Stadion an der Alter Försterei (1.FC Union Berlin)

Friday 4th December 2009

2. Bundesliga

1.FC Union Berlin 1
Mattuschka 25

Energie Cottbus 1
Kweuke 62

Stadion an der Alten Försterei, Berlin. Attendance: 18,212

——————–

1.FC Union Berlin were formed in 1906 in Berlin and became famous (and East Berlin’s most popular side) during the time of the GDR. Despite their popularity, the team was not largely succesful. It could be said that this was because the team was not supported by any govenmental department like, for instance, their bitter rivals Berliner Dynamo, who were sponsored by the Stasi. Due to this, their stadium, the Alte Försterei, was often the place where disguised anti-establishment chants were sung, a very dangerous thing to do in the time of the GDR. This already gives the history of the club an interesting angle, and indeed they are seen in Germany as one of the ‘Kult’ clubs similar to St Pauli from Hamburg.

To be honest, I have been ‘looking’ for a team to really get behind and support ever since I came to Germany. I really hate to say that, as I believe that people should either support the team of their family/parents or the local side. For me, that’s quite impossible here in Germany – a) my family are all in England, b) my girlfriend/her family don’t follow football and c) the clubs and most of the fans in Leipzig are horrible and racists (see below). To be honest, I think I may have found one – before I even stepped into the Alte Försterei I could tell that the atmosphere was different. It is hard to explain, but everything felt more relaxed and friendly – even for this ‘Ostderby’ between two teams who don’t really like each other. An example: on the S-Bahn from central Berlin to the stadium, there were Cottbus fans milling around without much of a hint of trouble. There was also a group of Danish lads who had set off at 6am that morning from Copenhagen to be at the game. I’m not saying that the fans are angels, because that’s far from the case, but they just seemed to be a lot nicer.

Now, to the day itself. I was delighted to hear that Fergal had won tickets for the sold-out game on ebay, and it only remained for me to get the day off work (at very short notice). Fortunately, it was granted so we found ourselves on the train from Leipzig to Berlin with plenty of beer on Friday at 11am. I should explain about the trains really. German intercity trains are expensive, but there are railcards to reduce the fairs to make them reasonable. The German national rail system also offers cheap group travel on what are called Regional Trains. You can search for travel from anywhere to anywhere in German just using regional trains, which go via random towns. This excites me a little, I don’t know why. I must admit there is a little, tiny, miniscule bit of trainspotter in me. So, we went from Leipzig to Lutherstadt Wittemberg to Berlin on the way there, and Berlin Südkreuz to Lutherstadt Wittemberg to Bitterfeld to Leipzig on the way back. This cost me and Fergal and very reasonable €39 using the Quer-durchs-Land ticket (an offer which is unfortunately ending at the end of January – it allows travel anywhere in Germany for one day using only RE trains).

We arrived in Berlin at just after two and I was kind of feeling the beer. We walked outside the station at Alexanderplatz and the freezing cold soon woke us up. It was a noticeable 3/4/5 degrees colder than in Leipzig. We then met Ciara (and a random Kazakh) so that Fergal could drop his bag off with her, and after a beer, we headed to the ground. Once we got to the Köpernick S-Bahn station, there were Union fans everywhere, including aforementioned Dänische Faktion. The man who was selling us the tickets seemed incredulous that two lads from the UK and Ireland living in Leipzig wanted to come to Berlin to support Union. I probably would be the same if two Bulgarians from Leeds wanted to buy tickets to a Vale game off me. So, tickets in hand, we then made the walk with the rest of the fans to the stadium. From quite a way away we could see the floodlights, aided by the fact it was now dark. The walk took us through a very nice looking sports complex where youngsters were finishing up with their training, presumably to go to the game. There weren’t many people heading into the stadium, and it was still 45 minutes till the scheduled KO time of 6pm, so we stopped outside for a beer and soaked up the atmosphere. It was probably a mistake to not go straight in because when we did decide to get through the turnstiles, there were thousands of others trying to do the same. After a brief crush though, we were in.

Ultras from Union Berlin right behind us

Immediately we realised we were in the Union Ultras end, the standing block behind one of the goals, and this caused great excitement. We ended up to quite near the front which didn’t provide us with an amazing view, but meant that we were right in front of the Ultras. The chants started going and they were certainly catchy – Fergal and I found ourselves singing along pretty easily. The Ultras were brilliant and did not stop for the entire game. In the second half, something curious happened though. Someone let off a firework in the Union end and then everyone turned round and seemed to try to identify whoever did it. I certainly got the impression that the rest of the Ultras didn’t want any fireworks being let off. Strange really, because usually Ultras in Germany love their fireworks. In terms of the game itself, I thought it was pretty even and both teams had their own good spells. The Union goal looked amazing from where I was stood, although I’m yet to check out a TV replay. A free kick curled into the right hand corner of the net, giving the Cottbus keeper no chance. Personally, I think Union should have pressed home their advantage at the end of the first half and score another, but they didn’t and they paid the price. In the second half, Cottbus came out looking much more purposeful and duly scored an equaliser (which I missed because I was having a piss). Fergal told me it was a bit of a scramble, maybe a deflection, but it had definitely been coming. Both teams had chances to win it, but in the end each settled with a point. Union will have been pleased to have been able to stop their recent run of defeats but frustrated at not having beaten mid-table Cottbus. They will need a good result at Bielefeld next weekend (a match I will be attending) to keep in touch. All-in-all, a great first experience at the Alte Försterei and I’ll definitely be back.

Our view from right behind the goal

Highlights from the first half (and the fantastic free kick from Mattuschka

Advertisement