Here it is then ladies and gentleman, a look back at the 2014/15 campaign through my eyes. 90 games later, 355 goals seen, and I'm summing it up here in black and white for a few people to read. Can't think of any other way of doing it really, so I hope you enjoy!
My first full season of groundhopping has come and gone faster than I would have liked it to have done, but as the cliche goes, all good things have to come to an end eventually. It's been a fantastic journey, and I can only put it down to the people I've met on my travels. There truly are some fantastic people within football, so, in the soppy manner that this post appears to be heading, I'd like to thank each and everyone of you that has played a role in making this a top way to kick off my Stadium Trotter adventure.
Every game and every new ground (all 26 of them I might say) added something to this season, but if I spoke of each of my 90 games, you'd be asleep faster than I can say 'Boring, boring Chelsea'. For that reason, I've broken the campaign down into a few awards. Sit back, relax, grab a beer, this is the Stadium Trotter 2014/15 awards ceremony!
My first full season of groundhopping has come and gone faster than I would have liked it to have done, but as the cliche goes, all good things have to come to an end eventually. It's been a fantastic journey, and I can only put it down to the people I've met on my travels. There truly are some fantastic people within football, so, in the soppy manner that this post appears to be heading, I'd like to thank each and everyone of you that has played a role in making this a top way to kick off my Stadium Trotter adventure.
Every game and every new ground (all 26 of them I might say) added something to this season, but if I spoke of each of my 90 games, you'd be asleep faster than I can say 'Boring, boring Chelsea'. For that reason, I've broken the campaign down into a few awards. Sit back, relax, grab a beer, this is the Stadium Trotter 2014/15 awards ceremony!
FAVOURITE NEW GROUND
The obvious place to start, but by no means the easiest choice. Three or four grounds stood out to me as I scanned through the options trying to make a decision. In the end though, it could only really be one place. Penydarren Park. The home of Merthyr Town.
Not only was Merthyr my first 'tick' outside of England, it goes down as only of my favourite grounds overall. The character of the place coupled with the modernisation via the artificial pitch make it a special place to visit. The only downside on my visit was the scoreline (we lost 6-0) but I loved it nonetheless. Brilliant ground, excellent company and friendly people everywhere. Congratulations Merthyr Town, Penydarren Park is my favourite ground this year.
FAVOURITE GAME
This is another difficult one, but the winner comes from an unlikely source. That's right, the competition every side wants to play in. The likes of Bashley and Team Solent graced it this season, and it was watched by local audiences of up to 100 people. I am of course referring to the Hants Senior Cup. My favourite game of the season comes from the 1st round of this season's competition, as Blackfield & Langley ran out 5-3 winners against Brockenhurst at Grigg Lane in September.
The visitors seemingly controlled the game, but a stunning second half hat-trick from Brockenhurst's Mark Barker made the game one to remember, beaten only by a couple of stunning goals from the visitors to kill them off. Thoroughly entertaining ninety minutes of football, and it wasn't matched for the rest of the season.
The visitors seemingly controlled the game, but a stunning second half hat-trick from Brockenhurst's Mark Barker made the game one to remember, beaten only by a couple of stunning goals from the visitors to kill them off. Thoroughly entertaining ninety minutes of football, and it wasn't matched for the rest of the season.
BEST ATMOSPHERE
This one's easy, Sholing away with Bashley on Easter Monday. What a day that was. We may have lost 4-2, but both sets of fans sang for 90 minutes and it was something genuinely brilliant to be part of. There was nothing malicious between anybody, who stood next to and slagged off the opposing contingent throughout the entire game. If it were any higher in the pyramid, then the atmosphere would have caused those that claim to be 'football fans' to start fights and turn violent. That's the beauty of non-league. The singing was crap, naturally, but see for yourself... I had a brilliant day. (I would post a video, but I'd need to upgrade to be allowed that feature. I'm not prepared to do that just yet...)
