Bus Shelter Band (Part) - International Tour 2006

Bus Shelter regulars may have noticed a moderately large space in the Shelter at our recent home game against Brook House. This void had been left by City regulars Richard and myself as we treated ourselves to a weekend of watching footy in Hamburg, Germany. Most people will associate the city with SV Hamburg, the side that boasted the brilliantly permed skills of Kevin Keegan in the late 1970s. However, there is another team that plays in that city, a more remarkable and unique side, one that more and more people are becoming aware of. That side goes by the name of FC St Pauli.

Rich has been a follower, from a distance, of FC St Pauli for some years now. Since the 1980s the Club has attracted a growing number of “interesting” fans drawn not only from the local neighbourhoods but from other parts of Germany and beyond. The principal causes of such devotion, as I see it, are twofold. Firstly the Club offer a viable alternative to the corporate and money sodden brand(ing) of football that has crept into the game in Germany as much as it has here. Secondly, St Pauli are anactivelyanti-racist club. Far from being content to simply to sign a pledge the Club are involved in working with the local German and Turkish communities, and have adopted a zero tolerance approach to racist behaviour on the terraces or around the ground. This is to be applauded at a time when such incidents are far more common in Germany than in England.

On the weekend that we travelledSt Pauli’s game had been transferred to the Friday night. We collected our tickets from the Fanladen – a shop-cum-bar-cum-hangout for supporters where we were greeted with a smile and a free beer. After refuelling in a local Turkish takeaway we joined the crowds moving slowly towards the ground for the 7.30 kick off.

Upon entering St Pauli’s Millerntor Stadion you spy clues that this club is a little different to others. One of the floodlight pylons has a bright orange knot tied half way up its length, and the famous St Pauli skull and crossbones (more panto than pirate) makes an appearance on all of the corner flags. When the teams ran out, to the ominous tolling of a death knell, the entire crowd of 18,000 souls exploded into a rapture of flares, flags and streamers. At which point we unfurled our “Bus Shelter Band” flag for a photo. This produced only passing interest from our German hosts, but “vos is das ‘Boos Schelter’?” could be heard being mumbled over the throng.

The game itself was of a standard below what I had expected for a German third tier match (St Pauli play in the regionalised Third Division North). The visitors, Rottweiss Erfurt, went ahead in the 15th minute courtesy of a Bjorn Brunnemann strike before St Pauli gained a deserved equaliser on 39 minutes through Marvin Braun. The second half was notable for the number of times that the ball hit the woodwork, but the score remained the same at the final whistle.

The end of the match was greeted with jeers and whistles from the St Pauli fans, who were calling for the head of the manager Andreas Bergmann. (Or at least that’s what I thought they were doing - they declined to chant in English). Their wishes were granted as Bergmann was shown the dressing room door the following Monday.

A late night drink with some English St Pauli fans that Richard had met through the St Pauli website was almost disrupted by an unnecessary show of strength by the fully armoured Hamburg Riot Police, but sanctuary was found in a backstreet bar bedecked with football scarves from around the world. Much beer was drunk as Friday night dissolved into Saturday morning.

Saturday began with a trawl through a second hand record shop (vinyl!) and a trip to the excellent St Pauli club shop. The rest of the day was spent meeting and drinking with strangers. Pete and Nick from Cambridgeshire obliged us with photos around the now empty stadium and football chat over a few bottles of Astra beer, an unknown German on his stag night plied us with Becks, and a group of goth-metallers from Rostock took us to their favourite night spot. Hamburg must be favourite for the “friendliest city in the world” award.

Predictably, Sunday started late. Very late.  In fact we only just made it in time for the St Pauli reserves 2 o’clockkick off against local team VFL Hamburg 93. The weather deteriorated during the game and we had to take shelter under the communal umbrellas erected outside the sausage and beer stall, which appears to be obligatory at football grounds across the world. The St Pauli team took a first half lead before being pegged back shortly before half time. The St Pauli winner came in the final 10 minutes and the majority of the 200 odd fans left wet but happy.

It took a week for my body to get over this trip, but it was well worth it and Richard and myself are already talking about returning next season. The set up at the club is good, the fans are excellent, and the city of Hamburg puts even Winchester to shame. FC St Pauli is a rare thing, a club that wants to be big, but not at the expense of losing it’s soul.

I hope that they succeed.

Another signing

City have signed midfielder Niel Champion from Havant & Waterlooville he has also played for Aldershot, Fareham Town and Havant Town.

New player at City

City have signed Melvin Rodgers from Cristchurch fc.

Dolan is back                         3rd oct  

Franny Dolan has resigned for City after a short stay with Gosport Borough.

Richard Mealy has left the club and rejoined his old club Alton Town

Two players sign                     22nd sept

Mark Gamble has signed for City from the Southampton academy, and Sam Cockerill Has signed on-lone from Woking

FA CUP 1st qual round            16th sept

Out of the eleven Bgb southern SW teams only four have so far made it to the next round (Bashley, L/NM, Didcot, Oxford) Taunton v Swindon S and Cray W v Winchester have replays

Ally the Ultra's Birthday Groundhop

As a birthday treat for Ally. Den, Geoff and myself decided to take him on a bit of a groundhop on our way to Newport IOW on the August bank holiday.

As we were sailing from Skatesville (oops, sorry Geoff & Dave, Portsmouth) our first stop was a look around Moneyfields FC home, a brief chat with the groundsman (who had some nice words to say about Gosport Borough/Fareham Town) and a couple of photos we moved on to, well lets say, if St. Marys is Allys football heavan, we went to Hell!

True to form Ally paid homage to Arry's home.

Look away now if you're easily shocked!

A few amazed looking faces at our next stop, the ferry terminal,. where the four of us piled out of Dens Mini, I'm sure someone asked if it was like the Tardis inside!

After a pleasant crossing (well its always great to leave Portsmouth!) and avoiding loads of hair dryers (bank holiday scooter rally) we headed for East Cowes Vics. Memories of my last visit there came flooding  back, when with US Spitefire/EFCFAN we went to see City in our Hants Prem league days we through away a 2 goal lead to lose 3-2 and finish 3rd behind Alton Town and ECV. Anyway, after the photos we headed to Newport for a beer and food stop.

Finally, to the game at Newport and meeting up with a few more 'Citizens' of the Black & Red Brigade.

The game it's self, well that's to horrible to write about! 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALLY