Football Survey 2024

This is now becoming a tradition! See past entries at #football-survey

Top 5 games of the year?

1. Arsenal 3 Bayern Munich 2, 18th December, Borehamwood (UK)
2. Germany 4 Austria 0, 17th July, Hannover (Germany)
3. Damaiense 0 Braga 4, 11th January, Lisbon (Portugal)
4. Arsenal 4 Valerenga 1, 16th October, London (UK)
5. Lewes 2 Worthing 1 (aet), 28th August, Lewes (UK)

Total number of matches?

Eight, same as last year.

First match of the year?

SF Damaiense 0 Braga 4, 11th January. I took myself off on a weekend break to Lisbon to enjoy some sunshine, and took in a game while I was there.

Last match of the year?

Arsenal 3 Bayern 2, 18th December, final UWCL group game.

Most surprising game?

The Arsenal vs Valerenga game was surprising, as I hadn't seen Arsenal play in such a swashbuckling, attacking manner in months. This was possibly related to them parting ways with the manager just a few days before and the team being let off their leash a bit; or instead, facing a team who weren't just content to sit in a low block and frustrate Arsenal but tried to make a game of it and attack!

Most disappointing?

Chelsea 3 Arsenal 1, and Arsenal were Gillingham-esque in their play.

Farthest travelled?

Parque Desportivo do Sport Clube Damaiense in Lisbon, 1920km/1140 miles from my front door.

States attended games in?

Cheerful, grateful, euphoric, bored, knackered and achy.

Stadium most visited?

Lewes's Dripping Pan, twice.

Worst injury?

Blisters on my foot walking back into town from the Germany game in Hanover.

Most expensive ticket?

Arsenal vs Bayern was £45 but due to the game being bumped down to the reserves' ground because a later cup draw for the men took priority, I got it refunded and spent £12 on the match instead.

Player seen the most?

I saw a number of Arsenal, Chelsea and Lewes players at least twice; but I saw Sjoeke Nusken three times, twice for Chelsea and once for Germany. In those three games her side won all three by an aggregate score of 10-1.

Best new discovery?

I’ve really enjoyed watching Alessia Russo play; thanks to this picture she's the best player I've ever seen wearing a Gillingham shirt. Also, somewhat begrudgingly given she plays for Bayern, enjoyed Giulia Gwinn too.

Bands seen this year that also broke up this year?

I’m not sure how to make this football related, but I’m open to suggestions.

Friends made at games?

No long-term friends, but due to a stunning lack of self-awareness to when other people are uncomfortable around me, and a brazen amount of confidence, I've ended up striking up conversations with people around me at most games I've been to this year. In the lounge before the Arsenal vs Valerenga game I ended up chatting to family of both the opposition keeper and their star player!

Footballers met?

I took the same train back westbound as Worthing striker Sophie Humphrey after their game at Lewes. Also shook hands with Laura Weinroither and Lilli Purtscheller after the Germany vs Austria match after ambling my way into the Austrian Football Federation part of the stand like a drunken fool.

Best souvenir from a game?

I got a scarf from the Dama game in January in club colours of maroon and dark green which really compliments my autumn tones.

Longest time in line?

I’ve not really queued up at any games.

Games seen from the front row?

I stood in the front row of the North Bank for the last game of the year; I've also not been upset with any of my views for the games this year.

Most games in one month?

January and August tied for two games apiece.

Most games in one week?

Two - a league game and a cup derby in three days at Lewes.

Biggest crowd?

Arsenal vs Valerenga was around 5,000.

Smallest crowd?

Lewes vs Worthing had an attendance of 212 people, and I'm 100% sure that I was the only person there who was not related/friends with a player. This, however, was beaten by a crowd of 78 people at Saltdean United vs South London. I counted them individually during a lull in the first half.

Any drunk encounters?

I took full advantage of the German bier culture before and during the game in Hannover, which lead to the brazen confidence which saw me wander into the Austrian FA's area post match!

