Bucket List – The 92 Club
Back in the 1970s, a few supporters grouped together with a single goal… to visit all 92 football league stadiums. Since that time, many football-obsessed fans have set upon this mission and aimed to join this exclusive club.
There are many sites out there which would specify the rules of the task, however it is fairly straight forward, to attend and document a matchday visit to every football stadium in England’s top-4 divisions; Premier League, Championship, League 1 and League 2. This journeys spans almost the length of the entire country and even ventures into Wales on some occasions.
While achieving this feat is seriously impressive, it takes on even more difficulty each year as clubs are promoted and relegated out of League 2, meaning there are always new sides on the verge of being included into the 92 club. Additionally, changes to stadiums and upgrades for many sides, make the most recent 92 club that much more unique.
Obviously, getting anywhere near to achieving this is likely more than a year or so away from even getting started, however I wanted to write this post to document just why this challenge is on my bucket list, and I will also highlight some of the key highlights from the 92.
Enjoy.
Why It’s On My Bucket List…
Two of the things I enjoy are travel and football, and this combines both of those in a nice little package. While it’s not the most extensive travel involved, the journey to 92 stadiums brings about 92 towns and cities to explore and enjoy, then wrapped up nicely with a game of football to enjoy. I will honestly watch any game that’s on, and this challenge means I would get to enjoy and savour the best of what the English football leagues have to offer.
There’s also lots to enjoy about the whole matchday experience, which of course for millions has been stripped away over recent months. From the journey to the stadium, having a wander round the town or city, the occasional drink (if you’re counting), flicking through the programme and of course a half-time pie. Going to a football game is a real experience and that’s even without a ball being kicked. Then combine this with the drama and battle of a well-fought game of football and it creates a great day.
To visit all 92 clubs is on my football bucket list, as I think that, although I have my specific team that I obsess over and am loyal to, being able to enjoy the more physical football of lower divisions, the great competition of the Championship and then the money-driven Premier League. Going from stadiums like the Emirates and the newly opened Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, through to the recently promoted Harrogate Town’s CNG Stadium and a more humble, down to earth football experience, is what makes English football so wonderful and adored. With some European football, by the time you hit the 3rd or 4th tier, you’re onto the level of a local 5 a-side matchup, however in this country the football is still at a magnificent level even into the 4th tier, where the clubs and matches are fought with the intensity of a Champions League final.
I genuinely have had this challenge on my bucket list since I was a youngster and craved for watching football, and that desire to travel and watch football in this country and beyond has never left.
Highlights of the 92 Club…
To pick out a few highlights of the 92 football league stadiums and matchdays, we should start of with the biggest and best; the extravagance and class of stadiums such as the Emirates and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Now, these are the high-class of football stadium, and it’s not your typical pie and peas experience, however it’s reflective of modern football. Additionally in the Premier League, you have the atmosphere of Anfield and Old Trafford, such historic stadiums that have seen such great footballing moments over their history. Meanwhile, you have the world-renowned atmosphere of Elland Road, particularly after returning to the Premier League, when the crowds are allowed back, that stadium will be bouncing. Even for the mid-table sides such as Newcastle and West Ham United, the grounds are magnificent and all offer their own experience and passionate support.
Moving down the leagues, into the Championship, teams such as Brentford are making their way to new surroundings, and there is still much history in the likes of Hillsborough and the City Ground, such arena’s that have had historic footballing moments. Additionally in the Championship is where we venture into another country with the Cardiff City stadium and the Liberty Stadium.
Dropping further down, are the again historic and fantastic atmospheres of Fratton Park, Stadium of Light and DW Stadium. Around 15 years ago, these 3 stadiums would have been playing at the highest tier of football, and despite their falls from grace, the atmosphere hasn’t changed inside the stadiums.
Finally, looking into the 4th tier of League 2, we have some of the most intriguing grounds of the bunch. You have the first-time 92 club members Harrogate Town, the class of 92, 92 members Salford City, environmentally-conscious Forest Green Rovers and of course, the smallest capacity of the 92. In League 2 is where the quality of football is still high, however you’re at the epitome of local supporters and traditional atmosphere. There’s no chance of paying over £10 for a pie and cup of tea in any of these ones, and in just a short hop, skip and jump we’ve gone from the £800,000,000 Tottenham Hotspur Stadium through to 1878 constructed Deepdale. A real mix, all with their own stories and atmospheres to soak up.
