So today has been very surreal!!
For those of you that haven't seen, here's the video about me & my German travels from
@BBCSouthNews
.
Huge thanks to
@LewisCoombes
&
@robsills_
for putting it together
(Couldn't upload full video on 1 tweet, part 2 below)
Day off today spent in my football room reorganising my scarves, tickets, badges & a few other bits.
So many great memories everywhere I look! Could spend all day, every day in here! โฝ๏ธ
SC Verl fans away at Dresden last night.
Absolute fair play to the 6 that travelled!
I know it's a 600 mile round trip on a school night but this is in the 3rd league! Reckon Winch would take more ๐
What an incredible day!!!
56/56 ๐ฉ๐ช grounds โ ๏ธ
Despite being in the middle of nowhere, Aue is a great place to watch football, both sets of fans in good voice.
Just like when I completed my 92, of course the match finished 0-0, but that hasn't dampened my buzz!
What's next? ๐
Arrived at
@HawksFCOfficial
& jeeeez! I'm in
@FootyScran
heaven!
10 (TEN!) Sausages & chips and a whitehawk lager!
What a place! Let's hope the action on the pitch lives up to the level of this!!!
Appropriate that visiting my last German ground, I find the absolute greatest
@FootyScran
in the country!
@FCErzgebirgeAue
Nudeltopf. โฌ5 for the most substantial meal I've ever had in a football stadium.
2nd photo was after I'd been eating for a solid 5 mins
DELICIOUS!!! ๐ฉ๐ช
After this weeks trip;
Bundesliga 18/18 โ ๏ธ
2.Bundesliga 18/18 โ ๏ธ
3 Liga 19/20 โณ๏ธ๐
Full steam ahead for a visit to
@FCErzgebirgeAue
in 9 days time.
To say I'm buzzing for my visit would be the worlds biggest understatement! ๐ฉ๐ชโฝ๏ธ๐
Just landed back in England after an unforgettable weekend away.
As well as completing the league, I also got a few other small milestones on this trip;
My 700th ground visited
My 150th German ground visited
My 100th match of the season.
Until next time, Germany! ๐ฉ๐ชโฝ๏ธ๐บ
341 miles later & I've arrived in Barrow. Hotel is 100 yards from the ground. Bonus.
Very helpful lady on reception desk swapped my print at home for a proper ticket and I've made my way to Spoons for a pint.
I'm now buzzing for the football later,
@BarrowAFC
fan for the night!
Sooo many bitter people in the comments on that MOTD post! It's amusing seeing how upset some people are getting!๐คฃ
Never have I claimed to be the worlds biggest Groundhopper
But I achieved something in ๐ฉ๐ช I'm proud of & if BBC wanna congratulate me for that, I'm all for it! ๐
At Karlsruhe Airport now. Heading back home after another absolutely fantastic trip.
6 days
3 countries
11 matches
29 goals
30 trains
& 66 beers (inc 12 New & 15 Mixerys)
I know I say this every time, but I love this country so much. Until next time! ๐ฉ๐ชโฝ๏ธ๐บ
What an incredible night in an absolutely fantastic place to watch football! 2 sets of brilliant fans non stop til the end, and the 90 minutes football was decent too!
My 149th ground in Germany & certainly goes straight in as one of my favourites! ๐ฉ๐ชโฝ๏ธ
MATCHDAY!!!
and it's a big one personally as today I finally get to visit
@FCErzgebirgeAue
& complete 56/56 German league grounds.
I am very much looking forward to my visit. I even got myself a custom scarf made to celebrate the occasion! ๐๐ฉ๐ชโฝ๏ธ
I honestly don't know where to start from today. One of the best days in Germany ever
Alemannia absolutely destroying unbeaten top of the league Mรผnster 4-2
Heading back to Duss now but wish I could've stayed & partied all night. Best fans in Germany by a mile! ๐จโฌ๏ธ
#NurDerTSV
I make no apologies for milking my 15 mins of fame today!๐ For those of you that live in the South of England, watch
@BBCSouthNews
tonight........
Don't wanna give away any spoilers, but you'll either be amazed or think I'm the worlds biggest saddo.... I'll let you decide! ๐
Had an unbelievable day yesterday. 1st up was Como. What a beautiful place to watch football. The weather was hot and the beers were cold. All that was missing was some goals. Got those (and some Limbs) in the 2nd half. One of the best football experiences I've ever had! ๐ฎ๐นโฝ๏ธ๐บ
So my plan for my first day in isolation is to sort out & photo all my football pin badges.
There are approx 2500 of them so should keep me busy for most of the day.
Will post all the photos in a thread!
Think youโre a football fan?
