Union Berlin v Erzgebirge Aue
Bochum 1848 v Ingolstadt 04
Karlsruher v Darmstadt 98
SV Raika v SV Wals Grunau
Schwaz v Eugendorf
Duisburg v Holstein Keil
An end of season European jaunt, in the company of Mike and Mad Dai.
Due to unanticipated demand on the Harwich to Hoek ferry, we had to do Hull the Zeebrugge sailing on the way out.
So it was an afternoon Hull Trains off Kings Cross.
Into Hull, with its distinctive white phone boxes. I have no idea why Dai is making that odd pose.
The bonus of of going via Hull is that it gives the chance to do the legendary Whalebone.
And the even more legendary £1.25 a pint Neck Oil, in company branded glasses.
Onto the ferry and out through the locks into the North Sea.
Next morning and into Belgium. We were the only ones off the boat to make the forty minute walk to the station.
News that the tories had won the election meant an early start on the ale, and every one over 10% in order to try and obliterate the reality of the next five years.
The train headed across Belgium through Brussels and Liege, and on to Montzen, for a unit move to Aachen. There should have been a short hop direct to Dusseldorf but a DB drivers strikes meant we had to wait two hours, for a packed train via Koln. We were meant to be going to Fortuna Dusseldorf v Aalen...
...but ended up on the Alt Bier instead. Except for Dai, who for some reason decided to drink white wine for the first time in his life.
The next morning was an early start for a move over to Berlin. Joy upon joy, it was the Rheingold set. This was a luxury historic train that operated between Hoek van Holland and Geneva, the stock from which was preserved by the German national railway. However, DB are massively short of rolling stock, so are using their museum coaches in every day service, including this.
Into Berlin and after dropping our stuff at the hotel, it was off to the eastern suburbs, and the usual hunt through forests to find Union's ground.
Eventually, an unofficial cycle park signified our arrival at the ground.
Union Berlin 1 v Erzgebirge Aue 2, Bundesliga 2
Union date back in various guises to 1906. They have always been the team of working class Berliners, having success in the 1910s and 1940s. Perhaps more than their nation did. After being disolved by the Allieds, they restarted again in the 1960s, with rivalry with the state favoured Dynamo Berlin. With re-unification, they have struggled, but are now in Bundesliga 2.
Aue is a mining and steel producing town to the south of Leipzig. The club started in 1945 as the works team of a cutlery manufacturer, brilliantly named BSG Pneumatik Aue. It took its current name on re-unification; Erzgebirge meaning Ore Mountains. They have been one of a few East German clubs who are enjoying more success since re-unification, climbing up to the Bundesliga 2 on three occasions.
Union moved to the Stadion An der Alten Försterei (Stadium at the old forester's house) in the 1920s. Originally three and a bit large concrete terraces, by the 1990s it was in a bit of a state with a limited capacity. Then started what has gone into folklore as the clubs supporters provided the labour to rebuild the ground with roofs over the terraces and a large new main stand.
This bloke ticked all the German supporter credentials; tripple denim, badges and colour co-ordinated trainers.
The evening was spent in Berlin clearing 4 brew pubs and a Harz cheese Käseplatte.
Next day was an ICE across to Bochum.
Bochum 1848 3 v FC Ingolstadt 04 1, Bundesliga 2.
The origins of Bochum go back to 1848, but the current set-up dates from 1938, with the merger of local teams. They played in lower leagues, until reaching the Bundesliga in the 1970s, since which they have regularly swapped between the top two divisions.
Ingolstadt is north west of Munich, and is famed for being the founding place of the Illuminati, also the place where Frankenstein created his monster, and current home of Audi. FC Ingolstadt 04 are one of the few clubs who's numbers relate to this century, being formed in 2004 after the demise of ESV Ingolstadt, who had a couple of seasons at the second level in the 1980s. Starting in the Oberliga Bayern, significant backing from Audi has seen them rise up and they now top Bundesliga 2.
The Ruhrstadion was first built in 1921, but its current guise dates from a late 1970s rebuild, which is very distinct.
Inside was pretty dead but the terrace opposite was bouncing.
Our seats were the very front row, so we got a great view of the sponsors back boards to the after match interviews, which were right in front of us and the stewards refused to move.
Dai adds to his varied photo collection of him and mascots.
After conceding a soft goal, Bochum came back to win 3-1 with a goal from former Birmingham, ahem, legend, Mikael Forssell.
The game had been a lunchtime kick off, and we headed onto Koln. I have no idea why Dai is making that odd pose.
We should have been going to Koln v Schalke that evening but a second bout of lethargy saw us have a night on the Kölsch instead.
Next day back at the station and puerile instincts got a picture of an unaware Mike and Dai underneath some entendred German walkway lettering.
We headed down the Rhine Valley on a Basel bound SBB service.
We took it as far as Karlsruhe.
We headed out into town. We did three brew pubs, but things got messy as at the last one, the waitress kept bringing 2 litre steins instead of pints. We staggered back across town, stopping in at this place on the way.
We did manage it to the football ground.
