Sky Sports' Johnny Phillips: Little to match the walk to your football ground

And there are many amateur hackers up and down the country who will empathise with that quote. Maybe attending football matches sometimes spoils a good walk, too.

It was a thought that came to mind when travelling to Brighton & Hove Albion’s Amex Stadium last Sunday, via the scenic route from Brighton city centre.

A journey to the home of the Seagulls has to be done via Woodingdean before heading across the South Downs. This way the view of the rolling landscape can be truly appreciated before the stadium finally reveals itself over the brow of a hill.

Many Brighton fans park up on the coastal side of the Downs and walk across the hills to the stadium this way. It makes for a fantastic stroll to a football ground.

Attending a match is about so much more than just the hour and a half of football, although as it happened neither set of Wolves or Brighton supporters had their journey spoiled by the action that followed.

The walk to a football ground is, for many, a big part of the day. And there are some great ways to experience this depending on who you support and where you watch your football.

Most Premier League grounds have an urban setting. A personal view is that the city centre locations are the best. Football clubs are a central part of their communities so the stadium location should ideally reflect this. A trip to St James’ Park by train gives the supporters the opportunity to walk through the city of Newcastle from the station, before arriving at the football ground high up on the hill that leads towards Town Moor. The route is lined with pubs and the sense of occasion builds with each step towards the stadium.

Many new grounds are out of town locations, but there can still be an enjoyable journey to discover them.

When Stoke City moved from the magnificent Victoria Ground they lost a part of their soul. The out-of-town Britannia Stadium became home in 1997 and the loss of the famous Boothen End was particularly mourned.

But the journey to the new ground from the city centre is a fascinating one owing to its proximity to the Trent & Mersey Canal. It is one of two canals running through Stoke. From the railway station there is a great half-hour walk to be had along the Trent & Mersey to the stadium, taking in many of the now-derelict Potteries, which give a real sense of the industry this place was once famous for.

Staying in the Championship, another ground making the most of its waterside location is Craven Cottage. The walk to Fulham’s ground from Putney Bridge tube station across Bishop’s Park alongside the north bank of the Thames is always worth undertaking.

An ambitious redevelopment of the Riverside Stand is under way at the moment and it will be interesting to see how it affects the view of the ground from the river. On the opposite side of the ground is the Grade II listed Stevenage Road Stand, which has changed very little since its construction more than 100 years ago.

Several miles down the Thames on the east side of London, and south of the river is The Den. The walk from South Bermondsey station could not be more contrasting to the leafy stroll to Fulham’s ground.

Millwall’s ground is surrounded by an incinerator, a couple of garages and a railway line. But there is something unique about this grey and metal environment that makes a trip to The Den memorable.

There are many routes in and out of London’s stadiums. West Ham United fans may disagree, but their move away from Upton Park has at least given visiting fans a more worthwhile matchday walk.

The London Stadium can be accessed via the Olympic Park coming from Stratford’s Westfield development, or via the canal route from Victoria Park, Hackney and Clapton on the other side of the stadium.

One route highlights the redevelopment and commercial expansion of the area, the other shows a side a more bohemian regeneration of former warehouses and canal buildings.

Perhaps the most ambitious walk to a football stadium on these shores involves the highest mountain in Britain. It is possible to walk from the summit of Ben Nevis to Claggan Park, home of the Scottish Highland League club Fort William, in about three-and-a-half hours.

The six-mile route also benefits from being entirely downhill, although that perhaps ignores the minor detail of travelling to the summit of Ben Nevis in the first place to begin the journey, but let’s not worry about such trivial inconveniences.

Once at Claggan Park, spectators can marvel at some of the best scenery these isles have to offer if the football becomes a hard watch. Fort William have won only one league match in the past two and a half years, so it is good to know there is a nice view to fall back on.

When supporters head to their home ground, wherever that may be, there is always a feeling of pilgrimage while making that journey.

In truth, there is no such thing as a bad walk to a football ground if it is your football ground. Be it the South Downs or South Bermondsey, this is the landscape of the club you love.

Whether it be with family, mates or alone, the walk to the stadium is one of anticipation, apprehension and hope. Even the most mundane fixtures represent a journey into the unknown.

So no matter what result your team comes away with today, enjoy the walk to the match for what it is.