Football Fans Who Have Visited All 92 Football League Grounds

Name: Pip Caselli (Mr)

Age: 52

Team Supported: Sheffield Wednesday for 40 years.

First League Ground Visited & When:
Hillsborough (Sheffield Wednesday) on 6th November 1965. A 12th birthday treat to see Sheffield Wednesday lose 2-0 to Liverpool, and I have supported them ever since.

Last Ground Visited to complete the 92:
Bramall Lane (Sheffield United) for the Steel City derby, a ‘fortunate’ 1-0 win by United.

Date Completed: Saturday 3rd December 2005.

How Long Has It Taken You To Visit All 92?
Just over 40 years, and includes some 30 grounds belonging to clubs that have either left the League or moved to new grounds. I made my decision to complete the set about six years ago, and decided to make Bramall Lane the last one, as I had avoided going there in the past.

Best Ground visited (& why).
Has to be Hillsborough, some of the newer stadia, Reading, Bolton, Sunderland, Man City, Hull City and Leicester City are impressive, but I am a bit of a traditionalist, and the home of Sheffield Wednesday will in my opinion always be the best ground to watch and enjoy football.

Poorest Ground Visited:
The current Brighton (Withdean Stadium) has to be the worst in the football league, although away ends at Grimsby, Gillingham and Colchester leave a lot to be desired …. It would be interesting to see Premiership football at the old Wigan ground (Springfield Park).

Worst experience on your travels:
I didn’t experience too many thankfully, but my first visit to Wolverhampton (Molineux) nearly didn't happened as traffic hold ups delayed my arrival until half time, thankfully the game went into extra time, so I got my moneys worth. I travelled to a midweek game at Plymouth (I live in Wakefield – West Yorkshire) to watch my beloved Wednesday, only to have my return delayed as the Plymouth police thought it pertinent to hold the away fans back for 30 mins to allow the home fans to get home !!!! and then the bus driver ran out of hours and had to stop for a 45 mins break … I did manage to get into work the following day.. I went straight there !!

Funniest experience on your travels:
Me and a couple of mates decided to go to see Doncaster Rovers at home on an early season hot balmy day, stood there in shorts and tee shirts, just before kick off when the blackest cloud you’ve ever seen ,stopped overhead and subjected us to a torrential downpour for almost the whole of the game, but we stood firm and didn’t miss a minute.

Most Goals Seen In One Match:
Eight – Middlesbrough (at Ayresome Park) 8 Sheffield Wednesday 0 .. I called in on my way back from honeymoon in Scarborough (that was a week in a sea fret!) , capped a good week overall !!

Best Goal Seen:
Any scored by Sheffield Wednesday , it is very difficult to remember specifics, but a Chris Waddle goal when he was playing for Worksop Town against Wakefield and Emley sticks in the memory, he lobbed the goalkeeper from easily 40 yards.

Best Player Watched:
I am old enough to remember and see, the likes of Best, Charlton, Waddle, and many of the successful Leeds team of the 70’s, but without a doubt I would have to pick Pele, (my memory is only a friendly match against Sheffield Wednesday in 1972.) and Paolo Maldini playing for AC Milan in the San Siro.

Stupidest Chant Heard:
Barnsley fans to Grimsby fans.. ‘you only sing when you’re fishing’
Wednesday fans at most away matches … ‘we’ve got a shed as big as this’

Any tips for those attempting to visit the 92?
Visit the grounds most likely to disappear out of the league or likely to be demolished. Have an understanding partner, I take mine with me, wherever possible, she goes shopping with her mate, while I go to the game.

Arrange your tickets in advance, this avoids you not being able to get in .. some games become very popular ..e.g new manager, players, last games et etc

As mentioned elsewhere, keep momentos like programmes, tickets and photos, it'll help you recall the games, but most of all enjoy it .