Phil Jones
Age:
42
Team Supported:
Luton Town (my local team), Cardiff City (my boyhood local team) & Liverpool
First League Ground Visited & When:
Ninian Park on Wednesday 15 April 1970 to see a 0-0 draw with Millwall in the old 2nd Division. The only time I saw my hero John Toshack play for Cardiff City before he became a Liverpool player, hence my love of the red variety of Merseyside.
Last Ground Visited to complete
the 92:
Spotland, Rochdale on to see Luton Town loose 1-0 in a top of the table Division 3 clash. For some reason I felt it right to finish at a Nationwide League ground rather than a Premiership ground. As a memento I bought the home shirt and had the number 92 put on the back.
Date Completed:
Saturday 9th February 2002
How Long Has It Taken You
To Visit All 92?
Thirty two years. I seriously started the 92 quest in 1989 after deciding to have a Christmas holiday day out at a 'big' game. Aston Villa v Arsenal at Villa Park on Saturday, December 30th in the old Barclays league Division 1, with Villa lying 3rd and Arsenal 2nd. What a crowd, atmosphere and game which provided me and my mate with the inspiration to give it a go.
Best Ground visited (& why).
In terms of facilities and atmosphere The Stadium Of Light edges it on an all round
experience in relation to league grounds. There are some excellent new grounds around which are making other good big grounds like Elland Road look a little dated.
However, although gone now, I shall never forget the sight of a full Holte End terrace at Villa Park on that day in December 1989.
At the risk of being accused of being a bias Welshman the Millennium Stadium is the best stadium of any kind visited. A full house for Wales v Brazil with the roof closed was something else and even when only a quarter full for the 3rd division play-off final between Blackpool and Leyton Orient the atmosphere generated was excellent.
Poorest Ground Visited:
For a league ground I think Springfield Road at Wigan edged it. Two open ends behind the goals, one of which of course was reserved for away supporters on the top of an exposed hill with no club shop on the site. As for existing grounds Chesterfield, Hull and Blackpool appeared the most neglected. My worst seat was at Brammall Lane, Sheffield United, although in fairness that stand has since been replaced. At further risk of being accused of being a bias Welshman, while there was an aura and a sense of history at Wembley, once inside it was the most diabolical view and a stadium well past its sell by date with a disappointing atmosphere. If England needs a national stadium, which I'm not so sure it does due to excellent club grounds, then the boffins in suits need to have a look at the Millennium Stadium and look at what can be achieved for a fraction of the price being talked about by the English FA.
Best experience on your travels:
Many excellent experiences too numerous to mention, meeting lots of friendly people. Ground tours of Old Trafford and Anfield were an added bonus. The pleasurable company of Bob Francis on many a trip. Bumping into a work mate at Shrewsbury whose son plays for the Shrews and having a beer with the players after the game with him in the players lounge. Each one of those players took time to have a chat, a very friendly club. The shape, size and antics of some of the mascots at games and although I've slagged Hull off, and I will again later on, the incredible 'It's A Knockout' style football match played at half time with people in huge inflatables was a roar. Harry The Hatter is still one of the best.
Worst experience on your travels:
How it pains me to say this but numerous unpleasant experiences following my first love Cardiff City. The behaviour of too many of their fans once caused me to take a break from watching football for 3 or 4 years during which time I followed Rugby Union. Although not understanding any of the rules and being totally bemused by decisions, the fact that you could have a beer with opposing supporters before and after a game and stand shoulder to shoulder with them on the terraces without fear of trouble was totally alien to me. Several years later after moving to Bedfordshire I saw a few away games involving Cardiff City and gave them a second chance. They wound stewards up at the old Northampton ground, were fighting at Fulham and when the Police horses were out in front of the terrace at Port Vale without trouble having started, regrettably it was time to stop watching them away from home as going to grounds in that atmosphere was not enjoyable.
