Football fan watches 10 000 games

love at first sight with the beautiful game.
Over half a century later, the committed supporter has staked a claim as the ultimate football fan by attending over 10 000 live games.
Retired Brian’s incredible stadium-hopping record works out at a staggering 694 whole days spent watching football in the flesh.
He has visited 3 000 different grounds in the UK and celebrated the 10 000 game milestone by watching CRC beat Brantham Athletic 3-1 in the Ridgeons League Premier Division last Wednesday.
The match – his 350th this season – was at the same ground, the Abbey Stadium in Cambridge, where he watched his very first game – Cambridge United against Colchester United Reserves – in 1956.
At that match, Brian was just four-years-old, but his addiction to football would stay with him for the rest of his life. Brian (59) said, “I’ll do this until my dying day. I hope to make 20 000 but that’s some task.
“I hope I can make it to 15 000 at least. I attend Premier League games but enjoy watching with three men and a dog the next day – it gives you a greater understanding of the game.”
Tottenham fan Brian has only missed one Spurs home game since 1968, and cites flamboyant Spurs winger David Ginola as one the greatest players he has ever seen in recent times. He added: “The best game I have ever seen was at Craven Cottage on March 12 1973 when Fulham played Santos in a friendly match.
“I have never seen anything better than the skills Santos showed that night.
“Pele even ‘bent’ home a penalty kick. I haven’t seen anybody as good as Pele since that game in 1973.
“Recently I think David Ginola has been one of the greatest.
“I’ve had some memorable days out. There was a week in September 1983 when I watched Morton in Scotland on the Wednesday night, travelled back overnight on the train, went straight to work and then watched Brighton Reserves on the Thursday night, Leyton Orient on the Friday night at Llanelli on the Saturday afternoon, all by public transport, as I didn’t have a car at that time.
“So now I’ve watched football all over the British Isles, mostly at non-league level, which I enjoy immensely.
“I even watch football while we are on holiday and so over the past few seasons we’ve been working our way around some of the islands in the British Isles, where they have summer football.”
The football fanatic said he hopes to clock up 20 000 games – if he lives long enough – but is also happy to settle for 5 000 different grounds.
Aside from Tottenham’s White Harte Lane, Brian lists Manchester City’s Eastlands ground, the new Wembley and the Millenium Stadium in Cardiff as the best he has visited.
He confessed, however, that he also has a soft spot for non-league grounds in Chelmsford and Yeovil.
The best goals he’s ever seen – and there must be quite a few to choose from – were scored by Jimmy Greaves in 1968 and Glenn Hoddle in 1987.
Brian said his wife is not a massive football fan, but endures his ground-hopping habit, joking: “She tolerates it.” – Daily Mail.