throw it away, but great atmosphere for a almost Derby game. Very nice ground still with a bit of work to finish off. £22 per seat.

51. Plainmoor Torquay. Wednesday 13-09-06. Kick off 7-45. 3,145 Coca Cola League 2. Torquay 0 Bristol Rovers 0.

On to Torquay the next day to spend the day at the seaside. Not a bad day weather wise and of course with the obligatory seaside fish and chips the day was complete. Small ground but not bad. Not a very good game but it did have its moments and I would say a draw was about fair. It did end up pouring down with rain and with a late-night drive down dark country roads and I did not know my way back to Plymouth, it was a bit of a nightmare. 

    Catering was very poor and dear; I got a Cornish pasty which was good (you would expect that in this part of the world) and a cup of tea. When I got back to my seat and took the lid off I did think the girl had left the tea bag in the bottom and it would get stronger as I drunk it, but no there was not one and in fact I had a cup of hot milk and water. Anne said that the girl only had one tea bag to dip in everyone’s cup. £18 per seat.

52. Ricoh Arena Coventry. Friday 06-10-06. Kick-off 8-00. 32,625 UEFA Under 21 Play-off First Leg. England U 21 -1 Germany U21 - 0.

Some firsts for me this weekend. The first time I have been to a replacement ground, nice new stadium but again a long way out of the city with a poor transport links. Good view from up in the Gods and a nice wide concourse only nowhere to put a hot cup of tea and a burger. Good cost at ten pounds to sit and two pounds for a program which is a surprise for the FA as they do rip the fans off as a rule. Lots families in with a lot of young women and girls, which is good to see along with a good mix of races, but I was disappointed the home fans booed the opponents national anthem I did think we had finished doing that, mind you it was the old enemy Germany!

     A very good game a fair result for the home team with a really good goal as the winner. Another first for me was this was the first time I had done 3 games in a row, I had done 2 a few times but this time it was Friday Saturday Sunday. Went to this game with my mate Graham, then the next day he went to the England game in Manchester, I went with my mates Peter the next day in Crewe he lives nearby and spent the night with him and his family then on to Stoke on the Sunday before picking Graham up at Stafford on the way home. It was also a record crowd at the new ground.

53. Gresty Road Crewe. Saturday 07-10-06. Kick off 3-00. 5,022 Coca-Cola League 1. Crewe Alexandra 4 Gillingham 3.

Well what a game this was, the away team got off to a very good start and were well worth a 2-0 lead after 28 minutes and could have been more up and took a 3-1 lead in at half time. The home side made some good substitutions and made for a grandstand finish with them getting 2 goals in the last few minutes to win it. Nice ground not far from the station and not too bad at £18 to sit.

54. Vale Park Stoke on Trent. Sunday 08-0-10-06. Kick off 2-00. 4,810 Coca-Cola League 1. Port Vale 1 Rotherham 3.

And then on to the last leg of the weekend. Drove down to Stoke early on the Sunday so I had time to look around and park in a good place for a good get away. An older ground but not too bad, some sections of it not being used. Better second half with 4 goals that I think ended in a fair result. 

    The away team had been deducted 10 points at the start of the season for going into administration so they had a lot to play for and make up. The mascot of the home team was a black and white dog, which had a beer belly. He was not happy with the lack of noise and did seem a bit on the threatening side. He also, after the start stood near the entrance and was pointing to his wrist for the late comers like a watch to know why they were late also gesturing to his mouth like he was drinking a pint to suggest they had been late in the bar, I suppose he could be called a ‘watch dog,’ ha-ha! Went in the home bar before the game everyone very friendly. £18 to sit. 

55. Underhill Stadium Barnet. Saturday 14-10-06. Kick-off 3-00. 2,409. Coca-Cola League 2. Barnet 0 Lincoln City 5.

Another first at this one and that is the first hat trick I have seen since going to the grounds. Jamie Forrester of Lincoln City scored it, to be fair 2 of them were penalties, but they all count. Out of the grounds I have been to I lost Oxford last year that went out of the league they are now doing ok in the Conference and I may get them back but, on this performance, I will be losing Barnet at the end of this year. They just could not defend, they did play ok at times, but at the back, oh dear! Lincoln played very well and brought very good support with them.

   The ground looked very poor from outside but was a neat little thing inside, seemed a very small pitch. Did think it was expensive in the main stand at this level £20 to sit. Had a drink in the club outside the ground and a chat with some locals, which was all very friendly. The stadium is in a very nice part of the town a short walk from the tube station. This was another easy one for me, a train into London then the underground if you can call it that when you have to do the replacement bus service? 

56. The National Stadium Milton Keynes. Wednesday 25-10-06. Kick-off 7-45. 8,306 Carling Cup 3^rd. MK Dons 0 Tottenham 5.

MK Dons was of course the old Wimbledon; they changed names and moved up north a few years ago. They now play at the national hockey stadium but I believe they move into a new ground next year. Took almost 4 hours to get up the M1 what with road works and a traffic jam because of a crash, but did get home a lot easier. Us, the away fans were sat in the open end in the pouring rain. 

    The Dons played well and tried hard, no more than one would expect for a team managed by Martin Allan, but they could not score. Tottenham took their chances when they came along too "show the gap" between the divisions. This was the first time a Premiership side had played at this ground. Good value at £16 to sit only (all be it in the open) £2 for a program, food was also ok at a fair price and free parking in the surrounding office car parks.

57. Portman Road Ipswich. Sunday 29-10-06 Kick-off 1-15. 20,975 Coca Cola Championship. Ipswich Town 5 Luton Town 0.                      

Nice sunny day in autumn not a bad run for me just over the 2-hour mark. Nice ground that has been done up over the years but very nice. I did think it was expensive £31 to sit and the food was also dear and not very nice. The signage to find the ground was very good unlike some places; I did think Milton Keynes was poor on that count.

    As for the game, lots of goals again, this was three games in a row for me that ended 5-0. And if Mido or Defoe had got another on Wednesday it would have been three in a row of hat tricks as well, this time one for Alan Lee. A good first half with some good chances for both sides but all the home team in the second. I liked the design of the floodlights very unusual.

58. Vicarage Road Watford. Saturday 04-11-06 Kick-off 3-00. 18,951 Barclays Premiership. Watford 2 Middlesbrough 0.

A bright day but cold. Not a bad ground but on the old side. Another easy one for me just over the hour in the car, but again not very good road signage for the ground once you got in the town. Catering not too dear and there were two outlets with lots of staff near where I was sat.

    Not a bad game, Watford played very well in the first half and should have had more than the one to show for it, but the away team started the second half very well but lost another goal against the run of play then it was game over. I had two shouters behind me with Tourette's syndrome, swearing and barking, most of it at the referee, I have got to say this is one thing I hate about football, we have got one where we sit at Tottenham, first class idiots!

    Between games 58 and 59 I went to Amsterdam in Holland to see England in a friendly, this was the third away England game I had been to the others being Portugal and Sweden this was a 1-1 draw like the Portugal one but we lost in Sweden. Newish ground in Holland really nice, the one in Faro Portugal was a new ground in fact this was the first game there. Only £17 to sit England should look at that. As for food in and around the stadium you could get hotdogs, hotdogs or hotdogs. In the ground you had to buy a card to purchase food or drink so if you did not use up all the money on your card or get it back, as a lot of fans would not, you lost it, another football rip-off sophisticated, but a rip-off none the less!

59. Whaddon Road Cheltenham. Friday 24-11-2006. Kick-off 7-45 3,646. Coca Cola League 1. Cheltenham 2 Brentford 0.

Rain, rain and more rain, this was the story of this game; well in fact the whole weekend. The match was on a Friday night (we could not find out why?) I drove over there, Graham came to, we went over in the rain watched the game in the rain walked around the town after in the rain came home in the rain and at 2 o’clock in the morning when the fire alarm went off stood in the car park of the hotel in the rain! 

     As for the game Brentford were poor, they went 1-0 down before we had got to our seats. They had sacked their manager the week before; near the bottom of the table  (they both were) things were not going good for them. But they took good support as they always do; the club had put on free coach travel, which was good. Not a bad little ground still some standing areas for the home fans, but we were late taking our seats as there was more away supporters than was expected so they had too open up other areas. Catering was so-so, one little cabin but food was ok apart from no onions for the beef burgers. £18-00p to sit? Oh, did I mention, it rained!

60. Ninian Park Cardiff. Sunday 07-01-07. Kick off 4-00 20,376. FA Cup 3^rd Round. Cardiff City 0 Tottenham 0.

This in a way is another milestone, which is 60 up, which is almost 2/3rds. An FA cup 3^rd round tie this could be a banana skin for the bigger clubs and I think in the end the away team was happy too come away with the draw. I went on my own by car, just over the two hours straight down the M4, a good run. The rain came in as I got to the ground and it poured down all the way home as well.

   I have heard about the Cardiff fans not being very nice and I have got to say it was all true. As the away support we had section of terraces, some netting and a lot of riot police between them and us, I think it was needed particularly when they were throwing coins and flairs. We were kept back for twenty minutes after the game so they could get rid of the home support. I did walk around the ground before the match, (not talking of course, with my accent) and a lot of the things I heard from the home fans you would think football had gone back twenty years I am sorry to say. But the police and stewards I talked to were very friendly. An old ground with some standing, they are meant to be getting a new ground soon, maybe next time I will go as a home supporter, but not talking of course.

