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.

VFL Bochum 3 v  0 FC Sankt Pauli:

Urgh I had a bad feeling about this one.  With the arrival of their new coach, suddenly Bochum is everyone’s favourite team and there is a buzz about the club.  I therefore didn’t fancy our chances as it was.  On a pleasant afternoon, we grabbed some beer and headed down to Bochum as a group, walking the short stretch from the train station to the ground.  The others wanted to carry on drinking, so popped into a Greek restaurant nearby.  I on the other hand was keen to secure a half decent place on the terrace.  I shouldn’t have bothered.  The lower half of the terrace was absolutely rammo and continued to fill up.  Normally that would be alright, but having done my knee in the other week, it was a bit of a nause.  By 1-0 down through a penalty, people were still filing in an out for beer, and once you’ve given way to the 30^th person with trays of beer spilling everywhere, whilst nursing a painful leg, you can’t be arsed with it anymore.  At that point we bumped into our friends from the restaurant once more, who promised us more space up at the top of the terrace.  Normally I’d decline as the atmosphere tends to wane up there.  As it was though, it was full of the time served old-timer ultras and assorted other familiar faces and trouble makers.  We missed the second goal, but after that, we had all the space we needed, a top view and could still join in the singing.

At half-time I thought we could still get a point despite being 2-0 down.  We’d been quite lively until that point.  In the second half though we were a letdown.  Kringe had the only chance of note.  He moves with all the agility of an oil tanker, but his control of the ball is class.  He seemed to take on about three Bochum defenders, weaving his way into the penalty area.  Sadly his shot was weak and easily stopped by the keeper.  Only moments later, Bochum made it three and it was game over.

After the match, we met up with a few friends of ours who support VFL and headed into town, going for a few beers in the excellent Postkutsche pub (a proper old school bar).  One or two Fieges were acquired for the train home and then it was out into the night, smoking like it was going out of fashion, with me ending up falling asleep in a bar.  We’ve served up some terrible football this year, relegation is still a very real threat, but my, there has been some decent trips along the way.

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.

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…

I read the following open letter in a FCSP fanzine at the weekend, and thought it was worth translating for English readers.  I hope that the translation is accurate, and welcome corrections.  For those that don’t know Upsolut Merchandising are responsible for the official merch at FC Sankt Pauli.  For the time being it would be worthwhile considering where you shop.  An original copy of the text in German can be found at the bottom of the page.

Dear directors, we, the part-time employees of the Fanshop at FC Sankt Pauli, are forced to contact you in this manner, as we are no longer prepared to quietly accept the deterioration of our working conditions.

As a merchandising company, you utilise the socially aware and alternative image of FC St. Pauli in order to sell a particular lifestyle, which you yourselves do not feel compelled to follow. We come to this conclusion, as there is no other way to explain why Upsolut is not wiling to make employment law decisions and take a socially responsible approach with its employees, that follows this aforementioned lifestyle.

We, the part-time employees of the Fanshop at the Millerntor stadium, have been trying for years to get you to listen to our concerns, but without success. The responsible managers have shown no attempt to clear up misundertandings, our suggestions for an improvement in our working situation have been ignored.

It continues to be the case, that people who have worked for your company a great length of time, are still employed without a written contract. Even though they have been working for years with an average of 80 hours a month, you still refuse to employee them through a contract. Why Upsolut Merchandising is not prepared to agree in writing a set workload for their part-time employees became clearer since the beginning of this new year; there is a clear desire to avoid entering into legal bindings with us. We provide the flexible masses, that can just be used on a whim.

The improvement in sales was built through us – on the backs of so-called „helpers“, who were always willing to get stuck in whenever they were needed, but in return could never count on any form of job security.

Since the beginning of the year the situation for part-time employees, particularly in the stores on the Reeperbahn and at the Millerntor Stadium, has got worse. The opening times have been shortened, and the shifts so dramatically reduced, that we often only get an average of 40-50 hours. Some get even less. Advanced warning of this is not provided, and we receive an „altered“ monthly workplan only on the day it comes into validity. As a result, planning for the month, is impossible.

Our suggestion, to tackle the annual problem of a drop in income at the beginning of the year through a flextime work record, has not been given any kind of response.

