Posts Categorized: Ground review

An offer not to be refused at Meadow Lane

The Jimmy Sirrell Stand at Meadow Lane Notts County

With just a trio of grounds left to tick off his 92 blogger Michael Pilcher heard Notts County’s call for a 12th man. Under new ownership and management the Pies were eager for a bumper crowd for a relegation 6 pointer and had an offer to boot to entice the fans back to Meadow Lane… Ground 90/92: Meadow Lane Notts County 2 – 1 Cheltenham Town 11/02/2017 Back in August I ticked the City Ground off my 92, and had to walk straight past neighbouring Meadow Lane en route to Forest from the train station. It was still on my ‘to do’… Read more »

Two Countries, Two Matches, Two Days.

In the dugout at the Memorial Stadium

Newcastle fan Colin Harrison continued to make strides towards the magical 92 club again taking advantage of some TV scheduling. A pain to many but ideal for those doing the 92 first stop Wales… DAY ONE Ground 73/92: Rodney Parade Game: Newport County 0-0 Doncaster Rovers Date: 10/02/2017 Newport County’s Rodney Parade was a ground I was going to leave till late in my quest to do the 92 as I fear they may be one team to fall through the trapdoor into Non-League. However, when I spotted their game against Doncaster Rovers had been moved to a Friday night… Read more »

A step closer to the 92 club at Valley Parade

Main entrance at Bradford City FC

Blogger Michael Pilcher edged a ground closer to the magical 92 club with a trip to Yorkshire. Ground 89/92: Valley Parade Bradford City 2 – 2 Gillingham 04/02/2017 My eldest daughter (6, going on 16) was disappointed that our run of games & grounds together this season ended when I went solo to a few matches during January. Her last ground had been Rodney Parade in December, a majorly disappointing visit – the match was abandoned at half-time, we both got absolutely drenched, and we got lost trying to find the train station – and yet weirdly that experience hasn’t… Read more »

Ticking Boundary Park off the list

Back of the Main Stand at Boundary Park the home of Oldham Athletic

Blogger and the92.net co-founder Pete was on the 92 trail for first time in 2017. Greater Manchester was the destination as Bradford City made the trip down the road to face Oldham Athletic. Ground: Boundary Park (Sports Direct.com Park) (71/92) Game: Oldham Athletic 1-2 Bradford City Date: 28/01/2017 Approaching the final 20 doing the 92 even the closest grounds left are now into 3 figures for mileage each way. One of the shortest left was a 208-mile round trip to Oldham’s ground; SportsDirect.com Park or to give it its ‘proper’ name Boundary Park. When it rains it pours With heavy… Read more »

On to Orient’s Matchroom Stadium (Brisbane Road)

The East Stand at Brisbane Road, which was once part of the Mitcham Greyhound Stadium

Blogger and the92.net co-founder Pete completed a hat trick of 2-in-1 weekends heading into the East side of the nations capital… Ground: The Matchroom Stadium (Brisbane Road) (69/92) Game: Leyton Orient 1-2 Blackpool Date: 19/11/2016 After ticking the Amex Stadium off the night before, to complete the 2-in-1 on the way back up North Leyton Orient was our next destination. We left the B&B in Keymer set up for the day after a cracking homemade breakfast and made the trip to Woolwich Arsenal station which took just under an hour and a half. On my rare forays into the capital… Read more »

Michael Pilcher ticks off Blundell Park

Blundell Park from the railway bridge

Eager to reach the magical 92 mark before the seasons end Blogger Michael Pilcher was heading North again. Blundell Park was the destination as the Gills fan took the opportunity to join some travelling Exeter fans on the journey to Cleethorpes. Ground 88/92: Blundell Park, Grimsby Grimsby Town 0 – 3 Exeter City 14/01/2017 There was something about Grimsby that had previously put me off going. Maybe it was it’s reputation; maybe it was the name; maybe it was just the prospect of a 4 to 5 hour trip up the East coast. The closest I came to visiting before… Read more »

Five to go at the Riverside Stadium

ayresome park gates at the riverside stadium middlesbrough

Blogger Michael Pilcher took advantage of the FA Cup scheduling to tick off the furthest ground left on his 92. The Riverside Stadium was the destination in the second part of a 2-in-1 weekend doing the 92 leaving just 5 grounds to go. Ground 87/92: Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough Middlesbrough 3 – 0 Sheffield Wednesday 8th January 2017 Part 2 of my footballing 2-in-1 weekend was a trip to Middlesbrough’s Riverside (Part 1 for those interested is here). A Premier Inn in Stockton-on-Tees was my base for Saturday night – a very modern Premier Inn it was too, excellent value as… Read more »

One step closer to the 92 club at Victoria Park

main entrance at Victoria Park Hartlepool

Blogger Michael Pilcher made the longest trip left on his 92 venturing to the North East. In part 1 of a 2-in-1 weekend the groundhopper from Kent’s first stop was Hartlepool. Ground 86/92: Victoria Park, Hartlepool Game: Hartlepool United 0 – 1 Grimsby Town Date: 07/01/2017 With Middlesbrough and Hartlepool lying 280 and 290 miles respectively from my Kent home, I really needed a 2-in-1 weekend to get them both done. They looked prime targets for being ticked off over the 14th/15th April Easter weekend, what with that being the only time they were scheduled to play at home on… Read more »

Taking advantage of a free Saturday to tick off the Proact Stadium

chesterfield fc's ground, the proact stadium

Now i’m sure every football fan at sometime has had their own beef with Sky Sports. However there are occasions, especially for those of us doing the 92 league grounds, where it can work in our favour. That was the case for Newcastle fan Colin Harrison who took full advantage of free Saturday afternoon… Ground 69/92: Proact Stadium Game: Chesterfield 0-5 Wycombe Wanderers Date: 03/12/2016 With my beloved Newcastle United being robbed by some poor refereeing at Forest on the Friday night, I had found myself with a spare Saturday to tick off another ground. Three of us jumped into… Read more »

From the Toon to Cleethorpes

Colin Harrison ticks off Blundell Park doing the 92 league grounds

I’m sure you’ll join us in welcoming Colin Harrison to the92.net blog. The avid Newcastle fan has been a long time follower of @the92dotnet and makes his blogging debut reviewing a trip to Cleethorpes… Ground 68/92: Blundell Park Game: Grimsby Town 2-2 Barnet Date: 12/11/2016 When you are a Newcastle United season ticket holder, most grounds are quite some distance away. Add this to the fact my quest to complete the 92 has to revolve around my beloved ‘Toon’. So, as it was an international break I planned a trip to Grimsby, as it was the shortest trip of the… Read more »