FCUM A.D.

Here comes the summer…

Preußen Münster 4 v 1 SV Babelsberg 03:

I’ve tried to go and watch Babelsberg again this season for quite some time.  Several trips were planned in over the winter, but all of them fell through due, mostly, to the weather.  Finally though I made it on Saturday.  The match was away to Preußen Münster, which conveniently for me, is only about half an hour away by train from where I live.

With Sankt Pauli not playing on the day, it also meant there were plenty of FCSP fans who had made the trip too.  The two clubs have a fan friendship, followed most strongly between the groups “Ultra Sankt Pauli” and “Filmstadt Inferno”.  A very healthy number from my own group, were also present.

The match was particularly important for both clubs, with Babelsberg facing relegation if they did not draw or win (even then relying on other results), and Münster looking to squeeze into the promotion play-off.  That ensured a fairly full house, in the old, mostly entirely roofless stadium.  Only one terrace, currently seemingly condemned, remained empty.

The players ran out to an impressive backdrop.  The left-leaning Münster ultragroup “Deviants” let off a lot of colourful smokes, combined with flags and banners.  In our end, flags were combined with confetti.

Babelsberg looked, briefly, like they might achieve the impossible, taking the lead with a chested goal.  Unfortunately, Münster soon struck back and in the end made it 4-1, ensuring Nulldrei’s relegation.  As the other group at Preußen (former members of Curva Monasteria, and more open to the right) sang the rather unoriginal “Scheiß Sankt Pauli!” several times, it was quite funny, when despite the result, Münster didn’t make the playoff.  Babelsberg nice array of songs, often to cheese hits like Gigi D’Agostino in contrast was brilliant.

Despite the result, the atmosphere remained good in the away sector.  Crowdsurfing, a mini-wall of death and plenty of beer.  Only a minority of fans, situated away from the main group, tried to start a fight, by attempting to kick a gate in, throwing pints in the direction of the stewards and verbally abusing their own players.  I don’t want some happy clappy football crowd, but it all came over a little pathetic.

When the stewards finally got everyone to leave, we all packed into the bus back to the station.  With pints in our hands, we waved to passersby and belted out a few old socialist anthems.  It would appear life will go on for the Babelsberg fans, who are used to the team having their ups and downs.  And I’m sure we, as FCUM fans, will have a very good time in Potsdam in under 2 weeks time!

Manchester red, red, red! EDL dead, dead, dead!

found via https://www.facebook.com/fclounge.co.uk

Play-off Final: Hednesford Town FC 2 v 1 FC United of Manchester:

And so to the match itself.  We met up at Piccadilly and caught the slow train down to Rugeley.  Dave had done a little research in advance, and had found out that most trains would be carrying Wigan and city fans down to the cup final at Wembley, and therefore alcohol would be banned.  Sure enough, the majority of trains had police on the platforms, checking what people were bringing with them.  Fortunately we had found another route though, and so could have a breakfast beer as normal.  As we passed Stockport, we paused to make tired, clichéd jokes about the number of city fans on the platform, whilst then looking in the direction of Edgeley Park.  If all went well, we could be travelling there next season.

Arriving on the edge of Rugeley, we went for a few drinks in the rather unfortunately named “The Yorkshireman” pub, before getting taxis to the ground.  The ground was buzzing.  You could hear that the place was pretty full, and there was a long queue in.  Some fans were even climbing in over the roof of the stand.  It was like the old giddy days of our first season!  Once inside, we realised the main stand where the FC fans were, was already closed for being too full.  There still seemed to be a bit of space to stand down at the front though, so like many, we climbed over the advertising hoardings and ran across the corner of the pitch to get in.  Hednesford also had plenty of extra fans in tow, although oddly their smokebombs were still in United red.  With the place rocking, the match kicked off.  Almost immediately, Hednesford scored.  Typical.  Oddly though Si had mentioned, that he’d dreamt that we would go 2-0 down before coming back to win.  Even though I’m not particularly superstitious, this sort of comforted me.  Even as Hednesford with their pacier, stronger players, bossed the first half and deservedly took a 2-0 league, I still thought we might get back into things.  In the second half, Hednesford didn’t have to look for goals anymore, and as a result we started to get more possession.  Norton pulled one back, and the crowd got back up again.  The roar off that goal was incredible.  Unfortunately though we never looked like finding a second, with the exception of a very strong penalty shout that was ignored.  As Hednesford fans (or more likely one or two who were going to be fans for just the one day) started to collect on the edge of the pitch, nothing would’ve been sweeter than a last minute equaliser.  It was not to be.  The final whistle went, the Hednesford fans celebrated a deserved win, and for us it was another year of falling at the last hurdle.  Some of their fans seemed to want to have a go at us, rather than celebrate promotion.  The police didn’t seem very bothered, so we decided we would go on the pitch too and thank our players.  As nice a feeling as promotion is, going up all the time isn’t necessarily what we all want as fans.  Another year in the same league is bearable.  Being a football fan isn’t just about success.  FC fans let off flares, chanted the players’ names or just milled about chatting to friends.

