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From a Goalless Night at Luton to Dining with Kylie: Dave Bassett’s 92-Ground Football Journey
Arjun Pillai | July 5, 2026 2:26 PM CST

According to a report by Express and Star, football enthusiast Dave Bassett has chronicled his lifelong pursuit of visiting all 92 league grounds in England in a new book — a story that runs from a dull draw at Luton to an unexpected dinner with Kylie Minogue.

Bassett recalls attending the Luton Town versus Swindon Town match in March 1993, a goalless encounter that left little to remember on the pitch. However, a hotel invitation that evening turned extraordinary when he found himself seated beside pop icon Kylie Minogue, creating a surreal highlight in an otherwise uneventful night.

His book, titled 92 Grounds for Divorce?, spans six decades of travelling to the home grounds of every club across the top four divisions of English football. It blends matchday memories with reflections on the people, places, and times that shaped each visit.

A lifelong supporter of West Bromwich Albion, Bassett’s football journey began at Molineux in February 1962, when he witnessed Wolverhampton Wanderers defeat Tottenham Hotspur 3-1. The inspiration for the book came after completing his tour of the 92 in 2023, marked by watching Tottenham lose 1-3 to Brentford.

Although he had been to dozens of stadiums earlier, it was only in the last decade that he seriously pursued completing the set, realising he had already visited over 70 venues. Among his standout memories are Albion’s remarkable 6-3 win over Manchester United, Wolverhampton’s 2-1 victory against Leeds United in 1972, and Kidderminster Harriers’ triumph over Birmingham City in 1994.

The book’s charm lies as much in its characters as in the matches themselves. Figures such as Ron Atkinson and the late Dave Wharton appear in his stories. Bassett also met his managerial namesake and once lived next door to Mick McCarthy — who took a gnome-related prank in his stride.

Despite the tongue-in-cheek title, Bassett and his wife Jan are approaching their 50th wedding anniversary. She accompanied him on many of his football travels, including a recent visit to Everton’s new stadium, where he completed the full set once again last season.

The book features forewords by Dawn Astle and Sky Sports presenter Hayley McQueen, whose father, former footballer Gordon McQueen, passed away in 2023 after suffering from CTE. 92 Grounds for Divorce? is available for purchase on amazon.co.uk and jmdmedia.co.uk.


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