Introduction to the Website

 

Latest Reports:

Atlanta Rovers FC - LGSA (08-05-2023)

Orlando City FC - DC United (22-04-2023)

 Washington Spirit - OL Reign (26-03-2023) 

 Atlanta United - Portland Timbers (18-03-2023)

 

Next Games:

Charlotte Independence - North Carolina FC (21-05-2023)

US Orléans - Concarneau (26-05-2023)

Olympique Lyon F - Stade de Reims F (27-05-2023)

Clermont Foot 63 - Lorient (27-05-2023)

Stade Toulousain - CA Brive (28-05-2023)

Union Fürstenwalde – Rostocker FC (03-06-2023)

RCD Espanyol - UD Almeria (04-06-2023)

Umeå FC - Piteå (16-06-2023)

Bergnåsets AIK - Sandviks IK (17-06-2023)

Hammerfest FK - Tromsø 2 (18-06-2023)

Norway - Cyprus (20-06-2023)

Savannah Clovers - Chattanooga FC (07-10-2023)

INTRODUCTION

The terms "groundhopping" and "groundhopper" can not (yet) be found in any dictionary, yet there are hundreds of groundhoppers around the world, most notably in Germany. The word combines the terms "ground" and "hopping" and refers to the visiting of different sports grounds -- usually, though not exclusively, football grounds (for a German description, see Wikipedia).

Whereas normal football fans tend to visit only home games of their favorite team, particularly when they live closeby, and more fanatical fans also attend the away games of their team, the groundhopper aims to visit as many different grounds and teams as possible. Moreover, unlike the normal fan, who generally prefers to visit the big teams in football (e.g. Bayern München, Manchester United, Real Madrid), the groundhopper goes for the exotic (e.g. Avenir Beggen, Ozeta Dukla Trencin, Selangor PKNS) and the tiny, such as the third team of a city (e.g. Partick Thistle, Viktoria Köln, Spvgg Unterhaching).

While groundhopping is largely a non-organized activity, by individuals and small groups, there exist a few organizations of groundhoppers. The most famous is the German Vereinigung der Groundhopper Deutschlands (V.d.G.D.): it's website is one of the major sources of information on clubs, leagues, and stadiums in the world. For other groundhopper websites, see the links on the right.

This website provides an overview of the various groundhops of me, Grondhopper. I'm a Dutch academic and football fan, supporting PSV in the Netherlands, Borussia Mönchengladbach in Germany, and the Portland Timbers in the USA. I regularly travel abroad for both work and pleasure, and try to combine these trips with groundhops. In addition, I make several special groundhops every year alone or with one or more of my friends, some of which are active groundhoppers themselves. I have currently visited 474 clubs in 45 countries on 6 continents.

If you like the reports, become a follower of this blog. Comments are also always highly appreciated. You can post them either here on the site or you can email me at grondhopper[at]gmail.com.

Atlanta Rovers FC — LGSA (8-5-2023)

 

Today was a historic day, as I went for my first-ever groundhop with my oldest son! Given that we live pretty far away from any half-decent team, and all decent teams play almost exclusively in the evening (which is too late for him), we ended up with a game in the United Premier Soccer League (UPSL), a national soccer league, which runs regional sub-leagues across the country, including one in Georgia. So, we drove about 73 miles (roughly 100 km) to Jonesboro, Georgia, but when we arrived there, something looked suspicious. There were hundreds of people, which never is the case in lower league soccer in the US.

 

Turns out, there was a high school band competition, a big event in the South, particularly within the African American community. After several minutes of panic, we found out that the game was still played, at the same time, but at Southern Crescent Stadium, which turned out to be only 10 min away, in Riverdale, GA.

 

Southern Crescent Stadium is home to the football team of the local high school, an amazing venue for school kids to play their sports. It has an Astroturf football pitch (with additional soccer lines) and two main stands, both pretty sizeable – I guestimate a total capacity of several thousand. Obviously, nowhere near as many people show up for a UPSL game. In fact, only some 50 people were there for this free game, almost all Hispanic, like most players, and mainly representing 6 groups of people related to a player. I think there were three other fans without family connections in the stadium.

 

The season of the UPSL Premier League – Georgia Division had started already in March – unfortunately, I only found out about the existence of this league in early May – and neither team had started too well. After five games, LGSA (from Norcross, GA) were near the bottom and Atlanta Rovers (from Marietta, GA) a bit above the middle.

 

We arrive 13 minutes late and the home team is already 1-0 up. It is unexpectedly hot, at least 30C (and possible hotter in the sun) and the main stand is uncovered and in the sun. Taking a hint from the few people in the stand, I get my umbrella out of my car and sit under it with my son, which helps. Although Atlanta Rovers are 1-0 up, LGSA seems to be the better team. In the 35^th minute, the guests play a good through ball but the goalie comes out and deflects the shot with one hand. The corner doesn’t bring anything.

 

In the 41^st minute we see the first shot of the hosts, which goes well over. But the next minute they get a penalty after a clumsy foul in the penalty box, which is well converted: 2-0. That is also the half time score.

 

The level of play has been pretty poor in the first half and the second half is not better. The pitch is very dry and both teams seem to have a problem with estimating the pace of the ball. Most crosses are poor and players have very mediocre control, despite playing on Astroturf. In the 65^th minute LGSA has only its second corner, which is cleared, after which a remarkably effective counter attack is finished – helped by clumsy goalkeeping: 3-0 and game over.

 

Although the Atlanta Rovers have not really been the better team, the big difference with LGSA is that they converted the few chances they got. After the 3-0 the game becomes even more dire, not helped by the heat, undoubtedly. It is a bit cruel of the referee to play 3 minutes of extra time.

 

By U.S. lower league standards, this wasn’t too bad a game. The stadium was very decent – although could have used a cover for the sun – and the fans were small in numbers but big in atmosphere. I’ll definitely go to another UPSL game (with my son)!

 

Latest Reports:

Orlando City FC - DC United (22-04-2023)

 Washington Spirit - OL Reign (26-03-2023) 

 Atlanta United - Portland Timbers (18-03-2023)

 

Next Games:

Charlotte Independence - North Carolina FC (21-05-2023)

US Orléans - Concarneau (26-05-2023)

Olympique Lyon Feminine - Stade de Reims Feminine (27-05-2023)

Clermont Foot 63 - Lorient (27-05-2023)

Stade Toulousain - CA Brive (28-05-2023)

Union Fürstenwalde – Rostocker FC (03-06-2023)

RCD Espanyol - UD Almeria (04-06-2023)

Norway - Cyprus (20-06-2023)

Savannah Clovers - Chattanooga FC (07-10-2023)

INTRODUCTION

The terms "groundhopping" and "groundhopper" can not (yet) be found in any dictionary, yet there are hundreds of groundhoppers around the world, most notably in Germany. The word combines the terms "ground" and "hopping" and refers to the visiting of different sports grounds -- usually, though not exclusively, football grounds (for a German description, see Wikipedia).

Whereas normal football fans tend to visit only home games of their favorite team, particularly when they live closeby, and more fanatical fans also attend the away games of their team, the groundhopper aims to visit as many different grounds and teams as possible. Moreover, unlike the normal fan, who generally prefers to visit the big teams in football (e.g. Bayern München, Manchester United, Real Madrid), the groundhopper goes for the exotic (e.g. Avenir Beggen, Ozeta Dukla Trencin, Selangor PKNS) and the tiny, such as the third team of a city (e.g. Partick Thistle, Viktoria Köln, Spvgg Unterhaching).

While groundhopping is largely a non-organized activity, by individuals and small groups, there exist a few organizations of groundhoppers. The most famous is the German Vereinigung der Groundhopper Deutschlands (V.d.G.D.): it's website is one of the major sources of information on clubs, leagues, and stadiums in the world. For other groundhopper websites, see the links on the right.

This website provides an overview of the various groundhops of me, Grondhopper. I'm a Dutch academic and football fan, supporting PSV in the Netherlands, Borussia Mönchengladbach in Germany, and the Portland Timbers in the USA. I regularly travel abroad for both work and pleasure, and try to combine these trips with groundhops. In addition, I make several special groundhops every year alone or with one or more of my friends, some of which are active groundhoppers themselves. I have currently visited 473 clubs in 45 countries on 6 continents.

