Lokomotiv Plovdiv 2-0 Botev Plovdiv
Lokomotiv Stadion
20/11/16
Att: 4,600
As I've become more adventurous the past 18 months, I've been pointed towards more and more of the lesser known European derby games and the list has grown longer and longer. At a similar rate, the games have been done at an increasingly quicker rate, with my late discovery of budget airlines. It's not that I've turned my back on groundhopping in England (I have to an extent, I admit), but it's much, much more enjoyable to take the money I've saved and try different places, rather than do the last 15 grounds I need to complete the 92. I mean, I'd much rather spend £25 getting to Bulgaria, than I would Doncaster or Preston.
Last September I'd not set foot in the political entities people associate with the Balkans (FYR, Albania, Romania and Bulgaria), and now I've visited all of them for football, with the exception of Slovenia which is a trip I'd rather not discuss - Oh Slovenia, you have a lot to answer for. The last in the set was Bulgaria, a country I've been putting off for sometime, namely as I'd been wanting to do the better known game between the two Sofia teams in the form of CSKA - Levski. Something I now feel a little silly in doing, as sometimes it's the smaller games that are more rewarding - as this trip to Plovdiv, Bulgaria's second city would pan out to show.
The weekend was based in Sofia, with the usual mix of sightseeing, drinking excessive amounts of Rakija and climbing a mountain. Around these I'd planned two games of football. Saturday was spent at Slavia Sofia - CSKA (link), with this being the main event. After a heavy Saturday night and about 3 hours sleep I met Frank and Pascal at their hotel, two De Graafschap fans who'd been kind enough to give me a lift through the European Football Weekends facebook page - I can't recommend enough if you need inspiration for trips - thus saving me the arduous task of getting to Plovdiv by bus. A smooth two hour journey skipping the potholes on the motorway later we were parked down a backstreet facing the ground. It was obvious a game was on, but I was somewhat surprised at the lack of - no - police presence. Surprising as the day before there were riot police everywhere for a game with 1/3 the amount of spectators.
Across the road we went, and 6eu exchanged later we had tickets for the main stand. Slowly the atmosphere built around us, with a small corteo marching past. We took our unreserved seats, which amusingly we had to climb over the tunnel to get to. To our right on the uncovered old terrace, stood the Bultras of Botev. To our left, on the temporary terrace built specifically for this game, stood the Napoletani Ultras of Lokomotiv. The two sets of fans exchanging abuse right up until kick off, when the first tifo's of the game were displayed. Botev first up with a surfer accompanied by a banner stating 'Botevism is a fate - enshrined in our DNA'. It looked smart, but the second surfer was uncovered upside down, to the infuriation of the capo's at the front of the stand. Next up were Lokomotiv, who opted for a simpler display of stick flags, and the message 'The Colours for which it is worth fighting', as the game got underway.
The first half was a constant stream of noise from all four sides of the stadium, with not much separating both sets of fans. Lokomotiv perhaps the most active, with the odd strobe being lit. They were the better on the pitch as well, taking the lead in the 17th minute with Kamburov smashing in an overhead kick to the opposite top corner with his back to goal, sending the stadium into delirium. It wasn't until the second half that the game really got going in the stands, however. As the players walked out for the second half, first up it was the turn of Lokomotiv, displaying a nice moving tifo encaptioned 'Tribune Bassica is alive'. As this was happening, we were drawn back to the 600 or so away fans, who'd taped Smoke bombs to the fence surrounding them. Before long the ground was engulfed in Yellow and Red smoke, with purple smoke bombs trailing behind on fireworks. A turn back to the home fans, and it was their turn once again. Flares were shot into the sky, before the terrace was engulfed in Black and White smoke, with the odd strobe again. Smoke seemed to engulf all for a good 10 minutes.
While this was happening, the game continued to get underway. It was Lokomotiv who were to go home laughing, taking the city bragging rights. A screamer in the 68th minute was their first attempt at rubbing salt in the wounds of their city rivals. But it'd only get worse, Botev would also miss a penalty and then half a player sent off in the 87th minute. From a neutral perspective, this is everything I can ask for in a derby game, especially off the pitch. I'd timed this for my 400th ground, and I'm glad I did as the Balkans never fail to impress when it comes to football - whether it be for scenery, quirkiness or an atmosphere. After the winter break I will be moving to Budapest, so look forward to discovering more of the region, as long as neighbouring countries such as Hungary.
