So today we sit down with Tony the superdad behind the ‘Girls go Groundhopping’ page in which he visits different grounds/matches with this two daughters Freya and Scarlett. So without further ado, lets get to know the trio, how the page come about and what the plans are for the future of it!

Name – Tony Hodgkinson

Girls names – Freya & Scarlett 5&3

Age – 33

Favourite Team – Liverpool + FC St Helens

Girls favourite team – FC St Helens Women

Favourite footballer – Robbie Fowler

Occupation – bread man for the orange loaf company

One thing I love about football is – that it brings people together

Football pet hate – playing out from the back

Best player you have ever seen play in real life – Rivaldo
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1. How did your love for football begin, and how has it evolved since becoming a father of two daughters?

My love of football for me began at the age of 6 or 7 when I started playing for my club side The Runcorn British Legion who sadly are no longer a team anymore. Sport was huge for me in terms of fitness and socialising as a child which is why as a father having both my daughters complete and participate in sport was always my number one aim.

When I look back now football playing and watching (as a Liverpool fan) would completely destroy a weekend for me until I played or watched it again. What I want for my girls is to take all the ups and all the downs and bottle them up and learn from every experience. But they should never lose sight of what winning and achieving does for people because that will set them up well for life and the world of work and competition. Attitude, commitment and respect is a term my old coach used to teach us and that sums up the world of football to me.

2. Attending weekly football matches is a big commitment. How do you balance this passion with family life, and do your daughters ever join you at the games?

The way I see it, football takes up 6 hours of a weekend so we have plenty of time to do other things as a family. What we never do it put football before anything else if there is something happening with family or there is a different event we could attend it’s important we do so. Well, that’s at least what I tell my wife.

Since December last year we have all travelled together as a three. We have only missed one game which was Warrington town as unfortunately Freya wasn’t well. Luckily for her we had seen Warrington before that so she wasn’t missing too much. But we will never visit a ground for the first time without each other. 

3. How do you think your daughters perceive your love for football? Have you seen them take any interest in the sport themselves?

Me and the girls have a love hate relationship when it comes to football. When I’m home and I have it on the TV its ‘STINKY’ football and they want a Disney programme on. But when we are at the games it completely different, they seem to embrace all the good about the football community. What I will say is my love for football came back mainly because of Freya.

Currently Freya plays Football amongst other sports. Scarlett is a little bit young for participating at the moment, but we do have her participating in other things. 

In terms of football Freya took an interest last summer which is why we are in the position we are now. On the 12^th of July 2023 we attend a football game in the USA, New England Revolution vs Atlanta United. Freya in particular seemed to really enjoy the game so when we came home, I wanted to take her to a few games at our local club Runcorn Linnets to test that interest. After a couple of games I took her to trial at a Widnes FC women as they are one of two local teams to us who have a full structure from under 7s to open age and she has gone ever since. 

As a 3 our first game together as a groundhopping adventure wasn’t until the 9^th of December 2023 Witton Albion vs Hanley Town. After spending time with Freya at 7 games we came to realise Scarlett was missing out and that’s when it all changed. Games became easier because the girls had each other for company.

4. What motivated you to start sharing your football experiences on social media, and how has the response been from your followers?

It started off, posting on my personal Facebook to friends and family then a member of Runcorn Linnets volunteer staff mentioned the Non League Facebook group. They suggested I should share my photos with the girls on there because it was quite unique for a dad and his two girls to be attending games.

So obviously I did, that is when I noticed posts from a guy called Darren Ashley who I’m sure some of your readers will know. His passion for the game and his bottle and confidence to turn up at non-league grounds and talk about his love for the game is what truly inspired me to start making videos.

Posting photos is one thing but I feel videos can tell a story. So, I wanted to create content that shared our experience but not of the match we are watching, more about the ground we are at and the club we are visiting. Plus touring the ground and facilities helps us meet other people on our way around but it also gets the girls interested in the surroundings. It can take 20 to 30 minutes just touring the stadium so rather than sitting the girls down for 2 hours watching football it becomes a day of investigating and intrigue.

We have had an amazing response from fans, clubs and staff. We get messages all the time from people about clubs we should visit for many different reasons, and it just helps bring a community together. 

5. When capturing those moments at the matches—whether it’s photos or videos—what’s your approach? Are you more focused on documenting the experience or simply enjoying it?

I’d say a bit of both. For people who haven’t watched our videos, we do the same thing at every ground, I film the same way so that the documenting becomes a part of the footballing experience. We tend not to film any of the game, we turn up and we tour the whole ground inside and out if we can. We circle the pitch and pop into the bars and cafes, stop to talk to anyone that wants to. 

When it comes to the game, I just want to watch it with the girls but let them be themselves. They tend to always meet other kids and wander off. I don’t want the whole day to be about me creating content and filming because then ill lose the connection with the game, the surrounding but most importantly my time with the girls. 

Most of the best moments are probably missed (on camera) because I just want to enjoy them as they happen rather than thinking that would make great content. 

6. Social media can be a double-edged sword. Have you ever faced any challenges or unexpected connections through sharing your football journey online?

Well, exposing two young girls to the world of social media is a challenge in itself. Getting that past my wife and grandparents was hard enough. Everything now is about protecting children and rightly so but I have a different way of thinking about things.

