NOW’S TIME TO HOP ON BOARD
NON-LEAGUE football’s version of Wacky Races could be heading to a ground near you! From Abbey Hulton United to Worcester Raiders, Abingdon United to Sauchie Juniors, Dunbar United to Wythenshawe Amateurs, the unique convoy of cars and coaches will take advantage of staggered kick-offs over coming weeks to traverse matches within suitably tailored groundhopper weekends before 2022/23 concludes.
These occasions have been superbly administered for the last 21 years by GroundhopUK Ltd founder Chris Berezai and his able deputy Laurence Reade. In total, they have supervised 80 “hops” at 554 different grounds attracting total attendances of more than 150,000 people. Significantly, the host clubs have collectively profited by matchday income approaching £1.5 million which includes ticket revenue plus merchandise and refreshments sales.
I’ve been chatting to Berezai this week to find out more. He began by telling me how the idea was first engendered.
“It’s a long time ago now but GroundhopUK was devised in the middle of the Severn Bridge,” said Berezai. “I had been on one of numerous sojourns from South Wales to Western League matches with my mate Bob Fry. By chance, we began discussing the idea of a ‘Welsh League Hop’ in our car crossing the bridge.
“Back then, we were both involved with Ely Rangers FC in that league. So we had one of the club’s fixtures rearranged for a Sunday to test interest and invited groundhoppers from everywhere to come along. Plenty of people turned up. “In fact, it give us enthusiasm to run a proper hop across August Bank Holiday 2002. We later met the Hellenic League and merged both events into the Welsh/Hellenic hop which continued for almost a decade.” GroundhopUK has since branched out from an annual get-together in those early days to no fewer than nine hops timetabled throughout 2023, all through a meticulous planning routine.
“The initial contact is with the chosen league,” Berezai said. “But it has to be said that instead of GroundhopUK originally approaching leagues, they now come to us. It is very flattering they know of our reputation and want to join in.
“I arrange hotels, book coaches, talk to the league concerned to organise the schedule, sell the packages and print tickets. Furthermore, GroundhopUK oversee all matters at the grounds.
“A complete package includes hotel accommodation and coach transport alongside match tickets and programmes. You can also simply buy a ticket covering all fixtures to travel independently or a split ticket for just some of the games for people who like to pick and choose.
“Likewise, lapel badges for each team are available and these are something hoppers can buy in a pack too.
Friendships
“We always prepare the clubs for what to expect. Therefore we provide a detailed set of notes including important Do’s and Don’ts. These have been distilled from past experience so everyone will enjoy have a trouble-free day and make the maximum amount of money they can.
“The match itself should create enough income for participating teams to pay many of the bills
Non-League football generates.
“All at GroundhopUK are very proud of this aspect. And the lower down the pyramid we go, the bigger the effect. “There are clubs surviving on tiny budgets. But a hop game suddenly means they can meet all expenses for the entire campaign. In one instance, we were told that money from our fixture stopped a financially-strapped outfit from folding altogether. They have since gone on to win promotion and GroundhopUK has become their shirt sponsor!”
I like how the hops promote unique social gatherings of like-minded people whilst building up lifelong friendships. And this veritable situation is ongoing as Berezai has a varied football feast on the horizon. “There is a full GroundhopUK diary for 2023. First up is the North West Counties League Hop embracing seven matches between March 3 and 5, followed two weeks later by our Scottish weekend.
“We subsequently have four days in the Hellenic League over Easter, the Central Midlands League in late April and the launch of our ‘GroundhopUK Specials’ during the summer with a journey to an amazing ground which can’t be visited in the regular season.
“Then we take in the United Counties League in late July, South Wales for August Bank Holiday, the Witney & District League and West Wales Premier League in September plus the Southern Counties East League a month later.”
If you would like to join this appetising circuit of groundhopping matches, please email Chris Berezai at groundhopuk@gmail.com