We stopped off for a couple more pints in Rugeley, but there was no party mood.  city losing to Wigan was quite funny, but it wasn’t going to save the day.  We got some gin and caught the train home, passing Stockport on the way back.  Edgeley Park will have to wait.  The buzz however continues…

Listening in on the radio, as FC overcame Witton in style, I opened every travelbooking online portal going.  Whether by coach, train or plane, I had to be at the final.  Having walked away from Old Trafford in 2005, there aren’t European Cup finals etc to attend anymore.  A play-off final is the substitute.  Realising I would have to miss Sankt Pauli’s match against Braunschweig, I found some half-acceptable flights.  Plenty of changes, but at a price I could afford.  By Thursday afternoon, I was mooching around a drizzly Manchester.

The extra time, not only allowed for a few pubs, but also a trip to the new National Football Museum.  For a freemans, it’s alright.  Just alright though.  For starters, I don’t really like football much.  Thats always going to be a problem.  I don’t need to see replays of former Liverpool triumphs, or Thierry Henry’s bad clothes.  I think they should’ve opened a FCUM fan’s collection of stuff from teams that are alright, and old footage of terraces, and scarves Museum or something.  Still, FC do feature quite a bit (and the North-West in general), including in the excellent film featuring football across the levels.  That was the best part actually.  Not just because we were in it, but due to that kind of charming bit of Britain (the location more than the concept of nation).  However downtrodden things get, however much the Tories fuck everything over, however shit the weather is, somehow life goes on, people muddle through.  Milky tea from a chipped cup sort of muddling through.  Ahhhh. 

Generally the museum seemed to be suggesting that everything in the modern era of the game, with its all-seater stadiums, is better.  I don’t really agree with that.  I just buzzed off the shitty, run down ones.  Well that and Spuddy skying penalties and paying a fiver for the privilege ;-)

Spotted in town…

It’s a bit odd for me, usually on the wrong side of the sea for FC, leaving Manchester and saying to my mates “See you in about two weeks”.  But it really is “about two weeks” till the next match this time!  We’re off to the Karli!

(poster designed by Filmstadt Inferno 99)

Flag!

I really enjoy the process of making your own flag.  The hours spent knelt over a bit of material, painting away, old brushes and bits of masking tape littering the floor.  And then the moment comes when it’s ready, and is taken into a football ground for the first time.  Then all the effort was worth it.

As a result I was delighted to get sent these pictures from the back of a terrace in South Manchester.  Fellow FC fans who feel the same way.  Last night the flag got its debut.  Winning a place in the playoff final means it wasn’t a bad one!

Here is the flag in action.

FC Sankt Pauli 2 v 3 Hertha BSC:

A defeat so bitter, I can hardly bring myself to write anything about it.  Out with friends the night before, enjoying the sunshine on the riverbank afterwards, a point would’ve made the weekend perfect.  With 5 minutes to go in the match it almost looked possible.  We led 2-1 having shown a bit of fight in the second half.  I never believed we could get three points, but a draw would’ve been nice.

Throughout the match, we combined our relative lack of skill or willingness to bully opposing players physically in order to win the midfield, with a new aspect – loose passing!  Even simple passes across the midfield were playing metres wide of teammates.  It made things a lot easier for Hertha, who had already achieved promotion.  Their first goal was also gifted, as an attempt to shepherd the ball out of play for a goalkick backfired in a style similar to when Gary Neville dicked around during the last derby at Maine Road.  I would’ve given Hertha the points on principle at that point.  Yet at the same time the Berlin side’s players got on my nerves too.  Every challenge was a chance to lie on the ground, feigning injury.  I’ve not seen so much playacting since we played in the top flight.  It was as though they were getting their practice in early.

With a bit of effort, we got back into the game and took the lead through a penalty.  But our sieve-like defence couldn’t hold out.  With an only half-fit Boll and no Kringe, there was no one around to really hammer an opposing player and break up play, or smash the ball out of play for a bit of a breather.  We let them attack without pressure and they duly took all three points.  Three games left and we are in freefall.  The end of the season can’t come soon enough.