New Sticker…

FC Sankt Pauli 3 v 1 TSV 1860 München

Finally 3 points once more, and just a hint of safety.  After the frustrating collapse last weekend in Dresden, things had become a little tight at the bottom of the table.  I thought we might stand a chance of getting something to ensure safety against Bochum, but not against, relatively high flying, privately-owned 1860.

For this match I was joined by various friends from FCUM and Section 6 (Ipswich Town).  The crowd in general had a more international feel on the day as it was, with lots of Celtic & Livorno fans also present.  Sadly, atmosphere wise, it never took off until our 3^rd goal.  On the pitch though, despite our slightly agricultural style, we always looked the better side.  We took a two goal lead, and even though Sechzig pulled one back, we got a third before their celebratory blue smoke bomb had finished.

With it being a rare weekend kick-off, I could even take part in the Diffidati march after the match, before we went for something to eat and a few more drinks in town.

My own personal hope that Aalen go down instead of the likes of Aue, Dynamo or Bochum, is still possible.  That they are on the same points as us though, shows that we need a win or two against Bochum & Duisburg, to ensure we don’t get dragged back in ourselves.

SC Westfalia Herne 2 v 2 TUS Dornberg:

Attending this match was pure coincidence.  I’d wanted to ride the Football-themed cycle route through NRW (well the Ruhrpott part) but was slightly disappointed to find out that only the big sides are really featured.  Wattenscheid make it in, but there is no place for Wanne-Eickel or former West German champions Herne.  As a result I made my own route up, taking in various lovely old pit villages, with their mineheads, funny little kiosks, bungalows and allotments.

I’ve had a soft spot for Westfalia Herne, since I chanced upon their ground whilst out on a walk.  It’s colossal (I think it officially has room for over 30 thousand fans), has no roof or floodlights, but real charm.  It also backs on to a castle.  Not a bad setting.

The match itself was fairly messy but entertaining all the same.  The club shop had sold out of scarves (seemingly several months ago), the chips were freshly cooked and at half time a man backed his ice cream van up the ramp to the terrace.  Best of all, a smattering of old men, huddled together, moaning on about how they would’ve passed better in their day. Thats lower league football at its best!

Done!  The new Cantona flag.  Showing the correct way to deal with racists.  And that all despite me only knowing a few words in French.  ”Ou est la Gare” or “Tu roules avec OCB” wouldn’t have fitted you see…

I am injured, I was bored.

Usually one of the highlights of the season was left sour this time around.  A nice away block, a little bit of needle, abuse from home and away supporters across the segregation (we’ll try to forget the dickhead doing the Hitler salutes), a loud atmosphere.

Yet this time around, you realised that the little tanks, water cannons, police on every corner, and black mariahs everywhere, is really just a few toys out on show.  It would be easier to police if they just provided away supporters parking, rather than the ludicrous shuttle bus system.  And fucking Trojan, who used to be the one hint of creativity in some of our mediocre years, now running the show for Dresden.  Yet we still managed to take a two goal lead.  3 points and we could’ve put the fear of relegation to bed.  Yet with about 30 minutes still to play, there was always time to ruin things.  Even those who’ve not been following Sankt Pauli for very long, can still probably thing of at least one occasion when we’ve thrown a game away with about 10 minutes to spare.  So what crossed peoples minds to start taunting the Dynamo fans with “Absteiger” (you’re gonna get relegated) with so much time left to play is beyond me.  It was almost certainly going to backfire.

Trojan turned the game.  A superb overhead kick.  After that, we started to wobble and there was only going to be one winner.  Whereas up till then, the atmosphere had been superb from our end, people started to wander off.  Distractions towards the back of the stand, seemed to many, more important than spurring the team on.  Such a shame.

We now find ourselves firmly in a relegation battle.  Less pissing about in sunglasses (on the greyest of days), and every man, woman and child yelling, chanting and singing the team to safety is whats now needed.

A special mention for the ref, who was tremendous, ignoring every dive by either side to keep the match flowing.  Also to the girls and boys from RSC who made the trip much more fun.

Hamburg in the sun, cabaret on a ship, alternative housing projects, HOOL-I-GANS!  HOOL-I-GANS! Sparklers in the face of the wankers who run our game and a last minute equaliser from our keeper.  Who knew a fixture against Paderborn could be so exciting…

A few fairly recent DIY flags.  I stole the pic off FB and can’t find the original source.  If it was you, let me know and I will update with a link.

HATS!

Well in advance of the summer tour, the required sun protection has arrived.  The new Rotterdam 91-esque bucket hats are finished.  22 ordered, the remainder of which will no doubt be on sale via the RRF once they’ve all grabbed one themselves.  Anyone can get their own fan stuff made up these days.  Google it, and you’ll find plenty of producers of scarves, hats etc.   So grab a bucket hat whilst you can and then get thinking about what other merch, we as fans could produce at FC.

The photos also offered me the chance to show off my new toy.  A late 60s/early 70s version of the German football game “Tipp-Kick”.  Metal figures, in United colours.  Lovely.