The opening chapter: completing the Football League circuit at seventeen

The notes being recorded at this moment signal the culmination of a journey that began more than fifty years ago. When Tony Incenzo was seventeen years old, the young enthusiast travelled to the final venue of the ninety‑two stadiums that comprise the English Football League. In 1981, that achievement made Tony Incenzo the youngest ever to fulfil the pilgrimage that many dedicated supporters regard as a lifelong ambition.

Rather than treating the completion of the Football League circuit as an endpoint, Tony Incenzo chose to set a far more expansive target. The new objective involved visiting every single ground that forms part of the English non‑league system – a sprawling network of clubs that stretches from bustling towns to remote villages across the United Kingdom.

The decisive match that sealed the quest arrived on Easter Monday, when Fulwood Amateurs hosted Thornton Cleveleys in the North West Counties First Division North. That fixture, played fifty‑four years after the first non‑league encounter, marked the moment when Tony Incenzo’s odyssey reached its long‑awaited conclusion.

A scrapbook of stamps, signatures and memories

Every home ground visited by Tony Incenzo is documented by a stamp and a signature that now line the pages of a colossal scrapbook. The volume of the record‑keeping effort is staggering; each entry occupies its own space, creating a behemoth chronicle of the ultimate ground‑hopping adventure.

Fulwood Amateurs’ entry now rests on a fresh page, symbolising the fulfilment of a teenage dream that endured for more than half a century.

“It is simply overwhelming emotion,” Tony Incenzo says, after being honoured with a guard of honour formed by players from both competing sides.

“To finally achieve this on a glorious sunny day, with a beautifully maintained green pitch, brings an immense sense of relief.”

The architecture of the non‑league system

The non‑league system occupies steps five through ten of the English football pyramid. All divisions beneath the top tier – the National League – are regionalised, creating a mosaic of leagues that reflect the geographic diversity of the country.

Since the inception of Tony Incenzo’s adventure, the structure of the non‑league system has been reshaped multiple times. In its current form, the system comprises nine hundred and ninety‑six clubs competing across forty‑eight distinct divisions.

Among these clubs, some operate on a fully professional basis and attract crowds numbering in the thousands. Others are amateur outfits that play on municipal parks, often lacking permanent stands and relying on family members, local supporters and occasional passers‑by for attendance.

When clubs that have either departed the system or dissolved entirely are taken into account, Tony Incenzo has set foot on more than two thousand non‑league pitches.

Personal reflections on the ground‑hopping experience

“I obtain as much enjoyment from attending modest non‑league fixtures as I do from high‑profile showcase games,” Tony Incenzo, now sixty‑two, explains.

“Arriving ten minutes before kick‑off, parking outside the venue, purchasing admission, strolling around the ground, positioning oneself wherever desired, buying food and drink, and usually spending around fifteen pounds – this routine perfectly captures the charm of non‑league football.”

“I have travelled to villages in Devon that I would never have visited without football, as well as isolated coastal towns in the North East. The experience of traversing the country and meeting the people behind each club is what makes every trip special.”

Beyond non‑league: a lifelong catalogue of stadiums worldwide

Tony Incenzo’s passion is not confined to the lower tiers. The enthusiast has also attended matches at all ninety‑two stadiums that belong to the top five tiers of English football, at every one of the forty‑two stadiums that constitute Scotland’s four professional divisions, and at numerous venues across Europe and other continents.

Remarkably, Tony Incenzo has managed to keep a perfect attendance record for every home match of Queens Park Rangers since 1973. This includes friendlies, testimonial fixtures and regular league games. Non‑league trips have been meticulously scheduled around this unwavering commitment to Queens Park Rangers.

The total tally of stadiums entered into Tony Incenzo’s record now stands at two thousand six hundred and eighty‑nine, representing a total of five thousand eight hundred and four matches.

