A Sheffield Wednesday super-fan who was banned from following The Owls, has targeted visiting every ground from the 92 in the four top divisions.
Paul Gregory also known as Tango aged 58 has been checking off grounds as such as West Ham United and Salford City, which has left him now with only one ground to visit.
But his visit to Tottenham Hotspur’s new stadium have been left in tatters after all football matches in the UK were postponed until April 3 following the coronavirus outbreak.
The Owls’ supporter was due to visit the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Friday , March 20 as the North London side were scheduled to lock horns with fellow London club West Ham United.
Mr. Gregory said: ” Since my stadium ban I decided to complete the 92 league clubs so I have travelled the country doing the last few grounds I hadn’t been to (including the clubs I had been to there old ground ie oxford ,spurs etc)”.
His words go to show how much of a growing passion he has for football and puts into perspective how lost football would be without it’s supporting characters from the terraces.
Mr. Gregory was handed a ban from attending all Sheffield Wednesday games back in September.
The club released the following statement in September following events at Queens Park Rangers and Rotherham United.
It said: “Mr Gregory used foul and abusive language in an extremely aggressive manner to female stewards during our home fixture against QPR this month, leaving both deeply upset.”
The statement came as a huge shock and confusion for Sheffield Wednesday fans.
Paul said he first got involved over forty years ago.
Mr. Gregory’s history with Sheffield Wednesday goes back to ‘1979 at Carlisle’ and ‘from then on I’ve not once stopped supporting the club’.
Mr. Gregory has become a recognisable figure in the terraces for years onwards and has taken up the appearance of removing his shirt at games.
He said: “I never thought by taking my shirt off would make me so recognisable not only by fans of my own club but fans and players of other teams it’s been amazing, what welcomes I’ve received.”
As well as following the blue side of Sheffield, Mr. Gregory has also collected many memories following England national football team.
But he described following England as a totally different experience to following club football.
He said: “Following England is a totally different feeling as you are mixing with fans of different clubs which extends friendship of fans.”
He was named as one of the FIFA World Cup fans of the day in Russia, 2018.
He added: “When you go to away games [with England], you travel for a few days as opposed to one day with club football. I always say I’m spreading the Wednesday gospel when I’m supporting England.”
Like all football fans, Mr. Gregory may struggle to find any club or country football to attend in the upcoming weeks as the coronavirus continues to sweep across the country.
FAN FOCUS 