Modern football may look glossier than ever, but anyone who has followed the sport for long enough knows the shine often comes at a cost.
Tickets choke your wallet, corporate branding smothers every inch of atmosphere, and the romance of the terraces can feel like a fading memory.
With the next World Cup promising “dynamic pricing” and TV-style ad breaks, it’s no wonder supporters crave something real again.
And if you know where to wander, that old magic is still alive.
Meet the Man Who Has Wandered Further Than Anyone
For more than four decades, Steve Broughton has been chasing that magic across fields, quarries, islands, and cities.
At 57, he’s what fans fondly call a groundhopper—a traveller who measures the passing years in pitches visited rather than passport stamps.
Forget ticking off the 92 league stadiums.
Steve’s list sits at a jaw-dropping 5,630 grounds, accumulated through nearly a million miles of criss-crossing journeys—including around 150 new places each year.
Discovering the Joy in the Game’s Unlikely Places
Steve has stood beside pitches carved out of clay pits.
He has watched matches overshadowed by Ben Nevis, cheered by Elizabethan town walls, and scheduled around island ferry times.
He’s even visited venues patrolled by a line of field guns.
His fascination began by accident. Growing up in London after being born in Leicester, he wandered into a Feltham non-league match as a bored teenager.
They lost 4–0—and he was instantly hooked.
Soon he was exploring every small club he could reach, discovering that no two grounds ever felt the same.
“It’s Football… But It’s Also the Adventure”
Ask Steve why he still does it and he’ll tell you it’s the mix: the travel, the characters, the landscapes, and yes—the satisfaction of collecting each new discovery.
Non-league football, he says, has surged in popularity precisely because it gives fans what the modern game rarely does: affordability, heart, community, and stories that stick.
And although he’s far from the only obsessive explorer out there, he’s definitely one of the most committed.
Two More Grounds—and Counting
Now based in Prestwich, just north of Manchester, Steve added two more unusual matches to his catalogue last weekend.
First, he watched a lone-spectator showdown between Stockton Athletic Church and St John’s Church Snods Edge in the North East Christian Fellowship League.
Then he drove on to Barnard Castle for an Alan Hood Charity Cup semi-final.
That second game—a 4–1 win for the hosts—brought his running total to 5,630.
For nearly 15 years he has been documenting every single visit on his blog—stories of muddy touchlines, unique communities, and scenery that TV cameras never reach.
Here, in Steve’s own words, are 20 football grounds he believes every wandering fan should experience at least once.
1. The Stanks, Berwick-upon-Tweed
A patch of grass by the Elizabethan walls becomes a lively cup venue for only a few weeks a year. Blink at the wrong time of season and you’d never know football is played here.
2. Cathkin Park, Glasgow
Once the haunt of Third Lanark, this ghostly survivor still carries the echoes of its 50,000-capacity glory days—complete with crumbling terracing.
3. Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London
A rare modern gem. When Steve visited in 2020, he ranked it among Europe’s finest thanks to its sheer ambition and unique design.
4. Mallaig
An artificial pitch—but with a soul. On clear days, matches are played beneath views of Rum, Eigg, and Muck. Kick-offs even depend on the ferry timetable.
5. Iodine Park, Millhead
A quirky ground tucked into an old quarry, where supporters and substitutes share the same small stand.
6. The Oval, Belfast
An old-school treasure with terracing, towering shipyard cranes in view, and decades of history soaked into the concrete.
7. Glebe Park, Brechin
Where else can you admire a hedge as part of the pitch boundary? Glebe Park’s charm lies in its simplicity and its views.
8. Armoury House, London
A rarely accessible military ground in the shadow of the City. Field guns behind the goal make this a one-of-a-kind stop.
9. Mount Hale, Alderney
A short walk from the island’s airport brings you to a pitch rich with local history, including the famous Muratti Vase ties.
10. Cadbury Recreation Ground, Bournville
A chocolate-town ground featuring a stunning timber pavilion built in 1902.
It’s as elegant as football venues come.
11. Victoria Bottoms, Nanpean
Once a clay pit, now a striking football setting with steep natural terraces.
12. Cnoc Na Monadh, Eriskay
A tiny Hebridean pitch recognised by FIFA for its uniqueness—and one that Steve attempted to visit three times before catching a match.
13. Champion Hill, London
Formerly fading, now reborn. Dulwich Hamlet’s ground blends community spirit with indie-football vibes.
14. Wellesley Recreation Ground, Great Yarmouth
Home to what’s believed to be England’s oldest surviving football stand—just a short stroll from the beach.
15. Gwynfi Welfare Ground, Blaengwynfi
A modest Welsh ground framed by sweeping valley views that steal the show.
16. Claggan Park, Fort William
Functional facilities, unforgettable scenery, and the looming presence of Ben Nevis.
17. Newlandsfield Park, Glasgow
Classic Scottish terracing, big crowds for local derbies, and old-school football culture at its purest.
18. Ironworks Ground, Tow Law
A famously cold North East venue, deeply rooted in mining heritage—and once home to Chris Waddle.
19. Uig Football Pitch, Skye
A basic pitch, except for the postcard-worthy view… and the midges waiting to devour you.
20. Number One Ground, Chatham
Home of the Royal Engineers—1875 FA Cup winners—still playing at a venue rich with military and sporting history.
What Comes Next?
As football’s higher tiers drift further into corporate predictability, Steve’s adventures serve as a reminder that the game’s soul is still out there waiting—nestled in quarries, perched on islands, and hidden behind hedges.
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