Despite my best efforts, I was unable to get to all 42 league grounds by the end of the 2011/12 league season. In the end, I fell short by only three – Aberdeen, Elgin City and Ross County.
One failed attempt to go to Pitoddrie, two failed efforts to get to Elgin and three aborted visits to Dingwall have left me feeling extremely frustrated, but equally proud of the fact I managed to get to so many grounds in such a short space of time.
In the end, the weather got the better of me with all but one of the failed attempts to go to a game (the last Ross County effort) down to postponements, with the cancelled matches being re-arranged on the same midweek. In real terms, this meant losing four midweeks with games being on at the same time instead of separate matchdays.
Obviously the idea was to visit all 42 grounds and then declare a winner of Best Supporter's Experience. The winner, as per my original plan, would receive my patronage for a season – I would buy a season ticket at the highest scoring team and do my damndest to attend all their home matches for the 2012/13 season. Having not made it round every ground, I faced a bit of a dilemma.
However, thanks to my valued twitter followers and blog readers, I have come up with a solution.
Namely: declare a winner and make sure you see the other games at some point next season.
However, I'm not completely satisfied with this in as much as Aberdeen, Elgin or Ross County could easily end up topping the league table after a visit to their ground. Therefore...this phase of the Ode to the Wee Red Book project will end as follows:
Alloa are the winners of the Best Supporter's Experience. I will be purchasing a season ticket at the Wasps for the 2012/13 season. My visit to The Recs was absolutely fantastic. As well as a tremendously quirky stadium, some wonderfully nice fans and a bizarre selection of food, Alloa were the only team who had me on the edge of my seat for an entire 90 minutes. Two halves of superb attacking football and the added benefits for only £12 entry. Best value for money, best experience all round.
Congratulations to Alloa!
That said, should Aberdeen, Ross County or Elgin, when visited, top the supporter experience offered by Alloa, I will guarantee (I've said it pubilcly now!) to make a donation to that club's Academy which is of the same value as a full season ticket. I will also endeavour to see all three of these teams as early as possible in the 2012/13 season...........as long as it doesn't coincide with an Alloa home tie, of course!
So, with no further delay....let me present the Ode to the Wee Red Book Best Supporter's Experience League table as of close of play, season 2011/2012:
Fans
|
Stadium
|
Catering
|
Entertainment
|
Value for Money
|
Total
| |
21
|
9
|
7
|
22
|
26
|
85
| |
21
|
8
|
9
|
20
|
26
|
84
| |
24
|
8
|
6
|
22
|
24
|
84
| |
20
|
8
|
9
|
21
|
25
|
83
| |
21
|
8
|
7
|
20
|
25
|
81
| |
22
|
7
|
8
|
20
|
24
|
81
| |
25
|
8
|
9
|
16
|
23
|
81
| |
19
|
8
|
9
|
20
|
24
|
80
| |
20
|
8
|
8
|
21
|
23
|
80
| |
23
|
9
|
6
|
20
|
22
|
80
| |
19
|
9
|
6
|
20
|
25
|
79
| |
22
|
7
|
7
|
19
|
24
|
79
| |
20
|
8
|
6
|
19
|
25
|
78
| |
19
|
8
|
7
|
20
|
21
|
75
| |
20
|
7
|
8
|
20
|
20
|
75
| |
19
|
10
|
10
|
16
|
20
|
75
| |
22
|
7
|
3
|
20
|
21
|
73
| |
19
|
8
|
8
|
17
|
21
|
73
| |
21
|
9
|
7
|
16
|
20
|
73
| |
17
|
7
|
7
|
18
|
22
|
71
| |
21
|
7
|
5
|
18
|
20
|
71
| |
16
|
9
|
5
|
18
|
22
|
70
| |
17
|
9
|
9
|
15
|
20
|
70
| |
21
|
7
|
5
|
17
|
19
|
69
| |
17
|
6
|
6
|
18
|
21
|
68
| |
18
|
8
|
9
|
14
|
19
|
68
| |
19
|
8
|
6
|
16
|
17
|
66
| |
17
|
6
|
3
|
20
|
19
|
65
| |
18
|
7
|
5
|
16
|
18
|
64
| |
17
|
8
|
10
|
13
|
16
|
64
| |
17
|
7
|
6
|
15
|
18
|
63
| |
17
|
7
|
3
|
16
|
17
|
60
| |
18
|
8
|
7
|
12
|
15
|
60
| |
17
|
6
|
6
|
13
|
17
|
59
| |
14
|
7
|
6
|
13
|
17
|
57
| |
14
|
9
|
4
|
13
|
15
|
55
| |
14
|
7
|
7
|
12
|
15
|
55
| |
16
|
9
|
5
|
11
|
14
|
55
| |
14
|
6
|
3
|
12
|
15
|
50
|
* Where two or more teams are level, the club with the highest score under Value for Money will be placed higher in the overall rankings. If there is also a tie under this category…i’ll cross that bridge when I come to it!
Fantastic effort. Hope you enjoyed the experience!
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