    Not a bad game, chances for both sides and in some ways, one could say an old-fashioned cup-tie, I think to be fair the lower division side maybe just about shaded it. £22 to sit. I went in early and their supporters near us were in and singing (what else would you expect from the Welsh) and chanting which I must say I found good fun, even if it was nasty towards us. Would you believe they played the Welsh National Anthem and “Yes, we have no banana today?” Poor road signs to the ground. 

61. Huish Park Yeovil. Saturday 20-01-07 Kick-off 3-00 5,373 Coca-Cola League One Yeovil 1 Brentford 0.

Went with Graham and another Bees fan Dave in my car, not a bad run about two hours each way. We went into the town before hand to a Weather Spoons pub, as Graham likes to tick them off his list, I think there is near to 400, so I will not do that one. This was a new ground in the late 80s, not bad apart from the away end is open and we got soaked. The catering area was small but had as good a choice as I have come across with good quality food and a fair price.

    Not the best game I have been to and it did not help that the away team had a player sent off in the first 6 minutes then one near the end. I think it was a fair result all in all. I did have a shouter behind me, an old bloke who just kept shouting all the time “Come on Brentford,” in a demented voice, I’ am not sure who was more annoying him behind me or the young kids in front playing football with a coke bottle. £15 to stand and get wet. Another ground out side the town on an indusial estate but had very good signage by road. Good at £2 for the car park near the ground.     

62. Bescot Stadium Walsall. Saturday 27-01-07 Kick-off 3-00 5,058 Coca- Cola League Two. Walsall Town 1 Boston United 1.

Went on my own in the car, just over the 2-hour mark not a bad run. Went in their club before the game and was chatting to some locals and away fans all very friendlily, I must say some good cheap food in the club. Also went in the program shop and picked up some old ones. Nice ground in a retail park I would say fairly new but not sure when it was built. £18 to sit, £3 to park outside the ground and £2-50p for a program all a fair price, and the ground, all be it not far from the M6 and was very well sign posted. 

   The game was not too bad, the home team took the lead early on and were the better team, but Boston worked very hard for the point and I would say deserved it. The away team dug out was right in front of where I was sat and the 2 coaches were doing a lot of shouting and one wag near me shouted out, “I would give up they are not listening,” and one them turned around and shouted back, “I know you are not kidding.” 

     And the useless bit of info for the day was, while I was in the Oxford area driving up an RAF plane flew in front of me and 5 parachutes jumped at low altitude into the field next to the motorway.

63. The Staffsmart Stadium Boston. Saturday 03-02-07 Kick-off 3-00 2,915 Coca-Cola League Two Boston United 0 Grimsby Town 6.

Drove up on my own again (Tommy no mates) about 3 hours each way. I had worked in that area when I was in my late teens, I worked in Spalding and have been around those parts a fair bit so it was a bit of a trip down memory lane, but I had never been to Boston before.

   An old ground, but not too bad, but I believe they are after a new ground also. The referee Michael Jones became a member of the 92 club today as he has now officiant at all League grounds. The catering looked poor but I did not eat in there, as it was near the seaside there is only one thing for it, yes you know it, the fish and chips, bang goes the New Year diet. £16 to get in £2-50p for the program and parked in a side street.

   A good game, well if you supported Grimsby that is. They were 2 up after 7 minutes and four up at half time; the home team did have their chances but could not put any away.

64. Bramall Lane Sheffield. Saturday 10-02-07 Kick-off 3-00 32,144 Barclays Premiership Sheffield United 2 Tottenham 1.

The last time I went to Bramall Lane was about 1973, it was when I used to live in Derby and I went to Tottenham games in the Midlands and the North with a local lad Paul who supported the Spurs. We were in a pub near the ground when some Sheff U fans came over looking for a punch up, another lot of their fans came over and stood up for us, I will always remember that.

   It had changed a lot since I was last there, but a nice ground that has been redeveloped over the years, pitch was very bad but must say the catering was very good for away ends. Went on my own by car but met Rick and Sarah who sit next to us at Tottenham. Bad trip home in the rain, but there had been a fair bit of snow all over a few days before and it was still up North which I must say looked very nice.

   I was talking to a WPC at half time and had a very interesting and enjoyable chat for 10 or 15 minutes. We talked about law and order, drugs and she promoted her hometown very well. She was a 5^th generation police person in the city from her family.

   Not a great game, made worst by the fact that Tottenham were not good. The home team who had just came up that year were near the bottom of the Premiership but fought very hard for their win, and I must say played very well at times and deserved  it. The away team took the lead after just two minuets but could not hold on. Another load of good banter between both sets of supporters. I would say there was poor signage to the ground, well in fact, there was none at all. £28 to sit.  

65. Goodison Park Everton. Wednesday 21-02-07. Kick-off 8-00 34,121. Barclays Premiership Everton 1 Tottenham 2.

65 today, but not retiring just yet, that's a joke! A midweek game which I went to Liverpool on the Tottenham coach, which was late turning up at our pick up point, we got in the ground at 7-55. I last went to this ground in the early 70s and to be fair I don’t think it has changed that much. The away fans had a very poor view with a stand low above us and columns in front it was like watching an old wide screen film on TV. And another moan about ground, and I know they have meant to have been getting a new one for years, but we were in a wooden seats and there were not any ‘no smoking’ signs and there were people smoking all around and no one stopped them? Remember Bradford!!!

    They still play Z Cars when the teams come out which is good and I also like the teams that play the old footage on the big screens. It was in fact a good game mind you the referee Rennie lived up to his inconsistency when near to half time the visitors were one nil up and just outside their area the linesman gave them a free kick only for the ref to give it the other way and book Dawson the centre half. The home team scored from that, must say it was a good goal. The away team got the winner in the last minute of normal time, which I would say over all, was a fair result. £28-00p to sit. 

   We got on the coach after the game, but the police held us back until 12/45. I got home at 5/00 am, and out for work at 6/00!

66. Upton Park West Ham. Sunday 04-03-07. Kick-off 4-00 34,966. Barclays Premiership West Ham United 3 Tottenham 4.

Again, it has been along time since I last went to see the Hammers at home and of course the ground has changed a lot. Not a bad stadium a bit poky in the away end near the bar etc £40-00p to sit.

     Went with two mates who are West Ham supporters James and Mick who also had his daughter with him. We went into a pub they use not far from the ground, of course it was fall of local fans but I must say it was good fun, they were singing songs about Tottenham and blowing bubbles every where but good fun.

     A really good game, the home team were at the bottom of the Premiership at the time and needed the points and went in 2-0 up at half time which was about fair, but they got pegged back to 2-2 early after the restart but then the home team made it 3-2 with about 3 minutes to go, then Tottenham got 2 in added time, 5 minutes into added time. Made for a great ending, well depending who one supports of course!

                       

67. The Racecourse Ground Wrexham. Friday 09-03-07. Kick-off 7-45 7,030 Coca-Cola League 2 Wrexham 1 Bury 1.

Went on my own for the weekend. The idea was to take in another three grounds, but it did not work out that way. Drove up to North Wales on the Friday afternoon and stayed in a hotel 10 minuets walk from the ground. Nice hotel and I went down and ate in the bar. For early evening it was packed. The visiting team were there and it was also holding a breast cancer awareness event. I was sat eating dinner in the bar with some Bury directors at one side and a table of mainly shaven headed ladies on the other. So please do not think I would belittle or make fun of any of it, but I did have on one side, “How are we going too save the club” and on the other “In plants uplifts and rebuilding and I did think I was going to die.” That makes you realise football is just a game and there is a lot of more important things in life!

     Had a good walk around and had a drink in the pub next door, The Turf. And had a few chats. Not a bad ground but needs a bit more work. Pitch was very poor. Brought a ticket early and got it for £5 should have been £17, what a bargain. Catering areas were ok but maybe a bit on the dear side for a lower league club. Very hard too find the ground coming in with no signs at all, well if there was they were in Welsh. Did find the locals very friendly.

    Not a bad game. Both teams near the foot of the bottom league so each of them wanted the points. As it was the home team ended the game with 9 players and lost the advantage they had had since the first half in 90+2 minutes. They were unlucky. Another small milestone with all the Welsh grounds complete, mind you there is only 3 these days!

68. Moss Rose Stadium Macclesfield. Saturday 10-03-07. Kick off 3-00 2,928. Coca-Cola League 2 Macclesfield 2 Shrewsbury 2.

After a night in Wrexham, it’s not too far to drive across to Macclesfield and another hotel. Went down to the ground early and had a walk around and a few chats as you do, and watched the players and officials come in, I was surprised to see U. Rennie the top referee take the game, but there was no Premiership matches that day.

      I was in a pub before the game and there was a load of Shrewsbury supporters in there, I must say I have seen a lot of football fans who have not been well behaved but I can say this was about the worst. Singing bad and racist songs in a pub with young kids there and of course again all fuelled by the beer.

     Again, not a bad game, pitch was very poor, Paul Ince was the manager of the home team at the time and he had taken over earlier in the season when they were bottom of the football league, they were adrift and he had pulled them around and had got them off the bottom. The home team took a well-deserved 2-0 lead but could not hold on to it. Very old ground from their non-league days, £13 to sit, pie and tea so- so at half time.

