GRS67 Posted August 8, 2006 Share Posted August 8, 2006 Be scared..be VERY scared <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> ... Groundhopping Groundhopping is the practice of visiting as many football grounds as possible. This, however is an oversimplified explanation. The majority of people who do this activity are known as groundhoppers and have either already been to the majority of decent grounds or have some perverse dislike of good quality football and stadiums. A consequence of this is that groundhoppers are more often than not found at non-league football grounds - the more obscure and difficult to get to the better. The Ability to Boast Groundhoppers are very fond of enquiring about the activities of fellow hoppers - commonly trying to out-do each other with tales of where they've been. 'Have you been to Bloxwich Rangers yet?' 'I've done all that league now including Dudley Amateurs' new ground'. Most hoppers actually compete with their fellow travellers and take pleasure only in having visited more grounds or more obscure grounds than each other. They sometimes travel in packs - sharing a car - but this is frowned upon by 'real' hoppers who only ever use public transport. Groundhopper Equipment Groundhoppers are easily identified by the equipment that they carry... The Carrier Bag Perhaps the most essential piece of equipment the groundhopper possesses is the carrier bag. This is usually a high grade bag with some 'posing' value such as a cross-channel ferry company or a bus company's name on it. The carrier bag is taken everywhere and the same one is used until it literally falls apart. It is an ideal receptacle for carrying other essential items... Transport Timetables Seldom is a groundhopper spotted without a myriad of public transport timetables, most of which are completely useless in the area which he finds himself. Even stranger than this is the chronic inability of most of them to actually read a timetable which results in them grouping together en route in an attempt to arrive in the correct place on time. Similarly, they all carry an A to Z atlas and none of them can read those either. Many a local person has been confronted by a dishevelled figure with a carrier bag on a Saturday afternoon asking how they can get to the football ground on the other side of town in two minutes flat. The Notebook An essential item is the notebook. These appear in a variety of styles and sizes depending on the individual 'hopper's' needs. Some only need to jot down where they've been, while others note the player's names, others write match reports and some have been known to draw scale diagrams of the ground they are visiting. The notebook results in a number of traditions the most significant being the need to enquire of other hoppers 'got the teams yet' and the subsequent comparison of notes and any other important information that can be passed on (1). Essential Attire One other piece of information required to grasp a basic understanding of groundhopping is the essential attire. Let us start with the feet which are always covered with a pair of old nylon socks and white trainers (2). Trousers are seldom jeans and often what can only be referred to as 'slacks', although this is a vague description because these articles have never been seen on sale anywhere. A football shirt is also required and must be one from the hopper's local non-league team or an obscure foreign team that nobody has ever heard of. An anorak is then worn - in all weather and finally one mustn't forget the personal radio (3) with which the hopper listens to the football results on Radio 5 which he claims not to care about. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (1) For example, 'I saw him play in an Isthmian Reserve league match last year for Crawley Dogwalkers FC but he went off after two minutes with a toe strain'. (2) Supermarket brand, never a sportswear brand. (3) Never a personal stereo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GRS67 Posted August 8, 2006 Author Share Posted August 8, 2006 Trousers are seldom jeans and often what can only be referred to as 'slacks' ... LOL, I wonder if Rhodes is a jeans or slack man, maybe Paula can tell us <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeutralFan Posted August 8, 2006 Share Posted August 8, 2006 Or is Paula a slack girl? <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/hump.gif" alt="" /> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Football Man Posted August 8, 2006 Share Posted August 8, 2006 Gavin - maybe if some "hoppers" turned up at the White Lion Ground, Edgware might get a "crowd"! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GRS67 Posted August 8, 2006 Author Share Posted August 8, 2006 Quote: Potters Bar Town FC said: Gavin - maybe if some "hoppers" turned up at the White Lion Ground, Edgware might get a "crowd"! .. I have seen a few pop up now and then. I hear potters bar put them on the guest list to boost their crowds <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhodes Posted August 8, 2006 Share Posted August 8, 2006 Gavin - I'm sure Potters Bar Town will delight in telling everyone whether I am a jeans or slacks man. We used to get a vast number of hoppers come down to Haringey Borough and I always made a point of pressing their flesh and sending them away laden down with programmes and a Club pennant, we often received letters of appreciation afterwards, one hopper even came back a few weeks later with a friend as he had been so well looked after. It doesn't hurt to go that extra mile but I doubt we will get many groundhoppers coming to Hendon as I would have thought the vast majority have already crossed Claremont Road off their lists. