I am absolutely delighted to have teamed up with the Scottish Women’s Premier League to produce ground designs to help promote their upcoming match days.
#SWPL
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Category: Features
I’m on the Radio with The Calcio Guys
A Scotsman talks to Guys on a Canadian Radio show who love Italian football.
We couldn’t get more cosmopolitan if we tried.
HOME: I need your help
I need your help with HOME.
Do you love your club? Can you spare one tweet to tell me why? If you can then I’d love to hear from you. #Help Please #Retweet
Progress report on HOME: Scotland edition
HOME: Scotland
The book collection of my Scottish prints is coming together. You can read my progress report and even download a free 24 page sample.
YouTube channel
I now have a YouTube channel. Over time I am hoping to bring you videos of my prints coming to life. Showing each stadium building up over time.
In time I might even pop up on the channel with some pearls of wisdom. Although it might take me a while to figure out how I put together a video like that.
If you could visit the channel and hit subscribe that would be totally amazing.
Thanks. Steve
This is an OFFICIAL announcement
Delighted to announce an official link up with 6 SPFL clubs
Read on if you are a fan of Albion Rovers, Berwick Rangers, Cowdenbeath, East Fife, Edinburgh City or Stranraer. #StadiumPrints
Stadium Prints progress
A 6 month progress report
In the 6 months that I’ve been running the website I’ve managed to produce 120 prints for 103 different clubs.
I’ve completed all 42 clubs in the top four divisions in Scotland. All available individually as well as being compiled into a Ground Hopping Tracker. Click HERE to see it.
I’ve made good progress on clubs outwith the top 42 and have now completed prints for 22 non-league Scottish clubs.
I’ve managed to produce prints for 23 English clubs. Covering clubs from the Premiership right down to non-league teams such as Enfield Town and Tooting & Mitcham United.
I’ve also managed a few clubs from Northern Ireland, Wales, Italy, Portugal, Iceland, Argentina and Switzerland.
I’ve also started a new series called the ‘Legends’ series that covers grounds no longer with us.
So all in all it’s been a very, very busy 6 months.
I just want to finish with a massive thank you to everyone who has helped me along the way. Every comment, picture, nugget of advice has been greatly appreciated and they really have helped shaped how the prints look.
Thank you
Steve
Boleyn Ground
The Boleyn Ground – a proper English ground
I only ever visited the Boleyn Ground once, and that was very near the end of it’s days.
To be honest I couldn’t believe that West Ham were moving away from it. Fair enough I had only seen a small part of it whilst sat in the Bobby Moore stand, and under the scenes it might’ve been worse for wear, but I thought it was a fantastic stadium.
A proper English Stadium. Absolutely full of character. Four stands of different shapes and sizes gave the place a real sense that it was a ground that had grown up alongside the community through the ages since 1904. When full I could imagine it being a pretty intimidating place to visit.
Anyway, there was no question that the Boleyn Ground wasn’t going to feature in my Legends Series. So here it is.
If you want to find out more about West Ham United please visit their official website by clicking HERE.
Ground Hopping History – the 42
All 42 Scottish League Grounds in one place
I did it. I have completed what I set out on the 23rd January 2018 to achieve. I’ve created at least 1 print for all 42 club grounds in Scotland’s top 4 divisions.
The adventure started with my home town club of Brechin and their world famous, hedge lined home of Glebe Park, and ended when I put the finishing blue touches to Balmoor, home to Peterhead.
Along the way I have encountered some of the most passionate fans you could ever find. People who turn up every week knowing that their team doesn’t have a hope in hell of winning anything. They turn up to support their team and players through some atrocious weather and conditions. To support their club. To support a vital part of their community.
And, I think that’s where the passion comes from. It’s THEIRS. The club from top to bottom is theirs. It wouldn’t be there without them.
I’ve enjoyed every single minute of this project. I know things now about grounds that I never knew I wanted to know. I really hope the next pub quiz I go to has a round on Scottish Stadiums. I’ll walk it. In fact, just give me the 10 points now.
The Beautiful Game
There is so much good out there with regards to our game. So many quirks and features to our grounds that you don’t find anywhere else. Things that should be preserved and celebrated. Features that should be talked up, and not threatened by the authorities that are meant to be looking after our game (I’m primarily talking about the threat to the ‘Hedge’ in 2009, although i’m sure there are more examples).