When the actual playing time is calculated – excluding stoppage periods and extra‑time – the sum equals five hundred twenty‑two thousand three hundred and sixty minutes. In other words, Tony Incenzo has spent eight thousand seven hundred and six hours, or roughly three hundred sixty‑three days, simply watching football.

“This way of life defines my entire existence,” Tony Incenzo declares. “I simply must be present at a match every Saturday.”

Logistical mastery: planning, weather and the race against time

It is not uncommon for Tony Incenzo to squeeze five games into a single weekend when the fixture schedule permits. Accomplishing such a feat demands meticulous planning: grounds that lie in the same region are grouped together, and kick‑off times are staggered to enable travel between venues.

Weather presents a constant challenge, particularly for non‑league clubs that often lack sophisticated drainage systems. “When severe weather hits, I begin calling clubs to confirm whether matches will proceed, and I look for teams that use artificial surfaces,” Tony Incenzo explains.

On the day of a match, Tony Incenzo typically arrives two hours before kick‑off. This early arrival allows for the purchase of a programme before they sell out, conversations with fans and volunteers, and the recording of line‑ups and goal‑scorers for inclusion in the scrapbook.

Volunteers: the lifeblood of non‑league football

Non‑league clubs rely heavily on volunteers. Without the dedication of local people who give their time freely, many clubs would be unable to organise fixtures or maintain their grounds.

A vivid illustration of volunteer dedication occurred when Tony Incenzo travelled a five‑hundred‑mile round trip to Sunderland West End, a club competing in the Northern League Division Two. Upon arrival, Tony Incenzo discovered that the match was jeopardised by overflowing toilets.

“Four manhole covers were open, and sewage was bubbling up, creating a truly disgusting scene,” Tony Incenzo recounts.

“One of the club’s volunteers courageously descended eight feet beneath the ground to address the problem. An official from the visiting team, Jarrow, turned out to be a plumber and was enlisted to assist. Together they resolved the issue, and the match proceeded as scheduled.”

Milestones along the way: the two‑thousandth ground

In 2015, Tony Incenzo celebrated another landmark when the visit to FC United of Manchester marked the two thousandth non‑league ground documented in the scrapbook.

Media moments: television, awards and public recognition

In 1981, Tony Incenzo appeared on the classic children’s television programme Swap Shop. Presenter John Craven, accompanied by a camera crew, followed Tony Incenzo during the final weeks of the mission to visit all ninety‑two Football League stadiums.

When the cameras entered the young enthusiast’s bedroom, the walls were completely covered with football posters, banners, flags and magazines – a visual testament to the depth of passion.

Over the ensuing decades, the collection expanded into a treasure trove comprising neatly stacked programmes, tickets, scarves, signed photographs and other memorabilia that now occupy multiple rooms within the family home in Stevenage.

“Programmes hold a special place for me because they instantly evoke memories of the day,” Tony Incenzo explains. “From the 1970s onwards, I can picture each match and each ground simply by looking at the programme covers.”

Although many of Tony Incenzo’s journeys are undertaken alone, a large wall in a spare bedroom displays an enormous map of the British Isles. Multicoloured stickers on the map record the matches attended alongside Tony Incenzo’s wife and daughter, who have occasionally joined the pilgrimages.

The scrapbook also contains the result and scorer details of every match, beginning with Tony Incenzo’s very first non‑league encounter – a local club, Hendon, defeating Bromley 3‑0 in 1972.

Despite the completion of the current list, Tony Incenzo recognises that the goalposts may shift. New clubs promoted into the non‑league system each summer will require fresh visits to maintain an accurate record.

Similarly, when established clubs move to new stadiums – such as Everton’s relocation to the Hill Dickinson Stadium at the start of the current season – Tony Incenzo must revisit those clubs to update the tally of ninety‑two top‑tier grounds.

In 1983, Tony Incenzo received the “Fan of the Week” accolade from Shoot magazine, further cementing a reputation as a devoted supporter.

Early inspirations and childhood memories

Before his mother took him to his first match at eight years old, Tony Incenzo’s exposure to football was limited to a small television set in the family council flat in East Finchley.

