Doing the 92 with City

[It's Character Forming]

I'm setting the following rules for myself:

 
1.  I'll only go to games where City are playing.  If this means I don't get to a ground, so be it (hopefully some of the lower league grounds I'll never actually get to!).
2. The "92" is obviously a bit of a moveable feast at the bottom of the league - I'm not going to get too hung up about it. Also see (1).
3. If a team moves grounds I will try to go to the new ground as well.
4. While I'm going to try to get to new grounds, it's not going to become an obsession.
5. I will only go to see Norwich City.
 
So I'm going to use this thread to keep a record of my progress... Others can use it however they want ? . Starting with the Prem where we find ourselves back after a season away (I'd written off our chances when we lost to Boro at home so I still have a sense of disbelief we're here). Where it's a ground I've been to several times I'll just mention the memorable ones.
 
Arsenal - been to the Emirates a couple of times, never got to Highbury.  My first time was the notorious game when we were 1-0 up and looking set for the win until the ref gave them a dodgy penalty near the end.
Aston Villa - went here when Hughton was manager, Eliott Bennett beat their fullback so often he was sent off (I have this weird memory  he was also called Bennett?). we fell behind to slack defending, managed to equalise but didn't go for the win like we should've.
Bournemouth- will try this season.
Chelsea - not a fan of this ground, the stewards processed us one by one even though there were about 10 of them milling around.  I went when Holt took the lead but we failed to do some basic defending from them on and lost 3-1.
Crystal Palace - I remember going here years back when we were both in the 2nd tier.  I remember Adrain Forbes feigning injury then springing up to hack away a through ball, then falling get over again. No one was convinced.  We lost.
Everton - I was there for the game when Basso equalised from a set piece in stoppage time. A nice ground with a solid old style feel.
Leicester - really enjoyed the win here under Lambert, we took them apart and won 3-2 in an evening game.  I also remember losing at Filbert St in the cup.
Liverpool - I went when they beat us 5-0, one of our worst away performances I can remember.
Man City - seen us lose here 5-1 and 7-1 but I'll never forget the 3-2 win!
Man Utd - been several times including the game under Lambert when we outplayed them, haven't seen City score here yet though.  The stadium feels surprisingly small to have 75,000 in it, you realise when you sit down the seats are shoehorned in which explains why.  Favourite City chant here : "my garden shed is bigger than this..."
Newcastle - worth going if only to see the game from the highest vantage point I've ever seen.  Been there twice for 1-0 defeats.  Maybe better this year?
Southampton - maybe next  season?
Spurs - I loved it when we went here under Lambert and won courtesy of a blinding shot by Elliott Bennett.
Stoke - an easy trip for me, I've seen City lose 1-0 twice and a controlled away win with a good performance by RVW under Hughton, so a bit of a collector's item that. I've always found the locals friendly here.
Sunderland - I enjoy the trip up here and in my book a stadium within sight of the sea is always a good thing.  Some good games too - the fighting draw under Highton with 10 men and the superb win this season.
Swansea - I have no real desire to go here.
Watford - really enjoyed our last visit when we beat them in ET in the cup with a Hooper goal, also an enjoyable game was the 2-2 under Lambert when Sam Vokes scored for us.
West Brom - I saw a rare away win here under Hughton and a more common Lambert away win courtesy of a couple of goals on the break.
West Ham - I saw us play against them with a loan youngster from Spurs up front, he did nothing, wonder what happened to him.  I think this ground you certainly know you're in the "east end".  Also more memorable was the classic 3-3 evening game in the 90s.
 
So still to do are Bournemouth, Swansea, Soton.  Figure I'll knock off 1 or two of them this season.  Next post I'll delve down into the championship ...

 

[It's Character Forming]

So, not much interest from others in this idea, there you go.  But happy to do it as a personal record so here goes with the Champ, teams with no comment I've not been to yet:

Birmingham - I took Mrs ICF to see a fairly dire 0-0 draw here years ago, funnily enough she hasn't wanted to go again since.  And a 0-0 draw last season which was a few weeks into AN's reign, before he got us going properly.

Blackburn - an excellent performance here last year, an evening game in Feb, we were playing well but they took the lead, we came back strongly in the second half to equalise and then BJ scored with a blaster near the end to get the win.

Brentford

Bristol City

Bolton - another fine away win last year, Dorrans scored early from a free kick, Le Fondre equalised (and had a real attitude at the away fans afterwards, bit of history there apparently) but we won in stoppage time when the ball was flicked on for Hooper to finish.

Brighton

Burnley - I remember them beating us comfortably under Lambert, which didn't happen often.

Cardiff

Charlton

Derby - I went there when we beat them under Lambert, a great performance.  And an enjoyable game there last season, when they took the lead it put them top of the league (temporarily) and we played well and deserved it when we got the draw.

Fulham - I went here when we lost 2-1 under Lambert (goal by Wilbraham courtesy of a massive deflection !) and the 5-0 loss under Hughton.  A popular ground for American tourists (presumably less so now they've been relegated).

Huddersfield - who can forget the 3-1 win under Lambert when we went behind about 3 minutes in ?  A superb display of away football.

Hull - I saw a 1-1 draw here under Lambert.  And the infamous 1-0 defeat when they spent most of the game with 10 men, under Hughton at the start of the season we were relegated.

Ipswich - I've been to Portaloo road just twice, the infamous 2-1 defeat when Gunn did an air shot when the ball bobbled from a back pass; I hated the place and have never felt the urge to return but when we had them in the playoff semi-finals I thought I should.  So it was back into bandit country, a satisfying performance, shame we couldn't get the win but I knew 1-1 was a good result and thought it was their best chance to knock us out.  I was able to get a ticket in the Snakepit for the home leg which was one of the best days of my life.