Scotland is a beautiful country, and our grounds are beautiful, no matter the size. Every single one of them.
And one final thing. The hell with comparing ourselves with other leagues. The hell with listening to voices outwith our game that are only there to try and demean and slander to rack up views and listens. Yes, listen to constructive criticism, but ignore the chants of ‘my Nan could win the league’ and ‘a conference team could walk their premiership’. It’s the chatter of people bored slogging it out in their own league annoyed that they’ll never get to visit incredible cities like Aberdeen, Inverness and Edinburgh. Never get to visit Colosseums like Celtic Park, wind swept cathedrals like Gayfield Park or get to enjoy the incredible banter filled journeys to down to Stair Park and up to Borough Briggs.
Ground Hopping history – the 42
The finished product. I’ve decided to take all 42 prints and create a Ground Hopping History tracker for all the Ground Hoppers out there.
You can keep track of the date visited, opponent, and final score. If you do keep track please feel free to tweet us at @Fitba_Stadiums using hashtag #HoppingHistory to show us your progress.
This isn’t the end. As some of you will be aware I’ve already made inroads with some of the clubs outside the top four divisions in Scotland. I’ve also moved south and have taken on some of the 92 in the EPL & EFL. Some non-league English clubs too. And, a few overseas clubs.
I have absolutely no intention of stopping.
You can get a copy of the Ground Hopping History Tracker right here
Mentions:
Big thanks to The Fitba Nomad for helping out with the name and the hashtag #HoppingHistory
How to write a T-Shirt blog post
I don’t have a clue how to write a t-shirt blog post. Not a clue. So, sorry about the misleading headline.
Is this a t-shirt blog post or not?
It will be. Indulge me a second. I make football prints of football stadiums. It started off as Scottish stadiums but i quickly had to branch out beyond the border and venture to pastures new. A lot of these designs will only appeal to fans of the depicted club, but some of them, I hope, have a broader appeal and deserve to be seen by a non-football audience.
Finally onto the t-shirt part. All my designs are available on t-shirts but i want to try and showcase some of my favourites. The ones I think could appeal to people outside of the footballing community. To try and reach people that like cool t-shirts, no matter what is on the front. People who want something a little bit different.
Enough with the text, get onto the t-shirts
Ok, here goes. First up you’d think it’s be one of Scotland’s big clubs? Maybe Celtic. Perhaps Aberdeen or Dundee United. No. We are going for Netherdale in Galashiels.
Netherdale, Galashiels
A sensational example of Brutalism design, and probably my favourite stand in all of Scottish football. This stand splits opinion in Galashiels. Hell, it splits opinion across all walks of life in Scotland. I know what side of the argument I fall down on. Love it.
Easter Road, Leith
Showing a portion of the south stand, the Salisbury Crags, and the famous Sunshine on Leith. I love how this one gives off a 70/80’s retro vibe. Like an old holiday advert from Grand Theft Auto: Vice City.
Palmerston Park, Dumfries
I bet you never imagined that a set of floodlights could look so good on a t-shirt. These are no ordinary floodlights. These are the highest freestanding floodlights in all of Scottish football. Queen of the South are also celebrating their centenary in 2019. Congratulations on reaching 100.
Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff
Let’s have a treat from outside Scotland this time and head to Cardiff. If this design didn’t have any writing along with it I doubt anyone other than Cardiff fans would have guessed it was of a stadium.
La Bombonera, Buenos Aires
For our final t-shirt we have gone truly international and headed to Buenos Aires. The home of the world famous Boca Juniors, La Bombonera. My absolute favourite city in the world. Such an incredible place.
There we go, our t-shirt blog post is now complete. A small selection of some of our favourites so far.
We are a one man operation here at Scottish Football Stadium Prints and to help me keep going I ask only one thing, and that is if you do like what I do please share at least one thing of ours. Sharing is caring and since I’ve no advertising budget whatsoever the only way I can reach others is by word of mouth.
Please SHARE, TWEET, LIKE, LOVE, and TALK about us. Anything at all. All help is greatly appreciated.