BEST GOAL
As you can imagine, 355 goals is very difficult to whittle down, and choose the best from. There's been a few contenders over the past few months, Nick Blackman's superb strike for Reading in pre-season, New Milton's Antony Harris with a beautiful lobbed finish not so long ago, but in the end, it's a goal from the final Wessex League game of the season that wins it. Step forward, Mark 'Sparky' Barker.
His thunderbolt of a strike in the 4-1 demolition job of Lymington Town in April thoroughly deserves the accolade, slamming home into the postage stamp with a rocket of an effort from the corner of the penalty area. I genuinely celebrated when it hit the net. Mark, if you're reading this, congratulations mate. I would give you a trophy, but, well, I'm not going to. Round of applause from everyone though.
His thunderbolt of a strike in the 4-1 demolition job of Lymington Town in April thoroughly deserves the accolade, slamming home into the postage stamp with a rocket of an effort from the corner of the penalty area. I genuinely celebrated when it hit the net. Mark, if you're reading this, congratulations mate. I would give you a trophy, but, well, I'm not going to. Round of applause from everyone though.
FRIENDLIEST CLUB
There's only one winner here. Wessex League Division One side Romsey Town. I was invited over by their manager, given a complimentary ticket, and generally treated well by what is a forward-thinking, friendly club. Everybody there was happy to have a chat, and there was a nice atmosphere around the place. Congratulations Romsey Town, you are officially the friendliest club!
FAVOURITE TRIP
This is yet another really tough choice, and I've whittled it down to three contenders. It's worth noting that the winner of this award is obviously brilliant, but it only sets a benchmark for next season. Something for me to top with something better. Instead of just glazing over them here though, you can have a mini summary of all of them, this is the final award after all...
3. Plymouth weekend (Plymouth Parkway/Plymouth Argyle)
This was a brilliant way to take on my first footballing weekend. I travelled with Matt of the brilliant LostBoyos adventure, got monumentally lost on a bus in the middle of nowhere, took in a night out in Plymouth on a Sunday (which included trying a 'Slippery Nipple'), met most of the Swansea City side and nearly attacked the entire National Rail staff when they left me stranded at Westbury station. My 2014/15 had got off with a bang, and I loved every second of it.
3. Plymouth weekend (Plymouth Parkway/Plymouth Argyle)
This was a brilliant way to take on my first footballing weekend. I travelled with Matt of the brilliant LostBoyos adventure, got monumentally lost on a bus in the middle of nowhere, took in a night out in Plymouth on a Sunday (which included trying a 'Slippery Nipple'), met most of the Swansea City side and nearly attacked the entire National Rail staff when they left me stranded at Westbury station. My 2014/15 had got off with a bang, and I loved every second of it.
2. Conference play-off final (Wembley)
£10 ticket, easy train travel and a group of mates to take the game in with made for an excellent Sunday to finish my travels for the season. It was great to finally get to our national stadium, the home of football, and we witnessed a great game to live up to expectations. It needs to be done with England for a competitive tournament international at some stage in the near future, but it was a great day nonetheless!
1. Manchester week (Liverpool/Manchester City)
The title for my favourite trip of the 2014/15 campaign is taken by my week in Manchester, a first trip North on the Stadium Trotter adventure, and yes, this week was spent spent with Matt H. Visiting two Premier League grounds in two days was never something I expected, so it was great to know I did both for a combined ticket cost of £22.50. Sadly, I don't remember an awful lot of Anfield, as Matt had me smashed on a 14 hour drinking session, but a great October week that goes down as the Stadium Trotter trip of the season. Cheers Matt!
Unfortunately, this is where it ends. All awards have been awarded, and you'll have to wait until next year for the next awards ceremony I'm afraid. Once again though, I have to thank everyone who's been involved in my inaugural groundhopping season, and I cannot wait for my next game to roll around so we can get things started again. Until that time, thanks for reading, and I'll leave you with some photos of me at football grounds and with a few of you that I've met this year. See you in 2015/16.