Hunting Grounds: A Scottish Football Safari

by Gary Sutherland

Some people bag Munros; Gary Sutherland hunts grounds. Come rain, shine, sleet and snow, he visits each of the 42 football grounds in Scotland during one season, documenting the singing, the swearing, the sheer nonsense of what occurs every Saturday afternoon (and sometimes Sundays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays too). Planning this as both an alternative travelogue to Scotland and a social commentary on Scottish football, Sutherland systematically explores the character of each ground, and how it is reflected in the town, team and the fans. All aspects of the grounds are covered, from the practical factors like public transport and facilities, to the more the more important things like snacks and pubs. Bets are placed, buses are missed, tears are shed and pies are scoffed. Join him to re-live the glorious Scottish football season in its entirety.

Genres: Football, Nonfiction

208 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Mac · Rating 3 out of 5]

More of a kind 2.5* than a true 3*. Came expecting a travelogue, and was mostly disappointed. An odd list format breaks things up, but also keeps it from feeling like a "real" book. Ultimately feels a bit thin on the ground. "Stramash!" was much, much more enjoyable, though that feels like a kind of unfair comparison.

[Kevin McAllion · Rating 4 out of 5]

This season-long odyssey around every senior Scottish football ground provides a fascinating snapshot of our national game and culture, with Gary Sutherland's witty insights making it an entertaining read. It's hard not to question his sanity as he heads off for a second lower-league game in as many days during the deep midwinter but it's these unglamorous assignments that provide the best parts of Hunting Grounds as the author encounters eccentric diehards who are also prepared to brave the elements – all for their love of their team. Going to matches has become a sterile experience at many grounds in the top flight as clubs increasingly view their fans as consumers but it's a different world at some of the outposts we stop at on our journey with the author. He perfectly captures both the chaos and charm of lower-league football, with a farcical clash at wind-blown Gayview providing a fitting end to the adventure. As someone who regularly flirted with hypothermia while playing boys' club football once or twice as season next to the sea in Arbroath, I can testify to the madness of building a football stadium in such close proximity to the North Sea.

[Paul · Rating 2 out of 5]

One man trying to get around all 42 Scottish major league football grounds in a season (2006-7), with a 2012 updated edition visiting new boys Annan Athletic too. As someone who has spent some time following a team around the Scottish lower leagues I enjoyed it as a wee reminder of grounds I've visited and ones I've avoided. Also the churn of players around Scottish football meant I kept coming across players who had previously or would yet in the future, play for my team which kept me entertained. However the way it is presented is artificially rigid and it reads far too list like, and is less fun than it should/ could have been. No feel for the history or sense of the places visited is passed on. Even the pie reviews veer to the pointlessly banal. Four gold stars out of ten.

[Lloyd · Rating 3 out of 5]

For a full review of Hunting Grounds, go here.