Blog Archives
Doncaster Rovers
A midsized club in a midsized town in Yorkshire, pretty much in the middle of the country. Rovers are safely one of the best clubs in the history of the third and fourth tiers. LOCATION: Doncaster, South Yorkshire, about 90 minutes from London’s Kings Cross and also from Manchester CONTACT: doncasterroversfc.co.uk, 01302 764664, #DRFC NICKNAMES:…
Barnsley
Barnsley has mainly been a second-tier club in a town whose citizens will be surprised but delighted you’ve showed up for a visit. LOCATION: In Yorkshire, 90 minutes east of Manchester by train and 30 minutes north of Sheffield CONTACT: barnsleyfc.co.uk, 01226 211211, #BarnsleyFC NICKNAMES: The Tykes, the Reds, or (more in the past) the…
Notts County
Very much the “other” team in Nottingham to outsiders, Notts County is a wonderful, old-fashioned family club currently back on the rise. LOCATION: Nottingham, in the East Midlands, 90 train minutes from St. Pancras station in London or from Piccadilly station in Manchester, an hour from Birmingham CONTACT: nottscountyfc.co.uk, 0115 9529 000, #Notts NICKNAMES: The…
Northampton Town
Northampton Town has been in the third or fourth tier of the English Football League since 1967, so seeing a game at their Sixfields Stadium is truly a trip into a non-glamorous world. LOCATION: Northampton is in the East Midlands, 90 train minutes north of Euston Station in London. CONTACT: ntfc.co.uk, 01604 683700, #ShoeArmy NICKNAMES:…
Leicester City
Fairy-tale Premier League champions in 2016, Leicester also won their first FA Cup in 2021. And now they’re back in the Premier League for the 2024–25 season. LOCATION: One hour north of London by train and one hour east of Birmingham CONTACT: lcfc.com NICKNAMES: The Foxes
Derby County
For years Derby County was as consistent a second-tier club as you can find. But the club ran into financial disaster in 2022 and spent two seasons in League One. However, they’ve just recently made their way back to the Championship. LOCATION: Ninety train minutes north of St. Pancras station in London or east from…
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton is an old-fashioned club, but recently they turned into big spenders, stormed the Championship, got promoted, and even made the Europa League a couple times. LOCATION: Wolverhampton, which is officially a city of 250,000 people plus a metropolitan borough, but really is part of the great sprawling mass that is Birmingham CONTACT: wolves.co.uk NICKNAMES:…
Walsall
A club that has rarely even sniffed the second tier, Walsall is a friendly and casual day out, if not the most exciting. LOCATION: Walsall is in the West Midlands, about 30 minutes from Birmingham by train. CONTACT: saddlers.co.uk, 01922651414, #Saddlers NICKNAMES: The Saddlers, because the town was once famous for making saddles
Stoke City
Whenever a manager is doing well at a club, commentators will ask a question meant to determine whether his talent is real or just a fluke. The question is, “Yeah, but can he do it on a rainy Tuesday in Stoke?” Somehow that always seems to summarize this club. LOCATION: Stoke-on-Trent, a city of 260,000…
Coventry City
A club that is bigger than it currently appears to be, Coventry is emerging from chaos and re-establishing itself in its home town. LOCATION: The city is about 20 minutes by train from Birmingham, a little over an hour from London’s Euston station. CONTACT: CCFC.co.uk NICKNAMES: The Sky Blues
