Sometimes you go to a ground on a Saturday, watch the game, have a pint, have some food, meet some friends and go home and do it all again next Saturday… Or Sunday… Or in midweek. But sometimes the people you meet at a ground just make it really special! I have certainly felt that way after some visits, after 334 grounds here are my top 10 friendliest clubs that I have visited so far.
10) Gresley Rovers
Back in March 2022 and the North West Counties Hop is in full flow… And I have decided to visit the Moat ground in Church Gresley which has been touted to be demolished pretty soon or so I thought at the time. Gresley Rovers vs Quorn AFC and Gresley need to win to keep up with Long Eaton United in the race for promotion to Step 4.
I arrived at about 1:30pm and I didn’t have any cash… Typical for me but the man on the gate let me in to pay at the bar. Whilst taking me there he asked me where I was from and why I picked this game which led to us talking about this blog. Not what everyone at a ground does!
The game did kick off and unfortunately it was one of the most boring first halves I’ve ever seen and a group of lads behind the far goal had a drum but weren’t using it… Second half I stood behind that far goal where Gresley were shooting and was greeted by a very friendly fan who told me about the club and a general football chat.
Gresley probed whilst Quorn started to time waste. 88th minute and Gresley scored and the place erupted along with me! I jumped up and down with that goal and it was one of the craziest I’d ever celebrated a neutral goal! Gresley won 1-0 and kept up with Long Eaton! I thought Gresley had a great fanbase although I wish they’d bang that drum a bit more, I thought they were fantastic!
9) Coleshill Town
March 2023 and it’s a Monday night and after work I’ve decided to make the 1 hour 30 minute drive to Warwickshire for Coleshill Town vs Harborough Town. A usual time for Coleshill to play so instead of using a Saturday I’ve gone for a lovely Monday night play-off chase.
About 7:15pm and I am parked up and walking to the turnstile. A lovely welcome from the man on the gate which is always a good sign! A little look around and then over to grab some grub. “Do you do a blog?” To my greatest surprise, 1 hour and a half away from home and a man named Dewi who is a regular here has pointed me out! Amazing!
The first half gets underway and I am watching on with Dewi as Coleshill take an early lead! Coleshill get a second but Harborough get one back right on half time. I have spotted a few other familiar faces at half time and gave my best wishes and thanks to Dewi for the first half.
Dewi came back to me at the start of the second half with a free soup for me! Unfortunately for Coleshill, Harborough went in to overdrive and went on to win 4-2 leaving them still in with a shout of the play-offs but a damaging defeat for Coleshill. I still really enjoyed this night though especially thanks to Dewi.
8) Askern Miners
July 2021 and pre-season is still going strong and me and Match Days Joe are going to watch Askern Miners vs Hatfield Main in a friendly. Askern Miners had just won the Doncaster Saturday League and went in to the Central Midlands.
I arrived there in good time as I was on public transport at this point and walked in and waited for Match Days Joe. A fan approached me and asked if I was lost. I told him I was waiting for a friend and then he asked where I was from, I mentioned that I was from Sheffield and that I was a groundhopper and blogger and that my mate who I was waiting for would be vlogging the game. He then proceeded to tell me a little story about the club!
The old “Askern Villa” that once fought in the NCEL not so long ago and he also gave me a free pin badge. Another fan had clocked me from my recent visit to Barnby Dun. A great start to the visit here!
Match Days Joe arrived and the game proceeded. The Hatfield keeper proving to be an early man of the match here with a penalty save and a run of others. Hatfield took the lead midway through the second half until the brave Hatfield keeper was beaten in the last 5 minutes. 1-1 the game finished.
We managed to get a post match interview with the Askern manager and since then, Askern have been very supportive of me and Match Days Joe on Twitter when we have seen them play on the road! Thank you Askern!
7) Glapwell FC
April 2021 and the season has been stop start but we are back in action in the Central Midlands and it’s Glapwell vs 780 JLC. I’m on my own and just around the corner from my home town of Shirebrook.
Around 1:30pm and here I am at the turnstile. “Welcome to Hall Corner, all we ask for is a little donation”. I’ve never had a welcome to a ground like that one before! I didn’t have cash on me at this point so I apologised to Andy who welcomed me in but I needed cash to buy food and drink so I made my back out of Hall Corner and to the nearest cash point.
Back in I went and some food and drink it was a long with a little donation to the club as a thank you! In the early stages of the first half, I got talking to the groundman of the club and long serving member of the club who was here in the club’s glory days and he told me the story. What a terrible shame that a council could stop the progression of the club and put them where they are now…
780 JLC then scored and ended up 2-0 to the good at half time. During the second half I spoke with Andy from the gate who told me the story of Glapwell too. Glapwell went on to lose 4-0 but I really enjoyed the warmth of this club. As I walked out Andy said “Please come again some day” I think I will!
6) Club Thorne Colliery
July 2021 and the pre-season games are coming in fast! Me, Match Days Joe and Dan Bell are here for Club Thorne Colliery vs Glasshoughton Welfare.
I arrived at the ground at around 7:20pm for a 7:30pm and I didn’t have cash and there was no card machine nearby that would see me in the ground in time for kick off… The club chairman stepped in and let me in for free and bought me a cup of tea! Wow! What a man!