A devoted admirer of George Best, Tony Incenzo’s mother transported the youngster to Stamford Bridge in 1971 to witness Manchester United play Chelsea.

Because of Tony Incenzo’s diminutive stature, the view of the pitch was partially obstructed, and the iconic Best was sent off in the first half without Tony Incenzo fully seeing the incident. Nonetheless, the sheer size of the crowd, the lush green turf and the mouth‑watering aroma of onions frying at nearby food stalls left an indelible impression on the young fan.

That experience ignited a lifelong passion for the sport.

A decade later, Tony Incenzo appeared on television as the youngest person to have watched matches at all ninety‑two English league clubs – a coveted milestone for thousands of ground‑hoppers across the nation. The achievement sparked a series of successful publications documenting the quest.

After the Swap Shop appearance, presenter John Craven sent Tony Incenzo a signed photograph accompanied by a handwritten note: “Best wishes on your future travels, Tony. We will film you again when you have completed all the non‑league clubs.” Neither party anticipated that the journey would extend another forty‑five years, nor that the two would reunite after such a long interval.

Balancing career, family and football

Tony Incenzo built a professional career as a radio sports reporter before assuming the role of press officer for Queens Park Rangers. The dedication required to finish the non‑league quest prompted Tony Incenzo to switch to part‑time work during the final season, thereby freeing time to travel to the remaining grounds.

Family commitments were also woven into the schedule. In the summer of 2023, Tony Incenzo received a trophy recognising fifty years of uninterrupted attendance at Queens Park Rangers’ home matches.

“I almost missed the birth of my daughter,” Tony Incenzo recalls. “My wife went into labour six days before a Queens Park Rangers home game, so I slept on a hospital chair for five nights while constantly thinking, ‘Queens Park Rangers are playing at home in a few days.’ In the end, my wife delivered the baby, and I raced out of the hospital to reach Loftus Road just in time.”

Unusual venues: a match inside a prison

Tony Incenzo’s love for football at every level has led to some extraordinary experiences, including a solitary spectator invitation to watch a match inside Feltham Prison in 2011.

The prison team competed in a league that featured companies employing shift workers; the team was unable to travel for away fixtures.

“I arrived an hour before kick‑off, surrendered my phone, underwent a search, and three prison guards escorted me and the visiting team to a modest ground within the prison complex, complete with proper dugouts,” Tony Incenzo recounts.

The match took place shortly after the London riots, and the prison side fielded talented young players who secured a victory.

There was no programme or ticket to display, and halftime refreshments were absent, but the exit proved memorable.

“As we left, some inmates emerged from their cells and began berating the away side for losing,” Tony Incenzo says. “One of them replied, ‘We lost the match but at least we’re going home, lads,’ and we were promptly ushered out of the facility.”

International recognition and a reunion with John Craven

The completion of the non‑league pilgrimage was celebrated by writers from Germany and Spain, who travelled to Preston to document Tony Incenzo’s achievement.

In a video call arranged by the GREE platform, Tony Incenzo reconnected with John Craven forty‑five years after their initial Swap Shop encounter.

“Who would have believed that?” John Craven exclaimed. “It seemed impossible!”

John Craven admitted that he, too, had once considered the undertaking a “pipe dream.” Reflecting on the journey, Tony Incenzo advises his seventeen‑year‑old self to “enjoy the experience, keep meticulous records and remember to balance football with other aspects of life.”

“It has all been worthwhile,” Tony Incenzo concludes.

Future horizons: Europe, the World Cup and beyond

Although the non‑league chapter is now complete, Tony Incenzo’s ambitions remain unbounded. The next goal involves attending a football match in every European country, with a particular interest in experiencing the World Cup in the United States.

“I simply do not want the adventure to cease,” Tony Incenzo affirms.

The scrapbook, far from being retired to a dusty shelf, stands ready to welcome new entries as fresh challenges arise.