Posts Tagged: Football League

Season Preview: The Memorial Stadium returns to the 92

Bristol rovers open top bus parade promotion conference playoffs 2015

The Conference play off final signalled a remarkable turn around for Bristol Rovers. Just over 12 months after being relegated at their own ground, by a team wearing their own kit and only being in the bottom 2 on the last day of the season (you couldn’t make that up!) the Gas bounced back. We caught up with Rovers fan of over 25 years and editor of acclaimed new book ‘Away The Gas’ Martin Bull to find out more about their return. Groundsman: Bouncing back at the first attempt is no mean feat – obviously you’re delighted – did you… Read more »

92 Club Interview

Dave Grant joins the 92 cub at Morecambe's Globe Arena

Groundhopper Dave Grant didn’t hang about topping up his 92, heading to the Hive, the new home of Barnet FC for a preseason encounter against MK Dons. We caught up with Dave to find out more about his journey to reach the magical 92 mark… Groundsman: What was the first ground you ticked off your list? Dave: The first ground I ticked off my list was Edgeley Park, the home of Stockport County when I was 6 months old. Sadly no longer part of the 92. My father was looking after me that day and took me to the game… Read more »

Interview: Ben Smith talks about his experiences of the 92 league grounds

Ben Smith Hereford United midfielder

Ben Smith carved out a career as a creative midfield maestro achieving three promotions, a relegation and being part of some memorable cup runs – all of which and more are now in print as part of his story ‘Journeyman: One man’s odyssey through the lower leagues of English football’. We caught up with the former Hereford United, Crawley Town and Yeovil Town midfielder to find out more about his experiences of the 92 league grounds. Groundsman: What was the best atmosphere you played in? Ben: Probably Old Trafford but that was more down to the volume of the crowd,… Read more »

2 steps closer to the 92 club within a few hours!

iPro Stadium Derby County v Nottingham Forest

Blogger and the92.net co-founder pb1uk recalls a memorable day groundhopping moving 2 rungs up the 92 club ladder within an hour of one another. My dad and I used to go on sporting holidays in my teens, we’d stay at relatives in the midlands (we live down south) and take in as many games as we could within 10 days at the start of the season. We had been to a fair few Reading games in the 2001/02 season, as a family friend was a season ticket holder. The Royals secured promotion and they started the new season in the… Read more »

Dan White heads to St Andrews doing the 92

arsenal goalkeeper Emilio Martínez on loan at rotherham united playing against birmingham

Dan White continues doing the 92 heading to England’s second city to see the Blues – Birmingham City. Ground: St Andrews 12/92 Game: Birmingham City 2-1 Rotherham United Date: 03/04/2015 Thoughts on the ground: One of many places I was not looking forward to visiting. Mostly because of stories I had been told about the city by my mum and friends of mine. But like many places on this list, I don’t really have a choice about where I have to go for this challenge. So why did I chose Birmingham? Since I had done some pitch side photos with… Read more »

90 down just 2 to go! St James Park Exeter

St james park

Blogger Tim Dove makes the long journey down to St James Park Exeter to take his total doing the 92 up to 90 as the curtain comes down on the Football League season. Ground: St James Park 90/92 Game: Exeter City 2-1 Dagenham & Redbridge Date: 02/05/2015 Thoughts on the ground: There’s a real mix to St James Park as is common with other clubs in the lower divisions who haven’t moved to new stadia recently. Specifically, there are two terraces and one of these is covered. The other two stands are both all-seating stands but only one runs the… Read more »

Dan White ticks the Proact Stadium off his 92

Chesterfield FC Proact Stadium West Stand

Budding photographer and blogger Dan White takes a trip to Chesterfield Town’s Proact Stadium with the Three Lions U17s in town. Ground: The Proact Stadium Road 10/92 Game: England U17 3-1 Slovenia U17 Date: 23/03/2015 Thoughts on the ground: For anyone who has never been to the Proact Stadium, it takes 20 minutes to walk to the ground from the town centre and is located next to a Tesco’s and a KFC. So if you arrive early you can do your weekly/monthly shopping while having eating a bucket of chicken. One thing I found interesting was how small the ground… Read more »

Dan White ticks Gresty Road off his 92

Ice Cream Van Stand at Crewe's Alexandra Stadium

Budding photographer and blogger Dan White heads to Crewe the home of the Railway men as Oldham were the visitors. Ground: Gresty Road 9/92 Game: Crewe Alexandra 0-1 Oldham Athletic Date: 21/03/2015 Thoughts on the ground: I had a nightmare trying to get to Crewe as I have to rely on trains and buses to get me to places. My train tickets told me that I had to make a change at Manchester Piccadilly, but I was already running into problems. The first train to Manchester was cancelled. Not to worry, they already had a replacement train at the ready…… Read more »

One up Two down at the DW Stadium

DW Stadium formerly the JJB Stadium Wigan

Blogger Michael Pilcher ticks off the DW Stadium as Wigan look to cling to their Championship status so Wolves still harboured hopes of going in the opposite direction. Ground: the DW Stadium 70/92 Game: Wigan Athletic 0-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers Date: 25/04/2015 My ground count has seriously suffered this campaign, mainly because of my third child arriving last May. After averaging 15 new grounds a season for the last three years, my count for 2014/15 stood at a measly five. Finding myself up North with the in-laws in Preston on Friday ready to head over for a stag do in Liverpool… Read more »

Sevens up for Dan White at Spotland

Rochdale v Colchester United at Spotland

Blogger Dan White travels to Spotland, the home of Rochdale as relegation threatened Essex outfit Colchester United were the visitors. Ground: Spotland 7/92 Game: Rochdale 2-1 Colchester United Date: 07/03/2015 Thoughts on the ground: I arrived in Rochdale and the first thing I noticed was how dead and quiet it was. I felt like I was on the set of The Walking Dead. Thankfully, after walking into the town centre, I managed to find people, shops and tourist attractions. While wandering around, I got a message on Twitter. Usually I ignore them because it’s either my mom retweeting my movie… Read more »