     I was going to take in Wolves v WBA on the way home on the Sunday but was unable to get a ticket. I know it was a local derby and rang the home sides ticket office a few times and kept up with their web site but twice I was talked to so rudely by a woman in their office, I just gave up because of her.

69. The Mill Field Ground Mansfield. Friday 23-03-07 kick-off 7-45. 2,414 Coca-Cola League 2 Mansfield Town 1 Macclesfield 2.

Another weekend away and another 3 grounds over the three days. Drove up to Mansfield on the Friday afternoon to a hotel not far from the stadium. Another ground in or near a retail park. Nice stadium looks on the new side but not a big crowd. On that side there was a protest outside by the home fans because the chairman was going to sell the club but was not telling the truth, well that’s what the fans were saying.

    I have got to say the first half of this game was the worst 45 minutes I have seen since I restarted the 92 club. The second was better (it could not have been worst) and I would say the away team deserved the win. They made a change at the break a lad called Benjamin came on and he did make a difference. £16 to sit, catering poor and expensive. Only saw one sign to the ground.

70. Blundell Park Cleethorpes. Saturday 24-03-07 kick-off 3-00. 5,164 Coca-Cola League 2 Grimsby Town 0 Peterborough United 2.

After a good night’s sleep and a lay in I drove across to Grimsby. Booked in the hotel then got a cab to the ground. Had a walk around a beer in the pub next door and of course being at the seaside one just had to have the dose of heart attack (fish and chips) it would have been rude not to.

   England played Israel that night so I found a bar in Cleethorpes and spent the night talking and having a beer with some locals, even found a Spurs fan there, Mick. Pity England could not have won.

   I have been colder at grounds, but not many times. I sat up in the main stand, which looks out over the sea, and the wind blowing into my face off the sea was cutting, but I am a Southern softie. Old ground and I was told that they should be getting a new one soon, another one to do. A Good win for the away team which I would say was fair. 0-0 at half time but 2 good goals taken, the first was a slip up by the home team and was taken well. £17 to sit did not eat or drink in the there but it looked ok. Poor signs to the ground.

71. Sincil Bank Stadium Lincoln. Sunday 25-03-07 kick-off 1-30. 5,741 Coca-Cola League 2 Lincoln City 2 Swindon 3. 

After another lay in (even with losing an hour) and a nice rest, I was off to Lincoln. No signs again but enjoyed the drive around the city then had a nice walk around. It was a very bright day but on the cold side. Nice ground and the fans were well up for this top of the table clash but it was the away team who took the point’s home with them. Very good game and the away team were worth the win. 5 goals and some good ones at that.

   The home team’s goalkeeper Alan Marriott broke a record for league appearances as a goalkeeper. There was also a person there who was completing the 92 club that day. So, a drive home after the game then on the Tuesday flying to Barcelona for England and Andorra. Did not eat there but the outlets in the ground-looked poor. £17 to sit. The 3 matches over the weekend were all away wins.

    Three days in Barca for the England game 3-0 over Andorra, a very poor first half and all the goals came after the break. The England team and boss took a lot of stick from their own fans, I had words with some around us and my own mates, I do not think booing your own team is the way to get behind them, they said you have to let them know, I think they were well out of order. And to make it worst all the way to Spain and it poured down. I fell over an up turned barrier on the way to the ground and ended up with a cut up my leg. 

72. The KC Stadium Hull. Friday 06-04-07 Kick-off 3-00 19,053 Coca-Cola Championship Hull 1 Norwich 2.

Another first, 2 games in one day for me. It was a Good Friday I drove up to Hull for the early match then on to Scunthorpe for the night game. I love all sorts of music but do not get the time I would like to listen. So, with a long drive ahead I listened to some Classical CDs that I have not played for a long time.

    Really nice ground I don’t think it is very old, set in some nice grounds that have other amenities there, very well thought out. But a bit of a heart attack climbing the stairs to the seat. Had a pint and some food in a pub, ‘The Brickmakers’ across the road from the ground, really nice pint, which is more than you can say for some places. The ground was very well sign posted, I would say about the best I have come across.

     Not a bad game played in sunny weather but a bit on the cold side. The away team took a 2-goal lead and were worth it. Some old players on view who had seen better days, Dion Dublin, Ray Parlour, Nick Barmby and others. £22 to sit. This game saw me complete all the East coast grounds.

73. Glanford Park Scunthorpe. Friday 06-04-07 Kick-off 7-30 7,883 Coca-Cola League 1 Scunthorpe 1 Yeovil 0.

Into the car and off across the Humber River, by bridge of course, and on to the next match. I have seen the bridge before from some distance and with my builder’s head on wanted a close-up view. I was not disappointed, what a magnificent structure and fine view when crossing (eyes on the road of course). I worked in Scunthorpe in the early 70s on the ‘Anchor Steel’ plant that was being built then. I always felt that some of the locals were a bit on the aggressive side, well I stopped at a pub to ask the way to the ground and was greeted with, “why do you want to know?” (Of course they thought I was an away fan) I did think times had not changed much. At this point I must say the rest of the time most of the people were very nice.

    Another ground in a retail park, but for smaller teams I think it works well and near the motorway. I am not sure how old the ground is but it is not the one I saw Brentford at many years ago, I think that was the Old Showground. I stayed in the hotel near the ground. I was lucky to get a ticket, it was a sell out. The home team were on top of the league at the time and with it being a bank holiday and all, the tickets were hard to come by.

    A very good game, even if goals were hard to come by, it took a og to settle it, but there was a lot of goalmouth action at both ends and some good football. The home fans were in good voice (they were top of the league, and one would think about to go up) and I stayed at the end to watch them enjoy themselves, good fun. I sat in the front row next to a family and had a good chat with the Dad. Okay at £16 to sit, but the signposts to the ground, well there was none.

74. Millmoor Rotherham. Saturday 07-04-07 Kick-off 3-00 3,223 Coca-Cola League 1 Rotherham 3 Gillingham 2.

A night in the hotel then on to Yorkshire and another ground. It was a very nice day and enjoyable drive in the sunshine, with the music on loud of course. Everyone was every friendly until I went to sit down in the seat I had a ticket for, there was a group of four men in their thirties and one had his foot on my chair, he was not happy when I asked him to move, and his mates made some comments as well.

   Another good game lots of goals. Looked like an old stadium that was being redeveloped, catering was very poor and I would say £20 to sit in an open stand (lucky it was a nice day) in this league was very over priced. Could not see any sign posts for the ground at all.

75. Brunton Park Carlisle. Monday 09-04-07 Kick-off 3-00 8,989 Coca-Cola League 1 Carlisle Utd 3 Bournemouth 1.

After the Rotherham game I came home on the Saturday night had Sunday at home then early on the Bank Holiday Monday (about 6 o’clock) Anne and I set off to Carlisle for the game then on the Tuesday we went to Lake Windermere for a few days. We really enjoyed the break and the lakes that are beautiful.

    Back to the match, another good game, the home team were the better in the first half but the away team came back in the second and the stats showed over all they had 2% more possession. The ex Tottenham, Portsmouth, Birmingham and Wolves player Darren Anderton was playing for the away side, hope he was doing that because he enjoys playing?

    Not a bad ground, but a bit of a mix of old and new, another with an open away end. In that end they had a small section of seats about 20, which did look funny. We were in the main stand that was ok; the catering looked ok but did not eat in there. £18 to sit and no signs to the ground. In the whole ground there were only about 6 fans making all the noise and singing, yes you have guessed it they were right behind us! 

76. Edger Street Hereford. Saturday 28-04-07 Kick-off 12-00 4,359 Coca-Cola League 2 Hereford United 0 Shrewsbury 1.

I drove along the M4 then across the old River Seven crossing (first time I had been across that one) and then along the Wye Valley. I had left early so there was not that much traffic on the road it was really lovely. The sun was shining it was early spring and the scene was just beautiful. And just to make it better (if one could) some classical music on the CD. I then had a walk around the City before the game, which was also very nice.

   Another sort of local derby between these two, the away team brought almost 2,000 supporters, which was nearly half the gate. An old ground which is meant to be getting work done on it (according to the managers program notes) catering was very poor but not dear £15 to sit, no signs for the stadium until one was nearly there. Good parking around the ground and cheap at 80p for the day. 

   It was the weekend after the ex England footballer Alan Ball had died we had minutes applause for him before the game which was good, I liked him very much. A good footballer and it would also seem one of life’s good guys. It was good to see Mr Singh referee the game, we could do with more of that. Not to bad a game played on a lovely sunny day, the home team were the better in the first half but let the winner in just before half time, the second half was even so maybe a draw would have been fair, but life is not fair, is it?  

77. Emirates Stadium. Sunday 29-04-07 Kick off 4-00 60,043. Barclays Premiership Arsenal 3 Fulham 1.

Well of course I had to go to "that lot, down the road at some time!" New ground for them this season and I must say it is very good. Went with my son-in-law Paul who is a Gooner season ticket holder and he also got me a ticket, I am pleased to say it was in the Fulham end so I did not have to sit with them slagging off my team. We did meet some of my mates Bob and Dave in a pub near by and had a really good time, I got some stick from them and others for being a 'Yid' but it was all in good fun and all taken that way. Had a walk around the old Highbury ground which is now one very big building site with redevelopment in full swing.

