Having watched nearly one hundred games of football from Premiership to North West Counties and below in a year. It’s safe to say Anders Johansen is a committed spectator of the beautiful game.

The fact that Johansen is from Norway and travels over 500 miles to watch games in this country makes this feat even more commendable.

Being the self-confessed ‘Norwegian Ground hopper’ the football lover visited Shawbridge for the first time last Tuesday evening. As he witnessed the Blues lose 2-0 against promotion chasers Spennymoor Town.

With the Scandinavian half way through his Easter football challenge. He spoke to the Blues official club website and described this journey as the best he’s ever been on.

With over twenty games being attended in less than three weeks.

“This will probably be my most ambitious trip so far, with twenty two games in seventeen days if everything goes as planned. The amount of games I'm able to see on this trip is partly due to the Easter Ground hop in Northern Counties East League, which includes three games on Good Friday and four games on Easter Saturday.”

Johansen from Drobak, Norway went on to say. “As for the idea itself, it's just the passion I have for it I guess. The trip I'm on now, I started planning the day I flew back from my Christmas/New Year’s trip, with many hours spent looking at fixtures and updating rearranged games. You could say I have a 'to do' and I try to squeeze in as many of these as I can. A trip as long as this is like a massive puzzle, trying to fit it all in logistically with travel and accommodation.”

As with many football fans of a certain age, the game at the top level is no longer an enjoyable experience. With the cheapest ticket prices being £50 or more, as Sunday afternoon kick-offs have become a normality.

Originally a supporter of Championship club Reading, Johansen revealed how he got into the non-league game and explained his amazing stretch of nearly two hundred and fifty ground visited, in this country over the years.

“As a Reading fan, I used to be happy just travelling over to watch Reading. I guess the ground hopping thing started when I thought there had to be something else to do between games than just sitting in the Reading pubs all week waiting for their next games.

“I got sick of the modern game turning into a business. I have so much admiration for the unsung heroes that keeps these small clubs alive with their hard volunteer work. I got my first taste of non-league football in 2010, but it's the last two to three seasons I've really been doing it on this scale.”

Having seen them all. From Fleetwood Town to Fulham and Glossop North End to Gillingham. Johansen has witnessed his fair share of football grounds and matches.

With his last visit to England coming between December and January 2014/15, the ground hopper described the number of grounds he’s visited and stated he has ‘not had a bad year or two.’

“In just the English pyramid, Clitheroe was my ground number 236, and at the end if this trip I will be on 257 grounds. By that time I'll have done 88 games in the English pyramid this season. Not too bad for living overseas! I've had a good year or two now.”

Johansen was one of 204 hardy souls that visited a wet and windy Shawbridge on the 24th March for the visit of Spennymoor Town.

Although the game wasn’t a classic, our Norwegian Blue was impressed by the club as a whole and claimed he has already recommended Clitheroe to other friends back in his native Norway.

“I very much enjoyed my visit to Clitheroe and was made very welcome. From Bill letting me have a look around the ground when I came down for a look earlier in the afternoon, to receiving a very warm welcome from Anne and the others when returning for the game. Clitheroe seems a very nice place, and I had a nice little walk up the castle as well.”

Johansen continued by saying; “Shawbridge is what I'd say is a classic old Football ground with lots of character. It even has a charming slope. The people and fans came across as very friendly.

"It's actually the first time I’ve watched Clitheroe play. You never know, I might be back some day and I'll be sure to keep an eye out for future scores.”

The Non-League game has had an up-turn in popularity this season. With Darlington 1883 and FC United of Manchester attracting 2,000 plus crowds.

Whereas Salford City are now co-owned by the Class of 92, which has sent a lot of publicity towards the Evo-Stik League’s.

Johansen’s travels are not a sole incident either. As supporters regularly travel from all over Europe to watch non-league football in this country.

As the ‘adopted Blue’ added, he is determined to encourage more people to watch the semi-professional game in this country.

“I’ve already recommended Clitheroe to one ground hopper friend from Norway. He said he’d been to Clitheroe Castle but not watched a game there. I told him its well worth a visit. I always try to encourage people to have a look at what's happening below the top two divisions and especially in non-league football.”

You only have to hover down Johansen’s social media feeds to see he somewhat enjoys a good meal. With Shawbridge being renowned for amazing food, the ground hopper finished off by praising the culinary skills at the club.

Calling the Blues Pie and Peas combination as ‘some of the very best grub I’ve had at football.’

“I'll have to say that the food is partly why I like it so much up north. You Northerners seem to know that the full English isn't the same without black pudding...and that a pie is best served with mushy peas and gravy.

"I had a Steak & Kidney Pie with Mushy Peas & Gravy and it certainly was lovely. The Blues definitely have some of the very best grub I've had at football!”