Done the 92 questionnaire – DAVE NATHAN (DaveGLD)
Dave in Bruges
How many grounds had you visited before you realised you wanted to do the lot?
I made my mind up sitting in a pub talking with a couple of mates before I started. Originally I wanted to set a world record as an official one didn’t exist, doing the existing 92 plus the ones coming up from the Conference, or whatever it’s called now, including the ones I had already been to.
Did you choose the last ground you were going to visit or did it just pan out that way?
I never had a plan at any point. I just used to look at the fixture lists each week and work out where I hadn’t been and what I could sort out around work.
Did you have company for some or all of it – were you in competition with anyone else and what happened to them?
Only had company for a couple of local games, did most of it on my own. That was all part of it for me, being on my own, somewhere I had never been before, completely out of my comfort zone trying to find the ground.
How many had you done when you thought ‘Right, I’m going to finish this now’?
Once I started, I had to finish. I had it all marked off on a big map, grounds I had been, grounds I had yet to do
Obvious question but, best day out?
Blimey that’s a tough one as I enjoyed all of them. Went up to see Preston then Blackpool the following day. Stayed in a hotel in Blackpool. I was the only guest so the owner gave me the keys to the hotel so he could go out. Had a great time up there.
Did you manage to do more than one ground in a day at any point?
Never two in a day but did a few weekends or Friday /Saturday trips to do two in two days. There’s football nearly every day to choose from.
Apart from non-League football at the moment, what does Plainmoor have that the Emirates never will?
This is easy being an old school Arsenal fan. Most of you know the atmosphere isn’t the greatest at the Emirates. I much prefer the old Highbury days, before the seats went in in 92 the place used to be rocking with genuine fans. This isn’t just Arsenal but a lot of top clubs, they seem to have forgotten about the average fan. All the lower league clubs are more for the fans whereas your bigger clubs are chasing the corporate input. A season ticket at Arsenal or other top six club is seen more as a status symbol in my opinion, rather than a ticket to a place that’s in your blood.
Did you ever turn up to find the game wasn’t on, or that you’d gone to the wrong ground?
Thankfully no but had a close one at Carlisle. I live in South London and had a ticket for Carlisle but it was snowed off the night before. Lost money on the train ticket though.
Best/worst food on your travels?
Forest Green without a doubt. The only ground where you can’t buy a burger or hot dog as it’s completely vegan.
Do you still call ‘League One’ ‘Division Three’?
No, but I do find myself saying ‘Conference, or whatever it’s called now?’
Most and least welcoming hosts?
Most welcoming Newcastle. Ordered a pint and a dinner in a pub outside the Gallowgate, this Geordie heard me and offered me a seat with his mates and we had a laugh and a few beers together. Might have been different if they was playing a London club. Least welcoming Luton Town. Strange one but everyone I spoke to in and out of the ground didn’t seem too enthusiastic. Closely followed by Sheffield United, They were playing Charlton and the barman told me to drink my pint and F*** Off. I’d only asked for a guiness.
Any bizarre incidents along the way. Any brushes with anyone famous/infamous?
Had a p#ss next to Rory McGrath at the Emirates, that’s about it I’m afraid.
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 love going to new grounds so I’m trying to reach 200 anywhere. I’ve done a load in the Conference, or whatever it’s called now, a few North and South, a few in Scotland and a handful abroad. Me and a couple of mates have just come back from a trip to Belgium where we did three games in three days. That took me to 148 in total. The photo above is me outside The Jan Breydal Stadion, Bruges.
What was your memento/proof of each visit – programme, photo, ticket stub, badge?
I keep all the tickets and I used to have a website, Arsenalandtheother91, for those who remember which I used to document the games on. I stopped this a few years ago though. Now i just put the updates on my Facebook page and my twitter page @davenathan15
|
Hello. Sign In
