‘My life goal to see every footie ground’
NOW A GLOBAL MISSION
A FOOTBALL fan is on a mission to visit every stadium in the world.
Lewis Millington’s ground-hopping hobby has already taken him to more than 120 venues, from Dulwich in southeast London to Down Under.
The geography teacher, who travels with his wife Clare, said: “I’ve always had a desire to explore and travel, and after I discovered the nonleague football grounds it became a bit of a mission to visit them all.
“As I got older, my desire for wanderlust expanded and I ended up wanting to travel to random backwaters of the UK to watch football, and more recently abroad.
“I’ve been lucky to watch football in Australia, Canada, Ireland, Japan, Denmark, Germany and Malta.
“My top pick was Kyoto Sanga in Japan. The welcoming nature of their fans blew me away as they bought myself and my wife a scarf to welcome us into the ultras section.”
He added: “All ‘groundhoppers’ have their own little routines. My personal one is to visit the local pub, review the pre-match pints, make sure I check out the food available at the grounds and pick up one of the pin badges of the club’s crest.”
Lewis, 31, has had some brilliant experiences and shares them with fans on social media, including the details he looks out for at a ground. He said: “Dalymount Park in Dublin, the home of Bohemians FC, was one of my most surprising. “Some may say it looks decrepit with its abandoned terraces populated with weeds and the ominous brutalist tower in the far corner.
“But if you are a groundhopper this is part of the magic. Dalymount also housed a Bob Marley concert, which is commemorated by some colourful graffiti art in the ground.”
Lewis, from Porchester, Portsmouth, added: “I’ve been to 122 football grounds and hands down the best food I’ve ever had at one was at East Harling town in Norfolk, where we got some outrageous halloumi tacos.”