   Not a great game and really against the odds Fulham who were near the bottom of the table nearly got a point but two late goals for the home side saw that off. It was good fun being in with the Fulham fans, £32 to sit in a very comfortable seat, which one does not get at football as rule, but it must be the way forward. 

   Two more milestones passed with this on, the first was this was the last London ground for me and also, I have now been to all the current Premiership grounds. It was also another two back to back for me. 

78. Prenton Park Tranmere Saturday 05-05-07 Kick off 3-00 6,529 Coca-Cola League 2 Tranmere Rovers 3 Brentford 1.

The last weekend of the football league season, I had planed at the start of the season to do this one of course not knowing than that the Bees would already have gone down before the start of the game. Their new manager had just taken over, the ex-England player Terry Butcher. 

   It was party time for the Bees fans, most of them in fancy dress and having a good time in the pub before hand. The local police were very heavy handed which I have always known is the case for the away fans, but I think Merseyside police are very much like that. Not a bad ground catering so-so, £16-50p to sit and did not see any signs to the ground as I walked from my hotel which was about 20 minutes away, I will give it a plug as it was really nice as were the staff, ‘The River Hill Hotel’ Birkenhead. Saw another hat trick from Craig Curran.

79. Hillsborough Sheffield Sunday 06-05-07 Kick-off 1-00 28,287 Coca-Cola Championship Sheffield Wednesday 3 Norwich City 2.

Well another 2 back to back, and this was the last of the 2006/2007 season for me. I drove over from Birkenhead in the morning and the AA print out I had took me across the Peak District in Derbyshire. Considering I lived in Derby many years ago I have never been to this part of the world before. To say it is stunning would be a under statement, along with lots of other areas I have now seen in England is just so beautiful, and it’s nice to get away from the motorways.

    Had time to walk around the ground before the match as this is a famous ground, some of it seemed a bit on the old side but on the whole, I think it has kept up with the times. The stand I was in had very good catering and the cost was also okay. £24 to sit and my pet hate regarding signs to the ground, well there was none, which I did think was a surprise for a well-known ground. Not a bad game for the end of season with both teams mid table, 5 goals. In the second half the Norwich goalkeeper totally missed the ball when it came back to him it then went in the goal. I had a problem finding both Sheffield grounds, and both times I ended up asking people who were going to the games and I ended up giving them a lift, the first a chap with 2 young lads and the next an old chap who was going to pick up his Grandson as his son was in the army in Iraq. 

    I will have a little round up of the season as I have by my standards had a very good one. I started the new campaign on 46 and finished on 79 which by my working out is 33, and bearing in mind I go to Tottenham every other week its is a fair few games. There were 4 hat ticks (had not seen any before this season) 113 goals and more 2 goalless draws. I am now looking forward to a nice break but also cannot wait for the new fixtures to come out in June. I lost Torquay and Boston but one the ones to come up being Dagenham and Redbridge which will be easy to do and the other being Morecambe which will not be so easy to do.

80. The Britannia Stadium Stoke Saturday 06-10-07 Kick-off 3-00 12,395 Coca-Cola Championship Stoke City 2 Colchester Utd 1.

First new ground of a new season for me, a late start this year. Went up on my own and stayed in a local hotel, my sister and bother-in-law Linda and Bob had just brought a bungalow near by so went to see that then had a night out with them.

   The Britannia ground was not that old at the time, nice stadium, plenty of car parking and good signage on the way to the ground which is outside the city near the motorway. Went and saw the statue to Sir Stanley Mathews which was good. On the way up on the M6 on the other side of the motorway there came about 10 fire engines with police front and back all with blue lights flashing.

    Not a bad game the result was about fair I would say. The old Tottenham and Man U player Teddy Sheringham was playing for Colchester but did not play. Good value to sit at £22. Catering outlets looked good but ate at a restaurant outside the ground. 

    Went to their old stadium the Victoria Ground to see Tottenham many years ago, in the 70s just after they had, had the roof of their grandstand blown off in a storm.  

81. Stadium MK. Milton Keynes. Sunday 14-10-07 Kick-off 1-30. 13,037 Coca-Cola League 2. MK Dons 4 Lincoln City 0.

Another team I’ve already done to get a new ground. Not far from the old hockey ground they were at before, still very poor signage to the stadium. A very nice sunny day for the time of year. A nice new ground looked a bit like an office block from the outside. There was a very large Asda supermarket near by were I had a coffee and a bun before I went in with the idea of eating in there, but with only 2 catering outlets open in the area of the ground I was in and queues miles long I forgot that idea. Very good crowd for a div 2 game at just over the 13,000 mark. With the home team at the top and the away team next to bottom one would have expected such a score as it was but it was not the case in the first half with a few chances going both ways. But the Dons got one just before the break and never looked back, all be it the start of the second half was almost fall asleep stuff in the afternoon sun shin.

    The ex-England and Man U player Paul Ince was manager of the home team, he had joined in the last summer from Macclesfield Town who he had joined the year before when they were adrift at the bottom of div 2 and about to go out of the league until he pulled them around to avoid the drop, I would say he could have very bright future in football management. Good parking area outside the ground at £5, £17-50p to sit all be it behind one of the goals.   

82. The Spotland Stadium Rochdale. Saturday 20-10-07 Kick-off 3-00. 2,424 Coca-Cola League 2. Rochdale 1 Brentford 1. 

Went up on my own on the Saturday morning, it took over 5 hours as there was long queues on the M6 at times, but good trip back. Not a bad little ground, but a small crowd. Catering ok, £3-50p for a tea and a pie, £18-00p to sit £2-50p for a program. No signage at all on the rout in from the motorway.

  Very poor game with little goalmouth action and two late goals, nice autumn afternoon. No ticket given at the gate, which I do keep along with the program.

83. Valley Parade Bradford. Saturday 03-11-07 Kick-off 3-00. 13,326 Coca-Cola League 2. Bradford City 1 Brentford 2.   

Drove there and back on the day, a long day but roads ok, apart from the fact I could not find the ground, they had lots of signage but it did not take you all the way and some seemed to take one the wrong way. Also had a nightmare with finding the way on to the M62 south bound for the M1 coming back? Nice ground I believe it was rebuilt after the fire in 1985, but only on 2 sides, maybe because they did not stay at the top for long, but over 13 thousand for Div 2 is very good, but I was told they have made the season tickets cheap this year, there is a lot of other clubs could look at doing that.

   Had a fair bit of time before the match so I had a good walk around, found the people very friendly and had some nice little chats. I went in the away end as it was the Bees and as there was not many in that end I sat on my own, a steward, a bit older than me came and stood by me, a very nice chap and gave me loads of info about the club and told me about the fire.

    What happened coming home has happened to me before many years ago and in about the same place. I had just come out of Leicester Forest East service station on the M1, when I saw some people in the central reservation of the motorway. They all  had hoods on and of course it was dark, I looked in my mirror as I passed and they all run across. I will say they must have been young as they run a lot faster than I could have. £20 to sit, which I think is dear for this league and £2.50p for a program. Did not eat in the ground, as there were long queues. No ticket at the gate again.

   Looks like Terry Butcher is becoming a bit of a bit of a legend with the Bees fans, they had now not lost for the past 4 games and he has got them playing ok, as they are a very young side. They had to have a lot of rear guard at times but won it with two well-taken goals. Both teams played well at times and I thought it was a good game, better than the Rochdale game, but then again that was not hard.

84. The Recreation Ground Saltergate Chesterfield. Saturday 10-11-07 Kick-off 3-00. 4,296 FA Cup Round 1 Chesterfield 1 Tranmere Rovers 2. 

Drove up on my own on the Saturday morning and back that night, not a bad run. Not bad signage to the ground, easy to park. Program prices had been taken down 50p to £2. Looked like a very old run-down ground, which had not seen any work done on it for a very long time. Standing at both ends, I was sat on a wooden bench. £17 to sit. Food out let did not look up too much but did not eat.

   Not a bad game, did have its moments with a fair bit of goalmouth action. I would say it was a fair win for the away side. Chesterfield is famous for the spire that is twisted on the church, I have seen it before but must say for anyone who has not seen it, it really stands out and is a sight to see.

85. The New Meadow Shrewsbury. Saturday 05-01-08 Kick-off 3-00. 5,083 Coca-Cola League 2. Shrewsbury 0 Brentford 1.

Drove there with Graham and another Brentford season ticket holder from our pub (The Green Man Bracknell) Steve, had a good run each way, a bright day but cold. This is a new ground at Shrewsbury this season, the old one Gay Meadow used to flood a lot, as it was so near the river. They have a small car park at the ground but have put park and ride in from the town that seems to work well. We did that then walked to a pub Graham knew, as it was a real ale pub ‘The Dun Cow.’ I did not drink as I was driving but the boys had a few and the food was very good and everyone was very friendly, it was a nice old pub and we got the bus to the game from there. Nice new ground away from the town. Not a bad game Brentford had not long before parted company with their boss Terry Butcher, the assistant manager Andy Scott had been made boss after a good spell in charge. I think it was a fair win for the away side they played very well at times, defended well and was passing the ball well, even to the point of the Bees fans doing the “Olay” near the end. With the away side not, a long way from the bottom it was a win they needed.

