A half season review

With only one Saturday left in the calender year I am going to spend some time reviewing the first half of the 2012/13 football season.

Since the beginning of July and upto & including Friday 28th December I have watched the following:

47 football games, 2 games of handball and 1 game of basketball.

The football season for me officially started on the 8th July with a game in the Leicester Sunday League's Summer Competition between EMR and AFC Sporting Charnwood. This was played on the 3G pitch at Guthlaxton College in Wigston which saw EMR run out 6-3 winners. 

Best game: Corby Town v Hayes & Yeading United (24/11) FA Trophy on 24th November.

A tough choice but a worthy winner. The game was played in dreadful conditions with the rain never letting up all through the ninety minutes. Hayes lead 2-0 at half time but Corby came back in the second half to turn this tie on its head, with the winner coming in the 90th minute, and made driving there and back worth the while

Worst game: Great Britain v South Korea (04/08) Men's Olympic Quarter Final

Another category with several options but in the end went for the above. A shocking game of football in which I was bored after twenty minutes. A real shame as it was played in the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

Best programme: (based on value for money) Oadby Town

I have picked up thirteen different club programmes this season, but despite being a supporter of the club, the Oadby Town are issuing is the best they have produced for a number of years.

Most friendliest club: Bridport

Another tough choice but well deserved. My wife and I visited them for a pre-season friendly back in July and found everyone at the club welcoming and friendly. This included the ladies that run the catering hut who kindly gave us a bowl of water for our dog.

Favourite ground (professional): Millennium Stadium, Cardiff

This was out of a choice of five with the others being  1) Ricoh Arena, Coventry; 2) Molineux, Wolverhampton; 3) Bootham Crescent, York and 4) Pride Park Stadium, Derby

As stated previously the Millennium Stadium was visited for the Olympic Games football tournament. Very impressed with it despite it being twelve years old. I also found the stewards very friendly and informative as well.

Favourite ground (non-league): Garden Walk, Royston Town

Visited during pre-season for a game against Histon and the ground was immaculate. I really liked how  the stands and perimeter fencing were made out of wood which gave the ground some character. Also they had worked hard during the close season and refurbished the clubhouse.

Highlight

A no brainer here but visiting London for the Olympic Games is something that I will never forget. Everything from the organisation of getting into the park, the transport to the games makers deserve ten out of ten. I know I got lucky in getting tickets for the handball tournament and had to pay the top price of £50 each for two tickets, but it was money well spent in my book. It also helped that the wife and I both enjoyed watching the sport. 

Plans for 2013

At sometime during the year I will hit the 500 mark for football venues visited - at the time of writing I am on 466. This will hopefully include visits to a few more Premier / Football League stadiums, with provisional plans being Cardiff City (26/01 v Leicester) and Barnet (23/03 v Cheltenham). I also would like to attend an ice hockey game for the first time and also take in a Leicester Riders basketball  game.