SV Holtenhausen Biene 1 VfL Bückeburg 2               



Off we go again. Another away day, another jaunt through the villages and towns of Northern Germany.

For this game we travelled to the town of Lingen, where the two villages of Holthausen and Biene decided in 1931 to form a football team. Last season, as did we, they won their league, but have had a good season reaching 7th place.

An aside to this drivel, for the non German speakers amongst you: Biene is the German word for bee. Don't worry, there will be absolutely no reference or silly puns to do with bees for the rest of this blog.

Off we go

 So I was buzzing for this trip. But I shouldn't have been as on paper we were on a hiding to nothing. Travelling with only 13 players, and two of them were co-trainer Martin Prange, out a year injured, and reserve keeper Tobias Markowski, also not 100% fit.

As regular readers will know, when I go to away games, I set Emily (my sat nav) to avoid major roads, thus having a lovely drive across country, seeing places I would never normally see if I drove on the motorways. And so it was on this sunny Sunday. Everything was going well, until I reached the village of Biene.

Emily sent me into a new housing estate, and couldn't find her way out again. I was going round in circles and flapping about a bit. I took the decision to ignore her and drive back onto the main road.

Twas' a good decision as I ended up just behind the team bus and followed them in, through potato fields, until we finally arrived at the 1,800 capacity Stadion an Biener Busch.

The entrance

 I was in, and did my usual tour of the ground. Cute, with a main stand which was erected (snigger) in 2000.

The main stand

 Inside the ground, it was a hive of activity so had a chat with manager Timo Nottebrock, who kindly gave me his season ticket for the rest of the season. Such a lovely  gesture to which I am very grateful for.

I took my seat and awaited the match.

Match day programme and ticket

 For the first few minutes I couldn't concentrate on the game, as a fascinating creature appeared to my left, just the other side of the stand. I shall call her Zelda, as she was one of those 45+ women, desperately trying to clutch on to her youth, but too many late nights and cigarettes means her face has shrivelled to resemble a walnut. She needed a good iron!

Come on you Bees

Zelda thought she would look the part, by opening a bottle of pink champagne and quoffing it. Champage...at non league football. *Shakes head* Some people!


The hailstones came down and Zelda looked even more dicky arse with a pink umbrella, balancing a handbag, plastic beaker of champers, and a fag. Actually, not a bad trick, maybe she should audition for Holthausen's Got Talent.

"It's a no from me"

The game! Conditions were not the best as we had a torrential downpour just as the game started, but Bückeburg were on a level par with Holthausen. Playing some inventive football, always looking to get foward, but the Holthausen defence were also well equipped to deal with any threat. In the 42nd minute, we lost the ball in the Holthausen half, and they countered, and scored, 1-0. 

My spot for the second half

The second half and we absolutely dominated the home team. It was one way traffic. In the 53rd minute, Niko Rüffer passed to the tireless Moritz Heine, who squares it for Bastian Könemann for a 14 yard equalisor. It was no more than we deserved and I leapt for joy. People in Lima complained of a mild earthquake.


It was raining, but I didn't mind as I knew we would win. 81st minute and Martin Prange comes on. Another Bückeburg attack, Niko Werner is pushed in the area, penalty. Surprisingly it wasn't the skipper who took the kick, but Prange, and he spanked it straight down the middle, with his first touch of the game.


As the ref indicated two minutes of injury time, Tobias Markowski came on up front for a 30 second cameo. In that 30 seconds he showed more goal threat than Fernando Torres.

Tobias Markowski

So a 2-1 victory and thouroughly deserved. Hard to pick out a man of the match as everyone played exceptionally well, but I'm going to. Nils Rinne was a colossus for us, breaking up play, spreading the ball about. 


In other news, and there is a lot of it:


After my redundancy I have decided to start my own company, as a music promotor. Exciting times ahead. Will keep you posted.


Romford and Gidea Park RFC won their league, Romford Raiders did the same, but lost the play off finals to Chelmsford yesterday. Still, South East Trophy winners and league champions is a fantastic achievement.

Romford Football Club beat AFC Sudbury 1-0 in their final home league fixture of the season, Jamie Dicks with the solitary goal.

Leyton Orient are doing their best to get relegated, throwing a 2-0 home lead away v Yeovil Town on Saturday. 

We had a pair of ducks nesting and laid an egg in our garden. Decided to call them Gavin and Stacey. But now they have gone and so has the egg. Probably eaten by a predator.

Quack, Quack!

 Ratings

 Friendliness:          10/10
 Clubhouse:             8
 Seats:                 Yes
 Behind goals:          One area of hard standing
 Cover:                 One stand
 Floodlights:           Yes
 Barrier:               Metal fence
 Bratwurst:             €1.70 - 8/10
 Beer:                  €1.50 Veltins, not sampled 
 Entrance fee:          €7
 Programme:             Free
 Weather:               4
 Ground:                8
 Home fans:             4