Highlights:

1. One of the worst moments last year was realising that the women's game didn't need my support and plunging into a mental crisis because of it. After taking in smaller, local women's games in Sussex this year I've slightly tweaked that view, for the better. Instead of "they (women's football) don't need me anymore", it's become "they (Arsenal) don't need me anymore, but there's other clubs who are small enough that I could easily make a difference by going to a game and buying a drink (or several)". We've spent the year trying to buy a property in Worthing; it's 15 minutes walk from the Worthing home ground and so when (WHEN) we move in, I'll become a supporter of Worthing's women's side. (Every time I've made inroads into supporting them before the move, within a week a spanner has been thrown into the works of moving, so I'm trying not to jinx it!)
2. The Germany/Austria game was a highlight in a summer packed with cracking gigs. The swashbuckling attack, Giulia Gwinn, more Brand supremacy, meeting some players and holding conversations with other fans in a language not English - I had a wonderful time!
3. SF Damaiense 0 SC Braga 4. A thoroughly entertaining game which saw Braga score a penalty, get a second straight from the Dama kickoff, then lose their keeper to a blatant handball halfway between her penalty area and the centre circle - all in the first fifteen minutes!
4. Arsenal's final game of the year against Bayern in the Champions League - both teams had qualified for the next round, but whoever won would finish top of the group and get a slightly more favourable draw in the next round. Bayern would finish top with a draw, so the onus was on Arsenal to win. Due to the men's team being drawn at home in a different cup on the same day the game got bumped from the Emirates to the smaller Meadow Park, but this ended up working out for the best, as the packed ground was full of people who were up for the game and no day-trippers echoing around a half empty ground. Arsenal took an early lead to settle nerves, but Bayern equalised shortly before halftime with a wind assisted goal. They took an early lead in the second half but Arsenal fought back tooth and nail to secure the win!
5. I had a run of four games in a row where I saw a team in red playing at home against a team in blue. It wasn't planned this way, it just happened and the coincidence amused me!

Lowlights:

1. My first three games of the year saw the teams I went along to support lose all three, by a combined score of 10-1.
2. Vivianne Miedema left Arsenal. To make it worse, she went to Manchester City, who this season have a tribute kit to the playoff final where the men's side beat Gillingham. Every picture of her in that kit feels like a personal attack. (It's probably not. Probably.)
3. The Arsenal vs Bayern game was supposed to be played at the Emirates. I bought a Club Level ticket so that I could sit in a good spot and get a free beer at half time. Then the men's team got drawn at home on the same day, and the women's side got bumped out to Meadow Park. No free beer, no decent stadium, a significant downgrade and a reminder we still have a ways to go. To make things worse, Thameslink decided to cancel a swathe of services that evening, so if you didn't leave the ground with half an hour still to play, you weren't getting out of Borehamwood before midnight. Fortunately the game was being streamed so I stomped back to the station while listening to the commentary, and celebrated the late penalty on the station platform with several other sensible early leavers!

Gig Survey 2024

As ever, previous years can be read at #gig-survey, and this year’s one can be found below.

Normally this begins with a list of my top five gigs of the year, but as every single show has been great this year, it would be unfair to the ones which get left off, so instead of ranking them I'm just going to present them chronologically.

1. 21st February - Zara Larsson (Roundhouse, London)
2. 27th April - The Warning (Kentish Town Forum, London)
3. 18th May - Olivia Rodrigo (The O2, London)
4. 21st June - Taylor Swift (Wembley Stadium, London)
5. 3rd July - Against The Current/Dead Pony (Lafayette, London)
6. 18th July - Taylor Swift (Veltins Arena, Gelsenkirchen)
7. 22nd July - The Warning (Crate Brewery, London)
8. 25th July - Bruce Springsteen (Wembley Stadium, London)
9. 3rd August - Girls Aloud (Preston Park, Brighton)
10. 20th August - Taylor Swift (Wembley Stadium, London)
11. 6th December - Dead Pony (The Garage, London)

Total number of shows?

Eleven.

Most surprising show?

The Warning at Crate Brewery, but only because I wasn't 100% sure it was going to be them until about an hour before doors!

Most disappointing?

Olivia Rodrigo, but that's unfair on her - she was great, but not and never having been a teenage girl, I still had trouble connecting with her.

