Paul’s Soccer Stories
Return to Burnley: My Second Premier League Game at Turf Moor
Back in my early English soccer groundhopping days, I went to a game at Burnley FC but didn't do a whole lot of research. That is, I went to the game, grabbed a Subway and retreated to my hotel room. Now that I have actually written and published my book, A Groundhopper's Guide to Soccer…
A Classic English Soccer Moment at UK Customs
My soccer groundhopping trips don't really begin until I talk footy at UK customs. And this time was a classic. First, the line was short -- always a welcome sight after 11 hours on a plane from the US West Coast. I topped up my English SIM standing in line, feeling very connected and seasoned,…
Seeing a Game at Bristol Rovers FC
Long before my 2016 trip to Bristol, on the southwest coast of England, people were confused as to my reason for being there. It’s not that Bristol lacks interest – in fact, English people seem to all agree it’s young, hip, lovely and worth a visit. I had found the same thing the day before.…
A Game at Aston Villa: Rain, Lines, A Great Stadium, and a Mr. Harry Kane
(A post from early in my travels, a November 2014 visit to Aston Villa) As it usually does, the singing started on the train. Spurs fans were singing how much they hate Arsenal, though they were about to play Aston Villa, and Villa fans were singing how much they hate Birmingham, even though they were about…
Watching English Soccer: Queens Park Rangers
This post was written in October 2014, when QPR were Premier League, but I don't think the experience of seeing a game there has changed a whole lot! One of the most amazing things about seeing soccer in England is that stadiums which host top-flight players in one of the world’s greatest leagues are often…
English Soccer Tour: Game Day in Sunderland
My English soccer tour has always been mostly about people. And in this post from my 2014 visit to Sunderland, the people -- certainly not the game -- were the main redeeming feature of the trip! (Note: This post was written in 2014, when Sunderland were in the Premier League. I do intend to get…
Premier League Game Day: Leicester City at Stoke
Note: This post is from 2014, when Stoke City were stable in the Premier League and Leicester City were new there, and hasn't been updated much. Both Stoke and Leicester are now in the Championship, though. The thing about watching soccer games in England is that every game, and every city, brings surprises. Take my…
2014 FA Cup Road Trip: Fulham at Sheffield United
In this post from 2014, I describe my first-ever away day in English soccer, when I followed Fulham, my adopted English team, to Sheffield United in the FA Cup. At the time, United were in League One, and Fulham were in the Premier League. Both of them are Premier League for the 2023-24 season. I…
Sunderland’s Big Day at Stamford Bridge
Here is another post from my early days, an April 2014 trip to see Sunderland play at Chelsea. Sunderland were then in the Premier League, but just barely, and Chelsea's manager Jose Mourinho hadn't lost in about 70 home games. I am leaving it pretty much as is. This is also in memory of Steve,…
English Soccer Tour: That “Back on the Road” Feeling
What is that feeling of leaving home and arriving in a foreign place? It’s excitement, touched with fear, but anticipation through and through. It’s giddy, it’s happy, and it’s freeing. Whatever was back there is just … back there. Left. Escaped? Avoided? Maybe, but not here anyway. That "back on the road feeling" starts to…