I protect the girls as much as any parent would. I tend not to let the uncontrollable get in the way of what we want to do. We get messages all the time asking if I’m worried about photos of the kids being out there in public and getting into the wrong hands. Again I totally get the worry people have but we can’t let the bad in the world stop us from doing things.

Away from that we have had messages from reputable Facebook groups with big followings who we tried to share our content with state Girls shouldn’t attend football games or that I’m a bad parent for exposing them online. All being honest words don’t offend me in any way, we all think differently as human beings and my way may not be right to some but I know I’m doing right by my kids with the content I’m creating. As you’ll see 99% if the videos are of the girls simply walking around the grounds and they only speak on camera if and when they want to. 

7. Football can be an emotional rollercoaster. Can you recall a match or moment that was particularly special to you, and what made it stand out?

2004, Neil Mellor scored a last minute winner for Liverpool against Arsenal at Anfield. My Dad used to take me to games when I was younger and we sat right on the halfway line watching the mighty reds outplay the best footballing side at the time. The game was level and you could sense the frustration amongst the home support that we had dropped points again. There is something about a last minute winner in football that brings out every emotion. I remember nearly crying I was that happy, to sit in a stand with 45,000 fans jumping up and down and then singing you’ll never walk alone at the top of my lungs at the end of the game will be something I will never forget. The biggest thing I takeaway now is that I got to enjoy that moment with my dad and that can never be forgotten.

8. How does your weekly routine change when football season is in full swing? What rituals or preparations do you have before attending a game?

I’ll be honest nothing much changes, the weekend is all about the kids and family. Its probably more of a change for the wife as she can enjoy 3 hours of peace. 

On match days we make a packed lunch for the girls so they pick everything, we get our ball out of the garden and we are pretty much good to go. We have a number of kits and Jerseys the girls have from various teams so getting them to pick one if probably the biggest challenge of the day. 

For me it’s mainly the planning of how I’m getting there and where to park but all that preparation is done through the week speaking to locals and the clubs.

Other than that we always get a pin badge, a cup of tea and a portion of chips. I wish I was like some of these fans who get a pie at ever match, id be a proper football fan then.

9. Many people see football as more than just a sport; it’s a community. How has being part of that community shaped your social life or friendships?

I suppose for us we are dipping our toes into different communities every week. So we are in a more unique position in which we have no affiliation with any of the clubs. We can turn up and experience all of the good that club has to offer and then go home and talk about the memories we have made. 

What I can say is I personally have noticed just how much good a football club does for local communities. It’s something ill never forget. Turn the TV on and you’ll be told just how bad the world is, how bad people are. Get down to your local football or sports team and you’ll see just how many amazing people there are. 

The girls get to step out of their comfort zone ever week and interact with strangers of all ages, make new friends and witness kindness, passion and dedication. I see them grow as human beings every week and that is through other people’s personalities and generosity. All I can say is a big thank you to all of the football communities who take us in every week and let us be a part of their club for just one day,

10. Looking ahead, do you see your relationship with football evolving as your daughters grow older? What role do you hope it will continue to play in your life and theirs?

Without pressuring them in to making decisions I hope one day I go from attending games with them to watching them play every weekend and then going home and getting ready to go and watch the team they choose to support. 

Football was huge for me growing up and I lost that connection for many years until my daughters came along. I just hope in the future we can look back at all these scrapbooks we are creating and remember the good football gave our relationship as a family. I can only take them so far, as they get older and develop their own friendships and families I hope they take everything we have done and learned together and put it to good use.

11. What one ground is on the list that you definitely want to visit during this season? 

This season, wow that’s a tough one.  For some reason I love Groningen in the Netherlands and Mainz in Germany, they are my bucket list teams. 

In terms of the season coming Liverpool Women are moving into the St Helens rugby ground so I defintely want to get there mainly because it will be a new ground to every football supporter.

From a personal and page point of view, Worksop, Chasetown and Hednesford fans always message me or comment on posts. So ill have to visit those three for sure this season.

That wasn’t one ground I know!

12. What does the future of the channel / community look like?

The future, who knows in terms of numbers, we are growing every day but the most important thing is we are creating a fantastic interactive community.

I have created a brand/logo that I hope gives us an identity, my hope is that people will see our posts and instantly know who it is. (below)

I’d love to get a sponsor on board or a league/association not to earn money out of it but to allow us to travel to the top end of Scotland, south Wales and to the furthest points of the UK. Most importantly I just want to Hop from Ground to Ground with my two girls and inspire the next generation.

Lastly, I would just like to say once again a massive thank you to the clubs, staff and people who go out their way to make the days special for Freya and Scarlett. 

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Well what a story, an reminder of the amazing things that football does for individuals and families. An incredible insight to just how little old football can become so much more!

Tonys story is one of many I am sure but what he is doing with the ‘Girls go Groundhopping’ page is inspiring not only Freya and Scarlett but will also im sure inspire others who watch their channel to do the same with their families.

Football is a wonderful wonderful thing but ultimately it is the memories we make with the ones we love that matter the most, Tony has moulded the two perfectly together and I for one am a massive massive fan.

I can’t wait to your journey, enjoy the ride you three!

Until next time!