Follow us on Twitter – @Fitba_Stadiums
Or LIKE us over on Facebook – @FootballStadiumPrints
Welsh Football, here we come
Cymru am byth
We knew that before long we’d have to venture past the borders of Scotland and seek out new Stadiums. So we’ve headed to Wales and are taking a look at Welsh Football. The land of beautiful coastlines, incredible mountains and of course those famous Welsh valleys.
Welsh Football
Now, Welsh football isn’t my strong point, that will become patently obvious, but since I’ve started to investigate Welsh football I’ve discovered at least one thing. The passion of the fans for their club is no less strong in Wales than anywhere else in the world. Tremendously proud. Fiercely loyal to their home grounds. Wrexham fans love their truly enormous floodlights.
Football may be overshadowed by Rugby in Wales but it is by no means a small sport, and since Wales’ incredible run to the Semi-finals of EURO 2016 it has continued to grow.
No better can this be seen than by the return of Cardiff City to the English Premiership. Supporters from England better get used to seeing the facade of the Cardiff City Stadium, and what a cracking facade it is (especially for a newer stadium).
Wales and Scotland
Hopefully it’s not unfair of me to say this, but as is the case in Scotland, I think Welsh folk would tend to agree that they like a bit of a drink. Who doesn’t (in moderation)? When it comes to getting a drink before the game you don’t get much closer than the Turf Pub outside the Racecourse Ground.
I’m not quite sure the rules about it but as we all know some teams compete in the English League set-up, while others are in the Welsh League set-up. Some of the latter even compete in the cross border Scottish Challenge Cup. The inclusion of teams outwith Scotland being one of the SFA’s better ideas of late.
I’ve only just started my adventure into Wales but I hope you’ll help out with retweet, Likes and Shares to help me reach Welsh football fans. I’ve had a great start so far and spoken to a few really helpful people. Long may it continue.
And, Thank you, Wales.
You can find out more about Wales by visiting the Welsh Wikipedia Page or more about Welsh Football by visiting the National Teams official website…
Football t-shirts should be for everybody
The Beautiful Game – Pele
And Pele wasn’t wrong, but we want to extend his message and create beautiful football t-shirts.
Although, seeing it as the beautiful game when getting battered by the North Sea while watching Arbroath at Gayfield Park can be pretty difficult. Or when you’re a Brechin City supporter and you have to endure an entire season (2017-18) without witnessing a league victory, the game looks anything but beautful.
But the beauty in our game goes beyond what the players on the pitch do once they cross that white line.
‘The beautiful football t-shirt’
The stadiums in which the games are played are beautiful, incredible venues. They don’t have to be big to be grand in stature. The don’t have to hold thousands of fans to create atmosphere. They just have to be somewhere that you wan’t to go every second weekend and see your team play. Your home away from home.
Some of those stadiums even bring out a smile in away fans. Places they hate to admit they actually enjoy visiting. Structures that are just out of this world. Venues like La Bombonera in Buenos Aires that just seem to grow out from within the surrounding houses and residences.
Walkways and stairs that just scream they are who they are. The club is in the flaking paint. The faded signs that only hardcore fans will remember what they once said. Grounds that if transported there by magic you’d instantly be able to take a guess as to where you were.
And finally, some stadiums just make for really, really cool football t-shirts that anyone can enjoy.
Please check out our Shop (the football t-shirt section can be found here) and if you have enjoyed this please do give us a follow on Twitter at @Fitba_stadiums
From the Hedge to the Band Stand – The Football Pink
The guys over at The Football Pink have today published an article written by @TheMarkGordon about us, Scottish Football Stadium Prints.
I had a very nice chat with the thoroughly lovely Mark last week regarding Scottish Football Stadium Prints. Among other things we discussed my process, my motivations, and Football Fans love of their home ground pies.
You can read the article by clicking this link. I hope you enjoy it.
And if you don’t already, I would highly recommend following @TheMarkGordon and of course @TheFootballPink
Magazine advert
We have an advert appearing in a pretty popular Scottish magazine very soon.
Keep your eyes peeled for it and give us a shout if you spot it.
The Two Point One
You may have noticed that I appeared on the excellent Online Scottish Football magazine The Two Point One in an article called Depicting the Beauty of Scottish Football Stadiums
If you get the chance please do head over there and give it a read.
If you sign up you can read two free articles, and if you like what you see, for a very small cost, you can subscribe for access to all their content.
I’d also recommend following them on twitter at @thetwopointone