Football Ground Map
Football Ground Map
Football is the most popular sport on the planet with the drama and unpredictability on the pitch appealing to millions of people around the world. There is nothing like supporting your club every week but for many the desire to watch different teams all over is too great. Many football followers enjoy groundhopping and even 'completing the 92' which involves attending a fixture at every Premier League and Football League stadium in England.
If you are keen to explore different matches, there are a number of things to consider before deciding where to go. This article will provide tips and guidance on how you can best hop around different grounds and enhance your football experience.
The games come thick and fast throughout the campaign with matches taking place across the UK and Europe every weekend and during the week. There are league fixtures to be played as well as domestic cup competition and tournaments on the continent.
As a football fan, you will have your dream clashes you would love to see and so you should note them down to make the wishlist a possibility. This way, you can plot a schedule and view some of your favourite teams and watch some of the biggest game. Take the Champions League final, for example, one of the most highly anticipated matches of the campaign and you can find tickets at hellotickets.co.uk by searching online. Whether it's Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain or Bayern Munich and Juventus, it's possible to get access to seats if you know where to look.
It is imperative you plan ahead when groundhopping as attempting to complete the 92 can be a logistical nightmare at times. Plotting routes and making arrangements can eliminate stress and ensure you have a hassle-free experience at the match.
From securing tickets and booking accommodation to making travel arrangements and finding out where you need to go, it's wise to plot out the day or days you will spend so that you can enjoy your leisure time and hobby. Make time in your day to access different platforms online and also assess different sites for offers and promotions which could enhance your journey or even your time at the stadium.
One of the key moves you must make when plotting the 92 is to assess the football calendar. While the league season often runs from August to May, clubs usually return to pre-season action in July and some tournament fixtures are played early too meaning there are opportunities to attend games and new stadiums virtually all-year around.
By monitoring key dates, you can make the most of your free time by watching teams at the optimum time. For instance, during the international breaks throughout the season, Premier League and Championship sides will not be in action, providing you with an ideal time to watch a game in League One, League Two or even non-League. This will help you to get through more games by being smart and efficient with when and where you go each week.
Even in June, some clubs in Scandinavia and elsewhere around the world will be in action which offers further chances to tick off more grounds and experiences.
When it comes to logistics, you should attempt to tick off two grounds at once, particularly when attending games far from home. For instance, if you are based in the south and travelling to the North-East, it's a smart move to try and watch Newcastle, Sunderland and Middlesbrough across a number of days where the fixture list allows, so that you don't have to make repeated long-haul trips.
Take note though that some clubs based close to each other play at home on alternate weeks for this reason. Like Everton and Liverpool; when the Toffees are hosting at Goodison Park, the Reds will be on the road and vice versa. One way around this though is to attend when the sides are in different fixtures. So, while the Blues might be at home in the Premier League on a Sunday, Liverpool could be playing at Anfield in the Champions League on a Tuesday night which would allow you to attend both matches across only three days.
While ticking off all 92 league grounds is all about having an element of efficiency, you should always arrive at new grounds early to really take in the game and understand more about the club.
Having a wander around the stadium and soak up the atmosphere. Take plenty of photos too as these are great to share with your followers on social media while also acting as a great reminder of the match you attended. Take to your seat in plenty of time as this is where you will get to see the players warm up and view how other fanbases back their team before kick-off.
Overall, travelling the country, Europe and beyond watching football is a great pursuit. Not only will you have the opportunity to watch countless games but you will also travel to different towns and cities and see first-hand how the sport is watched and adored by others. Be sure to plan ahead and look for ways to make your travel more effective through the season.
All good things have to come to an end, and the same unfortunately has to be said for football stadiums too. This article looks at the grounds which are soon to host their last match, the stadiums whose days are numbered and where fans will be watching their football from next.
Tony Incenzo has been to over 2,000 football grounds - is he the world's barmiest football fan? Read about his love for Non-League football and groundhopping obsession, including watching a match in prison!
My daughter's first ever football match - Orlando City v Atlanta United, August 2019. Written for Izzy to read when she gets old enough. Vamos Orlando
Taking my son to his first football match was one of the best experiences I've had as a father so far. I've written this article for Alex to read when he gets older.
