Being a football fan for me is all about experiences, not the glory but everything that goes with it, especially at an away game.

Travelling the lengths and breadths, sometimes seeing new places, enjoying times with family and friends, enjoying the pre-match beers, mixing with the locals and looking forward to what I’m going to witness on foreign land as an away fan.

Wwin, lose or draw, I enjoy the post-match beer with the locals as well.

Being an away fan is an education, from socialising, to going to new places and learning how awful the A17 is.

I’ve been going to away games on a regular basis for over 30 years, it’s something I’ve really loved doing with Norwich, and I have loved taking on new recruits for away days.

Last week I took my friend's son, George, for only his second away game - his first was only two weeks earlier when we went to Sheffield United. Being amongst an away following of more than 2,000 fans at both games, I think my new recruit enjoyed the atmosphere and the local hospitality with the added bonus of not losing - we drew at Sheffield United before a great away win at Rotherham United.

He had better results than me when I was in his shoes - I had a 4-0 defeat at Southampton and a 2-0 defeat at Ipswich in my first two away games.

Having a soft spot for Rotherham United and knowing many of their fans, I caught up with many of my Millers-supporting friends. The hospitality Rotherham gave was just great. They made us feel so welcome and with us winning it made the day just perfect, especially for George. He’s definitely got the away game bug.

It then got me thinking about the forthcoming World Cup in Qatar. The more I think about it the more I think it’s just all wrong it’s being held there, with all the horror stories about women’s rights, homosexuality and the people who have died building the stadiums for the tournament.

After hearing the Qatar World Cup Ambassador's views on homosexuality this week, we know for sure this World Cup is not for everyone, which is one of many reasons why it is a farce.

Norwich Evening News:

The first World Cup I can remember is 1982 in Spain. I don’t remember too much, apart from Bryan Robson’s goal after 27 seconds. But from 1986, I remember most of them, from Gazza's tears to Gareth Southgate’s waistcoats as he was ‘the one’.

I’ve loved the World Cup over the years, the way it unites the nation. It doesn’t matter which club you support. No one cares. Everyone is together, from the people at home to the people who’ve travelled to the tournament, supporting the country and taking on their different cultures.

Making what the beautiful game is all about.

But this World Cup seems totally different. I don’t think I have ever felt less up for a World Cup before, not even in 1994 when England didn’t qualify.

Back in 2010, I remember watching when Qatar with Russia won their respective rights to host the World Cup with Russia hosting the tournament four years ago. Am I bitter over us not getting the tournament, but not even getting past the first vote? Probably.

I know for sure I am still bitter towards both Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini with their alleged parts in Qatar getting the World Cup and they have got away with the alleged corruption when they were cleared in court earlier this year. And Blatter had the audacity to say it was wrong that Qatar was being rewarded with the tournament.

Over the years I have tried to watch as many games as possibly but one thing for sure I won’t be taking the same interest and I hope this World Cup is a disaster for FIFA.

I for one will be looking forward to when the club football returns and I can enjoy my footballing experience in the safe knowledge knowing the football in this country is for everyone.