A bit of this and that

BV Cloppenburg 6 VfL Bückeburg 0

2012-02-27T09:19:00.001+01:00

Football again at last! And today it was off to Cloppenburg. Having done my research before the game, I knew that Cloppenburg was famous for....erm......nothing! Oh....some model lives there. That's about it really

Going into the game, Cloppenburg were in 2nd place in the league, and our two recognised strikers, Bremer and Fritsche were injured. It didn't bode well.

On the way to Cloppenburg, I drove across country, taking in a couple of non-league grounds along the way. Indeed, one of them was so picturesque I stopped for longer than I should. In a woodland copse, the sun beating down, the sounds of birds singing, a woodpecker hammering at the tree, and distant toll of a church bell, I closed my eyes and was suddenly in a Rupert Brooke poem.

I arrived at just after 12 in Cloppenburg. The team bus actually beat me by about 10 minutes, despite me leaving 30 minutes earlier.

I was at the Time Parter Arena. Er....yeah, not exactly an arena is it Cloppenburg?

The ground is basically a cage, with a pitch in the middle. Every twist and turn you find yourself banging into a piece of metal. I was expecting Richard O' Brien to appear any minute to lead me off into some darkened room.


Where are you Richard?

I bought a ticket for the seats, which was quite pleasant, but all too sterile for my liking. There was even a VIP lounge, where the lucky ones had to show a wrist band to get in!

A warm welcome

And now ladies and gentleman, allow me to morph into Victor Meldrew for a minute and have a good old whine.

"I don't believe it"

If you see that you have to get past someone, so that person has to stand up, at least say thank you. If you see that this person has to do it everytime that your snotty kid goes past, at an average of once every 3 minutes, do something about it. If you see that your child is kicking the back of the seats, so that EVERYONE is turning around and tutting, DEAL WITH IT! In the name of all things holy, get some parenting skills. Rant over!

Health and Safety issue here

We were always on a hiding to nothing, with an emergency first 11 out there, but battled superbly all over the pitch, and found ourselves 0-2 down at half time.

For the second half, I decided to stand behind the goal, the sun was out, and I couldn't stand the tits in the seats around me.

Where I stood for the second half

We conceded another 4 goals, so lost 0-6. But I was far from upset. The team battled until the final whistle, really worked for each other. We can not get relegated due to the bankrupty of Nordhorn and Emden, but I still think even without their points deduction we could survive this league.

Just a note on the clown that writes the reports for the local paper. Go back to journalism school. He/She quoted the attendance of being "nearly 700". It wasnt! It was 594, so not even 600. Also, the second BVC goal came from an attack down our right flank, not the left. The ground is not called the "Cloppenburg Stadion".

On Saturday, Romford lost 2-3 away at league leader Leiston. Found ourselves 0-3 down at half time, but two goals from Kurt Smith nearly snatched a draw.

Kurt Smith, 2 goals for Boro

The Raiders lost 2-3 in Cardiff, we only need to win another 6 games for the league title, but have had a bit of a slump of late! David Oliver was man of the match in the Welsh capital.

David Oliver, man of the match

In Bury, Orient gained a 1-1, with new skipper Matt Spring scoring for the O's!

New skipper, Matt Spring

Finally, a big congratulations to Romford skipper, and all time appearance holder, Paul Clayton on the birth of his daughter.

RATINGS

Friendliness: - 6/10

Clubhouse: - There was one, but it was away from the ground

Seats: - 1080 in the main stand. Overall capacity is 5001

Behind goals: - Terracing behind both, one is for away fans

Cover: - Main stand only

Floodlights: - Yes

Barrier: - Metal cage

Beer: - Krombacher €2 (not sampled)

Bratwurst: - €2 1/10 (Cold, wobbly, and only mustard as a condiment option

Entrance fee: - €10 seats, €6 standing

Programme: - Sort of! A brochure of the whole sport club

Weather: - 7/10

Ground: - 6/10

Home fans: - 4/10

Romford Trip Day Two (Warning - contains loads of music videos)

2012-01-31T12:18:00.000+01:00

Sunday. A holy day. But not for me as I was on my way to the delights of Kentish Town, to see Tim Ten Yen.