Accrington Stanley v Brentford Saturday 19-01-08. Kick-off did not happen. Match postponed.

Went up with Graham in the car, met some of his mates in the ‘Crown’ pub behind the ground it was in there that it started to go around that the game was off. That was about 1-30, there had been a pitch inspection at 10-00 by a local ref who had said the game could go ahead, then when the match ref got there he said “no.” Very disappointing after a 4-hour drive. Still Graham had a few beers and we both had the fish and chips and a look around the ground and went into the social club. Very friendly people who told us the story of the club, how it went broke then rose again to of course get back in the league some 40 years later. They had some great old photos and a banner that said, “The club that wouldn’t die.” This was the second postponement since I re-started going around the grounds, the first being Cambridge v Oxford in 2001, both of which are at the moment out of the league. The Bees had taken 800 fans up to this game; I must say they do take good away support.

86. The Keepmoat Stadium Doncaster. Friday 25-01-2008 Kick-off 7-45 10,358 Coca-Cola League 1 Doncaster Rovers 0 Swansea City 4.

Went up on my own in the car after taking a day’s holiday for the Friday match. Rovers had moved to the new Keepmoat Stadium last year. My idea was to go to Huddersfield or Barnsley the next day but both of their matches had been postponed because they were both still in the cup and were drawn away. Nice new ground, I stayed in a hotel across the road; it was another, which is in a retail park with a fair bit of parking, shops, bars and restaurants nearby, I do think this is the way forward for some clubs. First time I have seen at a football ground saying "no cameras," just as well I had forgot mine. 

     The home team was 4^th in the table and the visitors were top by 8 points, but the way the away team played one would have thought they were in a higher division. To say they played them off the park is not an understatement, they were very, very good and I would say they would take a lot of stopping them to not go up. Neil Sullivan the ex Spurs keeper was in goal for the home team, the away team had some very good individuals, names I would point out are, Ferrie Bodde (the new Roy Keane some say) Jason Scotland who last year scored 33 in 33 starts for St Johnstone and a Spanish forward called Guillem Bauza who they had on a one-year deal from Espanyol he looked very good. Very good signage to the ground from the motorway, £22 to sit which was about fair but they did not have all the food outlets open and the one which was behind where I was sitting only had 2 peoples serving which made for long queues and upset the locals, bearing mind it was a very big crowed for them. That was the only down side about the whole thing.

Went to the new Wembley with my daughter Jean for the Carling Cup final (League Cup) Tottenham v Chelsea Sunday 24^th February 2008.

What can I say? Did they learn from the old ground? In terms of the queues I am not sure, 40 minutes to get a drink before the game then to find one person severing, of course this will all come down to how much they are paying these workers, I would suggest not a lot. Long queues for toilets, and while on with that what do a lot of football fans do on the way to matches? I will tell you, they go for a drink, then they need the toilet, I could not see any on Wembley Way between the ground and Wembley Park tube station. Now on the up side, yes there is one after all that, the building is really nice I think a lot of thought has gone into access and egress as of course it is a lot of people to move for any event, and I believe there is more work to be done outside the stadium which will be good, plus some extra toilets with a bit of luck. Oh, and still on the up side (for us), Tottenham won 2-1 after extra time.    

87. Christie Park Morecambe. Saturday 15^th March 2008. Kick off 3-00 2,180 Coca-Cola League 2. Morecambe 3 Brentford 1.

Drove up with Graham on the Saturday morning, stayed over night had a room each for £30 with breakfast in the ‘York Hotel’ which is not far from the ground, very nice and we were made very welcome by the staff and the locals alike.

   I must say the away team were very unlucky with missing a pen, 2 goals disallowed (3 according to Graham) and hit the post twice and had lots of procession. Very cold wind coming off the sea, of course a dose of heart attack (fish and chips) was taken when at the seaside. An old ground but ok for £14 to sit, only a pound more than  standing. Went into town for a meal at night saw the Eric Morecambe monument which was good, then after the meal Graham chatted up the bouncer to a club next door which had gig on so we went in for the last few songs and the Jazz singer Maggie Bell was on which was good.    

Went to Paris a week or so after the Morecambe game with Graham, James and Andy for France England game at the Stade de France. I had not been there before so it was another good chance to do another ground. It is of course only 10 years old at this point, nice ground but I cannot believe there was a problem regarding the toilets. The area I was in only had one single WC open and of course as I have said before, football fans and beer, result need of toilet. End result rivers and lakes of urine everywhere, not nice. The police were very heavy handed, I went in late to let the crowds die down, it was very slow and the fans became very restless, being in the middle of that was not good, but worst was to follow when they got police on horseback to push us into what was at the gates a bottle neck, but there was more to come, they then fired tear gas over us for what reason? I do not know. Once I got in I asked for a senior police officer who could speak English, I was told of one I could talk to. I told him we were gassed for no reason, he said “do you have a watch?” I said yes. He said, “what time is it?” I said, “9-15,” he said, “you are late.” I said, “you gassed us because we were late in?” He said, “sir I think it is best you go now;” I understood what he was saying and left. When I got in I ended up next a lad in his mid thirties who came from Wakefield and was a Nott’s Forest fan who asked me which club I followed, when I said Tottenham he just went on and on, I did not realise how Forest are now (down in league 1) was because Gazza did not get sent off in the 1991 cup final, "get a life pal!" I have meet some idiots but this one took the whole cake. I did not stay there long and found a new place to watch the game.

   Enjoyed the few days apart from the racist element which is at all England games, the FA must know it goes on but do not do anything about. Done the Tommy Tourist things which I have done before but I like Paris and it is good to see it all again, The Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, The Seine, The Bastille, Arc de Triomphe etc. The pound had a very poor exchange rate to the Euro which did not help matters but it was very expensive. The tents outside the ground (which we could do with down Wembley Way) was very good and had toilets nearby, but most beer was 7 euro a pint, but with bands playing it was a good atmosphere. Pity about the score 1-0 France.    

88. Victoria Road Dagenham. Saturday 12^th April 2008. Kick-off 3-00 2,032 Coca-Cola League 2. Dagenham and Redbridge 1 Rochdale 1.

With this being almost a local game for me it was ok. Train into Waterloo then the tube with one change at the Embankment and I was there, wish they were all that easy. The Daggers and just come up from the non-league that season, and to be fair the ground showed that. With seats only on one side the rest was standing. Good signage from the station, but somehow, I managed to miss it and walked passed in a dream.

    Went into the club next to the ground, sat with a load of Rochdale fans who were all rowing about certain players, I did not talk to them but it was good fun listening to who liked who etc. There was a hail storm in the first few minutes of the game and it so fierce the home goalkeeper Tony Roberts turned his back on the game as it was going in his face. I think he is a bit of a lad; a Rochdale player came in as he was about to clear a back pass he went to do the big kick as the player came in then just took it around him. When the danger was over the fans behind the goal were cheering and he acted like a Matador with a pretend cloak, and the crowd gave him the ‘Olay.’

  Not a bad game with a fair bit of action and with the pitch cutting up a fair bit made for more excitement. Catering did not look too good, but I didn’t eat there (fish and chips on the way) did think £18 to sit at that level was dear. It took about 45 minutes from the centre of London to get there. Before the 2^nd World War my Mums family lived in Dagenham, and her Dad, my Grandad worked for the Post Office in the city and he would bike in there each day starting at 4 in the morning, still there would not have been the traffic we get now with them all trying to kill the bikes!

   With this being a London club, I am now back up to date with them all being done again. Not sure about the Health and Safety in the ground, I left early, as I was going out the female steward had the fire exit locked and could not find the key to the pad lock in her pocket, glad there was not a fire!

89. Oakwell Barnsley. Saturday 17^th April 2008. Kick-off 3-00. 14,644. Coca-Cola Championship. Barnsley 0 Leicester 1.

Drove there and back on the day on my own, just over 3 hours each way, not a bad run apart from the road works, which at times seem to be the only growth industry in this country!

  Not a bad ground on three sides. Both sides where near the bottom of the league at the time so a win was badly needed, properly more by the visitors. Not a great game but both teams were up for it, I would have said a draw was the fair result, but who ever said life was fair.

   £22 to sit which is ok for this league, but I must say £2-50p for a tea and a Kit-Kat has got to be a rip off. The catering out-let looked ok but only brought the above in the ground. Not bad signage to the ground, but did get sucked in over the parking as I think a lot of the away fans did. There was a sign for visitors parking so I went in there and it was about a 15-minute walk to the stadium, still it gave me a chance to see a little bit of the town. It was a very cold day, more like November than April.

90. Meadow Lane Nottingham. Saturday 26^th April 2008. Kick-off 3-00 7,327. Coca-Cola League 2. Notts County 1 Wycombe Wanderers 0.

Went there and back on my own in the day again, not too far compared to some, about two and a half hours each way. This was a must win game for the home team, in so much as they were in the bottom four of the league and looking to go out, but with another game to go and results going the home team’s way it was a joyful day for them.