Karlsruher SC 0 v Darmstadt 98 1
Karlsruher SC were formed in 1894, but went through a series of mergers to form the current club, the last being in the 1950s. They were founder members of the Bundersliga in 1963 but were soon relegated. They became established in the new Bundesliga 2, but then rose to the top division in the eighties and nineties. However, since then they have had relegations to the second and third levels, but are vieing for a play off place to the Bundesliga.
Darmstadt are local rivals and were formed in 1898, originally playing in lower leagues. From the 1950s, they played at the second level, and then a couple of seasons in the Bundesliga in the late 1970s. However, the 1990s had seen them drop to the fifth level, though they have now recovered to the Bundesliga 2, and success in this game could see promotion to the top division.
The only picture I have of the ground prior to my phone dieing. Game was second v third and finished 0 v 1.
The next day, somehow we all regrouped at the station for an 0728 departure across to Nuremburg, though thankfully, Dai spent most of it sleeping.
An ICE took us down to Austria and into Vienna.
For a Railjet move up to Brno.
When the trip was first planned, Brno were playing, but the game had since moved. So instead, we did a cheeseboard and brew pub tour of the city, which was probably the preferable option.
Next day we headed back to Vienna, and then across to Salzburg.
As ever, the first stop was Augustinerbräu Kloster, the last brewing monastery in Austria. An unmarked door off a side street...
...takes you down an unassuming set of stairs...
...to the most bizarre beer hall...
...surrounded by stalls selling home cooked food.
After a few flasks of the very average sole brew available, we headed a few miles out of the city on an unexpected but welcome 1044 move, to Kuchl.
SV Raika 2 v SV Wals Grunau 0, Salzburg Landesliga.
S.V. Kuchl were founded in 1954 and moved to the current ground in 1970.
Wals Grunau are from west Salzburg and were founded in 1957.
The location was exceptional in the foothills.
There was a fairly exposed stand on one side.
However, further investigation found it to be a wonderful wooden cover over a modern tier of seating. The stand dates from 2004. To think, across Britain, clubs are just buying in shitty Atcost pre-fabs, and yet something like this could be knocked up.
Most people were watching from the raised club house. I have no idea why Dai is making that odd pose. Or why he is in a long jump pit.
There was ample opportunity to clear a load more 1044s for sight.
It then started to piss it down so we still watched the game through a crowd of the 48 capacity.
I was thinking we might have been one of the few Brits to have made it here, until I saw this on the wall.
The game finished 2-0 and did lead to a nice shot as we headed back to the station.
Next day was the slow way through the mountains via Zell-am-Zee. For no particular reason, Dai was having one of his sloth like days.
We arrived at our destination of Innsbruck.
Like a truffle sniffing pig, from about four streets away, Dai spotted a pub that served Strongbow, and he was instantly revived with his first serving of Hereford chemicals.
With a now functioning Dai, we jumped on an S-bahn for the short hop to Schwaz.
SC Schwaz 1 v USC Eugendorf 0, Regionalliga West
SC Schwaz were founded in 1921 and have played as high as the second level of Austrian Football, though not since the 1980s.
Eugendorf were founded in 1967 and have made steady progress, the Regionalliga West being the highest level the club has played.
Another scenic location but this time with a running track.
Within the 68 crowd there were the Schwaz ultras including band and banners.
Home side also had a masseur and a less than interested fitness coach.
Game was 1-0 to the home side but we were able to watch the second half in the licensed restaurant.
Next day it was a slow train over Mount Wank via Garmisch Partenkirchen to Munich, and an ICE on to Nurenburg where we booked into our favourite nautical themed hotel.
Dai had the trawler room with a winch system for his treasure chest bed.
Mike had the ship's chappel.
And I got the viking longboat complete with chainmail.
We headed off to the German National railway museum.
Dai got to drive a train.
We headed into the centre for some Nürnberger Rostbratwurst.
Someone got to wrestle a crocodile. I have no idea why Dai is making that odd pose.
We headed on to line up halves of every home brew on the Hausbrauerei beer menu.
Next day was an 0628 ICE towards Duisburg. The early start meant we were again spared two minute interval questioning off Dai.
MSV Duisburg 3 v Holsten Kiel 1, 3 Liga.
Duisburg were formed in 1902, originally as Meidericher Spielverein, the suburb they played in. After initial local success, they went into decline, before rising in the 1950s and being a founding team of the Bundesliga. Since then, they have swapped between the top two divisions, but this is the first time they have dropped to the third level.
Kiel is in the north of Germany, east of Hamburg. Holstein Kiel were founded in 1900 and were a dominant team in early German football. However, in recent times, they have mostly been in the Regionalliga, with the odd season in Bundesliga 2, and now the new Liga 3.
Duisburg lost and early goal but then quickly scored three to delight the 31,000 crowd.
A highlight was seeing the bloke on the right collapse through a wheely bin as he jumped up and down to twisted sister.
A delightful food selection, including fish rolls and kebab.
The game finished 3-1 and Duisburg were promoted.
We were now heading home, firstly into Holland and Maastricht.
A night in Liege and the last opportunity for Dai to confirm why he only drinks Strongbow.
The next morning and to the wonderful Liège-Guillemins station, for a bung unit to Brussels and a Eurostar back to Blighty.
