1. FC Koln - RheinEnergieStadion
1. FC Koln 0-3 Borussia Monchengladbach (25-11-11)
Attendance 50,000
Der Spitze der Liga und wir haben eine zum lachen! (apologies to German Friends if I have that wrong!)
No, they didn’t sing it, well not to my knowledge (!), but if ever there was an appropriate time to sing it this was it. Going top in November when most thought you would struggle is one thing, but the ease with which they won this away derby fixture ensured a big, big party.
PDM adopted BMG as their German Team at the beginning of last season, mainly due to it’s proximity to our Dutch HQ and the fact we love the ground and the incredible atmosphere generated there. Last April, it looked like the curse of PDM had struck again when, just prior to our visit for the derby with Koln, BMG sat rock bottom with their fans resigned to life in Bundesliga 2. They essentially needed snookers to even avoid automatic relegation. A stunning 5-1 win over their near neighbours was the first win in a run of 4 wins and a draw from their last 6 games (including one over the Champions elect Dortmund) which elevated them to a play off place. A victory over two legs against Bochum ensure top flight football for another season.
PDM adopted BMG as their German Team at the beginning of last season, mainly due to it’s proximity to our Dutch HQ and the fact we love the ground and the incredible atmosphere generated there. Last April, it looked like the curse of PDM had struck again when, just prior to our visit for the derby with Koln, BMG sat rock bottom with their fans resigned to life in Bundesliga 2. They essentially needed snookers to even avoid automatic relegation. A stunning 5-1 win over their near neighbours was the first win in a run of 4 wins and a draw from their last 6 games (including one over the Champions elect Dortmund) which elevated them to a play off place. A victory over two legs against Bochum ensure top flight football for another season.
And so to the away game against their fiercest foes and a first opportunity for us to experience a Bundesliga 1 match as an ‘away fan’.As you would expect, the atmosphere was electric. Segregation in the stand to our left was non-existent with huge numbers of away supporters occupying the upper tier in colours and chanting. It became apparent (after the first goal) that the top tier of the main stand also contained a significant number. It is also fair to say that the away seating area had far more people in it than seats available.
The noise from both sets of fans (well the home ones upto the 47th minute when the third goal signaled the incredible sight of home fans walking out in their hundreds) was stunning. The Koln anthem (that was preceded by the usual request for no fireworks) was greeted with black and green smoke bombs and green flash bombs from the away fans (see video). The ground itself is functional if not spectacular. Enclosed with steep stands, it holds the noise (and smoke!) well and, naturally, is well served by public transport. The four columns in the corner that hold the supporting cables for the roof are impressive lit up. Unusually (well based on experience so far) there is Dutch style plexi segregation between the home and away seats. Whilst this may appear strange given the lack of segregation elsewhere, it became clear that the seats to our right housed, shall we say, the more excitable home fans. |
So what of the away fan experience? There was no obvious attempt to keep the fans apart. Car parks, trams, bars were shared. The German Police strategy is to have very high numbers very visible in full riot gear. I don’t know exactly how many Police transit vans I saw in and around Koln but it was well into three figures, including a convoy of 20 or so on the motorway down from Dusseldorf! Entry to the stadium was slow due to security checks (I guess not everyone was searched as thoroughly as we were given the number of fireworks!) but this is Germany, no pushing and shoving, just orderly patient queues, even with 30 minutes to go till kick off. Facilities are identical to those afforded the home fans, and the toilets immaculate, no graffiti, and everything working. A real case of leave it as you would like to find it. Stewarding and Policing in the stadium was much lower key.
After the game it was interesting to note the clear Police strategy of thinning out the away fans, firstly through two exits and then by parking their vans close to each other to allow only a couple of people through at a time. Again, no pushing and shoving. Once out onto the large grass area that separated the stadium from the main road, trams and car parks, we could see a huge police presence with lots of blue flashing lights and white riot helmets visible through the darkness. |
Did it work? I can’t say for sure as I wasn’t in and around the city and train station afterwards. But from my experience, I didn’t see any trouble anywhere. A couple of home fans to our right got a bit excitable and were ejected but nothing else. The police were no doubt helped by the early exit of the home fans (only about half left at the end, and they only stayed to jeer their team) and the extra ordinary length of time the away players spent celebrating with the away fans. But I genuinely think that the German Fans
appreciate the ‘perks’ they are afforded when compared with other European countries (e.g. Netherlands) and they don’t want to lose them.
I paid over 100€ for each ticket, so was it worth it? You bet it was.........every last cent and I would have paid more!
appreciate the ‘perks’ they are afforded when compared with other European countries (e.g. Netherlands) and they don’t want to lose them.
I paid over 100€ for each ticket, so was it worth it? You bet it was.........every last cent and I would have paid more!