Groundhopping

[boots60]

3 hours ago, grobyfox1990 said:

Didn't realise the Mestella was getting knocked down!!! That will be the new priority stadium to get to this season then. Valencia is prob an easy two day Ryanair trip

Went to the Mestella in 2007 as I understood it was going to be demolished soon.

18 years later it's still in use though I believe work is starting again on the New Mestella this year, planned opening 2027.

Valencia is a brilliant city to visit with plenty to keep you interested & plenty of places to visit & unlike most of coastal Spain it is not too touristy & the best place in the world for paella.

Will go the the new stadium when open but for anyone who has never been to Valencia, try to tick off the old stadium before it gets demolished as it is an iconic, though slightly crumbling structure.

 

[boots60]

And in slightly less salubrious surroundings from the above, I'm off to see Morecambe v Walsall then Lancaster City v Macclesfield on the 22nd Feb.

Different set of clothes required for this trip.

[grobyfox1990]

11 minutes ago, boots60 said:

Went to the Mestella in 2007 as I understood it was going to be demolished soon.

18 years later it's still in use though I believe work is starting again on the New Mestella this year, planned opening 2027.

Valencia is a brilliant city to visit with plenty to keep you interested & plenty of places to visit & unlike most of coastal Spain it is not too touristy & the best place in the world for paella.

Will go the the new stadium when open but for anyone who has never been to Valencia, try to tick off the old stadium before it gets demolished as it is an iconic, though slightly crumbling structure.

 

Nice one, good to know. I have heard it is a fun city as well. My wife has been twice so I won't be able to do the usual 'WOAH flights to Valencia seem really good value we should go on that weekend and OMG you wouldn't believe it but I've just seen the local football team are playing at home as well JUST WOW we have to go to that game' kind of trip. Will try and rope a friend in.

[SemperEadem]

On 10/02/2025 at 09:43, grobyfox1990 said:

Didn't realise the Mestella was getting knocked down!!! That will be the new priority stadium to get to this season then. Valencia is prob an easy two day Ryanair trip

Spanish football culture really does not do it for me but this ground would be a big enough pull for me to look to get over to see it before it goes.

[Voll Blau]

On 10/02/2025 at 13:56, grobyfox1990 said:

Nice one, good to know. I have heard it is a fun city as well. My wife has been twice so I won't be able to do the usual 'WOAH flights to Valencia seem really good value we should go on that weekend and OMG you wouldn't believe it but I've just seen the local football team are playing at home as well JUST WOW we have to go to that game' kind of trip. Will try and rope a friend in.

Ha! Never pulled that one but I did once successfully get my missus into a routine of having an afternoon siesta on holiday in Madeira once. By the Saturday, it coincided nicely with Maritimo's kick-off time. 

[CosbehFox]

On 10/02/2025 at 13:47, boots60 said:

And in slightly less salubrious surroundings from the above, I'm off to see Morecambe v Walsall then Lancaster City v Macclesfield on the 22nd Feb.

Different set of clothes required for this trip.

Genuinely mean it when I say Lancaster City is a better ground  

 

All confirmed I complete the 92 on 22nd February at Bromley - only to lose it immediately in August. 

 

Was supposed to do OJM CFC who play at a ground very near where I used to live in Birmingham - Pilkington Glass's old sports ground. Trying to tick off the remaining grounds from a couple of divisions. 

[CosbehFox]

23 hours ago, Voll Blau said:

Ha! Never pulled that one but I did once successfully get my missus into a routine of having an afternoon siesta on holiday in Madeira once. By the Saturday, it coincided nicely with Maritimo's kick-off time. 

When I was 16 - I went on a family holiday to Tenerife - the local team Marino were playing. I went off and told my parents I'll be back by 6pm or whatever it was. 

 

The game finished at 7.30pm - the coppers had to turn up half way to stop the locals abusing the ref and he locked himself in the changing room. Mum did a Mum thing - saying she was worried sick etc. 