    The away side started the game very well and should have took the lead a few times, but did not. The home team came out much better after the break and the goal was coming for a while, all be it a bit scrappy but they finished very strong and were worth the win in the end, well just about, it would not have been good to have seen the founder member of the league go out!

   Got there early and had a walk around in the spring sunshine and sat by the Trent with pie, chips and a bottle of water. Had not been to Notts Country's ground before but had been to the City Ground a few times over the years, and the fact that I lived in Derby years ago also meant I had been to Nottingham a few times, I also worked there once, all be it just for the weekend.

90, today (I don’t think I look a day over 75, not bad beings I am 55) so almost there.  Nice ground but pitch was very rough, did not eat in there but catering looked good. £18-00p to sit is ok, but their Kop End was £5 a seat on first come first in, was not filled but a good crowd none the less. Not sure about the signage to the ground as it was in place but seemed to take one all around the world.

   Parked in the club’s car park for a fiver. The car park attendant got the hump with me as twice I did not go where he said but the truth was I could not understand a word he was saying, very strong Midland accent, and I used to live there?  

91. Edgeley Park Stockport. Saturday 3^rd May 2008. Kick-off 3-00 6,284. Coca-Cola League 2. Stockport County 1 Brentford 0.

Last weekend of the league season 2007/08, drove up there on my own on the Saturday morning, bit of a chill out with the CDs on. Couple of things on the way there, on the M6, at one point a small yellow aeroplane (which was going to an airfield near the motorway I think) flew right down the centre of the motorway not very high as if it was going to open fire or bomb us. I also passed a car twice (it was heavy traffic) and the driver was out on the lay-by being sick, his male passenger was sat looking the other way as if to say “he is nothing to do with me!”

    Booked into a hotel a few miles from the ground, then got a cab there. Not a bad ground but the away end was seated but open, would not like to be there on a cold wet winter’s night, but a warmish May afternoon it was very nice. There were some away fans in front of me in fancy dress that were having fun with beach balls, the police were very relaxed (Merseyside Police could do with taking a tip from them) and were almost playing with the fans. Not great signage to the ground, £16 to sit, did not eat as such in there but the catering was a small cabin, which to be fair is about the most you get in away ends at the lower league grounds.

    The home team was already in the play-offs and the away team had mid table safety, so you would think boring draw, but not so they both went for it, Stockport more in the first and ‘The Bees’ when they were behind in the second, but I would say the result was about fair.

92. Molineux Stadium Wolverhampton. Sunday 4^th May 2008. Kick-off 2-00 26,293. Coca-Cola Championship Wolverhampton Wanderers 1 Plymouth Argyle 0.

So, this is the magic 92, but I am not finished yet with teams going down and coming up and new grounds I will be nearer 100 by time I finish which I hope will be next season.

   Drove down from Stockport on the Sunday morning, an easy drive down, apart from the fact it was pouring down. Had to park a fair walk from the ground, not bad at £4.

   When I was growing up Wolves were a top team, but those days are long gone, in fact they did go down to the bottom league at one point, but today if they won and other results went their way they would have been in the play-offs for the Premier League, they won but did not get a place.

    Had a walk around before the game and took some photos but as it was pouring down, so I went in. Tried to get to the catering but it was so packed I gave up. But I do think it is a very nice stadium. The game started at 100mph with the home team wanting that win of course and had some good chances and missed a nailed-on sitter. But they had to wait until 87 minutes for the goal, but with Watford getting a draw and Cristal Palace winning it was all too late. They play the Geoff Becks hit “Hi Oh Silver Lining” when they come out and put in Wolverhampton for the Silver, its good fun. Their old goalkeeper Mark Kendall who was at Tottenham (I think he started there) had died that week at 49, they had a minutes clapping for him which was nice. £27 to sit.

    Well another season over, just a little look back. I did think at the beginning that I would finish it this season but it was not to be. Still I managed 13 in all which is above the average 9 or 10 I had set myself. Of course getting near the end it gets harder as now most of the grounds are up North. With yesterday’s game that’s all the Midland teams done, I only have one Championship ground to do which is Preston and I would think that is the furthest away for me to do. I had a ticket to see them at the last August bank holiday but got taken ill and did not go. With the teams coming up from the non-league the one for sure at the moment is Aldershot, which for me is great as it is about 20 minutes in the car and I know some 'Shot’s' fans from work, so I am hoping to finish there. Out of the four teams in the play-offs I have only done Torquay.

    It is now mid May 2008 and we now know that Exeter will be in the league along with Aldershot, so that’s not too bad, all the same it will be about a 2-hour drive.

93. The Recreation Ground Aldershot. Saturday 16^th August 2008. Kick-off 3-00. 4,564. Coca- Cola League 2 Aldershot 1 AFC Bournemouth 1.

Start of another season and to be fair I did say that I would like to finish this all at Aldershot but I decided against that and went to their first home game back in the football league, 16years after going bust and out of the league. Met my mate from work Alan Chitson who is a season ticket holder in a pub across the road then went in and had a drink with his mates. The truth is Alan is legend in there, he seems to know everyone, or more to the point everyone seems to know him. He introduced me to the chairman John McGinty and the man who made it all possible Terry Owen, it was him who got it going again after they went out of business, so it was good to meet him on the day they made it back.

     Had a good chat with Alan’s mates and they made me feel very welcome. Not a bad little ground, the bar they go in is about to be rebuilt so we stood outside, but it was a nice afternoon in the August sun shine, not sure what it would be like on a wet February night. The game was ok and I think a draw was fair. Darren Anderton the old Spurs player is still with AFCB and is now captain. The Shots took the lead through Louie Soares after 63 minutes then the away team levelled with 9 minutes to go with a powerful drive from their substitute Sappleton. £18 to sit, I do believe they are going to do work on the stadium soon. Food outlets are only outside kiosks but there was plenty so not much queuing, I spent the second half standing behind the goal with the Aldershot singers. Enjoyed the day very much and not far on the train.

94. The Galpharm Stadium Huddersfield. Saturday 23^rd August 2008. Kick-off 3-00. 13,189. Coca-Cola League 1. Huddersfield Town 1 MK Dons 3.

I have never been to Huddersfield before and I really liked it. Drove up on the Saturday morning on my own, it was a nice bright day a good drive, the town is about 20 miles from the M1 so I really enjoyed the drive through the Yorkshire country side. I stayed at the ‘George Hotel’ that is beside the railway station, it was a really grand hotel and good value. It was a Rugby League hotel with all the old photos they have up, it is not my sport but I did look at all the memorabilia they had on the walls.

    The ground is a short walk out of town almost in the country; well it looks as if it has been carved out of the hill side, a really nice design different from a lot of the new stadiums, I really liked the arch design they have used, ok at £21 to sit, did not eat but the food outlets looked good. I really stood out with my accent and it was mentioned by a few people, they all thought I was a Dons fan. While I walked down to the ground did not really see many signs.

    The away team played very well and deserved the win, apart from about 15 minutes at the start of the second half it was mostly the Dons. The home fans were not happy and their team got booed off at the end.

    I aet on the Saturday night in a Mediterranean Restaurant across the road from the Hotel and station it was called Ciao Bella, really nice people good meal and they gave me a free coffee, can’t be bad for the first time in a restaurant. On the way back the M1 was closed at Sheffield because the 2 cooling towers there had been blown up in the early hours of the morning, oh they meant to do it!

95. Deepdale Stadium Preston. Tuesday 16^th September 2008. Kick-off 7-45 13,145 Coca-Cola Championship Preston North End 2 Nottingham Forest 1.

Went up on my own in the car for this mid week game as we were on 2 weeks holiday and had just spent the week before in Sicily. Left home about 9 in the morning and got there about 1 o’clock, I had booked a room in the ‘Holiday Inn’ in the town centre. It poured down all afternoon, but I had wanted to go into National Football Museum which is beside the Preston ground. So, under my big black umbrella I set off walking it was further than I thought but got the bus back then the same to go back and forth for the game. Enjoyed the museum very much, spent an hour or more in there and was made to feel at home by the very friendly and helpful staff. Only saw one sign for the ground, but with saying that it was a straight road from there all be it is about a mile.

   Had dinner and a drink in the town centre and had a walk around. Deepdale is a nice stadium, I would say it has been rebuilt but I did not find out when. Inside the ground looks funny in some way, I am not sure what made me feel that, maybe it was very square and box like. £20 to get in and only £2 for the program which is good, I also had a beer and a pie at half time, pie ok but it is a rip off as at all grounds to pay £2-99p for a bottle of beer which only holds about half a pint, and as they say Dick Turpin had the good grace to wear a mask when he robbed people!

  The game was ok, I think it was a fair result a win for the home team, there was some good action, and all 3 goals scored by the home team. Had a lazy morning before leaving at 9 o’clock, had breakfast in the room with the newspaper then laid in the bath to finish the paper. Today does complete all the current teams in the Championship.

 

It is now 11^th July 2009 and I had a disappointing last season. The Preston game was the last one I went to that season, as at the begin of October the firm I worked for, for almost 10 years went into administration. I worked for a few months but have not worked now since March and as we are in the middle of a "deep recession" I am not sure when I will work again, so at the moment unfortunately Toms 92 Club is on hold until further notice. Burton and Torquay are the teams to come up, already done the latter. 

