Groundhopping

[CosbehFox]

Went Hyde v Ilkeston yesterday. Big crowd because only game on in the Manchester area. 2-2, good game and a decent stadium in proper Tameside. 

[Guest worth_the_wait]

On 01/01/2026 at 14:23, sishades said:

Off to Scotland tomorrow to take in Dunfermline Athletic, This will be my 12 ground in Scotland. I also have only 3 to do to complete the National league and redo Everton.

With an extra train back on Saturday evenings from Edinburgh (re last month's LNER timetable change) ... I'm planning to do a few more grounds up there.

 

I'm trying to make sure that I've got at least one game in reserve, if my main planned game is called off.    Obviously, the game in reserve has to be one that hasn't sold out.

[sishades]

 Well I turned up at the ground in Dunfermline to see the "Game Postponed" signs!!!!! This was slightly annoying as the whole trip cost around 300 pounds. However I did bump into ...................NEIL LENNON. What a really nice chap. I flew back yesterday( I I live in Norfolk).

[sishades]

On 03/01/2026 at 17:51, boots60 said:

Bad luck with the postponement though plenty of other games on in Scotlands central belt.

Did you manage to get to another fixture?

Sadly no. I was using the train and tram. My original plan was to go to Saint Johnston, but Dunfermline was the closest to my hotel. Hey Ho!

[Stuntman_Mike]

We've booked a weekend in Eindhoven for Feb.

 

FC Eindhoven v Almere City on the Saturday and Genk v Standard Liege on the Sunday heading back, can't wait. 

 

Any recommendations welcome as we didn't make it for City's PSV trip 

 

I've seen about Stratumseind, which I'd imagine has plenty to offer. 

 

[CosbehFox]

3 hours ago, Stuntman_Mike said:

We've booked a weekend in Eindhoven for Feb.

 

FC Eindhoven v Almere City on the Saturday and Genk v Standard Liege on the Sunday heading back, can't wait. 

 

Any recommendations welcome as we didn't make it for City's PSV trip 

 

I've seen about Stratumseind, which I'd imagine has plenty to offer. 

 

Cafe 100 Watt, Drinkers Pub, Beer Professor for booze 

 

Down Town Gourmet Market for street food 

 

There was place what did Full Englishs as well - I mean like proper Full Englishs. 

[Voll Blau]

8 hours ago, CosbehFox said:

Cafe 100 Watt, Drinkers Pub, Beer Professor for booze 

 

Down Town Gourmet Market for street food 

 

There was place what did Full Englishs as well - I mean like proper Full Englishs. 

You mean without marmalade?! 

[grobyfox1990]

Went to Algeria v Nigeria in Marrakech. Absolute chaos at every turn. Attendance 32,500 but completely choked traffic for miles to the ground. Multiple checkpoints and barriers leading to the ground. We missed ko despite leaving two hours early. I was at the 2022 Paris final where the French tried very hard to deliberately kill football fans, this was a similar level of madness but not deliberate. Crazy experience. Marrakech itself is a complete tourist trap now but still kinda fun 

[CosbehFox]

Been a few reports that Marrakech organisation is a shocker, more so than the other venues 

[Guest worth_the_wait]

On 05/01/2026 at 19:10, sishades said:

 Well I turned up at the ground in Dunfermline to see the "Game Postponed" signs!!!!! This was slightly annoying as the whole trip cost around 300 pounds. However I did bump into ...................NEIL LENNON. What a really nice chap. I flew back yesterday( I I live in Norfolk).

I've had quite a few wasted trips to Scotland, over the previous few decades.  Always a bit of a risk in winter.

 

The worst one was when an Old Firm game got called off a couple of hours before ko.  I'd spent all day telling my m8 how great the atmosphere was going to be.  Poor lad, never did get to sample an Old Firm game.  RIP Tim.

 

[Dan]

How big a pain in the arse is Greece for getting tickets? Is it as bad as Turkey? Got half an eye on going to PAOK v AEK.

[CosbehFox]

On 16/01/2026 at 20:31, Dan said:

How big a pain in the arse is Greece for getting tickets? Is it as bad as Turkey? Got half an eye on going to PAOK v AEK.

Sorry Dan didn't see this. It's a lot easier, there is a APEL number or something but for foreigners you just need to put your birthday or passport number can't remember now. 

 

 

[CosbehFox]

In the area Saturday, so went Atherton Collieries v Witton Albion. A ground with nothing to write home about. Except it was beautifully northern non-league. Sloping pitch which was a mud bath. A clubhouse which had about 80 people in it who never left the place whilst the game was ongoing (Bolton's 12.30pm kick-off helping matters there). A classic food outlet which specialised in pies, gravy and peas. Decent game too. Cracking division this - Northern Div 1 West. Lots of teams with traditional followings from Manchester and Liverpool. Witton formerly of the Conference and Atherton bit of more former contender. Some cracking grounds as well yet to do like Mossley. 

 

Got a spare weekend coming up - did think about Hastings but that's a long way without a weekend. 

Edited 2 February by CosbehFox

[Dan]

42 minutes ago, CosbehFox said:

Sorry Dan didn't see this. It's a lot easier, there is a APEL number or something but for foreigners you just need to put your birthday or passport number can't remember now. 

 

 

Thanks. I'm gonna leave it this time but definitely one I'll get to in the next year or two I think. Still somehow never been to Greece.

 

Would be obliged to go and watch Kallithea too.

[CosbehFox]

Yep, new yellow jersey leader for footballing experience. 

 

The Belgrade derby. An intensity I've not come across before. Absolute bedlam at times. Okay their tifo display wasn't great but the pure pyro and noise huge. 