Other recent examples also show a lack of appreciation for our hard work or consistent HR policies. At the beginning of 2011, five of our colleagues were let go. The reasoning behind this was the relegation of the club into the second division. The laying off of these staff on these grounds is unacceptable though, when the opening of the new store on the Reeperbahn was due only a short time afterwards. That additional staff would be needed, was entirely clear, considering that the preparations for the new store were so advanced. The laying off of the staff in question is all the more dubious, considering that they were involved in preparations to set up a workers council at Upsolut Merchandising.

In the following months, many part-time employees applied for full-time positions offered internally within the Fanshop at the Millerntor – with sobering results. Not one single part-time employee was successful in increasing their hours, or in being made full-time, despite verbal agreements to the contrary. After the process of signing the contract, became drawn out over several weeks, it was then dismissed as a „misunderstanding“. We, the part-time employees, are not prepared to be treated as second class, and demand that you, the directors, follow the principle of equality and ensure that our working conditions are improved.

This should include written contracts that accurately depict our working conditions. This should also include sick pay and the legal requirement for holiday.

If modifications to work hours need to be made to match revenue, then these variations should be regulated through a suitable workhours model/system. The introduction of a flexitime system would allow workers to build up their hours in months where revenues are high, and then reduce them in weaker months.

The introduction of extra pay on Sundays and bank holidays, would also encourage a greater level of participation by staff on Sunday & night openings. This condition, which has been needed for some time, should of course not just be for part-time workers, but all employees in general. This would ensure work is rewarded properly within the Fanshop on the Reeperbahn, where the shop is generally open on Sundays and bank holidays.

You, the directors, should not underestimate our contribution to the success of the business, and therefore, should take care in maintaining a satisfied and motivated workforce. We cannot continue to endure current situation for the longterm.

Yours, the part-time employees of the Fanshop at the Millerntor.

http://stpaulisolidarisch.blogsport.de/2013/03/09/erster-eintrag/

FC Sankt Pauli 3 – 2 SSV Jahn Regensburg:

Giddy giddy giddy.  Friday night, the whole weekend to go, football and hope of 3 points.  Not to mention getting my new EM:SP shopper!  I was up fairly early and so there was still some daylight, with many people still at work.  As a result I was quite shocked to notice how many of the river front offices are now empty.  Is the economy on the slide, or is this just a result of the city having built too many offices and not enough housing?  It would appear they need to give their heads a wobble…

I headed to the fanladen, stocked up on fanzines, had a few beers and then headed into the ground.  This was the first time I’ve seen the new Gegengerade fully open.  What a difference it makes!  Throughout the match, the whole stand would get going and great waves of noise would come tumbling down the terrace.  Songs would start in the Gegengerade and then get taken on by the Sudkurve, or vice versa.  A few friends said that it was noisier on other recent nights, but it still seemed good to me.  It’s so nice to have a loud ground once more, rather than just being a few hundred ultras and periphery singing, against a tide of silence from elsewhere.  Less positive was the Haupttribune, seemingly only half full, the whole match through.  As with the offices on the banks of the Elbe, it would appear that the club are trying to flog seats for too much money, to a market (wealthier football fans) that isn’t there (in Division 2 at least).  Reality bites.

The match was extremely scrappy and we didn’t exactly shine.  In fact, despite leading several times, Regensburg looked the better side.  Their attacking line is particularly lively and I was quite surprised, on the evidence of this performance, that they are now pretty much destined to be relegated.  With a minute to go, and us down to 10 men, Regensburg equalised.  Only minutes later, we went up the other end and scored the winner.  Two last minute winners, two matches in a row – an unlikely occurrence at FCSP!  I’ve not been dragged down the steps with such a goon in a long time!

People stayed and sung after the match.  In fact as I left, there were still plenty on the terrace.  In a packed U-Bahn fans pogoed, and everyone was still singing.  A whole train carriage, belting out a version of “Reeperbahn nachts um halb eins”, as we passed the harbour with its lights on, provided a nice conclusion to the evening.

VFR Aalen 0 v 1 FC Sankt Pauli:

Finally football once more!  Somewhere in the midst of a gap in matches, I rediscovered my desire for the game.  The anticipation of a journey with friends, bottles of Club Mate and bouncing around some terrace.  Sunday came around and provided a relatively painless start.  The Osnabrücker Section of the SPM remained true to form, overslept and so arrived, unwashed, an hour late.  This afforded me an extra hour in bed.