Excellent album

Let me explain how I came to be a fan of this man.

Someone very special to me died in December 2006. His name was Wiz, well his nickname that everyone knew him by. He was the lead singer/songwriter of my favourite band, namely Mega City Four. Some of you may have heard of them. Most of you will not have. This band, and specifically this mans lyrics it would be fair to say saved my life at a point I was most down. They are, and will aways remain my favourite band.

The above was filmed for Channel 4 late night back home from the boozer pissed up programme, The Word. If you look carefully you can see a younger, thinner me bouncing around like a loon in the front. I remember I called the sceptic tank presenter, Katie Fuckstick. Her name was actually Katie Puckrick. She didn't like me. Did I care? Nooooooo!

In the March of next year a concert was planned called Four 4 Wiz, when his buddies in the music scene, and some of my fave bands would get together at the Islington Academy to perform four songs, to celebrate the great mans life.

Poster for the gig

One of the bands performing are another one of my all time favroutites, Carter USM. They split up in 1998 and although played together a couple of times since, under different guises, it wasn't really the Carter of old. As the lads were just about to perform their last song, before Mega City Four played, JimBob said "I can't think of a better fucking reason to reform than this". And lo, the seed was sown.

In 2007 Carter played two reunion gigs. Could this be a regular thing? By jolly it was you know.On 22nd November Carter played at Brixton Academy. And I was there! Along with 5000 others of course.

View from the top

Next November we were off again. This time the lads were playing two gigs in two days, playing their first four albums in track order, starting from the 4th and working back. One gig would be on the Saturday in Islington, the next in Brixton again.

We're off again

I always get to things ridiculously early and gigs are no exception. I am glad I did. On the stage, with hardly anybody in the Islington Academy was a man in a suit. The theme from 2001:A Space Odessy was playing over the sound system. Then the man, who I later knew as Tim Ten Yen performed his set. Lots of strange dances, strange songs about sinister cats, bears and foxes, tortoises coming out of shells. I was confused.

The next day in Brixton, there he was again. I found myself giggling and singing along.

Not at Brixton, but a better quality video.

Upon my return to Germany, I downloaded the album from iTunes.

Every time I was back in England I always seem to miss him. But a couple of weeks ago finally he was playing in London. I was even missing a Romford Raiders home game to go.


The Bull and Gate, Kentish Town

Entrance was free and TTY was headlining. First up was Rick Gill, whose melancholy songs had me nodding my head. Either that or the copious pints of Doom Bar had affected me.

Mr Rick Gill

Too many of this and you start to see things

Through the set from Rick, there was a young man sitting opposite me with a guitar. This must be Jim'll's Brain, something I had heard a bit about from Tim on Twitter.

The next thing I know, there is the same man, but orange, wearing a cape, with spandex trousers. The Doom Bar was certainly potent!

Didn't believe me, did you?

Jim sang songs about stalking (five I think), hitting people with vegetables and general silliness, but I loved it.

 This was of course marvellous stuff! Here is Jim performing a song about stalking, below!
  
Jim and friends

So it was the turn of Mr Yen, and he did not disapoint. I got to stroke the Sinister Cat again, which made my weekend. Suffice to say that when I am back in London again, I shall stalk these two down and watch with glee. 

The dream is to get them over to Germany, it could be arranged. Until then I shall hope that music venues like The Bull & Gate stay open and don't succomb to poncey new owners who wish to turn it into a wine bar.

VfB Oldenburg 5 VfL Bückeburg 1

2011-11-13T21:57:00.000+01:00

Before I start on todays blog, let's get one thing clear. I have no idea if any of the players read this drivel, but if they do a message for you and the rest of the team about todays performance. I am proud of every one of you. There is NO way we should have lost, let alone by that scoreline. Hold your heads up high, and keep playing the same way and we will survive in the Oberliga.

I left at 9 in the morning for this game. A gentle drive across country, however it was such a long way that Emily, my sat nav, took me on the motorway for most of the way. There was a thick fog and the temperature was -1 degrees (Forgive me, I have no idea how to type the degree sign, I am such a luddite).


