Done the 92 questionnaire – Joe (Captain Blue)
Joe (on the left) with a couple of mates at Nacional
How many grounds had you visited before you realised you wanted to do the lot?
When I started going to away matches with my club (Birmingham City) on a regular basis (early 90’s) I’d done 40 within a couple of years due to a promotion and that is when I started keeping a tab of how many etc, I then met a mate who was doing the same and used to go to neutral matches at new grounds which I’d never thought of before and that is when I started wanting to do the 92
Did you choose the last ground you were going to visit or did it just pan out that way?
Originally my plan was just to do the 92 clubs (rather than the current grounds) and I achieved this a couple of years ago by going to Yeovil-Exeter at Huish Park with a few mates and we celebrated with a night out there too, however once I’d done that I knew I needed to still complete the current 92 and I was lucky enough to achieve this with Blues at Brighton in April 2012, which made it all the more special finishing it with my own team.
Did you have company for some or all of it – were you in competition with anyone else and what happened to them?
On my own and with mates, I have been in competition with others down the years but none of the others actually made it to the 92 as far as I’m aware. At one point in time I had a mate who was way in front of me and not far away from competing it but his circumstances changed and I don’t think he ever quite made it over the line.
How many had you done when you thought ‘Right, I’m going to finish this now’?
About 2/3 years ago I was on about 75 and hadn’t done any new grounds for a couple of years and something in me just made me think I really need to start going to some of the grounds in the lower leagues if I’m going to do it. It was about motivating myself to travel to non-Blues matches but I’ve had some really fantastic days out at some of the so-called lesser clubs and seen some pretty good matches too.
Obvious question but, best day out?
A very hot day at Derby in 2007 stands out, although Yeovil in 2010 was memorable for all sorts of reasons.
Did you manage to do more than one ground in a day at any point?
I’ve done new grounds on consecutive days but never more than one in the same day.
What does Plainmoor have that the Emirates never will?
Well football should not be watched from padded seats full stop! Its been quite a long time since I visited Plainmoor but I have stood in both the home and away end there so terracing is quite an obvious point and there is a huge difference between a football ground and a stadium, Plainmoor is a football ground and the Emirates is a stadium.
Did you ever turn up to find the game wasn’t on, or that you’d gone to the wrong ground?
No but I was on the way to Blackpool once when the match was called off due to a frozen pitch and went to Lincoln instead – there was a late pitch inspection and the match just about survived the freeze much to my relief.
Best/worst food on your travels?
Worst catering I’ve experienced was in Braga when all they had were really manky looking chocolate bars, however in terms of the 92 a lot of grounds for catering are quite similar in choice, quality etc in my opinion but I do recall a particularly poor pie at Rotherham’s Millmoor years ago (although as it is no longer one of the current grounds maybe I should let that go!).
Do you still call ‘League One’ ‘Division Three’?
I tend to refer to it as the third tier, which is effectively what it is!
Most and least welcoming hosts?
Least welcoming host is Millwall (particularly the old Cold Blow Lane ground) and I don’t just mean the fans, the surrounding area just does not like outsiders. Most welcoming hosts have to be Derby, although I found Aldershot to be a very warm welcome (and a decent atmosphere too).
Any bizarre incidents along the way. Any brushes with anyone famous/infamous?
Once needed 3 cars to get back from the short journey home from Coventry, long story!
Now you’ve joined the small band of 92ers do you plan to keep visiting new grounds as they are introduced to the League, or do you consider it to be a one-off, job-done deal?
I still consider it a work in progress and plan to visit any clubs that move grounds or new clubs into the league, there shouldn’t be too many of these now so it would seem a shame not to keep up.
What was your memento/proof of each visit – program, photo, ticket stub, badge?
I still have all my ticket stubs but I’m not sure I have one from each ground as years ago it was rare for an away match to be all ticket or even some recent grounds if you pay on the terrace you're not always allocated a ticket. In hindsight I wished I’d bought a badge from each ground but hindsight’s a wonderful thing!
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