If you like the reports, become a follower of this blog. Comments are also always highly appreciated. You can post them either here on the site or you can email me at grondhopper[at]gmail.com.

Orlando City SC - DC United (22-04-2023)

 

I arrive at the stadium around 6.15 PM, after a drive of about 8 hours, and park for $20 at a 5 minute walk from the stadium. When I arrive at the entrance, I join a cue to get into the stadium because… it isn’t open yet! They open exactly one hour before the announced kick-off time of 7.30 PM. However, because the US seems to be the only country to be unable to start games at the announced time, the game actually starts about 10 minutes later.

 

I had bought my ticket for Orlando City SC - DC United in the Major League Soccer (MLS) online through Seat Geek, several weeks earlier, from another supporter – probably a season ticket holder who rarely goes to a game — as always, everything is electronic. Although the ticket itself was pretty affordable ($27), the administrative “Fees” ($15) were extortionist, as usual.

 

Exploria Stadium is a relatively new (2019) soccer-specific stadium with a capacity of 25,500, shared by Orlando City SC (MLS) and Orlando Pride (NWSL). Like so many other soccer-specific stadium of (aspiring) MLS stadiums, it has a nice design, the seats are close to the pitch, and the acoustics are great. This Saturday night is quite warm (29 C) and humid but within the open stadium it is pleasant.

 

As I am starved, I first get some food. In the age-old tradition of US sports stadiums, the food is expensive and mediocre. The small (and cold) Chicago Dog is $9.50, the Fries $5, but pretty good, and the water another $5.

 

The audience is an interesting mix of Rednecks and Hispanics with only a minority of the usual upper middle class whites that dominate most MLS stadiums. I guesstimate that some 50% is Hispanic, with very few African Americans, and a very good gender mix (probably some 33% women/girls). The official attendance was 19,514 but no way there are even 15,000 people in the stadium. There are some 25 away supporters.

 

Before the game there is a lot of hype music but very little atmosphere. The stadium is at time at best half full. The free WiFi is great though. Also, the acoustics are crazy good. Everything sounds really loud.

 

 

The game starts pretty decent. Orlando has most of the ball but DC has some good counter attacks. In the 12^th minute the guests commit a dumb foul and give the hosts a free kick at the side of the pitch, roughly 16 meter out. But, after a pinball moment in the box, it only leads to a (harmless) corner kick. Three minutes later, DC United has an excellent counter attack over just a few players and the striker finishes perfectly in a one-on-one with the goalie. The guests lead 0-1.

 

In the 23^rd minute an excellent defensive tackle wins Orlando the ball at the middle of the pitch and two passes later the striker, squeezed between a defender and the goalie, finishes excellently: 1-1. Straight after the hosts have another big chance but the final ball is overshot.

 

In the 40^th minute, a long Orlando attack brings a long cross that is deflected from 2 meters by a defender but the goalkeeper tips it over. Great safe! Three minutes into extra time, a deflected Orlando cross is headed in from just 5 meters but straight at the goalie. Half time score: 1-1.

 

 

The second half starts a bit haltingly. After an injury and substitution have paused the game for several minutes, DC United takes a corner that is easily headed in at the first post: 1-2. The stadium is in complete shock and goes silent for minutes.

 

In the 62^nd minute, a cross is headed into the box, a DC striker controls is with his chest and volleys it in a turn from 5 meters: 1-3. An excellent goal! Three minutes later, Orlando has a beautiful falling header after a corner which is saved from close range.

 

In the 70^th minute a hard Orlando cross is missed inches from the goal. Some seven minutes later a DC player is literally run off the ball but Orlando again cannot score from the counter attack. It is clear that this game is over and, indeed, it ends 1-3.

 

Although Orlando City SC lost, and the beautiful Exploria stadium was at best two-thirds full, I had an excellent evening. The acoustics are amazing and created an excellent atmosphere despite the fans not being remarkably loud. After the (American) football experience in the Mercedes Benz Stadium, it was nice to have a real soccer experience again in the MLS.