Driving in thick og......sorry about the "F" in fog

Arrived 2 hours before kick off at the Marschwegstadion. It has a capacity of 15,200 and due to renovation this was only Oldenburg's 2nd game here this season. During their glory days in the early 70's over 30,000 people packed in here. Impressive stuff. Not impressive enough for a bloody car park though.

Where are you?

I parked my car on the main road opposite the stadium. And waited for the ticket office to open. Yes, ticket office. That's how uppity this lot were. And I waited. And waited! At 12:45 they finally decided to open, but only because some old codger knocked on the window.

I decided to sit in the Ashampoo block!

I purchased a ticket for the Ashampoo block in the main stand. Don't ask me...I have no idea either. But then I had to wait again, until the stewards decided to open the gates. Luckily I was entertained by a couple of odd looking Oldenburg fans.

Aren't they wonderful?

When the stewards finally opened the gates at 13:00 I had the half-hearted check of my rucksack (which was new yesterday by the way rucksack fans). I was informed that I couldn't take my bottle of water in the ground. "If I tip it out can I keep the bottle?", "No". "Well, can I have 25cents as there is a deposit on it?". "No". We had reached a stale mate. I could leave my bottle of water at the gate and collect it afterwards. How very kind of you Mr Steward, and may a jackdaw peck you in the eye you jobsworth oaf!

Public enemy number 1

I was in at last. And there was a fan shop so I bought a pennant. I couldn't walk round the ground and take my pre-match pics as once again a jobsworth steward stopped me! "Where are you going?". "Here", quoth I. "But you need a ticket for the seats", quoth he. "I've got a ticket for the fucking seats, I just wanted to take a pic", quoth I.

The main stand

The main stand consists of 4,500 seats and every one of them was soaking wet. Bad design! Someone said to me on Facebook that this was the best ground in the league. Is it bollocks! No floodlights. An ex athletics stadium, where the track has been concreted over. No terracing behind one of the goals. Seats wet and dirty. No car park, as I have mentioned before.

Every one of the seats was wet

The game kicked off and after 4 minutes we were 0-1 down to a Julian Lüttmann goal. For the first 15 minutes, it was looking like another spanking, but then we started getting a grip of the game. Nils Rinne was immense at the back, as skipper Niko Werner and the suspended Pascal Könnemann sat this one out. Niklas Fritsche was lucky to escape a booking as he clattered one of their players, but Bastian Schmalkoch picked up a yellow in the 13th minute.

Jean-Paul Thom was starting to win tackles, and setting up some lovely triangles with Dennis Peter and Burak Buruk in the middle of the field.

We went into the break just the one goal down.

Match day ticket and programme

The second half got underway and we were playing some superb stuff. After 54 minutes, we get a free kick 35 yards out and Bubi Bremer spanks it in for his 11th of the season. From then on there was only one team in it, and we were finding more and more space in the midfield, I honestly thought we could win it.

In the 74th minute, young Bastian Könnemann tried to dribble round one player too many, when releasing the ball was the easier option, and Oldenburg break down our left flank. The ball is whipped in and Sebastian Ferrulli cleverly glances it past Engler to make it 2-1.

Four minutes later and another Bückeburg attack, Rinne (I think it was), is fouled 40 yards from their goal. Instead of the free kick, the referee waves play on, Oldenburg do exactly the same and Lüttmann scores his second.

Oldenburg fans

After that sucker punch, the floodgates opened and Oldenburg scored again in the 89th and the 90th minute, for a scoreline and a result which really did flatter them. With the only team below us drawing we are now just 3 points from the drop zone and have shipped 48 goals, the most in the league.

Having said that, I can only take positives. Football is a cruel, cruel game and this result was the cruellest of the lot.

In other news, Romford drew 4-4 in a bizarre game with Waltham Forest on Saturday, Jack Barry scoring after 6 seconds and Kurt Smith, Nick Reynolds (2) adding to the tally.

