2024 football round up

This is my last end of year review of things. The calendar year doesn't really fit for a review of football because seasons start and end in the summer. But, still, aided by the handy Futbology app, I have a nice summary of the games I went to and can cover some other football high points as well. 

I went to more games in 2024 than in any previous year - a total of 68 across the tail end of last season and the start of this one. 

Some highlights from those 68 games...

• The first game between Shrewsbury and Wrexham in a long time when they met in the FA Cup in January.
• Seeing West Ham v Bayer Leverkusen in a Europa League game at the London Stadium while in London for a conference in April.
• A hectic weekend seeing Shrewsbury play at Charlton Athletic on the Saturday followed by Colwyn Bay v Barry Town on the Sunday. The game at Colwyn Bay meant I completed the Cymru Premier League, having seen a game at every ground in the league.
• An odd game in Gloucester, watching Truro City v Torquay United, where both teams were over 100 miles from home and the "away" team had actually travelled a shorter distance than the "home" team.
• Seeing Penrhiwceiber Rangers win the Ardal South West league (Welsh system tier three) with pyro on the pitch and the victorious players performing outdoor karaoke afterwards.
• Three Wales women's internationals, including their two home games in the play off to secure a spot at next year's European Championships. 

I went to 16 new grounds across the course of the year, ranging from Huddersfield to Haverfordwest, Coventry to Seven Sisters, and including the epic views of the Transporter Bridge right next to the ground belonging to Newport Corinthians. (Part of a "Corinthian weekend"!) Here are my new grounds on a map:

2025 has already got off to a good start with a goal-fest, which hopefully augers well for this year!

Football Recap of the Month - April 2024 part 2

 ... and on to the second part of my football round up for April!

Game 57: West Ham United 1-1 Bayer Leverkusen

I was in London for a work conference and one of the people I was with secured us tickets for this Europa League Game. Leverkusen had just been crowned Bundesliga champions in Germany. We were in the away end, very high up, but with a great view of the action. 

Game 58: Charlton Athletic 1-1 Shrewsbury Town

I stayed on in London to go to Shrewsbury's final away game of the season. Plenty of fans turned up in fancy dress and Shrewsbury got the point they needed to secure League One status for another season. (Next season they will be the club currently in League One that has been there for the longest number of consecutive seasons.)

Game 59: Colwyn Bay 1-0 Barry Town

I left London on the Saturday after Shrewsbury's game, got the train to Shrewsbury and the next day borrowed my mum's car to drive to Colwyn Bay to see Barry's final game of the season. I took my nephew, Zac, with me. It was his third Barry Town league game and they have lost all three 1-0! 

Llanelian Road was the last ground I needed to "complete" the Cymru Premier League. I've seen Barry play at every ground.

Game 60: Cardiff Draconians 6-0 Seven Sisters Onllwyn

After three new grounds in a row, it was back to the familiar Orange Llama Stadium in Gabalfa for this game in the third tier of Welsh football. I sat with my friends Nic and Scott and we watch Scott's son, Sam, score five of the goals for the Dracs. We were tantalisingly close to seeing Seven Sisters concede seven goals, but I was equally happy when I realised this was game number 60 of the season and the score was 6-0.

Sixty games equals the previous record for me in a season. With a few games lined up in May, I'm hoping to set a new record before the season ends!