Leeds - I love going to Elland Road.  I remember the game when they beat us after Fraser Forster mis-kicked a goal kick right at the end to gift them a goal, then a draw the next season in the Champ, and last season near the end of the campaign we looked a class above them and Howson scored with Dorrans getting the second late on for the win.

Middlesbrough - went here for a 1-1 draw under Lambert, a new year fixture when both sides looked hung over.

MK Dons

Notts Forest - I went here when we played them early in the Champ season under Lambert.  At that point I wasn't sure how well we'd do back in the Champ and felt it was a good result when we got a draw.  It was one of the results that we kicked on from and got better and better.  I do also remember losing here when we were relegated in 94/5.

Preston - I was there when they beat us comfortably in the cup last season, which triggered Adams replacement by Alex Neil so in hindsight a good thing.

QPR - been here quite a few times but the one I remember best was winning here in the Prem under Lambert.  A classic Lambert away performance.  And BJ getting "head-butted" by Joey Barton - who could ask for more ?

Reading - I was there for the final game at their old stadium when we won to relegate them.  Also I remember a dire 0-0 draw here under Hughton, with both sides looking for a point from the start.

Rotherham - I remember going to their old ground for the epic 4-4 draw when Hucks was playing for us. And I went to the new stadium last year when I arrived late and Grabban had just been sent off, we did well in the end to get a draw.  Back again in the league cup this year for a comfortable win, mainly thanks to a superb goalkeeping performance by Rudd.

Sheff Wed - I'll never forget the time when we played them and David Neilsen had just signed for us as a striker.  He just took them apart and we scored 5.  Last season we had a dull 0-0 draw.

Wolves - the only time I've been there was the start of last season when we lost 1-0.  The ground was smaller than I expected.

So, still to do from this lot - Brentford, Brighton, Bristol C, Charlton, MK Dons.

 

[morty]

I wish I had kept a record of games I have been to over the last 25 years! I keep most of my ticket stubs though, maybe one day I'll get round to a list.

Best grounds by far were league one! Loved Scunthorpe and Charlton!

 

[Canaryboy]

1.  I'll only go to games where City are playing. 

You could cheat a little and watch some U21 games, and can you include friendlies? 

For example, a  Norwich City XI played a friendly away to Lincoln this summer, would that count? 

 

[Canaryboy]

My list would be a little embarrassing, there are several away fixtures I've been to 3 or 4 times (Loftus Road, The Valley, Elland Road, Hillsborough) but I doubt I'd count over 20 grounds. 

 

[It's Character Forming]

 

 

[It's Character Forming]

You could cheat a little and watch some U21 games, and can you include friendlies? 

For example, a  Norwich City XI played a friendly away to Lincoln this summer, would that count? 

Good idea - works for me.

This season I am planning to go to Bournemouth and possibly Swansea, plus if we get an away cup game I haven't been too before.

 

[It's Character Forming]

I'd forgotten this thread but my first trip to Burton yesterday, a nice little ground with an L1 feel, and good to be standing for the first time since Peterborough in the cup.  A bit tightly packed but people were sensible and I wish we could do it more often.  I've been ill for the last month or so and I'm now on the mend, so it was great to be up & about.

shame about the performance but it was pretty predictable this season TBH, nothing we haven't seen before at Barnsley, Rotherham, Derby etc.

Anyway looking at the Champs table this season I've been to all the grounds except Brighton, Bristol City , Cardiff and Brentford.  Can't be bothered with the slog to Bristol in my current state so it'll be return trips to Sheffield, Leeds and Huddersfield coming up.  And I don't have great hopes for any better results there!

 

[Fenway Frank]

I follow the same rules as you and am currently on about 50 grounds.

 

[Canaryboy]

I'm struggling to find the motivation to go to Hillsborough. Probably will do just because I'd feel like a loser if I didn't as I'm only 20 miles away.

If I didn't go I'd be the equivalent of those people who live in Dereham or Cromer and feel like they know enough about all of our probelems to phone Canary Call despite not having made it to Carrow Road since 1989. 

But I went to Barnsley and Rotherham and still went away feeling like a loser. So its lose-lose I guess. We never win at bloody Hillsborough. 

Did get a nil-nil last time though, would be an improvement on what I've seen in the past few games I guess  :lol:

 

[Canaryboy]

Never done Huddersfield so should really be looking to do that one too. 

Will probably sack off Leeds, done Elland Road about 5 or 6 times now. Would be interested if that game could get us in the play-offs of course, but then I'd not get a ticket as 25,000 other people will suddenly become interested. 

 

[It's Character Forming]

I'll never forget the Huddersfield trip under Lambert.  They were flying in the league at the time, and we conceded from a corner after about 3 minutes and I thought here we go.  But what followed was the best sustained come back by a City team I can remember seeing,  we clawed our way back in and equalised then played some lovely fluid football to take the lead and by the time we scored a third we were totally dominant.  Those were the days... 

 

[It's Character Forming]

I follow the same rules as you and am currently on about 50 grounds.

good to know it's not just me! Yes I think I've been to around 50 but I must finish the lower divisions for this thread and tot them up.  TBH I'm not worried if I only get the odd new ground each season but I do like keeping a note of which I've got to.

 

[Fenway Frank]

It's so expensive now, plus I work every other weekend. I may do Huddersfield but that will be my last one for this season.