Europe's 55 football nations in one season
For once, this wasn’t a football trip. But it is hard to avoid the influence of Hajduk when visiting Split. Hajduk graffiti is everywhere, not just in Croatia’s second city but all around the surrounding region of Dalmatia, its beautiful … Continued
Ultimate traveller website NomadMania divides the world into 1,301 regions based on territory, population, diversity, economy and tourist appeal. I had visited 373 of the world’s 1,301 regions (England rank: 43 / International rank: 600) as at September 2021. NomadMania … Continued
Europe United tells the story of my football travels across 55 UEFA nations in a single season. It was an amazing feat that seems even more surreal nowadays. The hardback/eBook have sold in over 30 countries and the paperback is published … Continued
I always wanted to make a list. I made a few in 2019. FourFourTwo rated Europe United as one of the top 18 football books of 2019. “Walker’s quest is at its best when he explores European football’s less fashionable outposts” said … Continued
After publishing a classic early interview in July 2017, the Guardian ran a second feature in October 2019. “A dog, a cat and 22 fans: watching European football’s worst top-flight team”, an edit of the San Marino chapter in Europe … Continued
Santa Clara, the leading club from the Azores, are the most westerly team competing in top division European football. Europe United features a second-tier match when Santa Clara played at Varzim, overlooking a very different stretch of the Atlantic, in March 2018 … Continued
A stonking Europe United launch party took place on 6th August in the 19th century Tower Hill crypt that is Vout-O-Reenee’s. The 100-strong crowd embraced the call for retro and obscure football shirts, ate chocolate footballs, viewed photographs and mementos from … Continued
A flashback to the 55. Apart from watching the game, the only other thing I had to do was ask someone to take a photograph of me at every stadium. The backdrops varied whilst some 55FN photographers struggled with my … Continued
It became a pre-match ritual. I wrote down the previous matchday line-ups for the home and away sides in my notepad, the squad numbers and surnames an exciting foretaste of every step of my almighty challenge. As a result, I … Continued
I’m thrilled to announce that ‘Europe United: 1 football fan. 1 crazy season. 55 UEFA nations’ will be published on 8 August. It was always an ambition to write a book that captured the unique fusion of football, travel and my almighty challenge. … Continued