Skonto Stadions

The pitch at Skonto Stadions, arctic home of ex-champs Skonto Riga and the Latvian national team. So that's why there's no winter football in the Baltics.


The ground's just outside central Riga, was built nine years ago, has three permanent stands and holds just under ten thousand spectators - more than enough for the kind of crowds domestic football currently attracts.

St James' Park Gallery

On the pitch at last. The Gallowgate End, where I first watched football and had my last season ticket.



In the changing rooms. Every team has a weak link - ours more than most.

The view from the East Stand posh seats. Newcastle United versus Coventry City, FA Cup, 2005.


My last visit to St James', a two-all draw with Derby County in the dying days of Fat Sam. The skyline was infinitely more entertaining than the pitch. For all his attempts at revisionism, watching Newcastle under Allardyce was more punishment than pleasure.

Places I Have Been: Liberec

The choice was much easier when I lived in the Czech Republic. My flat was in Liberec, my job was in Liberec, even my school was called Liberec. It didn't take long to get the hint. Fortunately, Slovan Liberec were even quite good, just not so much while I was there.



My first game was a two-nil win against Sparta Prague. "Don't start thinking it's like this every week," the bloke next to me warned.

It wasn't.

Football in Latvia

I live in Latvia, a country where the football season runs from early April to October. Marooned without a game, I've been concentrating on the tricky matter of which local team to support. Obviously, and despite their recent crap form, Skonto are out. Ventspils is too far away, Jurmala too posh. Which leaves a straight choice between the two other Riga clubs, Olymps (who play in red) and FK (who don't).

In the meantime I'm making do with ice hockey.

Grounds Without Games: Slovan Bratislava

The aptly named Tehelné pole (Brickfield) is near the end of a tramline about five kilometres north of Bratislava's old town. Built during World War Two, it's now the dilapidated home of Slovan Bratislava, likely to remain the only team from Czech or Slovakia to ever win a European trophy.


Whatever fans of Sparta Prague might think.

Ground 106: Arnott Stadium

Durham City versus Newcastle Blue Star, a top-of-the-tableish clash in the Unibond North. I'd lost all feeling in my feet by the time a chubby Paul Brayson (once the next big thing at Newcastle United) angled a shot across the keeper to put Blue Star ahead. There was a lesbian couple leaning on the metal rail, a man dressed like a berber and, in the seats behind, someone with uncombed hair kept up a running monologue until Durham's second goal. "Are you going back to Durham? Do you have a car? 'Cos if I can get back to Durham, my mother will pick me up."
"He's played with some top class referees. George Courtney, Keith Hackett. Good referee was Keith."



Tickets: £6
Date: Boxing Day, 2008

Ground 105: National Stadium, Tokyo

Adelaide United versus Waitakere United, match one of the 2008 FIFA World Club Cup. The National Stadium was only a quarter full and the upper tiers of the cheap seats completely empty. All three goals came from set pieces, Adelaide coming from behind to win 2-1. Polite to a fault, the Japanese supported both teams at once.


Tickets: 2,000 yen
Date: Wednesday December 11th 2008