Details
| Date | Time | League | Season | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 October 2023 | 19:45 | UEFA U21 Euro Qualification | 2023-2024 | 14,753 |
Nottingham Forest’s City Ground – A Night of Young Lions Roaring
Our journey continued with back-to-back international games, this time as the England Young Lions faced Serbia’s Young Eagles. We set off right after Liam’s school hours, mindful of potential peak traffic. The journey was smooth until we reached the heart of Nottingham. Due to a minor navigation error, we ended up parking at Broad Marsh Car Park, an indoor facility. It was a bargain at just £8 when you arrive after 5 pm and leave before 2 am, even if it meant a 30-minute walk to the stadium.
Our stroll along the River Trent offered us picturesque views, and we couldn’t help but notice another football stadium, Notts County, which we’ll visit in due time. On our way to the City Ground, we mingled with other supporters and explored souvenir stalls selling everything from programs to scarfs and badges.
Finding our stand was easy, and we immersed ourselves in the pre-game atmosphere. Despite arriving early, we had to wait outside until a tannoy message signalled the opening of turnstiles. Once inside, the stadium quickly filled up, and despite operating at 50% capacity, the atmosphere was electric.
It was heartwarming to see young supporters all around, and the friendly stewards added to the positive vibes, frequently giving high-fives to the kids. Even when the England Young Lions went a goal down, the crowd kept singing, and the young fans couldn’t resist blowing their horns (much to my amusement).
This match was one-sided, with the Young Lions dominating the Young Eagles and producing a thrilling 10-goal spectacle, with nine goals for the home team.
After the game, Liam decided to stay behind in hopes of getting a player’s autograph or even a jersey. Unfortunately, many others had the same idea, and it took us an hour to simply exit the stadium and reach the car park. The journey home, amidst heavy rain, was uneventful, and we arrived back just before midnight.
Our football adventure continues, and we can’t wait to share more matchday experiences with you.
Bradford City Vs Harrogate Town
Matchday 93 brought us one step closer to completing our incredible journey of visiting all 92 Football League grounds. With just one more to go, the excitement was building, but this trip to Bradford City had its fair share of unexpected moments. Given the early kick-off, we set out
Barnsley Vs Burton Albion
Matchday 92 marked the conclusion of our journey through League One, meaning we have now completed three out of the four leagues, with only two League Two grounds remaining. With a 12:30 kick-off and a pre-arranged meeting with a representative from Barnsley FC at 10:00, it meant an extremely early
Leyton Orient Vs Reading
Matchday 91 was our penultimate game in League One and one that required an early start to the day, which meant we were to board the only direct train from Stourbridge Junction to London Marylebone, departing at 08:19. This service is operated by Chiltern Railways, and past experience suggested
Salford City Vs Fleetwood Town
Happy New Year to all our incredible supporters! Liam and I hope you had a fantastic festive season. We rang in the New Year in beautiful Scotland, celebrating Hogmanay with family and taking the opportunity to watch Aberdeen face Ross County at Pittodrie. Unfortunately, the Dons fell to a 2-1
Lincoln City Vs Reading
Matchday 89 marked our final football adventure of 2024, and we were determined to make it as enjoyable and memorable as possible. With an early 12:30 kick-off at Lincoln City, we set off at 08:00 to ensure we had ample time to settle in before the game. Traffic was surprisingly
Luton Town Vs Swansea City
Matchday 88 was an exciting milestone on our journey as it gave us the chance to visit Kenilworth Road, one of the most iconic and unique stadiums in English football. Known for its quirky charm and historic significance, this ground has long been on our radar. However, obtaining tickets wasn’t
Peterborough United Vs Burton Albion
Matchday 87 brought us what we hope will be our final midweek evening fixture of the challenge, and it certainly tested our stamina and determination. The day began with me working in Banbury, where I had to time my departure perfectly to catch the 14:11 train back to Birmingham.
