In this blog, and the first one released for 2024, we were honoured to interview author and ardent groundhopper Shaun Best about his excellent new book ‘Journey through the Cymru Leagues‘ which was recently released in December. As the name suggests, the publication details Shaun’s numerous groundhop journeys around the Cymru Leagues, as well as lower-tiered Welsh leagues, specifically around northern and central Welsh football grounds. Each chapter in the book is dedicated to an individual club and superbly details Shaun’s experiences throughout the whole groundhop, and the various events that happened during each visit.
Should you wish to buy Shaun’s latest book (which we highly recommend), and his previous work, “Journey to the 72” where he visited each ground of 72 teams that compete in England’s EFL (Football League), the Amazon links can be found below. In addition, Shaun’s social media accounts are also below should you wish to talk to him about his books:
- Amazon Links: Journey through the Cymru Leagues; Journey to the 72
- Twitter: @Shaun_Best
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theshaunbest/
Questions to Shaun Best
[NOTE: Unless stated, all pictures are courtesy of Shaun Best]
Q. Firstly, how did you initially start getting into groundhopping?
[IMAGE: Amazon]
I was a late bloomer and didn’t really discover the hobby until I hit my 30s in 2013. After reading the excellent book ‘92 Pies‘ by Tom Dickinson, a well-timed holiday to Italy brought about enjoyable trips to watch matches at Parma’s Ennio Tardini and Milan’s San Siro stadiums. The wheels then started to turn in my head. Wanting to combine my newfound passion for travel, along with putting my journalism qualification to good use, I abruptly told my friends that I was going to write a book. Putting my own twist on ‘92 Pies,’ I spent a season watching a match at all 72 Football League clubs and ‘Journey to the 72‘ was born. Looking back now, it was one of the best decisions of my life. Visiting places you wouldn’t normally go to in the aid of watching a game and coming across lots of different folk. Having met lots of groundhoppers along the way, some have turned into good friends, it’s not a cliché when I say that it’s the best hobby going!
Q. Having first written a book about the EFL, what then made you decide to write a book about your journeys around North and Central Welsh football?
I had been wanting to write a second book for some time, but couldn’t settle on a theme. After coming out of the pandemic, and reading about much of Welsh football not even being able to play behind closed doors, it was heartbreaking. I’d had limited groundhopping experience around Wales, but always enjoyed the matches. Finally, when Transport for Wales let me down on a random journey, hearing the driver make a throwaway comment about “no-one caring because it’s not South Wales” struck a nerve. Being English, it always annoys me when people automatically think everything important happens in London. A similar feeling went through my mind about Wales and wondering if everyone thinks it’s ‘Cardiff or bust’. That helped me decide to show North/Central Wales some love, so to speak.
Q. How long did it take to write ‘Journey Through The Cymru Leagues‘ and what were the easiest and hardest things about the process?
Initially, the idea was to only write about one season and concentrate solely on the Cymru North. The sheer enjoyment and the discovery of new places extended the project to cover two domestic seasons. I won’t say they were easy, but writing up the chapters from my notes and using the excellent Cymru Football app to fact-check goal scorers was an enjoyable aspect. Editing is a long process and a real labour of love, but ordering several proof copies helped spot glaring mistakes and shape the final product.
Q. During your travels for the book, what were your favourite grounds and why?
There were so many to choose from. I’m a sucker for some good scenery. Ones that stick out for the stunning rural backdrops alone include Conwy Borough’s Y Morfa and Penmaenmawr Phoenix’s Cae Sling. Looking out over Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant felt like I could see the set of Emmerdale! A personal favourite has to be Blaenau Ffestiniog’s Cae Clyd. Photographers were camped up in the surrounding hills and mountains and had the ground circled.
Q. Are there any North or Central Welsh grounds that you never got around to visiting but would love to visit in the future?
As a non-driver and given the poor infrastructure of the Welsh railway, anywhere that offers a good day out certainly appeals. Caernarfon has been on my list for a few years. I spent some time in Aberystwyth en route to watching Penrhyncoch and would like to watch a game there. Others off the top of my head include Y Felinheli, Barmouth & Dyffryn United, Llanrwst United, Llanberis, and Llandrindod Wells.
Q. What makes Welsh league football fascinating for you as a groundhopper?
Fan-friendly kick-off times make the Welsh game very attractive. There’s also often a Friday night option, sometimes more. However, the main plus has to be 90% of weekend fixtures remaining at 2:00-2:30pm on a Saturday afternoon. You can plan in advance and not really have to worry about short-notice alterations to the calendar – apart from a select few Cymru Premier games being moved for S4C coverage. The introduction of the Cymru Football app has also been a game-changer. The sheer scope of being able to track anything from Tiers 1-5 and down to reserve leagues has been very handy. Having everything in one place eliminates the need to scroll through various fixture sites and throws up possibilities for games during spring months, especially when leagues generally play catch up from mass winter postponements.
Q. Are there any things you would change in Welsh football that would help improve your experience as a groundhopper?
This is only a minor nitpick, and I don’t want to come across as harsh, but some clubs could do with engaging a little bit more on social media. I fully understand that clubs lower down the pyramid operate with a handful of volunteers, but even a post on matchday promoting an upcoming fixture could bring a couple of extra fans through the gate. To be fair, this has improved massively over the last few seasons.
Q. Without giving too much away from the new book, are there any particularly funny or interesting things that happened during your Welsh travels?
I always like to throw in a few observational comments, be that travelling to the game or if something noteworthy has happened during the day. This is one of the bonuses of using the train. A conductor auditioned as a travel rep during an overcrowded trip to Llandudno to try and diffuse the growing tension on board. There was also someone who ran across the tracks at Conwy station and started curtseying in front of a shocked parent. A goalkeeper saw the hump during a game and subbed himself off, plus a seagull lovingly sprayed poo all over the centre circle while a match was going on.
Q. You previously stated that you have another book potentially coming out in the summer, could you give some details on that?
Well, I definitely plan on releasing a sequel to ‘Journey through the Cymru Leagues‘ with tales from this season’s outings around the Welsh pyramid. That will include at least one voyage into South Wales to show that I’m not ignoring the area. It’s just difficult to navigate due to the travel costs and poor rail infrastructure. All being well, there is also a book on the Welsh Cup that should be out beforehand. That will detail travels around this year’s competition, alongside several contributors providing personal memories/snapshots from previous cup campaigns.
Q. Finally, if anyone has been inspired to go groundhopping in Welsh football as a result of reading your book, what is your best advice for an enjoyable groundhop in the Welsh leagues?
First of all, thank you. One of my aims for writing the book was to promote the Welsh game and to get more people through the turnstiles. The football on show is always of a good quality and ticket prices are excellent all across the board. My advice is to approach everything with an open mind and try making a day of it. Wales has a lot going for it culturally, so go and visit the nearby sites and root out the nearest chippy. Wales serves up some cracking fish and chips!
A massive thank you to Shaun for answering our questions about his new book “Journey Through The Cymru Leagues“. Remember you can buy his excellent book, and his previous groundhopping tome “Journey to the 72“, in the Amazon links at the top of the page. If you have any suggestions for where suggestions where Shaun should visit for his next Welsh football groundhopping publication, message him on Twitter/X at @Shaun_Best.
Diolch yn fawr for reading!
The 94th Minute 