Football in Berlin

[pozza]

As some of you know, I went to Berlin over the weekend and thought it would be rude not to take a game while over there, especially as I was missing the Town game

What a totally different experience to attending Football in England. Everything is so much more relaxed over there, and you can pretty much do what you want once your inside the Stadium. You have no hastle from Stewards, Police or anything like that, you just find a seat, and in front of it. Yes thats right, stand not sit. If you do sit, folk look at you like your an idiot

Kick Off was at 2pm, and we got up to the ground at 12:30ish. Outside was a big park, the sun was shining and everyone was sat round having a few beers on the grass. There were even a couple of BBQ's going on and the mood was very relaxed. We made our way to the ticket office and bought out ticket, a mesley 9 Euro's. Even with the shit exchange rate thats only £8. Now considering Union play in League 3 (same as League 1 over here) I thought it was fantastic vaule. The stadium was a bowl kind stadium, with one main stand, and a running track round the field. This is the main stand as you come through the turnstyles:



Once inside we got a couple of beers and made our way into the stands (you can take your beer into the stands which is a welcome change from being pushed and shoved behind the Antich, it was also a decent pint an all.) We stood in the block next to Ultra Group so as to get a good feel for the atmosphere. It was still about 30mins to kick off but the section was packed, and the area around us was filling up nicely. The flags were flying and the crowd were singing long before the kick off.



Once the teams ran out the Capo (Captain) of the group jumped up on the fence at the front with a MegaPhone. He then proceeded to whip the crowd into a franzie. There was about 10,000 fans in the stadium, and I'd bet that at least 8,000 of them were singing as the teams ran out onto the field. The noise level was tremendous They have an anthem like Liverpool and as the teams ran out they all held scarfs aloft and belted it out:









Union went 1-0 down quite early on, but that didn’t put anyone off. I never once heard anything negative towards the team from the fans. Everything was encouraging, every tackle brought a massive cheer from the crowd, followed by a song. It really was brilliant. Second half started and Union got on top but were unable to convert any of the chances. If they’d have scored the noise would have been amazing.

This bloke must not have been able to see , so he moved to a better vantage point where he stayed for the remainder of the match



Crowd kept at it but were unable to score and they ended up losing the game 1-0. After the game the players came over to applaud the fans and an almighty song was sung. No idea what it was but everyone, and I mean everyone, joined in.



We then made our way back to train station, and back into the city centre. All the journey the fans were still singing. We got talking to some of the fans and told them about all the health & safety rules we have to put up with in English stadiums and they couldn’t believe it, they thought it was stupid how we cant stand, have a beer and have stewards in the stands to enforce all the rules. They said if they tried that in Germany it would end in riots ;D

I’d love it if it was like that at Town games. Would certainly make for a more enjoyable day out. I strongly advise anyone who loves atmosphere at Football to visit a European match as its something you’ll never get over here. I’ll defiantly be going out there more often after being in that stadium.

Also, if the saftey officer is watching, I'd also like to point out that nobody got injured at any point, nobody died, and the stadium didn't fall down either, not even when it had 5,000 bouncing up & down and swinging from the fencing at the front, so dont tell me I cant bring my falg into the next game as its not safe becuause i'll refuse to believe you

Oh, we also went to Hertha Berlin when we over there for a look round the stadium. Nipped into the club shop and had to double the glance the shirts that were on sale, wonder where Town got the design for this seasons shirt………..





I know this is the wrong section, but thought you'd all like to know about it as there was another thread from German Football on here the other week that everyone liked.

Cheers
Poz

[Dell12]

Great pictures, I also went to see Union Berlin a good few years ago. In fact I remember Town were playing Brentford at the time, it was Wadsworth's firsrt game in charge so I was keeping up with the score.

It's a really great little ground although when I went there were a few people smashing bottles around, although as you say it's a totally different experience to watching football over here!

[pozza]

There playing in someone else's stadium at the moment as there's is being done up. I cant wait to go back once its finished.

Just found this video on YouTube and all taken from the other side of the stadium of the fans singing. You can hear on this how loud they are

[ThreeLions]

Looks awsome.

[jstorr13]

Looks fantastic. Brought some good ideas back then?

[htafclegends]

Great pics! Imagine if you were allowed beer in the stands here, be a bit like at test matches - beer snakes and hilarious chants. Quality.

[herthafish]

Nice one pozza that looks excellent. Six of us went to watch Hertha last month and it certainly makes you want to go back. Atmosphere and the amount that sing and get behind the team is something else oh aye and by gum that beers strong.












































1

[pozza]

Apr 27, 2009 20:35:07 GMT 1 jstorr13 said:

Looks fantastic. Brought some good ideas back then?