Blackburn Rovers Vs Leeds United
Matchday 86: A Visit to Ewood Park, Blackburn Rovers Ewood Park has been a ground I’ve been excited to visit ever since Blackburn Rovers’ iconic Premier League victory in 1995 under the legendary Sir Kenny Dalglish. The history and nostalgia of that era made this trip particularly special. I
Crawley Town Vs Rotherham United
Our plans for Matchday 85 took an unexpected turn. Initially, we had booked to see Bradford City take on Accrington Stanley. However, with severe weather warnings in place, we decided to change course and head to West Sussex to tick off Crawley Town instead. The journey to the Broadfield
Blackpool Vs Northampton Town
Matchday 84 kicked off with an early breakfast at our local Greggs, where Liam and I fueled up for the day ahead. Liam enjoyed his bacon roll with red sauce, while I opted for brown sauce. Accompanied by a hot chocolate for Liam and a cappuccino for me, we
Sunderland Vs Coventry City
Matchday 83 took us on a journey up to the North East for our final visit to one of the three major clubs in the region. I planned for an early departure to make the long trip as comfortable as possible, especially since I was still dealing with the lingering
Burton Albion Vs Crawley Town
Matchday 82 was a special occasion as Amanda (Mum/wife) joined us for what we hoped would be an early birthday celebration for me. The journey to Burton, less than 40 miles away, began with cautious planning due to the notoriously challenging roads and motorways near our home. I aimed
QPR (Queens Park Rangers) Vs Sunderland
After an incredible week in Aberdeen, we were eager to dive back into the challenge with another exciting journey to London. This time, our route was slightly different, as we opted for a later start, catching the train from Cradley Heath to Birmingham Moor Street. From there, it was a
Bristol Rovers Vs Shrewsbury Town
Matchday 80 saw us on a relatively short journey to visit the second of the two Bristol stadiums and get one step closer to completing all 92. Starting the day by working from home, I aimed to leave promptly at 4:30 pm to avoid any rush hour traffic. Thankfully, this
Southampton Vs Leicester City
Matchday 79 marked an important return to our 92 Football League grounds challenge, following my recent hospital visit due to a groin hernia. Originally, we had planned to attend Crawley Town vs Shrewsbury Town as Matchday 79, but due to the pain I was experiencing, we had to cancel. Fortunately,
Plymouth Argyle Vs Blackburn Rovers
Matchday 78 was our third EFL Championship fixture in just five days, and this time we had a long trek ahead of us as we aimed to tick off one of the most distant grounds on our 92-club challenge. We had an early start to get to Plymouth, the most
Stoke City Vs Portsmouth
Matchday 77 marked the second EFL Championship fixture in as many days, as we made another short journey up the M5 to Stoke City. Like the previous day, we had to negotiate some traffic, but fortunately, the journey took just over an hour without any major delays. Prior to the
West Bromwich Albion Vs Middlesbrough
Matchday 76 was an incredibly special occasion, as it was part of a belated Christmas present I had arranged for Liam to experience the unforgettable honour of being a mascot. Originally, this was scheduled for February 2024, but I decided to reschedule, attend another game in the meantime, and delay
Bromley Vs MK Dons
Matchday 75 was another ground that required a similar driving distance to our trip to Sutton. The day before the game, I reached out to Bromley FC to see if they could do anything special for our visit. To our surprise, they responded with an incredible offer—a guided tour of
Mansfield Town Vs Bradford City
Matchday 74 holds a special place for Grandad Steve, as it’s one of his favourite grounds. Unfortunately, due to heavy traffic in the area, we had to leave with plenty of time, departing home at 16:00. We picked up Grandad Steve and headed straight onto the motorway. The journey should
Crystal Palace Vs Leicester City
Matchday 73 proved to be one of the most challenging in our quest to visit all 92 Football League grounds. Securing tickets for Crystal Palace was particularly difficult due to the club’s membership-only ticket policy, which posed a financial challenge for non-members like us. Fortunately, back in April,
Colchester United Vs Bromley
Matchday 72 took us on another long-distance adventure, this time to Colchester, with an estimated travel time of 3 hours and 25 minutes. We set off at 09:00, making a quick stop to pick up Grandad Steve, who has become a regular companion on our journey to complete the 92
Forest Green Rovers Vs Altrincham
Matchday 71 took us to one of the two clubs that, unfortunately, were relegated last season. Despite this setback, we remained committed to our 92FC Challenge and ensured that this stadium was crossed off our list. Our journey was relatively smooth, taking about 1.5 hours despite the expected bank holiday
Charlton Athletic Vs Bolton Wanderers
Matchday 70 was a special one, offering us yet another complimentary experience, thanks to the generosity of Tom at Castore. Tom had previously helped us secure tickets for St. James’s Park in Newcastle, and this time, he came through again, making our trip to The Valley possible. Our day began