[Stuntman_Mike]

8 minutes ago, CosbehFox said:

Genuinely mean it when I say Lancaster City is a better ground  

 

All confirmed I complete the 92 on 22nd February at Bromley - only to lose it immediately in August. 

 

Was supposed to do OJM CFC who play at a ground very near where I used to live in Birmingham - Pilkington Glass's old sports ground. Trying to tick off the remaining grounds from a couple of divisions. 

You in the Harrogate end? I noticed Bromley still haven't put them on sale yet. 

 

Looks like it could be Everton with a club like Bournemouth next year if/when we drop. 

[CosbehFox]

1 minute ago, Stuntman_Mike said:

You in the Harrogate end? I noticed Bromley still haven't put them on sale yet. 

 

Looks like it could be Everton with a club like Bournemouth next year if/when we drop. 

Yeah in Harrogate end. 

 

Bromley sold tickets for their game this week with three days notice - all to do with their works at their ground 

[rugbyblue]

On 31/01/2025 at 13:02, CosbehFox said:

Booked flights to Stockholm - subject to everything fitting into place 

 

Sat: Djurgarden women @ 1912 Stockholm Olympic Stadium 

Sun: Hammarby v Djurgardens 

Mon: AIK v Malmo 

 

Ive just booked my flights and hotel for djurgarden v aik.  Pinning my hopes on this djurgarden employee coming good now.  Fingers crossed.  I just watched the end of a swedish cup game involving hammarby against a team i havent heard of and despite one end being empty the atmosphere still sounded fantastic. Enjoy 

[CosbehFox]

15 hours ago, rugbyblue said:

Ive just booked my flights and hotel for djurgarden v aik.  Pinning my hopes on this djurgarden employee coming good now.  Fingers crossed.  I just watched the end of a swedish cup game involving hammarby against a team i havent heard of and despite one end being empty the atmosphere still sounded fantastic. Enjoy 

Similarly I have got to hope my new Swedish friend comes good. 
 

https://www.ultras-tifo.net - go on here and search the Stockholm derbies. Some tifo displays

 

Have to remember the last Stockholm derby got halted after 70 minutes and they came back the next dsy to finish off without fans 

[Lionator]

What are the best countries/teams currently for a decent combo of atmosphere and a real cultural identity? Looking for another trip maybe to a non big five country. 

[rugbyblue]

1 hour ago, CosbehFox said:

Similarly I have got to hope my new Swedish friend comes good. 
 

https://www.ultras-tifo.net - go on here and search the Stockholm derbies. Some tifo displays

 

Have to remember the last Stockholm derby got halted after 70 minutes and they came back the next dsy to finish off without fans 

I suppose this is a risk you take but if you dont try youll never get there.

 

My daughter wants to see stockholm anyway and is learning Swedish so at the very least we will get a city break if he doesn't deliver.  Although the thought of the ABBA museum doesn't excite me quite as much as the derby 😂.

 

Thanks for the link.  Ill have a look and yes i did read about game being halted.  

[CosbehFox]

2 hours ago, rugbyblue said:

I suppose this is a risk you take but if you dont try youll never get there.

 

My daughter wants to see stockholm anyway and is learning Swedish so at the very least we will get a city break if he doesn't deliver.  Although the thought of the ABBA museum doesn't excite me quite as much as the derby 😂.

 

Thanks for the link.  Ill have a look and yes i did read about game being halted.  

Apparently the Vasa Museum is as good as any museum in the world 

[tinpot_fox]

I’m staying next to Old Trafford all week, and not got any football planned. Didn’t realise until I got here.

[CosbehFox]

On 16/02/2025 at 09:53, Lionator said:

What are the best countries/teams currently for a decent combo of atmosphere and a real cultural identity? Looking for another trip maybe to a non big five country. 

That's a very good question if you are going outside of the big five. The reason Italy is always so high on my list is because the grounds are clapped out and it indefinitely still has a raw culture to it. 

 

The Central European/Eastern European countries are moving to modern stadia but their atmospheres still remain excellent. Somewhere like GKS Katowice closed down this week and along with Odra Opole, they are two of the remaining Soviet era grounds of size in Poland. Given its outside of the 'Western' bubble, Serbia, whilst I haven;t been is still 'behind'. Greece is another but fraught with problems like no away ends, the top sides such as Pana playing in the huge Olympic stadium. 