Farthest travelled?

Veltins Area in Gelsenkirchen, Germany - 575km/350 miles from my front door.

States attended shows in?

Cheerful, grateful, euphoric, terrified, bored, knackered and achy. 

Venue most visited?

Wembley Stadium, three times.

Worst injury?

Backache after sitting on the floor for The Warning at Crate.

Most expensive ticket?

Standing tickets for Taylor Swift at Wembley.

Band seen the most?

Taylor Swift, three times.

Best new discovery?

Girls Aloud, which is an odd section to put them in, considering I remember burning their debut single onto CD when it came out in 2002, but I realised watching them that I really had underappreciated them!

Bands seen this year that also broke up this year?

None!

Friends made at shows?

None at shows, but a special shoutout to some of the DPA Cult as friends I've made through music.

Band members met?

Anna from Dead Pony after their set supporting ATC.

Best souvenir from a show?

I have added to my wardrobe this year. Two new Warning t-shirts, two Taylor Swift tees (and a free tote bag), a wonderful Springsteen shirt that's my ideal design/colour scheme, and a really comfy ATC t-shirt!

Longest time in line?

Two hours before the first Taylor show - we were standing for this one.

Shows seen from the barricade [front row]?

Got to the barrier for Girls Aloud and stayed there all day. Weaseled my way to the front row for Against The Current, which I'm proud of considering several people who paid for M&G/early entry ended up behind me - the confidence of a man who had several stouts in the queue knows no bounds! Was second row for The Warning at Crate but still ended up in their aftermovie.

Most shows in one month?

July had three.

Most shows in one week?

July had three in the space of a week - two stadia shows sandwiching a tiny one!

Biggest crowd?

Probably Taylor at Wembley. Either time.

Any drunk encounters?

Not really - I was drinking but never drunk.

Top 5 best 2024 concert moments:

1. I know the best concert moment last year was The Warning, and this remains the same 12 months on. As well as getting to see them in their largest UK headline gig to date, at Kentish Town Forum, a few months later there were whisperings of a small secret gig in London in July. I paid £20 for it, on the off-chance, and wandered up to enjoy a nice summer's evening in the capital. If nothing else I'd get plenty of book reading done on the train there and back. Sitting in the sun outside having a pre-gig beer, I figured they would be playing when the band walked past me less than a metre away! I was lucky enough to see a stripped back, acoustic set from a band who are going to be huge, in a tiny venue, and every time I corrected my posture and sat up straight I ended up right in Dany's eyeline, so ended up getting half the set sung to me!

2. Against The Current/Dead Pony. I'd seen both bands live a couple of times in previous years so knew they'd put on a great show, and when they announced a few joint dates on mainland Europe I was very nearly booking a trip until I was gently reminded of prior commitments. When they announced a London date I was there, and there early enough to get to the front of the queue. Entering the venue security divided the queue into two lines, one upstairs and one down, and I ended at the front of the downstairs line - making a beeline for the front of the crowd as soon as doors opened. I ended up wangling myself into the second row, behind two women who were shorter than me - not that that mattered much, as there was no barrier between the crowd and the stage. I ended up not just close enough to see that ATC's singer had the label hanging out of the back of her top, but close enough to read the text on it. Both artists were as fantastic as my high expectations, but the cherry on the cake came during Dead Pony's performance of 23, Never Me. Anna got into the crowd and quickly spotted me as one of the few who was singing along, so we ended up singing the chorus to each other!

3. Around the turn of the year, in that dead zone between Christmas and New Year where time has no meaning, I used my Christmas money to get myself a book. Reach For The Stars (Reach for the Stars by Michael Cragg review – bubblegum pop’s finest hour | Music books | The Guardian) is an oral history focusing on British millennium pop – from the Spice Girls until X-Factor via Steps, S Club 7, Billie Piper, B*Witched, etc. One of the bands given the most focus, along with interviews with all 27 Sugababes, was Girls Aloud. After finishing their substantial chapter (and bemoaning the sheer extra information cut out) I remarked that it was a shame that their heyday coincided with that annoying period in my life when I foolishly thought I was too cool for pop music, so I never saw them live.