Bolton Wanderers Vs Wrexham
Matchday 69 was a welcome change from the long haul of the previous day, and thanks to the generosity of Bolton Wanderers and Bluelight Tickets, the match was complimentary—a big help in our ongoing challenge. We’re truly grateful to both, as every little bit counts! Our journey to Bolton took
Portsmouth Vs Luton Town
Matchday 68 took us on another journey to the south coast, with an early 12:30 kickoff due to Sky’s broadcast of the game. Our day began with a 05:00 alarm, as Liam was eager to start with breakfast at Tim Hortons. We were out the door by 05:40, making a
Northampton Town Vs Wycombe Wanderers
Matchday 67 took us to Northampton Town’s ground, a journey that typically takes about 1.5 hours. However, as with all midweek evening games, there’s always a risk of heavy traffic on the motorway, which can easily turn a straightforward drive into a stressful one. To get ahead of this, I
Liverpool FC Vs Sevilla
Matchday 66 was the ground we had been eagerly waiting to finally tick off. Despite having attended this ground 44 times before, we had to restart every ground, making this visit even more special. Liverpool is our favorite club, but getting tickets is a nightmare. For the past four years,
Barrow Vs Crewe Alexandra
Matchday 65 took us back up to Cumbria, this time a long journey to visit Barrow. Liam was feeling a lot better today, which was positive news given the seven-hour round trip that was needed to tick Barrow off. Due to the journey, it was agreed that the driving would
Chesterfield Vs Swindon Town
Matchday 64 took us to one of the newest clubs promoted from the National League to the Football League, making it a truly exciting venue to officially kick off the 2024-2025 season. The anticipation was palpable as we prepared for this journey, knowing that we were about to witness
AFC Bournemouth Vs Rayo Vallecano
Matchday 63 marked the third match in three days, and we were starting to feel the strain. Our day began bright and early as we caught a train from Sandwell & Dudley to Birmingham New Street, then boarded the 09:11 direct CrossCountry train to Bournemouth. It was a pleasant surprise
Exeter City Vs Eastleigh
Matchday 62 was a long day with a long journey down to Devon. I decided to use the trains for this trip and headed on a direct train from Birmingham New Street straight to Exeter St David’s. We did have a short journey from Sandwell and Dudley beforehand and arriving
Cambridge United Vs West Bromwich Albion
Matchday 41 was a revisit to Cambridge United’s Abbey Stadium, following our disappointing visit on the 6th of February when their game against Bolton was postponed after only 8 minutes due to a waterlogged pitch. This time, we decided to complete this stadium visit during the summer to prevent any
Hull City Vs AFC Fiorentina
Matchday 61 marked the final game of our holiday, featuring a 2.5-hour drive from the West Coast of England, through the scenic Pennines, to the East Coast. Joining us once again was Mum Amanda. The majority of the journey was spent on motorways, offering beautiful views along the way. Despite
Fleetwood Town Vs Hearts Of Midlothian
Matchday 60 was our shortest trip while on holiday, and with Nan Jen and Grandad Steve staying overnight at a nearby hotel, they were able to join us. Our special guest, Cousin John, made it a group of six attending a game together for the first time. We decided to
Morecambe Vs Blackburn Rovers
Matchday 59 was a short 40-minute journey from our holiday spot. As a special treat, we decided to thank Nan Jen and Grandad Steve with hospitality tickets for everything they’ve done over the past couple of years, especially with Max, our beloved black Labrador who sadly passed away recently. The
Doncaster Rovers Vs Hull City
Matchday 58 kicked off a stretch of 4 games in 8 days while we’re on a family holiday in our touring caravan just outside Blackpool. Mum Amanda joined us for this leg of the journey. According to Google Maps, the trip would take at least 2 hours and 15 minutes,
Harrogate Town Vs Huddersfield Town
We embarked on Matchday 1 of the 2024/2025 season, but it marked Matchday 57 for our challenge. With Chesterfield and Bromley joining the league, the original 92 now becomes 94. This year, our goal is to complete the remaining 39 games, and let’s not forget, we still need to revisit
Manchester United Women’s Vs Chelsea Women’s
As a Liverpool fan, attending a match at Old Trafford wasnt exactly on my bucket list. However, I found the perfect opportunity to experience the stadium as an away fan by watching the last match of the Womens Super League (WSL) season. This wasnt just any match—it was a title decider. Both Chelsea and Manchester City Women entered the final game level on points, with Chelsea holding a two-goal advantage. The stakes were high, promising an electrifying encounter.
Ipswich Town Vs Huddersfield Town
Matchday 55 marked another thrilling adventure as we embarked on a journey to one of the furthest clubs on the East Coast. The early morning hours greeted us with a sense of anticipation, our alarms ringing at 5:00 AM to ensure we caught the 6:23 train from our local station to Birmingham Snowhill. A brief pit stop at McDonald’s en route to Birmingham New Street provided us with much-needed caffeine and comfort in the form of coffee and hot chocolate.
