More than 90 minutes: Why the journey is important in football
For football supporters around the globe, the experience of watching a match is far more than the 90 minutes on…
For football supporters around the globe, the experience of watching a match is far more than the 90 minutes on the pitch.
From the buzz of early journeys to new, unfamiliar cities to pre-match conversations with fellow fans in anticipation of the match, the pre-game experience can be just as memorable as the game itself.
Pledgeball’s documentary series, Route 26, captures this spirit of football perfectly through showing how football brings people together whilst also opening the door to new experiences and places.
In the series, Laurence McKenna and Alex Moneypenny travel thousands of miles across North America without flying, soaking in the local communities while witnessing the impact that the 2026 World Cup has on the continent.
The documentary encapsulates how football can be a gateway to discovering new places, with Laurence and Alex journeying to the likes of Dallas, trying the local cuisine of steak fingers, before heading to watch FC Dallas in an MLS game, sharing experiences that wouldn’t be possible by only focusing on the destination.
Football can be seen as a universal language and unites fans from all different backgrounds, from supporters of top-flight Premier League clubs, or follows their local community team.
Most football supporters will not be travelling thousands of miles across a continent, but the but the experiences seen in Route 26 can be felt by fans on any matchday.
For many supporters, travelling to an away fixture is an opportunity to discover somewhere new, whether that means exploring an unfamiliar city or experiencing the supporter culture of another football community.
From early morning train journeys filled with anticipation to conversations with fellow supporters in a local pub before kick-off, these experiences can become an integral part of what makes following a football club so special.
The journey also provides opportunities to forge new friendships and strengthen existing ones, with football bringing together people from different backgrounds through their shared passion for the game.
While the result on the pitch may not always go your team’s way, the memories created throughout the day can last far longer than the final score.
Whether it’s a memorable conversation or simply enjoying the company of fellow fans, an away day can offer so much more than the match itself.
The journey plays a vital role in the matchday experience and travelling more sustainably presents an opportunity to make following football even more enjoyable.
Like the experiences showcased in Route 26, choosing to travel by train, bus or coach can allow supporters to embrace the journey, rather than simply focusing on reaching their destination.
Travelling alongside fellow fans can create a unique atmosphere long before kick-off, with conversations, shared anticipation and the occasional spontaneous singalong all contributing to the excitement of matchday.
Taking public transport can also provide opportunities to explore places along the way, discover local communities and experience the character of different towns and cities, turning what might otherwise be an ordinary journey into a memorable part of the day.
And while more sustainable travel can help reduce football’s environmental impact, its benefits extend far beyond cutting emissions.
By encouraging shared experiences, bringing supporters together and offering new ways to explore the world around them, sustainable travel has the potential to enrich the very traditions that make football special.
The truth, however, is that many of these options are not the most practical for many supporters.
Expensive rail fares, unreliable services and limited public transport connections can make travelling to matches difficult, particularly for away supporters facing long journeys or late kick-off times.
For many fans, travelling by car remains the most convenient option, simply due to the alternatives being too expensive, complicated or simply unavailable.
There are opportunities however, to find a solution for this.
Whether through cheaper matchday train tickets, dedicated supporter coaches, improved public transport connections or better walking and cycling infrastructure, there are opportunities to make sustainable travel a more attractive choice.
Pledgeball has already been working towards this through its supporter travel workshops, bringing together fans and other stakeholders to explore the challenges surrounding matchday transport and identify practical solutions.
Ultimately, as Route 26 shows, the beauty of football lies not just in what happens on the pitch, but in the people, places and experiences that surround it.
The sense of adventure that is seen in Laurence and Alex’s trip across North America can be found in in the trips fans make to follow their teams every weekend.
By making sustainable travel more accessible, affordable and enjoyable, football has an opportunity to enhance these experiences while reducing its environmental impact.