Stand in skipper Jack Barry

In the first round of the FA Cup, Orient ran out 3-0 winners over non-league Bromley and will face Gillingham or Bournemouth in the 2nd round. Matt Spring, George Porter and Jimmy Smith scoring for the O's. The bad news is Dean Cox leaving the ground on crutches.

George Porter is substituted to a standing ovation

On Saturday the Romford Raiders thumped Bristol Pitbulls 9-2 at Rom Valley Way. Seven different players scored and pick of the bunch was Slovakian import Juraj Huska with yet another hattrick

26 so far for Huska

Tonight (Sunday) we lost 2-4 at Invicta. I was all set up for another 14 game winning streak.

RATINGS
Friendliness:    7/10
Clubhouse:             Didn't see one
Seats:                 4,500 of them
Behind goals:          One terrace
Cover:                 Main stand
Floodlights:           No
Barrier:               Cage
Beer:                  Veltins (not sampled)
Bratwurst:             2€ 9/10
Entrance fee:          7€ standing, 9,11 and 13€ for seats
Programme:             50c 8/10
Weather:               4/10
Ground:                5/10
Home fans:             7/10

Romford Trip - Day 1

2011-11-04T17:02:00.000+01:00

ROMFORD 3 WARE 2

The sun was out in force as the first day of my Romford trip got under way. A "home" game against Ware. As you may or may not be aware Romford actually play in Aveley, which is in Essex. It is our 17th "home" venue since we reformed in 1992. I can't even begin to go into the saga of the new ground at Westlands without my blood boiling and me upsetting certain people at Romford FC, both of which I do not wish to partake in.

Today I was feeling rebellious, so got the 165 to Elm Park Station, then changed to the 372. And who says I don't lead an exciting life?

Elm Park Station in the sun

The journey was over all too soon and as usual I was ridiculously early so got off a couple of stops after the ground to have a pre match pint in a boozer round the corner. It wasn't open. Hmmm!

I walked into Aveley village and luckily found a pub that was open, and showing the Liverpool v Moan United game. There were a number of Thurrock fans in there, which suprised me. On looking at the fixtures they had an FA Trophy game at home.

Supped a couple of pints and walked to the ground.Saw all the usual suspects and it was good to catch up with every one.

Ware have a certain Stuart Nethercott as their manager. He looks like a buffoon and has a high pitched gutteral voice to match.

Ex Spurs, Millwall "player, Ware manager Stuart Nethercott

Every time he shouted his instructions from the dug out, Paul, one of our lot, started up with the Muppet song, "Ma na ma na". The scene would be, Nethercott would shout something, followed by us going "Do,do,do,do,do". You had to be there really.

We took the lead after 5 minutes when Paul Kavanagh swung in a free kick and Matt Toms rose un marked at the far post.
                           Tommsy with the first

After 25 minutes that man Kavanagh was at it again, this time a free kick from the left, and Nick Reynolds headed in to make it 2-0.
  
Nick Reynolds is congratulated by Abs Seymour

A defensive slip ten minutes after this allowed Ware’s Nikki Crace to  reduce the deficit and this goal led to a period of strong but  unsuccessful play by the visitors.
 
Two minutes into first half added time Reynolds settled the Romford  nerves somewhat when he headed home his second and his team’s third goal  from yet another Kavanagh dead ball kick to take the home side into a  3-1 half time lead.
Get this man in your fantasy team, 3 assists 
 
Although Ware pulled a goal back, Romford were good value for their win, and the 88 hardy souls went home happy. Except me! I didn't go home, for my next appointment was in Leyton for an anti-racist gig.
Poster for the gig 
 Whilst I was basking in the sun in deepest darkest Essex, the O's were beating Bury 1-0. Tiny Cox with the goal.
We've got Tiny Cox
The gig was compared by the wonderful Graham Larkeby and first up were Corporal Machine and The Bombers. Wasn't sure where a tuba player was going to fit in but it was soon obvious as they went through their impressive set, with a couple of songs mentioning Romford, which will always get bonus points from me. The tuba took the place of the bass guitar and at one point, there was even a rap. A rapping tuba player? Thumbs up!
Rapping tuba player? Tick!
Headline act was Steve White and The Protest Family, a band I am proud to call my mates. They churned through classics such as "Walthamstow Dogs", "Brisbane Road", "Summer in Sainsbury's". Encore was a song I have never heard live, namely "Leyton Orient scored more goals than any other 4th division team in 1988/89".

