Monthly Archives: August 2015

Qualifying for Champions League Proper: Arena Națională, Bucharest

against modern football graphite slogan.

After the Champions League qualification exploits in Macedonia, our search was ever further harder, more teams had been eliminated, and quite a few in the region we were traversing. We spotted that Steaua Bucharest were due to play Partizan Belgrade at the enormous Arena Națională. It wasn’t quite perfect, we would have to shift our expected twenty four hour train journey to Istanbul from Bucharest, but, alas, no problem, we wanted football, and the calendar had been unkind to us twice. The first time was in giving us no domestic football to see in the Moldovan capital, Chisinau, when we… Read more »

Gillingham make the trip to the Vale Park

Port Vale's ground

Gills fan Michael Pilcher continues to set the pace doing the 92, ticking off his second ground in successive weeks. The Kent outfit were off to the Potteries to face Port Vale hoping to avenge a 2-1 defeat from their last visit. Ground: Vale Park 72/92 Game: Port Vale 1 – 1 Gillingham Date: 15/08/2015 Vale Park is one of those lower league grounds that has been sitting on my list for years, and considering Vale have followed my team (Gillingham) through the bottom two tiers for the past six seasons or so, it’s surprising it’s taken me this long…. Read more »

On the road with the Pools at Bootham Crescent

York City v Hartlepool United in league 2

Pools fan Ross Hamilton-Milburn ticks off his first ground of the new season as Hartlepool travelled to York. Ground: Bootham Crescent 15/92 Game: York 1-2 Hartlepool United Date: 15/08/2015 Thoughts on the ground: Bootham Crescent is one of those proper old fashioned football grounds you normally only ever see on one of the million ‘football from the past’ twitter accounts that seem to exist for some reason. For a start, on the approach to the ground you walk past things called ‘houses’ as opposed to through an industrial estate like most modern stadiums are. The turnstiles look like they’ve come… Read more »

Qualifying for Champions League Proper: Arena Filip II

Corner taken by APOEL

A blog as @MossInBerlin travels through eastern Europe to the early qualification games to the World’s biggest club competition: The Champions League (proper). Fresh from the adventure in Zagreb, we scoured the UEFA competitions fixture lists again, looking at our planned travel route, to find a suitable fixture. A tasty little 2nd Leg of the Second Round of Qualification between FK Vardar and APOEL Nicosia in Skopje fitted suitably and didn’t require a change to our travel plans, or a 400 km diversion like the Zagreb trip. The game was delicately balanced after the first leg resulted in a 0-0 draw,… Read more »

Leicester get off to a flyer at the King Power Stadium

Lcfc leicester city ground

Groundhopper Michael Pilcher gets the first tick off his 92 for the new season. Leicestershire was the destination as the foxes took on relegation survivors Sunderland under the stewardship of new manager Claudio Ranieri. Ground: King Power Stadium 71/92 Game: Leicester City 4 – 2 Sunderland Date: 08/08/2015 Ah, the joys of pre-season. From the transfer rumours, to the eventual new signings or sudden emergence of a youth team player, to reading a bit too much into pre-season performances. The first game of the season is always exciting, with an unexpectant, slightly relaxed buzz. No formbook, no desperation for points,… Read more »

Qualifying for Champions League Proper: Stadion Maksimir

Outside Stadion Maksimir

A blog as @MossInBerlin travels through eastern Europe to the early qualification games to the World’s biggest club competition: The Champions League (proper). I have a particular thirst for football and traveling throughout eastern European, and having already combined the two for Euro 2012 and Manchester United’s 2008 Champions League success, another adventure was required. I had a large swathe of south eastern Europe yet to be trodden by my feet, and the timing could coincide with the qualification rounds for the Europa League and Champions League, where a plethora of teams battle it out for the prestige, honour, and of… Read more »

We Welcome the Hive Stadium to the 92

Barnet FC Hive Stadium

After two years out of the Football League Barnet returned to the 92 clinching the Vanarama Conference crown. However the Bees return in a much different state to which they left. For seasons they were dogged in relegation battles that finally got the better of them, but now they are back brimming with confidence and in smart new facilities. We caught up with sports reporter for the north London Times series Tom Bodell to find out more. Groundsman: Claiming the title after leading the way for so long – obviously you’re delighted – did you always feel you had enough… Read more »

PR: Match-day protests over prices set for October

Fans from across the country will make their anger at ticket prices known with a “weekend of action” set to take place on Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th October. Supporters’ groups from every top-flight club are set to take part along with many from the Football League and beyond. Match-goers will display banners highlighting the cost of match-tickets and call on clubs to cut ticket prices. The Football Supporters’ Federation (FSF) says the problem of high ticket prices runs throughout the professional game and says fans from all leagues back the FSF’s “Twenty’s Plenty for Away Tickets” campaign. Richard Scudamore… Read more »

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 »