I have indeed mate.

Anyone know where I can get a megaphone ;D

[Chief]

cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-25W-Megaphone-BULL-HORN-Loud-SPEAKER-White-in-UK_W0QQitemZ130300211217QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_AudioTVElectronics_HomeAudioHiFi_Amplifiers?hash=item130300211217&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72:1688|66:2|65:12|39:1|240:1318

[Nickhudds.UTT]

would you be allowed in prison farm with it, looks class....

[jimmythebulldog]

Sounds really good..... but that's what they said in England until Hillsborough!

And when something like that happens in Germany the first questions will be -

Why do yuo let them stand? Drink? BBQ? Sit on the fence? etc etc

For me it's a matter of give and take - and I would take the German experience with its atmosphere over the rigid stadiums in England. As a side - the USA is ten times worse than England.

I went to a NY Red Bulls game recently and it's like going to watch a sunday girls team play - loads of fat dads and their fat kids eating hot dogs - and they have one song - I kid you not one bloody song -

Let's Go Red Bulls Let's Go Red Bulls - does my head in. Oh and they love mexican waves and the stupid camera big screen thing - the most important thing to an american is getting his big fucking head on the jumbotron.

[philincalifornia]

Nice post, nice photos. Thanks.

Jimmy - my son plays for a Berkeley under-14 team out here. We get a pretty good atmosphere going at the games - all 20 of us. You should come to a game - definitely no Mexican waves ;D ;D

That's pretty much all my live experience here, although I did get to an Earthquakes game recently. It was OK.

What a shame that the English game can't be like the European experience though. Maybe one day .... when people aren't so angry, or whatever.

[squadronleader]

" the most important thing to an american is getting his big fucking head on the jumbotron."

Thanks jimmy, that gave me the laugh of the day, great stuff ;D

Pozza, great pics there, looks fantastic and very passionate stuff from the Union fans.

[Deleted]

Saw the pics on Facebook pozza, they look quality.

Difference between there and here though is we had the 60's/70's/80's. Drinking in the stands at football would be chaos.

[Heckyblue]

Looks like a great experience, just how football should be.
Alas, it will never be like that again in this country, sums it up when you had your flags taken off you.

[presidentwu]

Great post, Pozza - Loved the photos!!
Even though Hertha is more my club, I have to say they're a fine lot are the Union fans in general. I remember going to watch Union play a friendly with Wolves with some mates of mine over there just after the Berlin wall came down, albeit at their old stadium - I think the stadium you went to is Dynamo Berlin's old ground, but it didn't have a roof when the East German Secret Police (Stasi) had control of Dynamo.

Anyway, after the Union v Wolves game we went into the Union members' bar and every one of them applauded us when we walked through the door. Remember getting slightly drunk and singing songs with them through the night. Still wear a Union cap sometimes.

Here's to Hertha BSC v Union Berlin in a couple of years!!

[herthafish]

hello presidentwu. 2 hertha fans on DATM - get in!! Born in Berlin mate and have always had them as my 2nd team. I have had many blue and white stripe shirts over the years and finally got to see them recently. all the best - hertha

[presidentwu]

Hiya, herthafish - good to see the "alte Dame" can still attract support from foreign shores - I generally get to see them once or twice a year but had a season ticket throughout the 80s when I lived there. Be nice to see them play Town - come on DH, how about a German tour sometime and give the fans some of that deutsches Bier?? All the best, mate.

[thewrongboy]

German football thread on DATM, eh?

The German football matchday is great, really. Even the TV coverage is better - any German Town fans check out the "Conference" coverage on Premiere. Basically, they have the rights to every game in the Bundesliga and when there's a goal or penalty or whatever exciting, they just go straight to that game and switch from game to game. Great stuff for the neutral.

One thing I don't get with German football is this "Friendship club" business! My local team 1.FC Köln (Cologne FC) is "friends" with St Pauli FC in Hamburg. However nice it is... kinda weird if the two teams ever play each other!

Viva Colonia and Up The Town!!!

[hughphamism]

Every eastern european game Ive been to has been similar to how pozza describes above. It's a shame we won't see the likes but those days are gone.

If you want a real lack of atmosphere try going to a game in Spain-Barca, Real Madrid & espanyol were all very poor.

[thewrongboy]

Not having ever been to a Barcelona or Real Madrid game, I am surprised to hear you didn't rate the atmosphere! I thought it would have been one of the best. It was quiet tonight for the Champions League game but put that down to the television coverage.