"Funky" Lol Ross
And then I had to get to Leyton station, to get to Stratford on the Central Line and then take my chances with the trains to Romford. As I was on the platform, my mate Lee told me there were no trains due to engineering works. Ah! Wonderful! Hop over to the other platfrom and get a Central Line to Newbury Park, then the 66, the "King of bus routes". 
I was stranded at Newbury Park for an hour waiting for the bus. I love Newbury Park station with its funky roof, but don't wish to sit there so long on a Saturday night, watching a chav have a breakdown in front of me. Finally got back, and flopped tired into bed, ready for the next days adventures.
                         Is that not a funky roof?

BSV SW Rehden 9 (Nein) VfL Bückeburg 0

2011-10-08T11:26:00.002+02:00

You've heard of a one horse town, right? Well in Rehden the horse had left. And it probably wasn't even a real horse. Just a pantomime horse. With fleas!

Rehden - one horse town

Everything that is wrong with football and modern society in general was on display in Rehden. From the half finished club house, once again flaunting the rules, to the glaring health and safety issues around the ground, the extortionate entry prices, to the pretentiousness of the main stand, the attitude of the home fans, the, the, the......

Match day ticket

I shall start with the entry prices. 7€ in itself is a bit steep at this level, considering the average is 6€, but to charge 9€ to sit is a fucking joke.

I paid it, as it was the only cover in the ground and it had been pissing down on and off all day and would continue to do so during the game.

I do not know what it is like in the UK, as I haven't lived there for over 15 years but here in Germany, I have given them a number of nicknames one of which being "Arthur". This stands for Arthur job. The ability to suddenly stop a building project. This was the case with the clubhouse. As I wandered past, I peered in the window to see a building site with a few picnic tables set up. And then came the first health and safety issue.

Mind the gap! What gap?

That bloody gap!!

So I tried to ignore the deadly hazard in front of me and had a walk round the other side of the ground. Oh look, there seems to be a massive piece of metal fencing cunningly placed in the middle of the terracing.

Random piece of metal in middle of terrace - tick!

So on we go, round the back of the goal and to the main and only stand. And here the utter ostentatiousness of this disgusting bulls pizzle (love a Shakespeare insult) of a club.

Blue and gold!

Here we enter the main/only stand. The one there are loads of photos on their website of, so you think "Cor, nice stand wonder what the rest of the ground is like?". Well, this is basically it. Seems as though the back two rows were an afterthought, and someone went down the local school and nicked those aerobic mats to put down, so the wonderful residents of Rehden, all 1,766 of them don't get splinters in their derrier's.

I was in Block B. This I knew as someone had gone to the trouble of laminating an A4 piece of paper and sticking it on the back of the stand.

Block B everyone. But where was Block A?

The sides of the stand, on the stairs leading down to the front were granite. That's granite! And yet they can't afford a decent sign to put on their marvellous stand. Oh, by the way, if you wondering about Block A, forget it, there wasn't one. Either that or the Blu-Tak holding on the sign had perished (Alan Partridge word of the day).

The seats. Quite obviously at one time orange, but oh no, let's spray them metallic blue. The last time I saw a colour like that, it was on a Ford Capri Ghia, with fluffy dice hanging off the mirror and Derek and Sharon on the windscreen, hurtling down Atlanta Boulevard in Romford (Yes, there really is such a road).

"Ford Capri orange, and Volkswagen yellow and gold" - Carter USM

With all the expense of the new clubhouse (not finished), the stand (not sure if finished), money must have been tight and they couldn't afford a couple of tables for outside the clubhouse. So they improvised.