@Rob_WCFC
from Hampshire has seen a game at all 92 English Football League grounds and all 56 German League groundsโฆ
His spare bedroom is now a shrine to his โfootball adventureโ
#football
#bundesliga
#superfan
5 years ago today. My shortest trip to Germany. Left home in the morning to drive to Stansted, flew to Hamburg, got to 2 matches Inc St Pauli vs. Ingolstadt, then flew back home that evening and got home just after midnight. Probably the most exhausting trip I've ever done! ๐ฉ๐ชโฝ๏ธ
9 years ago today since I went to see Czech non-league side 1999 Praha and spent the day watching it with these 3 guys!
One of my favourite photos I've taken at football. ๐จ๐ฟโฝ๏ธ๐บ
After 13 matches in 6 days it's finally home time. A very pleasing 52 goals at an average of exactly 4 per match too.
Until next time Germany!
๐ฉ๐ชโฝ๏ธ๐บ
Just Wow!!!
This ground is something else! Kick off delayed by 20 minutes (I think) but just means I can walk around for longer. Scarf, stickers & beer purchased. Absolutely buzzing for the match now!!!
2nd match was SSV Ulm vs 1860 Munich. Queued for 40 mins & got nowhere, then at 6.55 they just opened the gates. My ticket wasn't even checked. Got into a space 1 minute before kick off.
Not the most exciting match, Ulm winning it with a cross early on.
54/56 ๐ฉ๐ช๐โ ๏ธ now.
Well that was certainly worth the effort! FT
@BarrowAFC
2-1 Newport County
Barrow taking the win with an unbelievable worldie strike 10 minutes from the end.
Proper old school football ground. Like being able to walk about freely. Absolutely loved it tonight!
Just a few souvenirs from tonight.
Don't know if I've mentioned, but tomorrow is quite a big day for me, ๐ lol. & I've been awake since 3.30AM, back at my hotel, I'm shattered & now going straight to sleep! ๐
2nd match was another horrendous 90 minutes. Obviously used all my luck up yesterday. Bologna vs Roma. 0-0 with neither team really looking like scoring.
Lovely ground and very thankful it didn't rain.
Been a long day and finally back at my accommodation. Evening flight tomorrow so will have time for a look around the City. But in terms of football, that's my lot.
It's been an incredible last 72 hours!
๐ฎ๐นโฝ๏ธ๐บ
Then it was on to the San Siro. I'd been before, but it's such a wonderful ground. At just โฌ5 a ticket, one of my biggest footballing bargains too. Got a few more goals with Inter winning 4-2. ๐ฎ๐นโฝ๏ธ๐บ
Got to AC Milan vs Inter U19. Told ticket only & sold out despite stand being barely half full.
Not 1 for being defeated, a walk around the ground found me a solution. Saw the whole pitch perfectly.
Not that I care & expect a bit of stick for this, but count as a โ ๏ธ or not?๐
Final match of the trip. Stuttgart Kickers vs Schott Mainz.
One of the most enjoyable Regionalliga experiences I've had outside of Aachen.
2nd top vs 2nd bottom and it showed. Only 1 winner in the end. Comfortable 3-0 home win.
Home time tomorrow, unfortunately. :(
Match 4.
SC Heerenveen vs AZ Aalkmaar. Forget the 90 minutes football, it was awful.
But what a club
@scHeerenveen
is. 2 of the best fan bars I've ever been in. Great stadium and great people. Genuinely hope they can sort out their on field issues!
Best day of trip so far.
At airport waiting for flight home. Another cracking weekend comes to an end.
5 matches (4 new grounds)
21 goals
44 beers (5 of them new)
My 44th trip to Germany was yet another success. Only 39 days until the next one. Can't wait. ๐ฉ๐ชโฝ๏ธ๐บ
Tonight's football. FC Gรผtersloh 1-3 Schalke II. A cracking stadium & a really good match too. The hosts equalised late on only to conceed 2 more even later.
Gรผtersloh were decent but unlucky. As for S04, I'd play tonight's 11 against Duss 2moro, they were very tidy!
Souvenirs from my trip.
Just a few....
7 scarves, 7 ticket stubs, multiple Ultras stickers, a new t-shirt and amongst a few other things, finally this seasons Kicker Sonderheft ๐
10 years ago today since I stepped foot in Germany for the 1st ever time. Since then;
44 trips
169 matches in 135 grounds
629 goals (3.72 per match)
1 x 0-0
oh & 123 scarves ๐คฃ
BL 18/18
BL2 18/18
3 Liga 12/20
RL West 13/18
So many fantastic memories. What a country! ๐ฉ๐ชโฝ๏ธ๐บ
WOW WOW WOW JUST WOW
Every now and then a match comes along that will live long in the memory. Well tonight was that
Leverkusen 4-3 Dortmund
Absolute scenes on that home terrace. Incredible 90 minutes of football!
I love Germany!!!!!
On the long way home now after a resounding 5-2 defeat. Well beaten in the end by a decent
@MerthyrTownFC
team. Gave it a good go but it wasn't to be.
Just have to say that every single person I met the club tonight was top class. Such a friendly club. ๐ฅโฌ๏ธ
FT tonight.
