My guest is Matt Coughlan, author of Groundhopper: Tales from Football’s Equivalent of Trainspotting. Matt’s new book explores the experience of visiting 100 football grounds, focusing on non-league and less mainstream clubs, sparked by his disillusionment with Arsenal and the Premier League.
In this podcast, we cover:
- The project prioritised historic, quirky, or characterful venues rather than chasing the traditional 92 League grounds, with a blend of English, Scottish, and Belgian stadiums featured.
- A standout highlight was Gala Fairydean Rovers’ brutalist concrete stand, described as architecturally unique and a pilgrimage site among groundhoppers.
- Hallam FC’s Sandygate ground, the oldest football ground in the world, stood out for its steep pitch and deep historical significance, showcasing early football traditions.
- The contrast between historic grounds – like Bradford Park Avenue’s lost stadium – and modern facilities, such as York City’s new community stadium, illustrate how clubs evolve over time.
- Matt emphasises how groundhopping reveals regional football cultures and local fan quirks, often spotlighting passionate volunteers, odd traditions, and unusual venues like grounds with cricket overlaps or running tracks.
- Events like the Kent-based Groundhop UK weekends provided chances to visit multiple grounds in a short time, revealing rich local football cultures, such as Punjab United and Whitstable Town.
- We discuss how clubs like Corinthian-Casuals embody football heritage, connecting English non-league football with global stories — notably their inspirational role in founding Brazil’s SC Corinthians Paulista.
- Matt reflects on the joy of low-key football adventures to places like Biggleswade, enjoying the mix of local pubs, obscure towns, and intimate matchday atmospheres.
- Despite a cheeky opening visit to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (for a rugby final), Matt affirmed his preference for vintage, community-driven grounds with soul over modern stadiums.
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