Tyre/Traffic sign table combo - Tick

Onto the main event of the evening, and the PA announcer grabbed his microphone and sauntered onto the pitch. I shall call him Mr. Wikipedia as he began to regale us with facts and figures about the church in Bückeburg, and the palace, all wonderful things but I just wanted to hear the team line ups. I did learn that Bückeburg has more female residents than males, so it wasn't all bad news. Mr. Wikipedia had obvioulsy missed out on his true profession as a stand up comedian.

As the game got underway, and there was a break in play, he gets on his mic again and announces "If you clap your hands, they will keep warm". I was dreading the next throw in almost anticipating him, standing up with his cordless mic, and saying "C,mon y'all, put your motherfucking hands in the air. Make some noise, Rehden". But thankfully he gave up after the hand comments.

It was an absolute honour to be sat near the great Karl Pilkington

As the first half got underway I noticed a man on the same row as I, staring intensivley at me. Now, I know I am a gay icon, but it was unsettling. So I looked around to see if The Cambodian Midget Fighting League had suddenly started to perform a scene from Eastenders in the form of modern dance, but there was just me there. So I stared back. He kept staring at me. I called him a prick, and he suddenly looked away.

Stary man

At half time I walked to the opposite end of the stand, towards where Bückeburg were shooting. It was pissing down with rain and an elderly gentleman was coming towards me. To let him pass, I stepped aside, at the front of the stand, into to pouring rain. Not so much as a thank you. So I said "You are most welcome", as sarcastially as I could. Note, apart from the "Prick" incident with "Stary Man", all these converstations are in German.

I took up residence at the back of the stand, when a Harold Shipman lookalike appeared before me. "That's my seat", he barked. I suddeny had visions of turning into Oz, in that episode of Auf Wiedersehen Pet, where he lectures the old tosspot on "You bring that seat with you to the match, every game do you? Your name's on it is it?". But I was really not in the mood, so I moved a couple of seats to my left. "Oh no, you'll have to move from there as well", said Shipman.

"That seat is taken"

So I grabbed my rucksack and sat down the front. Only for one of the Rehden WAGS, a quite ridiculous looking woman, to start chatting to her mate. In a tone so high, that dogs were starting to come from neighbouring gardens (Ok, there wasn't any, the whole ground was in the middle of bloody nowhere, but for the sake of comedy please bear with me). I thought rather than risk the chance of tinitus, or get wet I would choose the latter, and went and stood behind the goal.

Try sitting next to that

So I went and stood behind the goal for the remainder of the second half. Luckily the rain held off.

Oh yeah, we lost 0-9. But at half time, 0-3 down and up to the "Beaker" episode I was really beyond caring and could just about manage a shake of the head after Rehden racked up the goals. Sorry if you were expecting in depth match analysis, but I needed a good old rant about something. Quite the most disgusting people I have had the misfortune to meet.

Ratings
Distance to ground :     72,5km
Friendliness       :      -1 - Utter tossers!
Clubhouse    : -1 - Not even built
Seats              : Yes - One main stand
Behind goals : Terracing behind one goal
Cover              : Yes - One main stand
Floodlights    : Yes
Barrier            : Metal barrier
Beer               : Don't know, don't care, hope it chokes them

Bratwurst          : See above
Entrance fee       : 7€ standing, 9€ seats
Programme          : No
Weather            : 5/10
Ground             : 5/10
Home fans          : -1 - Words fail me!

VfL Bückeburg 3 TSV Ottersberg 3

2011-10-01T12:18:00.001+02:00

Ottersberg. Quite literally translated Otterhill. I have never heard of Ottersberg. Or indeed have any idea where it is. But I kind of like the idea of a hill full of otters.

An otter

A hill

A Friday night game. Whoop! Going into the game, I was actually confident. Ottersberg were only 3 points better off than us, and we were riding high on confidence on the back of an away win last Saturday.

Tonight was night of the stupid names. The referee was called Hauke-Jörn, his assistant was Sascha-Patrick and, get this, Gerrit.

Not to be outdone, TSV had some wonderful names. There was Tjaven, Falk, Jair, Eugen and my favourite Lord Hoopmann. I shit you not. He didn't play, but I was ready to regale him.

