We’re simply fan-tastic!
Well-travelled Robin and pals have hit fever pitch
THE song Football Crazy could have been written especially for Robin Walters.
The footy fanatic has spent years travelling tens of thousands of miles to visit every professional football stadium in Scotland and England.
Former policeman Robin has watched games at an incredible 229 grounds – with newly- promoted Edinburgh City next on his checklist later this year.
The 57- year- old, who lives in St Neots in Cambridgeshire, makes regular trips north to see his favourite team, Forfar, in action.
Yesterday, he and two fellow football superfans, Chris Vickers and Owen Mountford, made a tiring 560- mile round trip for a Scottish match they dubbed the Clash Of The Titans between two teams who hadn’t faced each other for many seasons.
But it wasn’t the Old Firm they came to see – it was Forfar’s visit to Annan!
“I’ve been following Forfar Athletic since 1979 and Chris has been an Annan Athletic supporter since his first game in Scotland in 2009,” Robin explained.
“We couldn’t miss the teams playing each other.”
Robin has been to 69 grounds in Scotland, including those of defunct clubs and old stadiums, while his visit to West Ham’s new home last month brought his English total to 160.
“It all started in my teens when I started watching my local team, Cambridge United. For a few seasons I never missed a game home or away and there were two promotions in that time, so I realised I had visited a lot of the grounds in England and decided to complete the set.
“I thought I would do the same in Scotland. I had been following Forfar’s results at that time because they’d enjoyed a great start to the season, winning the first eight or nine games, so I made them my first Scottish match.
“I was on holiday with my mum near Loch Awe and hitch- hiked across to Forfar, which is quite an epic journey.
“I was in touch with Forfar ahead of the game and they gave me a great welcome. I had a seat in the directors’ box and dinner with the players afterwards.
“I’ve been to the old grounds, like Stirling Albion’s Annfield ground, Dumbarton’s Boghead and Clyde’s Shawfield.
“It sticks in my throat to say it but I think the nicest is Brechin’s Glebe Park. It has a nice view from the stand, which is good if you’re watching a dull match – and that’s probably usually the case!
“The worst game I’ve seen was Clydebank against Falkirk, at Boghead. The weather was atrocious, there was no cover and Falkirk won 1-0 with the only shot on target from either team. It made me question why I do this, but then you get Hamilton against Berwick, which was 9-1 Accies.”
Owen, who met Robin through his local pub quiz team, and Corby lad Chris, who went to police training college with Robin, haven’t achieved the full set of stadiums yet but are well on their way.
Robin says he would draw the line at visiting English Conference grounds or the Welsh League.
“I have a patient, tolerant wife, Madeline, so I wouldn’t like to push it,” he laughed.
“She came with me to Dunfermline because the club made a big deal of it at the time and two of my three boys were mascots on the day.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if I eventually reached 250 grounds, especially now clubs can be promoted into the Scottish league as well as in England.”
What lengths do you go to for your sport or pastime? Write to The Sunday Post, 80 Kingsway East, Dundee, DD4 8SL or Email mail@ sundaypost.com
Thankfully I have a very patient and tolerant wife!