Hoppers do it Anywhere
The Re-taming of the Shrews This week, we’re heading to Shrewsbury Town and their New Meadow ground. We are down in the Midlands for the weekend visiting family and friends, and while we are there, I am taking the opportunity to tick off another of the 92, and a club I visited at their old…
Willo the Wisp After last week’s trip to the lovely Annfield Plain FC, this week we take in our second Wearside League ground, with a trip to Willington AFC. This is another short journey that helps me get back into the habit and be ready for longer journeys ahead. I have been looking forward to…
The Return Today’s trip to Annfield Plain marked the start of our 2026/27 season, and the 5th full campaign for Hoppers Guide. Nine weeks have passed since our last game at South Shields’ playoff final against Kidderminster Harriers, and twelve weeks since our last review at Gainsborough Trinity. In other good news, I think I…
Crowd Hopping This week, we will revisit the Scotswood Sports Centre, also known as the KD Stadium, home of Newcastle Blue Star. The game against Carlisle City will be a part of the weekend’s Northern League Hop, which started on April 2nd with West Auckland Town v Thornaby – FT 4-0. Full Weekend Itinerary: Friday…
A Change of Plans We were due to visit Redcar Town’s Mo Mowlam Memorial Park back in November, but the game was postponed. Today, we tried once more, as Town were due to take on Chester-le-Street Town in the Northern League Division Two. However, the weather once again thwarted our best-laid plans, and with standing…
Alnwick Return This week sees us returning to Alnwick, just a couple of weeks since we watched the Shrove Tuesday football game there. Alnwick is a lovely little town, and I don’t need the excuse of a new football ground to return. It will be a new ground, which is a bonus, on top of…
Division One? Completed it, Mate! This Saturday, we visit Boro Rangers at their Phoenix Park home. The visitors will be Whitley Bay in a Northern League Division One game. Today’s ground visit marks the completion of Division One for us, leaving just three Division Two sides to complete the Northern League. It has been a…
New Beginning for Newbiggin AFC Newbiggin are one of the latest two teams to join the Northern League for the first time in their history. They join Durham United in their newly-earned NL Division Two status and will look to kick off the new season with a bang. That won’t be an easy task, with…
Back to Grassroots (Atchoo!) The 2025/26 Hoppers Guide season starts with a friendly game between Brandon United and Esh Winning. Not the sort of glamour tie that kids dream of, maybe, but two local sides where community means more than money. After my successful avoidance of the horrendous Club World Cup, while players should have…
Third Time Lucky Having attempted to visit Stockton Town on two previous occasions, hopefully, today goes smoothly and I finally achieve the goal. If you are reading this, then we can safely assume I did… The first time I attempted a trip to Bishopton Road West coincided with the local bus company staff deciding to…