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The 92 club: You’ve got to be able to do better than that!
The season was over; Euro 2004 was over, and all the football for the next month would be some meaningless friendlies and lots of transfer rumours and movements as clubs try to build for the coming season.
But for any true football fan, this is the worst time of the year. There are no matches with any meaning, and although we can all convince ourselves that the transfer movements are interesting, and will help our side move on to better heights; whether it be to avoid relegation, consolidate our position in the current division, get into the promotion or playoff places or even achieve a European spot or that elusive (or in the case of Arsenal and Manchester United, another) title.
I was never much of a player; my one moment of fame coming on the concrete playground during a PE lesson when I curled a ball past the opposition goalkeeper and into the goal. Had we had posts (as opposed to bins), the ball would have cracked in off the post and into the net. Apart from that my best moment was a successful tackle on one of the school “hard-men,” but he then proceeded to give me one of those looks and I decided not to try it again.
No, I was more of a fan than a player. Living in North-West London, it was really a choice between supporting Arsenal and Spurs, and whilst still in Primary School, my friends persuaded me to follow the red half of North London, and it turns out to have been a pretty good decision. But Highbury is not the easiest, or cheapest, place to get into, and so I often found myself at Borehamwood, and later Barnet, to watch the reserves and youth sides. And that’s when my affinity with Barnet began; Underhill becoming the stadium I most often frequented as a youth to get my football fix.
I had just completed my A-Levels when Greece got their unlikely victory over hosts Portugal, and I had still not decided what to do during my gap-year ahead of University. Assuming, of course, that I got decent enough grades.
It was during the Greek celebrations that I recalled the concept of the ’92-club;’ that elite band of people who have been to every ground in the top four English leagues. And it occurred to me that I would like to do the same. Except that I would go two steps better. Firstly, I would include both the fifth and sixth tiers of English football (Conference National, North and South) as well as the 42 clubs in Scotland. By my calculations, that is 200 grounds to be visited; and while I was at it, I would try to visit the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, and Wembley when it was finally rebuilt.
The fixture lists were already out, but I didn’t want to think too far ahead due to cup draws that had yet to be made. One thing that I did notice was that Cardiff were at home to Sunderland on the first day of the season – the day before the Community Shield at the Millennium Stadium.
Leagues running: Eng (Conf N/S +), Sco (D3 +). Oh, and it's FM2005 (of course)
12-26-2004, 07:59 PM
The 92 club: You’ve got to be able to do better than that! Post #2
1. Ochilview Park, Stenhousemuir (Attendance: 316) 31 July 2004 - Scottish League Challenge Cup: Stenhousemuir vs St. Johnstone
Soon after I had made my initial plans, I realised that I had forgotten all about the League Challenge Cup up in Scotland. One of the wonderful things about British football is the number of completely meaningless cup competitions that are played; but it gives lots of sides a chance to get their hands on some silverware – even if it doesn’t mean a thing.
The League Challenge Cup in Scotland is played between the league sides outside the SPL, and will be all over within a few months. But with cup games, there’s always the chance of an upset, and none more so when the lower league side are at home to their more illustrious opponents. And that’s how I chose this game for the first in my challenge. Stenhousemuir, languishing now in the third division, would surely give St. Johnstone, formerly of the SPL, a tough time at Ochilview Park.
It was a long trip up from London to the outskirts of Falkirk, but having just passed my driving test, I relished sitting behind the wheel for so many hours.
The visitors started off with the clear intent not to be on the wrong end of a “giant-killing”, and with just five minutes gone, Stephen McConalogue put them ahead. St. Johnstone had the lions share of the chances for the rest of the first half, but Stenhousemuir stood firm at the back, and kept themselves in the hunt. And it paid off immediately in the second half as Steve Kerrigan netted an equaliser after a good free kick move from the home side.
Things got even more interesting on 54 minutes when St. Johnstone had Steven Anderson sent off, and Stenhousemuir sensed a victory. They certainly had the chances to win the game, but the shooting was off target on the whole, and they could have lost in on two occasions in injury time when St. Johnstone broke quickly. As it was, the game entered into extra time to determine a winner, and despite the tired legs at the start of a new season, there were chances at both ends. Neither side took their chances though, and Stenhousemuir had to hold on for the last few minutes when Lee Collins was given his marching orders.
