1st June 2021
Groundhopping: An inside look
By Adam Holt
What is groundhopping, why do people do it and how did they get into it in the first place? Let’s find out...
Groundhopping is a hobby in which people visit grounds across the country and around the world to tick them off the list.
Robert Conway, a serial groundhopper has explained why he first got into this pastime. He said: “Just over 10 years ago I was round a mate’s house and his dad was telling me he’d done the 92 grounds and it sounded like something I’d love to do.”
Groundhopping doesn’t need to take you around the world, many will look for grounds closer to home.
Sven Saturday, author and groundhopper commented on what he likes most about groundhopping, he said: “I really love travelling, seeing new places and meeting new people.
“While you can’t beat the rush of seeing a set of floodlights on the horizon that you’ve never seen before, over the years it’s become less about the actual ground and more about the great sets of volunteers that help all our non-league clubs run and thrive.”
Saturday explained how he got into the hobby of groundhopping in the first place.
He said: “I lived in several different places during my time at university and each time, travelled to each and every club nearby to explore and see what their local clubs were all about. It’s never really stopped since!”
Another groundhopper, Martyn Norman, expressed how much he enjoys what he does and what he enjoys most about his hobby, he said: “Every ground or match is completely different from the last so it’s new and fresh.”
Robert Conway, a serial groundhopper has explained why he first got into this pastime. He said: “Just over 10 years ago I was round a mate’s house and his dad was telling me he’d done the 92 grounds and it sounded like something I’d love to do.”
Groundhopping doesn’t need to take you around the world, many will look for grounds closer to home.
Sven Saturday, author and groundhopper commented on what he likes most about groundhopping, he said: “I really love travelling, seeing new places and meeting new people.
“While you can’t beat the rush of seeing a set of floodlights on the horizon that you’ve never seen before, over the years it’s become less about the actual ground and more about the great sets of volunteers that help all our non-league clubs run and thrive.”
Saturday explained how he got into the hobby of groundhopping in the first place.
He said: “I lived in several different places during my time at university and each time, travelled to each and every club nearby to explore and see what their local clubs were all about. It’s never really stopped since!”
Another groundhopper, Martyn Norman, expressed how much he enjoys what he does and what he enjoys most about his hobby, he said: “Every ground or match is completely different from the last so it’s new and fresh.”
Romulus Chairman Matthew Dainty, a groundhopper himself, also has the view that it can be a great social experience, he said: “Everyone seems to be very warm and welcoming, they’re happy to see you and appreciate your support.”
But, as with most things, this activity has been deeply disrupted by COVID, with many people like Conway forced to set groundhopping aside and he was clear in his desperation to resume his groundhopping exploits, saying: “It’s 14 months in and the grounds still aren’t open. Hopefully, it won’t be much longer until normality resumes, and people can get back into the grounds”.
Dainty has also given his personal perspective into the scale of impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on groundhopping as a hobby, he said: It’s pretty much brought it to a stop altogether; “I’ve had to dip into the lower levels, where teams play on public land in parks in order to get my football and groundhopping fix at the moment.”
On the impact of COVID on groundhopping, Sven (Saturday) said in the context of the present circumstances groundhopping itself doesn’t really matter compared to what other people are going through.
Expanding on the mental health impact of the pandemic on the groundhopping community as a whole, he said: “Just like so many people in so many walks of life, the mental health aspect of the pandemic has been massive for the community, depriving people of the regular social contact they would have had and for many, removing the one true highlight of their week, be that as a ground hopper, supporter, club official or volunteer.”
But, as with most things, this activity has been deeply disrupted by COVID, with many people like Conway forced to set groundhopping aside and he was clear in his desperation to resume his groundhopping exploits, saying: “It’s 14 months in and the grounds still aren’t open. Hopefully, it won’t be much longer until normality resumes, and people can get back into the grounds”.
Dainty has also given his personal perspective into the scale of impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on groundhopping as a hobby, he said: It’s pretty much brought it to a stop altogether; “I’ve had to dip into the lower levels, where teams play on public land in parks in order to get my football and groundhopping fix at the moment.”
On the impact of COVID on groundhopping, Sven (Saturday) said in the context of the present circumstances groundhopping itself doesn’t really matter compared to what other people are going through.
Expanding on the mental health impact of the pandemic on the groundhopping community as a whole, he said: “Just like so many people in so many walks of life, the mental health aspect of the pandemic has been massive for the community, depriving people of the regular social contact they would have had and for many, removing the one true highlight of their week, be that as a ground hopper, supporter, club official or volunteer.”