First game of the 2025/26 season ticked off at Southend Manor. Falling to a 3-1 defeat to AS London in the Thurlow Nunn Eastern Counties League. Good to be back at the stomping ground, with a lot of renovations taking place.

“How you feeling about the game tomorrow?” Me:

My season’s not over yet, but starting to make Groundhopping Goals for next season. It’s more of a list of just places, as I haven’t decided on a team to follow in some countries, or stadiums to visit. That and trying to finish off the clubs in Essex & London.

So this happened last night. Just waiting for ticket times to be confirmed, and dusting off the Wembley account.

Going Wembley again this year. What a season this has been! C’MON SHRIMPERS!

Good lord, I’ve been dying this evening. Incredible comeback, incredible celebrations, but hopefully no palpitations in the next round please.

Completely forgot to add my stuff from last weekend here. Massive win in Southend’s final home game of the season. In the play off spot, facing Gateshead (1 place behind us) on Monday. I’m nervy, but with a 9600 crowd last weekend and a great number going to the game, the belief is strong.

4 games in 4 days. Local derbys, important playoff games, 1st women’s game, local derbies and supporting my local. All with a banging hangover in the business end of the season. Looking to sort out my final fixtures of the season with the playoffs on the cards.

3 games so far this bank holiday weekend. Reaching 25 grounds visited and 70 recorded games (at least 65 since starting groundhopping in 2021). The stats are one thing, but the journeys and folks who care about local football getting stronger than ever.

Game 1 of the Bank Holiday weekend. Trying to avoid the mad rush in the next hour 1/2, looking like another sellout crowd.

Sorting my plans out for next weekend. Not going to be a boring one …

Been held up with so much stuff, forgotten about showcasing some of my latest kit additions. St Pauli on Sea and Bohemians 2025 kits getting the admiration they deserve.

My #nonleagueday / Canvey Caper week concludes. With an outstanding 702 attendance at Benfleet, a 4-0 win for Concord Rangers, and a Canvey Island Cup win on Tuesday.

Standard weekend shenanigans. #NonLeagueDay

Plans for #NonLeagueDay 2025 on Saturday, self branding this week as ‘The Canvey Caper’: 12pm Benfleet FC vs FC Clacton 3pm Concord Rangers vs Ipswich Wanderers

Canvey Island win the Essex Senior Cup on penalties, after a dramatic equaliser at the death.

Essex County Cup final at Colchester for me tonight, with the FA Cup on show. The things we do for @futbologyapp.bsky.social If it’s not done by 90 mins, I may need to sprint for the last train.

This could go spectacularly wrong for me tonight. It could also go very well. At least I can tick a new ground off, and get a good midweek cup final game in before Non League Day.

Fair amount of MLS items (well, Inter Miami and New York RB) at Primark. Can’t remember the Hashtag to share it around the Kit Community, but maybe of interest.

This was one of my first collections, featuring kits from local teams spanning Essex and East London. 3 years on, it’s about time to do an update.

Do you like football? Do you consider yourself a groundhopper? Are you over 16? Please take part in our study: qualtrics.kcl.ac.uk/jfe/form/SV_... It takes roughly 10 mins and is anonymous. Please retweet + share! #groundhopping #groundhoppers #NonLeague #Nonleagueday @sashaclicks.bsky.social

It’s been a long time to get here (buses and flights took ages), but the Pin Badge Scarf has been updated

UCD and Bohemians. Thank you for a great weekend, and with a lot of new clobber picked up. Time to get everything packed, and plan the next time (hopefully both for a title)!

Dublin is Red & Black

Already spent too much time around Temple Bar, and can’t find the Guinness Workhouse shop without having to do a tour. Looks like the new Bohs top will have to be ordered in.

Me and my boys …

Finished 3-0 to Wexford at the UCD Bowl, making it back in one piece. The hospitality of the UCD staff were superb, and would recommend going if you can. Up the students!

Finally ticked off my first new ground of the year. And a non-Essex one at that! UCD vs Wexford - LOI First Division

The first of many bad photos of me actually touching grass. Already raining in Dublin, after being blinded by sunlight during take off.

Easy part done, now the difficult bit. Getting a table in Wetherspoons and getting a 2nd breakfast

We move …

I think I’m all set for tomorrow. Can’t say I’m looking forward to the unnecessary and sudden realisation when it occurs …

It doesn’t matter how many times you’ve checked your coat or bag, you always doubt you’ve forgotten something …

Different type of football for me tonight. Natural sporting the team that I thought had a cool logo back in 2010.

Relentless performance by Stanway Rovers today. @essexsenior.bsky.social

I don’t often find stuff in charity shops … But when I do, I find gold. And the age old question of “How much is the fish?” has been solved. #CharityShopFinds

No R-Truth or New Day. Tozawa replaced by Speed. Logan Paul doing some bullshit for the first time in months At least we got Joe Hendry #RoyalRumble

Joe Hendry. I still believe.

Justice for Alpha Academy

Catching up on the results and no trip to Wembley for the Essex teams now in the FA Vase/ Trophy. Better as a neutral anyway … Well done to Sittingbourne though. An incredible season for them.

No football for me today, meeting with family friends for the 6 Nations. Many a late night weekend ahead; with tonight’s Royal Rumble, next week’s Super Bowl and the week after Dublin Derby.

Big numbers in Southend High Street from Sittingbourne today. Hope they have a good day today (but obviously, not too good between 3pm and 5pm).

After doing a massive binge of tourist scam baiting videos, desperate to sort a trip to Prague now with this. youtube.com/watch?v=a2s6...

Despite my efforts on CEX, a 2012 Euros game on the 360 is elusive. The 2006 World Cup game is one of my first ever games, and a catalyst in my interest in German football. Got more use through the special features showcasing the stadiums/ cities than utilising Owen and Vassell up front.

How about 2 of them? … On my way back from Aveley FC on a footbridge, with the Dartford Crossing way off.

GUS SCOTT-BLOODY-MORRISS!

A map of Ireland and League of Ireland clubs, from Football Weekends magazine, for groundhopping plans. Can’t wait for not just for the league opener, but also the expansion of the league pyramid.

Pub virtually empty, and there’s a discussion about the ‘true’ Elvis. IMO, it’s not Presley or Costello. It’s the firefighter from Pontypandy. (I’d add a Gif, but the closest thing is from the CGI reboot. I do have principals).

After failing to get tickets for the A13 Derby, and my new ground tick being called off, usual plan follows. Darts, Beers, groundhopping magazines and the score updates in the pub.

Absolutely need to go to Feyenoord for a game this season. A pure combo of my love for football and hardcore music. May not be to everyone’s tastes, and fair enough. Just know if I was in charge of the Matchday playlist, this sort of stuff is there.