Funniest experience on your travels:
As a contradiction to the above example, and an example of what can be achieved, there is nothing quite like the sight of Cardiff City fans 'Doing The Ayatollah' particularly at a full Ninian Park. The Ayatollah involves jumping up and down while at the same time patting both hands on top of the head. Come on Bluebirds see how good it CAN be. Work took me to Manchester one week, fortunately the same week as Luton played at Maine Road on the Wednesday night. But what do you do on a cold Tuesday night when you are staying in a drab hotel? You go and see Macclesfield play Chesterfield. I stood on the terrace behind the goal at the home end an hour before kick off and realising the importance of Macclesfield trying to win in order to stay up I turned to my neighbour who was about the only other person in the stand and asked him what he thought of his team's chances that night. I've not a clue he said "I'm a Palace supporter and I've driven up from Surrey to see this game as I fancied it, I've been here before but I thought I'd have another look". And I thought I was mad!!!!!
Most Goals Seen In One Match:
Nine. Colchester United 5 Bristol Rovers 4. And I saw this just by a stroke of chance too. I planned to visit Layer Road when Luton Town visited there but the game was switched to a Friday night and I could not make it due to prearranged commitments (thankfully as Luton lost). A few weeks later I had to travel to Harlow from Bedfordshire to see a friend and as Colchester were at home I thought I may as well continue my journey in the afternoon. The lead changed hands numerous times in an absolute thriller.
Best Match Seen:
Cardiff City 2 Hereford United 0
35,547 fans were crammed into Ninian Park to see the top two slug it out at the top of the old 3rd Division. This was the first time I attended a match where you literally could not lift your arms from your side due to the number of people in the ground. Not only a top of the table clash but also a border clash and revenge was required for a 4-1 drubbing at Edgar Street earlier in the season.
With regard matches involved in the 92 quest Millwall v Nottingham Forest in April 1994 had almost everything. With the teams lying 5th and 2nd respectively and me and my mate being neutrals in the home end behind one goal, I've never become a supporter of a football team so quickly in my life. If you did not sing you would stand out like a sore thumb and while there was no direct threat I was not prepared to take the risk at Millwall. While all around us were up on their feet fervently singing "We are Millwall, no one likes us, we don't care" my mate leant over and quietly said "I'll get the tickets next time" but we both looked around the ground and the whole place was singing this ditty as one in every stand. Stan Collymore, then playing for Forest, was winding the fans up with
a few gestures, there were 4 goals, at least one sending off (may have been two, I can not remember) and regrettably two pitch invasions at the other end of the ground. A day I'll never forget.
As for International matches Wales 1 Germany 0 at the old National Stadium was certainly a highlight. Ian Rush even decided to salute me after he'd scored (well that's what I'll tell the grandchildren, it does not matter there were a few thousand others around in the immediate area at the time).
Just by chance when doing this quest you find yourself attending games with a bit of history. Newcastle United 3 Liverpool 0 in 1993 was a memorable one, not at the time as Liverpool lost and I had to watch them doing it on the partisan Gallowgate End pretending to cheer each Newcastle Andy Cole goal as they went in. But of course, a little later Mr Grobbelaar's integrity during the match was called into question. For what it is worth, not once during the game did it ever cross my mind that he threw it and all the goals were right in front of me.
There have been many other excellent games and memories and during the 92 quest I have only ever seen three 0-0 draws counting that first Cardiff v Millwall game, the other two being Barnet v Darlington in 1993 and Halifax Town v Leyton Orient in 2001.
I feel I can not leave this section without mentioning Newport County v Carl Zeiss Jena in the quarter final 2nd leg of the European Cup Winners Cup in 1981 at Somerton Park. Newport had earned a 2-2 draw away from home and were on to cause a major European upset. Carl Zeiss Jena scored about midway through the first half with a goal that nine times out of ten, Mark Kendall (I think) in the County goal would have saved. From there on in, and particularly in the second half when I was stood behind the goal Newport were attacking, I've never been halfway through that jumping for joy action so many times before the dreaded Oooooooh as the ball hits the post, bar, the keeper pulls of a brilliant save, the keeper pulls of a lucky save, a player clears off the line etc. What a night but in losing 1-0 there was victory in defeat. Regrettably later years would see a sad demise of what I would say was the friendliest of the South Wales clubs.