@Lichtenberg47
1-0
@BFCDynamo
. It was great until ko, when it decided to absolute piss down for 70 mins. So sooo cold. But Lichtenberg took the win late in the second half.
Beautiful old ground with grassed terraced steps. So glad to be back watching German football.
6 years ago since I got to 3 matches on the same day in ๐ฉ๐ช&๐ณ๐ฑ
Duisburg vs Ingolstadt
Oberhausen vs Aachen
Venlo vs Vitesse
Despite Aachen losing & being the coldest I've ever been at football, it's one of my favourite
#Groundhopping
days.
Including THAT goal at MSV too!
@Dembouz
talking about Winchester whilst holding the World Cup trophy could be the best thing I have ever seen in my whole life!!!!
@wincityfc
๐ดโซ๐ซ๐ท
Fully aware that just being here qualifies me for the worst husband of the year awards, but it was just too big to miss. When are we ever gonna play here again? I'll make it up to her tomorrow. ๐
Come on
@wincityfc
!!! ๐ฅโฌ๏ธ
That was fun! ๐
92 pins stuck on the map. 1 for each ground visited in Germany & colour coded by division!
1 certain area more condensed than any others!
๐ฉ๐ชโฝ๏ธ๐๐
They say you pay for what you get. Well after a hotel and a new flight I certainly got my money's worth tonight.
@jersey_bulls
7-2
@afc_hayes
Hayes scoring the first & last of the match with arguably the 2 best finishes. But the Bulls were different class!!! Could've been 20!
Football fanatic Robert Conway says his wife is happy to share her home with his football memorabilia.
Would you give up a room in your house for your partnerโs hobby?
Today's final trip of the weekend, we took a trip out to
@Nur_Energie
.
1-0 down at the break & looking a bit flat, a cracking 2nd half from the home team got them a 3-1 win
5000+ in attendance for what was a thoroughly enjoyable day in Eastern Germany! ๐ฉ๐ชโฝ๏ธ๐บ
At the airport waiting for my flight home. My 45th successful German football weekend comes to an end.
Had a fantastic time. 4 matches in 4 new grounds, 41 beers & plenty of laughs throughout.
That's my German adventures done for this season. So until next time... ๐ฉ๐ชโฝ๏ธ๐บ
Final match of the day & part of the main reason for this trip was BVB II vs Unterhaching in the 3Liga at the fabulous old Rote Erde
BVB Ultras turned up in numbers for this one but the visitors grabbed a deserved equaliser in injury time
โฌ5 entry, โฌ3.50 beer
53/56 ๐ฉ๐ช๐ for me
An absolute top away day unfortunately ruined by the football.
FT Mรผnster 4-0 Aachen.
4 corners, 4 goals. ๐ Although I am convinced the 2nd goal was a mile offside.
It's disappointing, but fans were top class yet again. I love this club! ๐จโฌ๏ธ
Re-sorted out my scarves from matches I've attended in Germany and other grounds outside the UK.
๐ฉ๐ชโฝ๏ธ
Still looking for a few more if anyone can help ๐๐
Browsing Google and came across this German map template with just the right amount of spaces for the 56 club crests.
So put this together and now know what my next wall canvas will be! ๐๐ฉ๐ช
The things you do for your football club. 4AM in a foreign country, cutting my trip short to fly back for the match
Do I regret it? Not a chance, could hardly miss it? Biggest match in my life supporting Winch. To say I'm nervous doesn't even come close.
Winch here I come. ๐ฅโฌ๏ธ
Sometimes you have an away so good that the football is secondary. Great to host 12 guys from Aachen today. Shame we couldn't get the result, but a top top day out otherwise! ๐ฅโฌ๏ธ๐ป
Match 2 of the day. Schalke II 4-1 SV Rรถdinghausen in the Regionalliga West.
Played in the remnants of the old Parkstadion. 1 side of lovely large concrete terracing. S04 blew them away with 4x 1st half goals.
If trains behave I'll get to final match of the day 15 mins b4 ko.
German Unity Day today so a bonus chance for a double. 1st match of the day. VfR Aalen vs SG Barockstadt Fulda-Lehnerz, Regionalliga South West.
Comfortable 2-0 win in the end in front of only 1555 fans.
โฌ11 entry, โฌ4 beer
๐ฉ๐ชโฝ๏ธ๐บ
Arrived at Stansted Airport. Off for my 45th visit to Germany*
Packed my
@halbvierUK
hat but it's 18ยฐ in Karlsruhe today so not sure how much use it'll get this weekend.
*Hopefully! Baden Baden airport staff on strike so hopefully flight not affected too much ๐ฌ๐ค๐ป
๐ฉ๐ชโฝ๏ธ๐บโ๏ธ
Early train out of Aachen for a couple of matches before flying home from Dortmund later.
Not an exaggeration to say this is up there with the worst I've ever felt. Only just getting by with the fact yesterday was so bloody good it's just about cancelling it out! ๐ฎโ๐จ