For more Balkan games we've photographed/covered on the site click here.
Last September I'd not set foot in the political entities people associate with the Balkans (FYR, Albania, Romania and Bulgaria), and now I've visited all of them for football, with the exception of Slovenia which is a trip I'd rather not discuss - Oh Slovenia, you have a lot to answer for. The last in the set was Bulgaria, a country I've been putting off for sometime, namely as I'd been wanting to do the better known game between the two Sofia teams in the form of CSKA - Levski. Something I now feel a little silly in doing, as sometimes it's the smaller games that are more rewarding - as this trip to Plovdiv, Bulgaria's second city would pan out to show.
The weekend was based in Sofia, with the usual mix of sightseeing, drinking excessive amounts of Rakija and climbing a mountain. Around these I'd planned two games of football. Saturday was spent at Slavia Sofia - CSKA (link), with this being the main event. After a heavy Saturday night and about 3 hours sleep I met Frank and Pascal at their hotel, two De Graafschap fans who'd been kind enough to give me a lift through the European Football Weekends facebook page - I can't recommend enough if you need inspiration for trips - thus saving me the arduous task of getting to Plovdiv by bus. A smooth two hour journey skipping the potholes on the motorway later we were parked down a backstreet facing the ground. It was obvious a game was on, but I was somewhat surprised at the lack of - no - police presence. Surprising as the day before there were riot police everywhere for a game with 1/3 the amount of spectators.
Across the road we went, and 6eu exchanged later we had tickets for the main stand. Slowly the atmosphere built around us, with a small corteo marching past. We took our unreserved seats, which amusingly we had to climb over the tunnel to get to. To our right on the uncovered old terrace, stood the Bultras of Botev. To our left, on the temporary terrace built specifically for this game, stood the Napoletani Ultras of Lokomotiv. The two sets of fans exchanging abuse right up until kick off, when the first tifo's of the game were displayed. Botev first up with a surfer accompanied by a banner stating 'Botevism is a fate - enshrined in our DNA'. It looked smart, but the second surfer was uncovered upside down, to the infuriation of the capo's at the front of the stand. Next up were Lokomotiv, who opted for a simpler display of stick flags, and the message 'The Colours for which it is worth fighting', as the game got underway.
The first half was a constant stream of noise from all four sides of the stadium, with not much separating both sets of fans. Lokomotiv perhaps the most active, with the odd strobe being lit. They were the better on the pitch as well, taking the lead in the 17th minute with Kamburov smashing in an overhead kick to the opposite top corner with his back to goal, sending the stadium into delirium. It wasn't until the second half that the game really got going in the stands, however. As the players walked out for the second half, first up it was the turn of Lokomotiv, displaying a nice moving tifo encaptioned 'Tribune Bassica is alive'. As this was happening, we were drawn back to the 600 or so away fans, who'd taped Smoke bombs to the fence surrounding them. Before long the ground was engulfed in Yellow and Red smoke, with purple smoke bombs trailing behind on fireworks. A turn back to the home fans, and it was their turn once again. Flares were shot into the sky, before the terrace was engulfed in Black and White smoke, with the odd strobe again. Smoke seemed to engulf all for a good 10 minutes.
While this was happening, the game continued to get underway. It was Lokomotiv who were to go home laughing, taking the city bragging rights. A screamer in the 68th minute was their first attempt at rubbing salt in the wounds of their city rivals. But it'd only get worse, Botev would also miss a penalty and then half a player sent off in the 87th minute. From a neutral perspective, this is everything I can ask for in a derby game, especially off the pitch. I'd timed this for my 400th ground, and I'm glad I did as the Balkans never fail to impress when it comes to football - whether it be for scenery, quirkiness or an atmosphere. After the winter break I will be moving to Budapest, so look forward to discovering more of the region, as long as neighbouring countries such as Hungary.
For more Balkan games we've photographed/covered on the site click here.