 

You would be better placed if the culture identify is important is to choose of the large cities in Central Europe - say Budapest, Prague, even Vienna. Have a main game in one of the modern studia's as an anchor and then hopefully pull in a couple of more games at the traditional lower league grounds. Prague has Zizkov with its 11am Sunday kick-offs, Vienna has Hone Warte (and a traditional of Friday night games), Budapest has delights such as Csepel and Elore. 

 

Then you have the amateur levels of say Belgian which are excellent but you will lose on the atmosphere. 

Edited 18 February by CosbehFox

[CosbehFox]

Worked out for the 92

 

That of the 91 visited, 64 I've seen Leicester at. 

 

In trying to complete the 92, I have visited 117 grounds, 75 I've seen Leicester at. 

[Sir Steve Howard]

Just back from Sarajevo, did two games.
 

Slavija Sarajevo 6-1 Borac Kozarska Dubica in the Republica Srpska first league.

Attendance probably 300ish, dead atmosphere other than us 3 drunk Englishmen trying to get some chants going.

 

Zeljeznicar 1-1 Borac Banja Luka. Bosnian Prem.

Lovely old ground, 10k there and atmosphere was going off, flares and smoke bombs aots. Never seen a home support more fervently angry with the ref at all times. Great stuff.

For some reason there were only about 10 away fans, considering it's deemed somewhat a rivalry and both near top of the table. Maybe ultras boycott or weird KO time limiting away fans.

[CosbehFox]

So Verner my Hammarby man has come good. Tickets go on sale to members for Hammarby v DIF and he's told me all sorted. He's adamant it's £15 and next to the VIP area. I've looked up and the most expensive season ticket equals to £22. That's in one of the worlds highest cost of living cities ! 

[grobyfox1990]

51 minutes ago, Sir Steve Howard said:

Just back from Sarajevo, did two games.
 

Slavija Sarajevo 6-1 Borac Kozarska Dubica in the Republica Srpska first league.

Attendance probably 300ish, dead atmosphere other than us 3 drunk Englishmen trying to get some chants going.

 

Zeljeznicar 1-1 Borac Banja Luka. Bosnian Prem.

Lovely old ground, 10k there and atmosphere was going off, flares and smoke bombs aots. Never seen a home support more fervently angry with the ref at all times. Great stuff.

For some reason there were only about 10 away fans, considering it's deemed somewhat a rivalry and both near top of the table. Maybe ultras boycott or weird KO time limiting away fans.

That's incredible.

Going to Glasgow in a few weekends, anyone have any connects for Celtic home tickets?

[CosbehFox]

Two weeks today - times this by ten for the derby! 

[boots60]

Going to Inter Milan v Cagliari this weekend, tickets bought. Hoping to go Como v Torino on Sunday but may have left it too late to get tickets.

 

Has anyone any experience of ticketing at Como, do they save any for sale on day of the match?

[Sir Steve Howard]

Just now, boots60 said:

Going to Inter Milan v Cagliari this weekend, tickets bought. Hoping to go Como v Torino on Sunday but may have left it too late to get tickets.

 

Has anyone any experience of ticketing at Como, do they save any for sale on day of the match?

When we went the day before the Milan derby, was buy tickets on day job, were loads of British groundhoppers knocking about. Granted they were Serie B at the time, so less interest but doubt they're completely selling games out?

[boots60]

1 minute ago, Sir Steve Howard said:

When we went the day before the Milan derby, was buy tickets on day job, were loads of British groundhoppers knocking about. Granted they were Serie B at the time, so less interest but doubt they're completely selling games out?

Thanks Sir Steve, their website says 0 available but I have a hunch that there might be a chance of returns on the day of the match, if not, then a few hours in Como wouldn't be too bad, but would really love to tick this one off.

[CosbehFox]

No Stockholm Stadions  DJugardens women switched stadium