Connah’s Quay Nomads Vs New Saints FC
Matchday 54 marked a significant milestone in our football journey as we ventured to Wales to tick off our final Welsh ground. Our destination? The Welsh Cup Final. Unfortunately, Liam wasnt feeling well, so we decided not to film any VLOGs for this match.
Newcastle United Vs Sheffield United
Matchday 53 was our furthest northeastern club, a journey that involved a short 20-minute local train ride followed by another train journey lasting 3.5 hours. To kick off the long journey, we fueled up with our usual Tim Hortons breakfast in Birmingham.
Cheltenham Town Vs Peterborough United
After a long day at work, Matchday 52 involved a swift return home, with just 30 minutes to change and grab a bite before braving the rush-hour traffic for the journey down to Cheltenham. Fortunately, traffic conditions were favourable, and despite only arriving home at 5:00 PM, we managed to reach Cheltenham and find parking by 6:40 PM. Our choice of parking spot on Prestbury Road was strategic, ensuring we avoided the inconvenience of double yellow lines.
Grimsby Town Vs Swindon Town
Matchday 51 was another venture to a distant club, with Grandad Steve joining us to add another ground to his list of the 92. Departing early at around 09:30, we anticipated a minimum 3-hour drive, factoring in potential traffic and restroom breaks along the way. Surprisingly, the journey went smoothly,
Chippenham Town Vs Swindon Supermarine
Matchday 50 was our first ever final with myself and Liam and what better way to attend one but as part of the 92 FC Challenge. So, The Wiltshire Premier Shield Final, held at Swindon Towns, County Road was the place to host this game. Chippenham Town Vs Swindon Supermarine. As this was the home of a Swindon football team, we thought it was only reasonable to support Swindon Supermarine for this game. We had Uncle Deano accompanying us on the journey.
Stevenage FC Vs Burton Albion
After nearly four weeks of anticipation since our last football adventure on Matchday 48, owing to our delightful holiday excursion to Australia, we were fervently looking forward to resuming our exhilarating journey through the 92FCChallenge. Matchday 49 beckoned us to embark on a thrilling trip to Stevenage, a promising prospect that stirred our excitement.
Middlesbrough Vs Blackburn Rovers
Matchday 47 marked the beginning of our journey to visit three North East clubs, and what better way to kick off our adventure than with a Tim Hortons breakfast, this time accompanied by Mumma Bear (Amanda) before she set off for holiday shopping in Birmingham. We hopped on a train at our local station, Cradley Heath, bound for Birmingham Snowhill, a journey that took about 20 minutes. From there, it was just a short 10-minute stroll to Tim Hortons, where we indulged in our usual food choices. This time, I decided to treat myself to a delightful Frappe. Once we finished breakfast, we made our way to Birmingham New Street, where we awaited the CrossCountry Train that would take us directly to Darlington. As always, the staff on board were exceptional and friendly. The train ran virtually on time, and after a 20-minute wait, we boarded a small 2-coach Northern Rail train bound for Middlesbrough.
Crewe Alexandra Vs Sutton United
Matchday 47 unfolded as a brief yet significant journey to Crewe, where our gratitude for Suttons unwavering support, particularly from Ryan and Phil, continued to grow during this challenging season. Opting for a train from Wolverhampton, rather than driving, was a strategic decision aimed at reducing stress, allowing Liam ample time to return home from school, change, and enjoy a quick meal before embarking on the trip.
Watford Vs Swansea City
Matchday 46 was a memorable journey, as we opted to travel by train. This involved picking Liam up from school and embarking on a frenzied dash into Birmingham amidst the chaotic rush hour traffic. Unfortunately, upon reaching Birmingham, parking the car, and arriving at Birmingham New Street, we found ourselves just minutes late for the train I had hoped to catch. With less than an hour until the next train, I decided to treat Liam to some food at McDonald’s. While there, I checked the train information and noticed overhead line problems affecting services between Milton Keynes Central and Watford Junction, despite our train indicating it was running as scheduled. With time ticking away and the prospect of missing the match looming, we quickly finished our meal and hurried back to Birmingham New Street to seek further advice.
Port Vale Vs Fleetwood Town
Matchday 45 presented a stadium conveniently located for a midweek excursion, with an estimated journey time ranging from 55 minutes to 2 hours, contingent upon traffic conditions.
We departed around 16:15, allowing ample time in case the M6 proved troublesome. Surprisingly, the journey was relatively smooth, encountering minor congestion only on the approach to Stoke On Trent. Arriving near the stadium in approximately an hour and 20 minutes, we found parking nearby, affording us plenty of time to explore the stadium, club shop, and surrounding areas. After purchasing our customary scarf and program and grabbing a bite to eat, we entered through the turnstiles at 18:45.