Two Leicester City fans complete a full set of grounds
American Express? That will do nicely for two Leicester City fans completing the full set of 92 Football League grounds at Brighton's spanking new £93million venue on Saturday.
The American Express Community Stadium, the Amex to you and me, was the last port of call for Oliver Hawke and Phil Passingham.
It is quite an achievement considering the number of new stadia that have been constructed over the past two decades and the recent addition of automatic promotion from the Conference into League Two.
Oliver has always kept his eye on the ball, although Saturday's milestone was tinged with a sprinkling of deja vu.
"It's never-ending really," he said. "This is the third time I've completed the set." he said.
"Clubs continue to move grounds, Rotherham will have a new one next season, and then teams will be coming up from the Conference. It's another challenge for next season.
"The fact that City have bounced around various divisions has made it slightly easier, although I do enjoy going to games that don't feature them."
Oliver, 33, watched his first City game in 1985, against West Ham. He loves the old Filbert Street ground but, putting on his neutral hat, names Exeter's St James's Park as his favourite.
"It's mainly because of my father's West Country connections," he said. "But I do like it there, they are my second team.
"The facilities might not be A class but old grounds like those have tons of character."
And the worst? "It has to be Middlesbrough's Riverside," he said. "It's a new stadium that is cold and depressing, just like the weather they brought with us to our place on Wednesday."
It was not particularly tropical on the south coast on Saturday but that was not a worry for Phil, although the result was less than heart-warming.
"I'm 48 so it has taken me a good few years to reach the milestone," he said. "I'm very pleased I've done it and it should be easy to keep on top of it when new grounds and teams come into play."
Phil watched his first match in 1968, when he went with his family for the Manchester United game at Filbert Street.
"At that time, I was a big United fan but my mum, dad and brother gave me so much stick I decided to change my allegiance," he said
"I love watching football and not just City. Sometimes I enjoy a game more because it isn't City and I can relax more and get less irritated.
"My favourite ground is Everton's Goodison Park, a great traditional venue, one I really like. I hate Crystal Palace, it's a pain to get there and we never seem to win there, apart from this season, though.
"I went down to Crawley earlier in the season. The terracing was shallow and it had no atmosphere whatsoever. I'm glad we didn't draw them in the Cup."
So what's the next challenge? "I'd like to do all the Blue Square grounds," said Phil. "I've done quite a few already, around 20, in the three divisions, so it would be nice to go all the way."









Comments
by foxyrod
Monday, February 06 2012, 12:53PM
“dedicated indeed , ive not been to as many but i too like goodison park and old trafford . i lived in newcastle for a year and liked the atmosphere there. but the worst had to be burnden park in the mid seventies . i went to watch a cup game between bolton and newcastle but the terraces were actually crumbling before my feet. and i never liked the old wembley . i visited it 4 times once we had a wet through, little wooden bench to sit on and once for don revies first game as england manager i had a giant wide concrete block in front of me and could only see 3/4 of the pitch . these new stadiums including the king power dont have any where near the atmosphere that the old ones had , but are spot on for viewing the game”