Two days later they were announced as headliners for Brighton Pride festival, which we already had tickets for, and so that took care of that. We got there in enough time to get a spot on the (plebeian) barrier and rotated positions, with Dana and Sophie in front of me when the Girls took the stage. I was transfixed, absolutely blown away. They had finished a substantial arena tour but shook up the set for Pride, rolling out some old favourites (including Watch Me Go, which featured Nicola singing about someone “thinkin’ bout her butt” and made me feel extremely seen). Sophie swapped places with me and I ended up on the barrier, a literal human version of the heart eyes emoji as this ginger goddess strutted her stuff in front of me. I am struggling to put into words just how good they were.

Subsequently I’ve had several deep dives into their back catalogue, to the point that they are my most listened to artist since August! The arena tour was filmed and shown on one of the TV channels over here in mid November which sent us both down the GA rabbit hole again, watching old interviews and live performances, none of which compare to them at their current heights. While I’m annoyed I missed out on seeing them as a five piece, I would not have been this entranced by them if I hadn’t gone into the Pride set relatively cold.

Top 3 worst 2024 concert moments:

1. With fees, I paid around £100 for my ticket to Bruce Springsteen, up in the gods but facing the stage. The first half an hour of his set was soundtracked by three guys in their 40s/50s shouting over the music to catch each other up on what had been happening in their lives recently. After a piano ballad was drowned out by these dickheads a couple in front of us asked them politely to be quiet, only to be confronted by an aggressive expletive filled rant about how they'd paid their money and were entitled to have a chat.

Fortunately I was on my own and had been keeping an eye on an empty seat a few rows down as they were doing my nut in, so I moved there and had a great time, but the sheer entitled arrogance of these wankers still irks me now.

2. We had tickets to two more Olivia Rodrigo gigs in Manchester, earlier in May. Fair enough, the venue wasn't ready in time and the gigs were postponed due to bits falling off the roof. But no update was provided as to when the gigs would be rescheduled for, for another six months, leaving us in limbo if they actually would get rescheduled at all or just quietly cancelled.

3. This is a very personal one. My favourite era of Taylor's is Speak Now. That album was the first of hers I listened to; the first gig of hers I went to was on the Speak Now tour. I didn't really appreciate it as much as I should've done and was looking forward to getting to hear some of the songs from that album live again on her Eras Tour. I managed to stay largely unspoiled for the tour ahead of my first gig on the tour, the first Wembley show. (I knew that the set was broken down into each album; I knew that she'd play Shake It Off because of a lookback piece on the song that I read about a week before the gig which had the spoiler in there; and I knew that there was something involving a hat and the song 22. That was it.) When she came out to sing Enchanted I was excited to see what songs we'd get - the previous three eras in the set had had between 3 and 5 songs played.

Speak Now got one.

When she turned around and went off stage at the end of the song I was confused. When the video screens started showing that f**king snake - Reputation has never been my favourite album - I was fuming. Genuinely, the only thing stopping me from remonstrating with her over her choices was the video at the end of Enchanted referencing the advert for her Wonderstruck perfume which contained that era's defining scent.

I had just about calmed down and managed to enjoy the rest of the show (eventually) when I was informed that she used to play Long Live - my favourite track from the album - as well, cutting it to shoehorn in a set for The Tortured Poets Department (an album with which I also have issues). This set me off all over again.

It gets worse.

As well as the 43 songs which comprised the regular set - I'll say this for her, she gives value for money - she also took to playing two secret songs towards the end of the night. These two would frequently morph into three or four songs as she would mash up pairs of songs together. One which I was hoping for was Fearless deep-cut Change, which she wrote for the US coverage of the 2012 Olympics. This remained unplayed, for over 100 dates before our final gig of the tour (which was the final European date as well).

It remained unplayed until the night before our final gig, when she mashed up Change with Long Live. It was very hard not to feel attacked by her in that moment, even though the rational part of my brain tried to tell me not to take it personally.

The day before. This has got me so annoyed in reliving it for this write-up that I need to spend an hour in the angry dome again.