96. Weston Homes Community Stadium Colchester. Saturday 24^th October 2009. Kick – off 3-00 4,880. Coca-Cola League One. Colchester 2 Walsall 1.

Well I am up and running again. I have been back to work about 8 weeks now so I thought it was time to start again. It has been over a year since I last went to a game. The recession is still on and there are a lot of people still out of work. I had of course already been to Colchester but this is their new ground. It is their first season there, a nice new ground, out of town like many of them these days. No signage until one gets  near the ground. £24 to sit was ok, the food outlets were ok but like most of them a bit on the dear side. £3 for a program. Good car parking just outside the ground.

    Not a bad game, it was in fact fairly even and maybe a draw would have been better. The home team took the lead after 26 minutes but the visitors draw level just 2 minutes later. Colchester picked up their game after the break and got a penalty for a trip in the box that they scored from. Walsall pushed hard near the end but could not draw level.                          

97. St James’ Park Exeter. Saturday 31^st October 2009. Kick-off 3-00 5,373. Coca-Cola League 1. Exeter 3 Brentford 0.

Back in the grove now two games two weeks running. I went in my car with my friend Graham. Went there and back in the day it’s about 160 odd miles each way, but it was not a bad trip and was home just before eight. Graham likes the “Real Ale” and has a list of the pubs, but the only one with a telly (Tottenham was a 12-45 kick-off at the Gooners place) was not on his list, but it was near the ground ‘The Drayman,’ Graham got his Real Ale, but we got beat 3-0, but the people were really nice, the landlord was also a Spurs fan. The ground is sort of old but has two newish stands and two old. We went in the away end which is standing only. Graham got us free tickets through Coca-Cola but it would have been £15 to stand £21 to sit. A nice day for the last day of October, there had been rain early on but it brightened up and was ok to watch football with no roof above you. A small cabin for food at one end, not too bad for price which makes a change. The home team took a 7-minute lead, the away team took over for long periods of the first half but could not score then went two behind on the stroke of half time. Even with the home team down to ten men for much of the second half they looked the better team and ended up 3-0 winners. Signage for the ground only when you get nearby. £3 for a program and had to park in the City which cost £5-70p.                             

98. Cardiff City Stadium Cardiff. Sunday 29^th November 2009.kick-off 3-00. 19,463 Coca-Cola Championship. Cardiff City 1 Ipswich Town 2.

This the second time I have been to Cardiff, they have their new ground now, and very nice too. It is in a retail park not far from the old ground. After the last time I did not talk to anyone, had a few people talk to me and I just made grunting noises. Not hard to find and they do tell the away fans on the M4 where to leave the motorway which is good. £5 to park at the athletic stadium across the road. £24 to sit, not bad but I was in with all the singers behind the goal, and they were all standing. £3 for a program. Did not eat inside the ground but it looked ok. It rained all the way there and all the way home, and was cold.

    The home team took a deserved lead after 35 minutes and should have been more up at half time, hit the bar twice and came close a few times but the away team came back in to it in the second half and got 2 late goals to win it. Both goalkeepers got injured and had to be replaced, that’s a first for me, seeing that. Ipswich were near the bottom and Cardiff near the top, so it was a good win for Roy Kean the ex Man U player who is their manager at the moment.                      

99. Elland Road Leeds. Saturday 6^th March 2010. Kick-off 3-00. 25,445. Coca-Cola League 1. Leeds United 1 Brentford 1.

Went up to Leeds on the Saturday and stayed in a hotel over night. Went with Graham (who drove) Darren and Steve, all Bees fans who go in my local the ‘Green Man.’ We meet up with a nephew of mine Steven, who is a Tottenham supporter who  comes from Derby and lives in Leeds? We had a good day and went and watched Tottenham away to Fulham in the 6rd of the cup on the TV after the game in his local, it was 0-0, we were all made to feel very welcome. 

   Leeds have fallen from grace at this moment in time, from having been up the top for a long time were now in the 3^rd tier of the league. Elland Road is a big ground which holds over forty thousand, I was told it was falling apart from a few people but did not find that. I suppose a draw was fair over all and for the away team I think this was like a cup final to them. There was some good goal mouth action and some good saves from each goalkeeper. The pitch was poor, because they play rugby on it as well. We spent the night out in the city which was good with a lot going on but very cold.

    It was a bright day but also very cold, £22 to sit £3 for a program. We got a drink at half time which was dear like all the grounds these days, had to queue a fair while to get severed but it was not bad.

100. The Pirelli Stadium Burton upon Trent. 13^th March 2010. Kick off 3-00. 2,500. Coca-Cola League 2. Burton Albion 5 Cheltenham Town 6.

Well I will start with the game this time and what game it was, 11 goals 9 of which were in the second half. To say the away team would not lie down and die is an understatement. 2-0 down at half time they got level early in the second half only to go behind soon after that, in fact with only 5 minutes of normal time to go they were 5-3 down until Michael Pook a midfielder came up with a hat-trick in the last nine minutes to grab an unbelievable win in the 94^th minute, it was the only time they took the lead but it was an important time. This is the most goals I have seen in one game since starting my little tour. It was a good game as well as all the goals, the home team took a well-deserved lead in at half time and could have had more but the visitors came out well fired up and got the 2 early goals, then it all kicked off, goal after goal.  

   This was Burtons first season in the football league. A nice newish little ground just outside the town, £15 to sit, catering did not look too bad I just had a burger for £2.50p. £2.50p for a program.

    I meet Joyce and Rob my sister and brother in-law before the game and went with them, they don’t live far away in Derby, they are in fact the parents of Steven who I had met at Leeds the week before.

    I stayed in a hotel the ‘Three Queens’ which is just outside the town centre and was a very nice place; I ate there at night and was looked after very well. Had another classical chill out with some new CDs I had just purchased on the way up. A bright but chilly weekend, early spring and we had just had a bad winter.

101. The Fraser Eagle Stadium Accrington. 1^st May 2010. Kick off 3-00. Coca-Cola League 2. 2,475. Accrington Stanley 2 Chesterfield 0.

This was in fact my forth attempt to see Accrington Stanley at home. I had the time that the game was called off, Anne my wife and I were going there on a Friday earlier this season but I got a job so could not go, then I was booked to go in January this year but I was ill so it was good to get to see a game there. They have had a lot of games called of this year and at one point the fans took their patio heaters to dry the pitch out for a game. £15 to sit did not eat in there.

    Small old ground went into the supporter’s club again but had a drink this time as I was not driving that day. Went up on my own in the car this time, but stayed overnight in the Norwood which is facing the Crown pub which is in front of the ground.

    Went into the town after the game which is on the old side and to be fair looks a little run down, but I really like the people there as they are really friendly. There were a lot of Chesterfield fans there as it was their last away game of the season. There were a lot of fans from both sides in fancy dress; this seems to be the thing at the end of the season and at Xmas now.

   Not a bad game, the away side had the better of the first half but the home team had the better of the second and got two goals. It was a bank holiday weekend so it was cold with rain. Good signage to the ground.

    That is the end of another season. Only 6 new grounds, and 2 of them being ones I have done before, but it has been because of work or the lack of it. Grimsby and Darlington have gone out; Stevenage and Oxford have come up. That’s good as Stevenage is not far for me and I have done Oxford so with the new team I have 4 to do Rotherham and Morecombe again (new grounds) then Bury, I want to do them before the New Year then I will have done it with in the ten years I planned for.

102. The Globe Arena Morecambe. 14^th August 2010. Kick off 3-00. N Power League 2. 3,258. Morecambe 0 Rotherham 0

                                                      

Another new season 2010/2011. Well this is the second time I have been here, of course a new ground and it’s a long way for me to this one, 4 ½ hours each way. I did not know they had a new ground until the end of last season when I watched them on the TV in the play offs, I only found out a few weeks ago that Chesterfield also have a new stadium. So along with Rotherham (new ground) and Stevenage coming up I have gone from having one to do (Bury) to five. Oh well that’s the way it goes.

  Nice new ground, but only with seats on one side? This was their first league game here. An entertaining game with both teams coming close a few times, but no goals to talk about this time, I would have just given it to the away side, they did look OK at times. £20 for one of the best seats. In the cost of that I could go in the posh lounge at half time but could not believe £3.60p for a pint of beer, another rip off. £3 for a program, one sign on the way to the ground, but it got me there ok.

   This time I stayed in the Clarendon Hotel on the sea front which was about 10-minute walking from the ground. Nice hotel had a double room to myself and had a nice relax. I got there about 11/30am as Tottenham was on TV at 12-45 (Man City 0-0) so I watched it in the bar under the hotel, Davey Jones Locker which was a really nice bar and friendly. I was talking to a few Rotherham fans who were really nice (better than the last Rotherham fans I talked to!) and two other lads who are going around the grounds, I also met another two coming out after the game and walked into town with them. It was a really nice sunny day and evening, I had a walk down the sea front before eating in the town. It was a long way to go but I enjoyed it very much and had a very nice relaxing time.          