The game went on and it all came down to a last minute penalty for Thorne with the score at 1-1, Thorne scored the penalty and won 2-1! A great ground that I have visited again since then and met with the friendly chairman! Me and Match Days Joe have also had the pleasure of interviewing the manager James on the FANA Fan Podcast as well! I hope this club can one day reach Step 6! I think that day will be here soon!
5) Chapel Town
July 2022 and it’s a lovely summer day in the Peak District for pre-season with the Women’s Euros in full flow! Me and the Merry Miller have gone for a Saturday in Chapel-en-le-frith for Chapel Town vs Bakewell Town in a friendly.
We got there pretty early so we went to see the sights of the village which included a Harry Potter themed store and then went for some fish & chips. We went back to the ground to see the teams warming up and then into the clubhouse. Whilst in the clubhouse we got a warm welcome from Alastair behind the bar and the Chapel Town manager Jason who was very grateful to see us here today!
Alastair told us some stories about the club and the possible progression opportunities and problems that the club faces mainly due to floodlights and the club’s geographical location.
The game kicked off and me and the Merry Miller did laps of the ground to take in it’s breath taking views. A very feisty game to say the least at this time of year but Chapel Town went on to win 3-2! Jason told us to come again one day! I think we will! Thank you and good luck Chapel Town!
4) Horbury Town
September 2022 and the 2022/23 season is in full throttle and it’s a top 2 clash between Horbury Town and Campion here in West Yorkshire. Me and Ben are attending this one and we are vlogging! We were looking forward to this one as we had recently interviewing Horbury manager Darren on the FANA Fan Podcast and were looking forward to meeting him!
A short drive straight from work for me which saw me there parked up at the ground for 6pm. Darren was there to greet his team who were just arriving and then me. Great to meet him for the first time and he gave me a guided tour of the ground and told me the future plans for the ground and club. I was greeted by other members of the club before I left them to warm up for the game ahead and I went for some food just around the corner.
One medium rare steak later and back I went to the ground and Ben was there waiting for me. The game went ahead with a rather funny tannoy man! The rain started to pour… And pour… And pour.
Horbury started the game well but were 2 down at half time. The second half commenced and Campion showed the future silent “H” in their name for this league and cruised to a 7-0 win! A terrible shame to see Horbury so well beaten but Darren was still optimistic in his post match Interview with myself! Thank you for the welcome Horbury!
3) Barton Town
The day before my 27th birthday! October 2021 and it’s a trip to just next to the Humber Bridge for Barton Town vs Athersley Rec in the NCEL with Match Days Joe.
We arrived at around 7:15pm and a club official was stood there and asked “where have you come from lads?” Sheffield and Doncaster respectively and he thanked us already for visiting. A great start! Not the nicest of weather though…
The game started and a rather vocal Barton fanbase started as well! Athersley took an early lead and stunned Barton but they equalised midway through the first half. During the first half we spoke with the club official who introduced us to the chairman and let us in to the chairman’s office where both team’s officials would meet at half time and after the game and we also met the social media official.
Barton were dominant in the second half… But were caught out on the break and Athersley led again. Barton continued to press and the fans gathered behind them! 86 minutes gone and they found the equaliser!! They probed for the winner but couldn’t find it and settled for a 2-2 draw! The club officials shook our hands and thanked for coming and asked us to come again!
2) Flint Town United
January 2023 and the snow has called everywhere off… But not in North Wales! Flint Town United vs Pontypridd United in the Welsh Premier Division and I’ve received an invite from the Flint Mountain chairman!
I got here at around 2pm and there was another game on as the weather had postponed games around the area. I met Phil in the clubhouse and his friends as well! Phil bought me a meal from the club’s well known Goody’s van which was some of the best food I’ve ever tasted!
That game had finished so we all watched West Ham beat Everton 2-0 and then it was time for the main event!
The game commenced… So cold here! Phil had the right idea of watching it from inside the clubhouse! Flint went on to win 4-1 which helped massively in their bid to stay in the Premier Division! I’ll always remember this day because of Phil’s warm welcome! I’ll certainly be back for a Flint Mountain game one day… Hopefully on a warmer day!
- Hednesford Town
February 2023 and the season rolls on! It’s a trip down to Staffordshire for Hednesford Town vs Coalville Town and relegation is looking like a real possibility for Hednesford… Coalville still hopeful of promotion.
1pm and I have arrived in good time! As I walked across the seated stand I saw Trevor for the first time after being in a groundhopper’s group chat with him and others for months. He gave me my own guided tour of the ground and the history of the club along with access to the executive bar!
As the game drew nearer I was also welcomed on the tannoy and he even offered me the chance to go on the pitch and say a few words at half time!
Half time came with Hednesford 1-0 up after a sizzling free kick earlier on in the game.
I certainly wish I had prepared a bit more…
The second half came and with that Coalville began to knock on the door. 77 minutes gone and they did knock the door down… 1-1! Coalville began to look for the winner and they were given a very controversial penalty which they took to lead 2-1. Coalville went on to win 3-1 but the warmth and VIP treatment I got from Trevor and the other Hednesford officials made my day that day! I really wish they won and I’m glad they have their ownership issues resolved for now!
Well there’s my top 10, where next?