The numbers groundhopping (visiting new football grounds)seems to be growing in popularity and I have started trying to take in matches where I can at all different levels.
I've been to two new venues this year Litherland Remyca (step 5) and Maine Rd (step 6)
Both only cost a fiver to get in. The standard of football at step 5 is very good,
Also nice to help out friendly clubs who rely on gate money and bar to sustain their clubs.
There are quite a few new step 6 clubs to try and get to, push I still have quite a few league and higher non league clubs to visit.
According to my app, I'm up to 162 grounds visited
West Disdury and Chorlton are the Dulwich Hamlet of the North.
Step 5 - NW counties premier after promotion last year.
Regularly get 1000+ crowds, full of hipsters, family's and dogs...
Local brewery provide ale. £6 to get in. Lots of volunteers in a leafy well off area of Manchester.
Huge potential for capacity to increase, but capacity is restrained by turnstile numbers at this level.
A club on the up and playing entertaining football.
Futbology is apparently the best app for tracking matches(recent) the older matches are not always complete and difficult to remember.
Crewe ticked off, Squires Gate and Daisy Hill scheduled for Jan
Up to 168 current venues and I suspect another 30+ that don't exist anymore.
Crewe, Daisy Hill, Squires Gate - all done
Ashville and Brackley are the only other realistic venues from the list above
Also added FC St Helens and will get to Burscough's new ground soon.
There is a good groundhopping opportunity in March with a NW Counties groundhop - based in Staffordshire and one game Friday night, four on the Saturday and two on Sunday. All set in proximity to each other so you can watch all games.
What a disappointment Vale Park is for a league 1 club.
Mainstand can only take half capacity. The opposite side is almost below the level of the pitch and the food is pretty poor and the ground surroundings are a bit of a tip.
Weirdest ground I have been to is Newcastle Town.
It is in the middle of a public park and is part of an outdoor cycling velodrome.
The pitch is surrounded by 10 ft curved banking and effectively you either sit in the main stand by the penalty area or on the small terrace on the half way line.
From behind the goal, you can watch the Rugby Union club match that backs onto the velodrome.
1 more ground in Hanley Town for me to view to finish a complete league (NPL west) - until the league chops and changes with promotion and relegation.
Weirdest ground I have been to is Newcastle Town. It is in the middle of a public park and is part of an outdoor cycling velodrome. The pitch is surrounded by 10 ft curved banking and effectively you either sit in the main stand by the penalty area or on the small terrace on the half way line. From behind the goal, you can watch the Rugby Union club match that backs onto the velodrome.
1 more ground in Hanley Town for me to view to finish a complete league (NPL west) - until the league chops and changes with promotion and relegation.
Already added a couple of new grounds this season
Darwin - very fancy bar in the ground, plastic pitch
Stockport Town - basic ground, plastic pitch, share with Stockport Ladies. Game was good including 45 yards.
4 more added
Cheadle Heath Nomads - very basic, right over the flight path and very close to Stockport County
Ashton Athletic - old fashioned club in the middle of a farmers field
Northampton Town - decent set up, new build, well supported on retail estate
Garstang - very basic, not much facilities and canoeists wandered in at half time.
4 more added Cheadle Heath Nomads - very basic, right over the flight path and very close to Stockport County Ashton Athletic - old fashioned club in the middle of a farmers field Northampton Town - decent set up, new build, well supported on retail estate Garstang - very basic, not much facilities and canoeists wandered in at half time.
"proper" non-league!