The first seven penalties were all put away quite comfortably, but then the St. Johnstone keeper kept out the eighth, and St. Johnstone scored their fifth to make it through to second round, 5-3 on penalties.
So, a decent enough start to my quest – two goals, two sendings off and a penalty shootout; you can’t get much more for your money.
Games watched: 1 Total mileage: 798 Total number of goals witnessed: 2 [+8] (2 per game) Sending offs witnessed: 2 (2 per game)
12-26-2004, 10:38 PM
The 92 club: You’ve got to be able to do better than that! Post #3
Thanks for the support everyone. I hope not to disappoint.
Bri - I'll keep that in mind when I head over there
2. Ninian Park, Cardiff (Attendance: 18107) 7 August 2004 – English Championship: Cardiff vs Sunderland
The opening day of the league season is always an exciting occasion, with fans hoping for far more from their season than their head tells them their side will be capable of.
Cardiff fans have a reputation that is almost at bad as those of Millwall, and I felt that perhaps the first game of the season wouldn’t see me involved in too much trouble. Both sides would be confident of ending the season in the play-off places; although perhaps the Blackcats had the better chance come May.
One of the quirks that exist in English football is the appearance of Cardiff, Swansea and Wrexham (and a few other non-league sides) in the English football pyramid, but it’s also somewhat strange that the FAW, and not their English counterparts, govern them. Still, Cardiff is a wonderful city to go to, and I spent the early part of the morning taking a stroll on the sea front, having driven up from London on Friday afternoon.
Sunderland, with Sean Thorton making his 50th league appearance, started the game quickly, and within three minutes Scottish international striker Kevin Kyle put the visitors ahead. That woke the Cardiff fans and players up, and they had the chances to get back into the game by half time – if they had managed to find the target. Six minutes into the second half things got too much for Graham Kavanagh, and the home side found themselves down to ten men. The second half though wasn’t much of a feast for the eyes, and Sunderland failed to take advantage of their numbers advantage. It cost them dearly twelve minutes from time when a defensive mix-up allowed Alan Lee to pop in and equalise, and my second game had also ended with a 1-1 draw.
Games watched: 2 Total mileage: 955 Total number of goals witnessed: 4 [+8] (2 per game) Sending offs witnessed: 3 (1.5 per game)
12-27-2004, 10:02 AM
The 92 club: You’ve got to be able to do better than that! Post #8
Not sure quite what you mean Bazza - are you looking for the average attendance at the matches I go to, or are you looking for a running total of grounds visited (which is there already)?
Rap - I think that says it all
3. City Stadium, Livingston (Attendance: 7207) 8 August 2004 – Scottish Premier League: Livingston vs Inverness Caledonian Thistle
I had initially intended to visit the Millennium Stadium today to watch the Community Shield, but I had forgotten about the SPL’s opening weekend, and the only game of the day was up at Livingston. I spent the night at some friends in Manchester, but it was still a long trip up the M6, M74 and M8 to just outside Edinburgh, which of course is where Livingston started out as a football club.
It was also Inverness’ first game in the SPL having won promotion from the first division, and although both sides were tipped for a relegation battle, I was hopeful for a decent game.
Caley had an early chance to take the lead, but soon Livi got into their stride and tore into the Inverness defence. They could have already been a few goals up by the time debutant Steven Boyack had the home side ahead. Craig Easton, another debutant for Livingston, had multiple chances to score before he added a second after 24 minutes, and to be honest, Livingston should have scored at least as many more by the time they got to half time. It was more of the same in the second half as Livi looked to wreck Caley’s confidence at this early stage of the season, and midway through the second period Liam Keogh had enough and was sent off for the visitors. Scott McLaughlin wrapped up a good 3-0 victory for the home side five minutes later; curling in a free kick from just outside the box.
It was a long drive back down to London, but I was in good spirits having seen a decent game of football. I did though need to catch up on some sleep; I had five fixtures coming up in the next seven days.
Games watched: 3 Total mileage: 1716 Total number of goals witnessed: 7 [+8] (2.33 per game) Sending offs witnessed: 4 (1.33 per game)
The 92 club: You’ve got to be able to do better than that! 
will be reading with interest
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