The journey down to Aalen proved extremely easy.  Empty motorways, clear skies and no speed limits.  With a tremendous trash-mixtape on offer, it looked roughly like this.

Aalens Ultras appear to have won themselves a rather unsavoury reputation as a bunch of rightwing divs.  Nevertheless there was little to be seen of them in the village (Reichstadt/”town” of the Reich my fucking arse, the place is tiny).  There were few fans on foot and surprisingly the only stickers on show were from Borussia Dortmund’s visit some while ago.

We headed into the ground, onto the really nice away end.  An expansive, open, terrace behind the goal, with plenty of space to roam around down the front.  I also got my new, very smart, knitted scarf from Oi’s girlfriend.  With that on, and the sun shining, there was no need for a coat.  Spring is here!  The Hamburger Wolke were also back in attendance, with various exams now finished.  So with everyone in place the match could begin.  FCSP are obviously “top rivals” for this sponsor backed side from Southern Germany, and so we were honoured with a choreo from the home side.  Mosaic cards all around the ground, with flags and streamers in their home end.  It was a half decent start, but their supported waned (at one stage whilst we were doing the weird drum/clap thing that occurs occasionally, you noticed the stony silence around the rest of the ground).  Our own support also needed encouragement after a very mediocre start.  The lad with the megaphone was provoked by the lack of engagement into ranting at a lot of the fans in attendance (singling out those not from the Hamburg area).  I feel uncomfortable about judging where fans come from to support the side (it’s not like I live locally myself), but we do seem to have a problem with large numbers in the south, but indifference from many in attendance.  It would be good, if people got more involved and the issue of where everyone is from became an irrelevance once more.  After this brief interlude, the away end delivered one of our loudest supports witnessed in a while.

On the pitch, the match wasn’t up to much.  We edged the first half in my opinion but as per usual chances were few and far between.  As the second half continued, my confidence in at least getting a point started to lessen.  Aalen went close numerous times, only held at bay by the ever excellent Tschauner (has there been a player this season so consistently brilliant? He deserves more appreciation).  We barely ventured up the pitch, with only the lively but slightly erratic Gyau, creating chances.  Then with mere moments to go, Ginczek went on a mazy solo run, he appeared to dodge various challenges before being tackled/fouled.  A few seconds passed and then the ref pointed to the spot.  Ginczek dusted himself off to tuck the penalty away, cuing pandemonium in our end.  A few more nervous minutes and we had held on to win.  What a lovely feeling.  3 points closer to safety, just hugging everyone in reaching distance, serotonin in the sunshine.  The Aalen fans took the result badly, which only made things sweeter.  In fact this led to one of the finest moments of the excursion.  As we drove out of Aalen, the trash CD was back on and we might have been singing at the top of our voices along to Aerosmith – Don’t want to miss a thing.  With the windows down.  In front of us at the traffic lights a car full of Aalen fans was waiting, with the person in the passenger seat seemingly conversing with someone on the pavement.  We assumed he must’ve known them, but as the light went green, he went to spring out of the car to attack the (now apparent) Sankt Pauli fan on the pavement.  We tooted and swore, so that his mate was forced to drive off.  We could see through their rear windshield that the one lad was still fuming, as he banged the side of the car with his fist.  This set to a soundtrack of awful softrock was wonderfully surreal and we were in tears of laughter following them up the road.  Eventually the car’s passengers noticed our amusement and we received a middle finger and then, with the door open at 70kmh, a rather abortive attempt at a Hitler salute.  We giggled some more, blew kisses, waved and went on our way.

Apart from bumping into arch-enemies “Wilde Wessischweine” ;-) in Burgerking somewhere south of Frankfurt, the rest of the journey was fairly uneventful.  Quite how my fellow, much cherished, travellers can claim to be punks though, when they know ALL the words to EVERY Pur song ever written, remains unanswered.

My fan group at FCSP, Sankt Pauli Mafia, has itself a new blog with fancy photos of things in close up or at odd angles.  This week there is also a nice video.  Very fine DIY stickers with an Egotronic soundtrack?  What more do you want!  Go click!

http://mafiaultras.tumblr.com/post/43323489893

The postman has been:

given on a freemans to everyone at the Millerntor for the match against Cottbus.  The drawing on the front of the Basch is fucking brilliant.

With Babelsberg’s match having been called off this weekend, and me stuck at home with a cold, at least I won’t get bored now…