Entire List of the 92 Club…
Arsenal – Emirates Stadium (60,260)
Aston Villa – Villa Park (42,785)
Brighton and Hove Albion – American Express Community Stadium (30,750)
Burnley – Turf Moor (21,944)
Chelsea – Stamford Bridge (40,853)
Crystal Palace FC – Selhurst Park (25,456)
Everton FC – Goodison Park (39,572)
Fulham – Craven Cottage (25,700)
Leeds United – Elland Road (37,890)
Leicester City – King Power Stadium (32,312)
Liverpool – Anfield (54,074)
Manchester City – Etihad Stadium (55,097)
Manchester United – Old Trafford (74,879)
Newcastle United – St James’ Park (52,354)
Sheffield United F.C. – Bramall Lane (32,609)
Southampton – St Mary’s Stadium (32,505)
Tottenham Hotspur – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (62,062)
West Bromwich Albion – The Hawthorns (26,688)
West Ham United – London Stadium (60,000)
Wolverhampton Wanderers – Molineux Stadium (31,700)
AFC Bournemouth – Dean Court (11,329)
Barnsley – Oakwell Stadium (23,287)
Birmingham City – St Andrew’s Trillion Trophy Stadium (29,409)
Blackburn Rovers – Ewood Park (31,367)
Brentford – Griffin Park (12,763)
Bristol City – Ashton Gate Stadium (27,000)
Cardiff City – Cardiff City Stadium (33,280)
Coventry City – Ricoh Arena (32,609)***
Derby County – Pride Park Stadium (33,597)
Huddersfield Town – The John Smith’s Stadium (24,500)
Luton Town – Kenilworth Road Stadium (10,356)
Middlesbrough – Riverside Stadium (34,742)
Millwall – The Den (20,146)
Norwich City – Carrow Road (27,244)
Nottingham Forest – City Ground (30,445)
Preston North End – Deepdale Stadium (23,404)
Queens Park Rangers – Loftus Road (18,439)
Reading – Madejski Stadium (24,161)
Rotherham United – New York Stadium (12,021)
Sheffield Wednesday F.C. – Hillsborough Stadium (39,732)
Stoke City – bet365 Stadium (30,089)
Swansea City – Liberty Stadium (21,088)
Watford – Vicarage Road (21,577)
Wycombe Wanderers F.C. – Adams Park (9,448)
AFC Wimbledon – Kingsmeadow (4,850)
Accrington Stanley – Crown Ground (5,450)
Blackpool F.C. – Bloomfield Road (17,338)
Bristol Rovers – Memorial Stadium (12,296)
Burton Albion – Pirelli Stadium (6,912)
Charlton Athletic – The Valley (27,111)
Crewe Alexandra – The Alexandra Stadium (10,153)
Doncaster Rovers – Keepmoat Stadium (15,231)
Fleetwood Town – Highbury Stadium (5,327)
Gillingham F.C. – Priestfield Stadium (11,582)
Hull City – KCOM Stadium (25,586)
Ipswich Town – Portman Road Stadium (30,311)
Lincoln City – Sincil Bank (10,120)
Milton Keynes Dons – Stadium MK (30,500)
Northampton Town – The PTS Academy Stadium (7,798)
Oxford United – Kassam Stadium (12,500)
Peterborough United – Weston Homes Stadium (15,314)
Plymouth Argyle – Home Park (17,800)
Portsmouth F.C. – Fratton Park (20,620)
Rochdale A.F.C. – Spotland Stadium (10,249)
Shrewsbury Town – Montgomery Waters Meadow (9,875)
Sunderland A.F.C. – Stadium of Light (49,000)
Swindon Town – Energy Check County Ground (15,728)
Wigan Athletic – DW Stadium (25,138)
Barrow – Furness Building Society Stadium (5,045)
Bolton Wanderers – Macron Stadium (28,723)
Bradford City – Northern Commercials Stadium (25,136)
Cambridge United – Abbey Stadium (8,127)
Carlisle United – Brunton Park (18,202)
Cheltenham Town – The Jonny-Rocks Stadium (7,066)
Colchester United – JobServe Community Stadium (10,105)
Crawley Town – The People’s Pension Stadium (6,134)
Exeter City – St James Park (8,541)
Forest Green Rovers – The New Lawn (5,141)
Grimsby Town – Blundell Park (9,027)
Harrogate Town – CNG Stadium (3,000)
Leyton Orient F.C. – Matchroom Stadium (9,271)
Macclesfield Town – Moss Rose (5,911)
Mansfield Town – One Call Stadium (9,186)
Morecambe F.C. – Globe Arena (6,476)
Newport County – Rodney Parade (7,850)
Oldham Athletic – Boundary Park (13,513)
Port Vale – Vale Park (19,052)
Salford City F.C. – Moor Lane (5,106)
Scunthorpe United – Glanford Park (9,088)
Southend United – Roots Hall (12,392)
Tranmere Rovers – Prenton Park (16,567)
Walsall F.C. – Bescot Stadium (11,300)
If you have every completed, gotten close to completing the 92 club, or even have any great memories from attending one of the stadiums, please do let us know over on Twitter (@NextGoalWinBlog).