103. Don Valley Sheffield. 21^st August 2010 Kick off 3-00 pm. N Power League 2. 3,072 Rotherham 6 Cheltenham 4.

Another new ground, and maybe the first time I have seen the same team 2 weeks running. Rotherham are at the moment playing at the Don Valley Athletics stadium in Sheffield I think their ground, Millmoor has been sold but it will be another few years before they get a new ground. When I phoned up, the lady said our offices are in Rotherham, we play in Sheffield and train in Doncaster. £18 to get in, £2.50p for a program, catering outlet was fine and not too dear. I liked the stadium, but it is not a football ground.

    I drove up in the morning and stayed overnight at a nearby hotel. I talked to a lot of the fans and most of them were not happy being in Sheffield.

   Another high scoring game and with Cheltenham, the last 2 times I have seen the away team the games have had 21 goals in them, and there were 2 penalty saves, one for each side but the home side did get a tap in from theirs. The away team were 3-1 up in the first half but 3-2 at half time. There was some very poor defending from both sides, and in fact there could have been more goals, but it did make for an entertaining game.

104. Lamex Stadium Stevenage. 31^st August 2010. Kick off 7-45pm. Johnstone’s Paint Trophy. 1,916 Stevenage 0 Brentford 1.

The home team had just come into the league that season and I had in fact planned to go to them the next Saturday when they drew the Bees in this cup and Graham said do you want to go. He drove and along with Steve we went. It did mean going up the A1 in the rush hour, but it was not too bad. Small ground, non-league really. £15 to sit, £2 for a program, good signage to the ground and free parking across the road. We went in the club bar which was friendly and cheep food. Small food out let in the ground.

    A very poor game. The away team took the lead in the first half and the home team came close a few times after the break, but it really was not good.

105. b2Net Stadium Chesterfield. 18^th September 2010. Kick off 3-00pm. N Power League 2. 5,503. Chesterfield 3 Cheltenham 0.

Another team to do twice. Drove there and back on my own on the day, but what a nightmare trip going up there. About a three-hour drive took five and a half hours because of 2 bad crashes on the M1 at one point we had to leave the motorway. I got to the ground at 2-30 and was in a large queue for a ticket when an older chap came up to me and said, "are you going in on your own?" I said "yes." He said I was given 2 tickets but my mate could not come, do you want it for £6, it had £13 on it. So, to save waiting anymore I said OK. As we were going in he said, "I had to find a pensioner as that’s who these tickets are for," I was only 58 at the time, come to think of it I was told at Rotherham I could get the old age concession, so I am not sure how old I look these days?

    A good-looking new ground, with arched roofs over the stands that look good, I don’t think it is far from the old one. Good road signage on the way. As I said I am not sure how much it is to get in. Programs £3, good food outlets, but of course, yes you have got it, dear!

   Enjoyed the game, 1-0 at half time to the home team and about even I would say with some good chances for both sides. But it was all the home side after the break and a cracking goal from their number 9 from 25 yards to finished it off. One more to go and that is Bury, I am going on 2^nd of October, see you at Bury.

106. Gigg Lane Bury. 2^nd October 2010. Kick off 3-00pm. N Power League 2. 3,788. Bury 1 Rotherham 1.

Welcome to Bury and the end of Toms 92 Club, 10 years and 106 grounds to do 92. Went there and back on the day in the car on my own, long drive. Nice ground, some areas looked old but on the whole, it looked OK. I went in the main stand, small food outlet, £17 to get in £3 for a program, road signs only when one got near the ground. Parking was easy in a side street. I went in the club shop and brought a home shirt as I did with the first one at Blackpool, then I had sausage and chips in the club house a £1 to get in for non-members.

    This game was 5^th playing 3^rd in the league. The game was ok with a goal each side of the break with the home team taking the lead, with plenty of action. If I had to say I would have said the home team on points. I have been to 5 games this season and seen Rotherham in 3 of them. When I went to the ticket office before the game a young lady served me and she said “are you” then stopped herself from saying a pensioner and said “a full adult?” I said yes, I am not under 16. She gave me a look, and I said “I am not the other one neither!” I did ring the club 3 weeks before I went to tell them I was going to finish there, I was told I would need to talk to the press officer Gordon, I rang 3 times and left him messages but he never came back to me.

    So that’s it, from Blackpool on 26th August 2000 to Bury 2nd October 2010. 10 years 1-month 7days and it is done. I have got to say mid way I think I did have my doubts, but I had 2 very good seasons which broke its back, 2006/2007 33 and the next season 2007/2008 13, so 46 in 2 seasons is almost half and I was going to Tottenham every other week then. But it is by no means easy and of course it costs a lot of money. I really picked them off as I went but for anyone else doing it I would say plan it as well as you can, in so much if you go a long way for a match try and take in as many as you can while you are away. I have put a few facts together of what I have seen and done so here goes.

Goals 301.

Yellow cards 265.

Red cards 10.

Hat tricks 7 (Adam Le Fondre got 4 for Rotherham on 21/08/2010).

4 goal less draws.

11 goals in one game Burton 5 Cheltenham 6.

Scoring Draws 25.

Home wins 41.

Away wins 36.

A close idea of miles travelled both ways 30,000.

Close to the number of crowds I was in all together, 1,635,158.

Car 82.

Train/Tube/Bus 13.

Coach -8.

Planes 4. (never had a boat trip involved)

Hotels I stayed in (this also includes staying with friends or family) 34. 

Going on my own 72.

Going with others 34.

Premier League 22.

Championship 9. (When I started there was no Championship)

League One 21.

League Two 40.

League Three 3. (There is no longer a league 3A Cup 4.

League Cup 3.

Johnstone’s Paint Trophy 1.

Other 3.

I saw Tottenham 25 times, Brentford 19 times. The team I think I saw the most other was Rotherham 6 times, and of course they are yet to get their own ground so I will go there again. 

   If every game I went to I had (and I didn’t) 2 pints of beer, a pie/burger and a bag of chips, I would have had about 27 gallons of beer, 53lbs (which is about three- and three-quarter stones) of pies/burgers and about 63lbs (four and a half stone) of chips. I went to a game on every day of the week apart from on a Thursday.

   So that’s it done and dusted. I have enjoyed it and have seen some good games, and some rubbish. I have met some really nice people and some of course not so nice. I have seen a lot of our country that I had not seen before and watched about 9 and a half thousand minutes of the “beautiful game” in rain, snow, wind and sun. I will carry on each season and go to the new grounds and teams that appear. I might even do, maybe the non-league next, who knows, as they say, "watch this space!"                                                                 

                                                                        THE END.

107. The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Tottenham. 2^nd October 2021. Kick off 7-30. Premiership. 54,698.

I am back again! 11 years after I finished all the grounds. A lot has changed in those years, before this game I was 14 grounds out. That is teams getting new grounds and teams going in and out of the league. At the moment I don’t intend doing the clubs I have not been to, but who knows!

   Of course, my team Tottenham have a new ground and this is the first time I have been to the new ground (inside, we did visit last year) it is really great. It is almost on the old White Hart Lane. It holds over 62,000 people and along with a lot of things in it, it is cashless, a person can only use a card to buy anything, and your ticket is digital and gets sent to your phone.

    This a good game for me to go to as it was against Brentford who are my second team, they came up to the Premiership this season, the first in the top division since 1947. When I went as a kid and they were in the old 4^th division, well it just wasn’t going to happen. The Bees also have a new ground so I am going to try and get to that sometime.

    I stayed up in London that night at a hotel we use at Waterloo and Anne came up the next day and we did some shopping. I have now been retired from work for almost 3 years so it’s not a problem staying over. I might my mate Graham before the game and some of his mates at the Hamilton pub at Liverpool Street station but went on my own as they were going a different way. We have had a virus for almost 2 years now, Covid 19 and a lot of games were played behind closed doors for a long time, and it is still not over.

   Spurs haven’t long had a new manager, Antonio Conte. They went up to 6^th after this game. Brentford are 16^th, I hope they stay up. Spurs needed to win this badly and over all they were on top but The Bees are a hard team to break down. They have a good manager, Thomas Franks. I also have another first here, Thursday was the only day of the week I had not been to a new ground, so I have none done the 7 days. It was good to get back to the ground.     

108. GTECH Community Stadium, Brentford. Tuesday 8^th November 2022. Kick 7-45. EFL Cup – 3^rd round. Brentford 1 – 1 (5-6 penalties) Gillingham. 16,278.

Went to this with Graham. This is the first time I had been to Brentford’s new ground, it is near Kew Bridge. We went to a pub beforehand and ate there. It is a really nice ground, they have come a long way since I used to go as a child.

    This was a cup game and Brentford are two divisions (Brentford are still in the Premiership) above Gillingham. While the Bees had a lot of possession and took the lead after 3 minutes through Ivan Toney, but they could not finish them off, they drew level after 75 minutes through Mandron. It went to penalties which Gillingham won 5-6. We went early to get the train and listened to it on a policeman’s radio on the station. It was meant to be a 7-45 kick off but was at 8-00 because the away team were late getting there.

     This the last week of football fixtures in the PL as it stops after this weekend until Boxing Day because of the World Cup in Qatar. There has been a controversy about it being there, for lots of reasons, but it is going ahead in less than 2 weeks’ time. Good price to get in at £7 for “old git’s!”                       

There seems to be problems with people trying to make comments. Should you have any, please feel free to email me on tomewheeleris2003@yahoo.co.uk and title it Toms Blog. I will put comments on the Blog which are appropriate. Thank you.