 

Partizan had the away end on literal fire at one point. Crvena with the best pyro show I've seen live. The quality on the pitch downright dreadful bar an excellent third goal. Shame Partizan were done by a disgrace of VAR call - as 2-1 with fifteen to play would have been fun. 

 

Also did; a second tier game held at Bezanija FK which is in Novi Belgrade (a huge estate built in the 70s and 80s) - no atmosphere, goalless but just bizarre (Chinese restaurant for half-time)

 

Vojvodina in Novi Sad on Saturday - proper run down stadium, couldn't see the ultras as in same stand but they looked the part. The 30 from Novi Pazar chuffed they won 3-0

[-sodapop]

Finally made it down to Alte Försterei after years of living here (in my defence, I live in the other end of the city and I work in hospitality so rarely have time when games are on).

 

What a love letter to football that place is, really embodies the whole "Fußballromantik" thing.

 

So jarring to see fans who are so passionate about their team, in a stadium that they built themselves and then have to go back to watch our shower of shite.

 

Still not sure if I love the German football way of chanting that completely ignores what's going on on the pitch more or less, but can't argue with the atmosphere - both the away fans and the home fans were singing and jumping for the full 90 more or less. Union scored early and basically got peppered for the entire match, but honestly the result was fair as I think Union had the stronger chances. 

 

Definitely liked the matchday experience there much more than at Olympiastadion, but despite the general opinion in the UK, I definitely find Hertha the more sympathetic side. 

[Stuntman_Mike]

8 hours ago, CosbehFox said:

Yep, new yellow jersey leader for footballing experience. 

 

The Belgrade derby. An intensity I've not come across before. Absolute bedlam at times. Okay their tifo display wasn't great but the pure pyro and noise huge. 

 

Partizan had the away end on literal fire at one point. Crvena with the best pyro show I've seen live. The quality on the pitch downright dreadful bar an excellent third goal. Shame Partizan were done by a disgrace of VAR call - as 2-1 with fifteen to play would have been fun. 

 

Also did; a second tier game held at Bezanija FK which is in Novi Belgrade (a huge estate built in the 70s and 80s) - no atmosphere, goalless but just bizarre (Chinese restaurant for half-time)

 

Vojvodina in Novi Sad on Saturday - proper run down stadium, couldn't see the ultras as in same stand but they looked the part. The 30 from Novi Pazar chuffed they won 3-0

Sounds a great experience.

 

I've seen the clips of fans in Belgrade wafting the flames in the away end with smashed up seats. Absolute carnage 

[Stuntman_Mike]

Me and my pals had a top weekend in Eindhoven. We stopped at Ghent on the way and Genk coming back.

 

FC Eindhoven 3-2 Almere City 

Last minute screamer won it, felt like non league level despite it being 2nd tier and Almere being in the top division last season. 

Fell in love with the place tbf, just everything you want from a match day and so pure. I haven't celebrated a Leicester goal like I did their winner and I'd only been there 2 hours.

 

Genk 0-3 Standard Liege 

I think Genk looked leggy after winning in Zagreb in the week and never got going. Both sets of support amazing. Genk halted the game with pyro and fireworks at the start of the second half and Liege didn't stop all game.

 

I love visiting Belgium and Netherlands, just so easy to get to, yet so different for all the right reasons.

 

Looking forward to planning another.

[boots60]

3 hours ago, Stuntman_Mike said:

Sounds a great experience.

 

I've seen the clips of fans in Belgrade wafting the flames in the away end with smashed up seats. Absolute carnage 

Vienna 2000

C**ts

[Sir Steve Howard]

12 hours ago, Stuntman_Mike said:

Me and my pals had a top weekend in Eindhoven. We stopped at Ghent on the way and Genk coming back.

 

FC Eindhoven 3-2 Almere City 

Last minute screamer won it, felt like non league level despite it being 2nd tier and Almere being in the top division last season. 

Fell in love with the place tbf, just everything you want from a match day and so pure. I haven't celebrated a Leicester goal like I did their winner and I'd only been there 2 hours.

 

Genk 0-3 Standard Liege 

I think Genk looked leggy after winning in Zagreb in the week and never got going. Both sets of support amazing. Genk halted the game with pyro and fireworks at the start of the second half and Liege didn't stop all game.

 

I love visiting Belgium and Netherlands, just so easy to get to, yet so different for all the right reasons.

 

Looking forward to planning another.

what, ever?!?

[1972 Fox]

13 hours ago, Stuntman_Mike said:

FC Eindhoven 3-2 Almere City 

Last minute screamer won it, felt like non league level despite it being 2nd tier and Almere being in the top division last season. I haven't celebrated a Leicester goal like I did their winner and I'd only been there 2 hours.

 

5 minutes ago, Sir Steve Howard said:

what, ever?!?

Ridiculous comment @Stuntman_Mike 

[Stuntman_Mike]

3 hours ago, Sir Steve Howard said:

what, ever?!?

This season 

[Leicesterpool]

What stadium is everyone fave in the uk always, admired St James Park, Villa Park and Ibrox. All of which are traditional grounds that been well maintained and developed over the years.

[purpleronnie]

2 minutes ago, Leicesterpool said:

What stadium is everyone fave in the uk always, admired St James Park, Villa Park and Ibrox. All of which are traditional grounds that been well maintained and developed over the years.

It pains me to say but Ibrox is the best football stadium in the UK.

[Sir Steve Howard]

14 minutes ago, purpleronnie said:

It pains me to say but Ibrox is the best football stadium in the UK.

Even more painful to say that the City Ground is great, would also chuck in the Hawthorns