Man completes epic football fan challenge at Harrogate Town
by
Mar 6, 2022
Daniel Barthold
Daniel Barthold at Harrogate Town yesterday.

German football fan Daniel Barthold became a member of the exclusive 92 Club when he watched Harrogate Town yesterday.

The 92 Club is reserved for fans who have visited the grounds of all 92 clubs in the top four tiers of English football.

It includes every Premier League ground as well as all those in the Championship, League One and League Two.

So although Harrogate’s League Two 2-1 defeat against Hartlepool United yesterday won’t live long in the memory of many homes fans, it was a memorable occasion for Mr Barthold.

He was actually in Harrogate on New Year’s Eve to watch Town v Port Vale at the EnviroVent Stadium on Wetherby Road but the  following day’s match was postponed due to covid.

He described yesterday’s return trip as a “special day”. He said:

“The trip was very smooth yesterday, especially with the early kick off time.

“It was a bit odd because I was just in Harrogate two months ago so to come back just for the football is unusual. Normally I visit a city only once to see the ground and do a bit of sightseeing.

“I found Harrogate a lovely town and because it was the last ground missing out of the 92 I will always remember it.”


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Mr Barthold’s first English ground was White Hart Lane, home of Tottenham Hotspur, in 2001. He moved to the UK in 2010 and then set about completing the 92 in earnest.

Daniel Barthold

Relaxing in Harrogate when he visited on New Year’s Eve.

Watching Celtic today

He is on the move again today, watching Livingston v Celtic, which will complete his list of grounds visited in the Scottish Premiership.

The superfan, who has even written a book about his travels, doesn’t plan to stop there.

“I’m trying to complete the UEFA members list, which means one match at least in each of the 55 member countries. I have done 53, Armenia and Kazakhstan are missing.”

“I’m a huge sports fan so I regularly attend NFL, NBA and NHL games as well in North America. I usually plan in advance and study the fixtures list of European football and other sports.”

His home club is FC St. Pauli from his native Hamburg.