Best Goal Seen:
Brian Flynn, Wales 2 Scotland 2 in 1975
Most of the goals that stand out are the 30 yard raspers and there have been a few. Very recently Tugay for Blackburn Rovers at the new St Mary's Stadium in Southampton, I remember the trusted left foot of Stuart Pearce winning a game for Nottingham
Forest at Old Trafford from a free kick, Matt Lockwood's shot on the run that was going in even before he hit it at Leyton Orient against Hull City in the 2000/2001 3rd division play off semi final 2nd leg. And of course Phil
Jones's 40 yard rasper with his first touch after coming on as a sub for Llangattock v NTW in a Brecon & District League fixture in the late 70's (one of only 3 goals I scored in a long and undistinguished career). But the one mentioned above was at Ninian Park where Wales worked the ball down the left with a patient build up and then injected the cutting edge with numerous one two's, the final one being Flynn to Toshack and back to Flynn and then the ball nestled in the back of the net. 2-0 Wales at half time and then Scotland scored two crackers as well.
Best Player Seen:
What a difficult choice, I've seen so many, one regret however is I never saw George Best play live. I've chosen Willie Anderson as I used to see him week in week out and while I've seen many better players in one off games he thrilled every time I saw him. Do any of you Villa fans remember him? I think he joined Cardiff City from Villa and was a wizard down the flanks before ending his career like so many others in 1970's in America.
John Toshack, my hero, deserves a mention, I remember a hat-trick in a Wales come back game against Scotland. Other week in week out heroes at Cardiff were Mike England (just class in the old 3rd division), Phil Dwyer (Bluebird blood and doubtful to finish any game in the current climate of yellow and red cards) and Tony Evans.
Names I remember at grounds during the quest, Paul Gascoigne for England v Turkey at Wembley, Paul Ince's second half display for Manchester United at Nottingham Forest. I'd commented at half time that I thought he was crap, don't know what was in the half time
tea. And a man who was a thorn in my side at Ninian park was John Burridge of Blackpool, what a keeper. Did he ever have a bad game?
Stupidest Chant
Heard:
'You dirty Northern or Southern
B*****ds!' Sung at any Premiership ground these days as most of the players come from South, East, North, West, Asia, Africa, and so on and so on.
Any tips for those attending to visit the 92?
Firstly and most importantly a very understanding wife. She has joined me on this quest on just one occasion when Luton were fortunate enough to be Readings first opponents at the Madejski Stadium. I think the fancy man must have been away that weekend??
I've seen lots of good advice already on this site, don't do all the best grounds first, leave some for the end of your travels. Don't do all the nearest ones first. I'd like to add, do Premiership games in August to October and April to May as you will need tickets. You run less risk of the Saturday game being called off during the milder months and you're less likely to be left with a ticket for a rearranged game in a far off place on a Tuesday night in February.
Find a mate to do the quest with you, a special personal thanks to Bob who I started this quest with. Even since I moved away from South Wales we have still done a fair number together and I thank him for his excellent company.
Have a look at live television's plans well in advance, you will be amazed how many footy weekends you can get in. We did the five north east grounds in two trips. Hartlepool v Wrexham (Saturday), Newcastle v Liverpool (Sunday Sky) then a few years later Darlington v Cheltenham (Saturday), Middlesbrough v West Ham (Sunday Sky), Sunderland v Aston Villa (Monday night Sky).
Get to the grounds early and walk the perimeter, take in the atmosphere, watch the players arrive and never, never, ever leave before final whistle. Why do people do this?
Go especially early to places like York so you can have a look around historical cities and try long weekends in Torquay, Plymouth and Exeter in the very early season as the coastline is fantastic and the weather could be too.
I'll allow myself one sarcastic comment and say arrive as late as you can in Hull and leave as early as you can, I did not enjoy my day there.
You will see a lot of Britain and places you may picture in your mind as being a dump may turn out to be mush more pleasant. No disrespect, but Burnley was a pleasant surprise.
Good luck it really is a most enjoyable experience, what a shame I'll have to start again as so many grounds have been redeveloped.
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