Richard Wells
Age:
36
Team Supported:
Leicester City
First League Ground Visited & When:
Filbert Street
in 1979
Last Ground Visited to complete
the 92:
Gigg Lane, Bury.
Here is Richard outside Charleroi Stadium, Belgium, during EURO 2000:
Date Completed:
1994
Best Ground visited (& why).
Difficult to say. In terms of facilities, comfort and view, I suggest the Amsterdam Arena. But for being the sort of traditional ground that I prefer then Ayresome Park Middlesbrough prior to its demolition. Prettiest has to be Glebe Park Brechin City. There are too many “best” grounds.
Poorest Ground Visited:
Kenilworth Road, Luton. The seats in the away end are tiny, fantastically uncomfortable and have zero legroom. The guy in front of me “burst” through his and spent the game practically sat on my knee!
Best experience on your travels:
Turning up at Elm Park, Reading having driven for 2.5 hours to find it an all ticket sell out. A brilliant Steward just unlocked an exit gate to a terrace and shoved us in for free. No wonder we miss the flexibility of terraces.
Worst experience on your travels:
Having to barricade ourselves into a sweet shop in Cleethorpes whilst walking to a Grimsby versus Leicester match to escape a mob looking for our blood. The poor old shopkeeper was frightened and we were worse. The only time we’ve ever had our own personal Police escort to a football match. Left twenty minutes before the end, as an ambush was feeling very likely!
Funniest experience on your travels:
Whilst driving away from a very hostile away match at Millwall with my car full of Leicester supporters, we spotted a friend of ours sheepishly walking along the Old Kent Road looking scared. He looked even worse when we started pointing at him and shouting who he was. It was very irresponsible, but feeling safe in our car, we thought it was hilarious. I used to play tennis with him every Sunday but neither he nor his girlfriend would speak to me for 2 years afterwards. An incident with a busload of Halifax rugby league fans is too long to go into!
Most Goals Seen In One Match:
I played for a school team in France and we felt thoroughly smug about winning 9-0. Obviously those French have made a bit of ground up on us since!
Best Match Witnessed:
Leicester City 5 Shrewsbury Town 2, 5th round FA Cup tie, 1982. Legendary amongst Leicester fans.
Best Goal Seen:
Stevie Claridge shinning one in to win the Division One play-off final in the final minute.
Stupidest Chant Heard:
“You Dirty Northern B*****ds” sung by most London teams visiting Filbert Street. Geography of course dictates we’re in the Midlands!
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