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GRS67 Posted August 8, 2006 Author Share Posted August 8, 2006 Thats true, but they can add it to their list of seeing Kentish Town play somewhre else (does the count?lol) Anyhow, I will be there to see KTFC play and I am going to try and bring a couple of mates to a KTFC game later in the season, the more the merrier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coupwotcoup Posted August 8, 2006 Share Posted August 8, 2006 Quote: Gavin said: Be scared..be VERY scared <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> ... Groundhopping Groundhopping is the practice of visiting as many football grounds as possible. This, however is an oversimplified explanation. The majority of people who do this activity are known as groundhoppers and have either already been to the majority of decent grounds or have some perverse dislike of good quality football and stadiums. A consequence of this is that groundhoppers are more often than not found at non-league football grounds - the more obscure and difficult to get to the better. The Ability to Boast Groundhoppers are very fond of enquiring about the activities of fellow hoppers - commonly trying to out-do each other with tales of where they've been. 'Have you been to Bloxwich Rangers yet?' 'I've done all that league now including Dudley Amateurs' new ground'. Most hoppers actually compete with their fellow travellers and take pleasure only in having visited more grounds or more obscure grounds than each other. They sometimes travel in packs - sharing a car - but this is frowned upon by 'real' hoppers who only ever use public transport. Groundhopper Equipment Groundhoppers are easily identified by the equipment that they carry... The Carrier Bag Perhaps the most essential piece of equipment the groundhopper possesses is the carrier bag. This is usually a high grade bag with some 'posing' value such as a cross-channel ferry company or a bus company's name on it. The carrier bag is taken everywhere and the same one is used until it literally falls apart. It is an ideal receptacle for carrying other essential items... Transport Timetables Seldom is a groundhopper spotted without a myriad of public transport timetables, most of which are completely useless in the area which he finds himself. Even stranger than this is the chronic inability of most of them to actually read a timetable which results in them grouping together en route in an attempt to arrive in the correct place on time. Similarly, they all carry an A to Z atlas and none of them can read those either. Many a local person has been confronted by a dishevelled figure with a carrier bag on a Saturday afternoon asking how they can get to the football ground on the other side of town in two minutes flat. The Notebook An essential item is the notebook. These appear in a variety of styles and sizes depending on the individual 'hopper's' needs. Some only need to jot down where they've been, while others note the player's names, others write match reports and some have been known to draw scale diagrams of the ground they are visiting. The notebook results in a number of traditions the most significant being the need to enquire of other hoppers 'got the teams yet' and the subsequent comparison of notes and any other important information that can be passed on (1). Essential Attire One other piece of information required to grasp a basic understanding of groundhopping is the essential attire. Let us start with the feet which are always covered with a pair of old nylon socks and white trainers (2). Trousers are seldom jeans and often what can only be referred to as 'slacks', although this is a vague description because these articles have never been seen on sale anywhere. A football shirt is also required and must be one from the hopper's local non-league team or an obscure foreign team that nobody has ever heard of. An anorak is then worn - in all weather and finally one mustn't forget the personal radio (3) with which the hopper listens to the football results on Radio 5 which he claims not to care about. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (1) For example, 'I saw him play in an Isthmian Reserve league match last year for Crawley Dogwalkers FC but he went off after two minutes with a toe strain'. (2) Supermarket brand, never a sportswear brand. (3) Never a personal stereo. You failed to add the ubiquitous lack of personal hygiene.. very noticeable at this time of year, hence a 20 yards radius around them at matches.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharming Paula Posted August 8, 2006 Share Posted August 8, 2006 EXCUSE ME YOU LOT!!!! THEY ARE NOT ALL LIKE THAT!! I am friends with a fella who is a 'groundhopper' and I went to a couple of games with him earlier this year while at Keele Uni. He was not in the least boring, wore jeans, had Nike trainers, loved a drink & a boogie, had no carrier bag or personal stereo. If anything I could have been called the ground hopper as I turned up at both games in my Canvey shirt. I was welcomed with open arms! I have also watched other non league Essex sides, Kings Lynn and Wisbech Town all wearing my Canvey shirt. Sometimes get some stick but what do I care!! If I ever come down your way (which I probably will this season) you will find me in my Canvey shirt regardless of whom I am watching! I wear my shirt with pride and do my bit to promote the club!! So there!!!! I do not consider myself to be a boring ol' fart!! (Ask Rhodes)<img src="/forum/images/graemlins/bootyshake.gif" alt="" /> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhodes Posted August 9, 2006 Share Posted August 9, 2006 Well I can certainly vouch for Paula folks but to be honest I did see the amusing side of Coupwotcoup's post although did he really have to quote Gavin's 'war and peace' post all over again! So who was this groundhopper then Paula pray tell as this is the first I've heard of it, did you, er how shall I put it, do the business. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharming Paula Posted August 9, 2006 Share Posted August 9, 2006 Quote: Rhodes said: Well I can certainly vouch for Paula folks but to be honest I did see the amusing side of Coupwotcoup's post although did he really have to quote Gavin's 'war and peace' post all over again! So who was this groundhopper then Paula pray tell as this is the first I've heard of it, did you, er how shall I put it, do the business. No I didn't!!! Just a friend from college/uni. Went to couple of Unibond games - quiet enlighting. Tell ya more later luv. Nowt to worry about!! <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/bisou.gif" alt="" /> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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