Tim Buchwald - Book Forest

We started ok. And it was a bit of a suprise when in the 6th minute, "Bubi" Bremer clipped a lovely ball down the right flank to Jonas Abram, who cut inside his man and floated a peach of a cross onto the stooping head of Tim Buchwald.

In the 14th minute came the leveller. Once again, we were woefully exposed down the right, ball was crossed in and Mazan Moslehe smashed home from 10 yards.

But that was it really. Although the performance was 100% better than against Göttingen, it seemed that TSV just wanted it more. They were technically better, and first to most balls in the middle of the park. Having said that the next real chance came VfL's way, with a looping header coming off of the crossbar.

Went into the break at 1-1.

In the second half I went down the other end and joined the only two Bückeburg fans that have ever spoken to me. In fact before the game I was trying to glean some info into why they were banned from travelling on the coach, due to a hullabaloo in Stelingen. As I was probing said fan, some horrid oik in the balcony above me just butted in our conversation and took over. This is probably why I can't be bothered with ingratiating myself to the "fans" of VfL. If you are reading this rude person, although I doubt you have the intelligence to a) read b) know English, you are a disgusting example of oafishness and please make yourself known to me at the next home match, where I will duly kick you in the bollocks and teach you all about manners. Rant over!!

A pair of bollocks

In the 68th minute TSV took the lead and indeed, I did mention the "B" word above. But two minutes later, we drew level. Once again a cross from Abram, confusion in the box and the ball falls to skipper Niko Werner who spanked it in from 12 yards. I did a little jig of joy when that went in.

Niklas Fritsche had replaced the inaffective Moritz Heine and added some pepp to our attack. So much so that five minutes from time, the Könnemann brothers combined and Pascal slipped in Bastian, who finshed with grand finesse to put us 3-2 up with five minutes left to play.

You can guess the rest right? 89th minute and TSV whip over a corner, The Tangerine comes out but the header is glanced in to make it 3-3.

So, a point won or a 2 points lost? Hard to say. We were second best the whole game, BUT had the better chances, hitting the bar and having a shot cleared off the line in the second half. Another Friday game on erm...well...Friday of course, this time away to Rehden where I shall be attending.

Chris Ashton

As I write this, just seen a great game of rugby in the world cup, England coming from behind (Fnarr, Fnarr), to beat Scotland, with a try from Chris Ashton, Toby Flood then converting, in the last minutes of the game.

Romford travel to Enfield Town, Orient take on Preston North End, Raiders play Milton Keynes and tomorrow myself and Mrs Reject will be attending Hannover 96 v Werder Bremen, so a great weekend of sport in store.

The Specials - E-Werk, Köln

2011-09-27T16:24:00.000+02:00


The Specials

I waited a long time to see The Specials. One of the few bands from my youth which I missed the first time round. Then when they reformed, the gigs were in the UK and sold out within a few hours, so when I read they were playing 3 hours from me, I just had to get tickets. And I did. In January...for a gig in September. Nothing like being prepared is there?

This would mean me missing yet another Bückeburg game, this time away at bottom club Rotenburger SV. And would you believe it we win 2-1 after being a goal down. So two wins, and both times I have missed it. I think the football gods are trying to tell me something. I shall miss the next home game which for some bizarre reason is on a Friday, as I have tickets for Hannover 96 v Werder Bremen.

So it was off to a city which I despise, namely Köln (Cologne for all those anglophiles out there). Set off on Saturday midday and were staying overnight.


Köln

Whilst eating a meal, at a truly blinding gaff on the way to the venue, I checked my iPhone to see that Orient were 0-2 down at Huddersfield Town. Couldn't seem to find out how Romford were getting on at home to Needham Market, and Hannover earned a creditable draw away at Augsburg.

Turned off the phone thinking we had suffered yet another defeat, only to find Mrs Reject smiling at me, whilst looking at her phone. We had scored 2 goals in the last five minutes to draw. Kevin Lisbie with his first goal for the O's and Ben Chorley with the equaliser.

Big Ben Chorley

I was happy. May have also had something to do with the copious amounts of Weissenbier I had quoffed in the pub. And finding out that Romford had held one of the favourites at home to a 1-1 draw, Chuck Duru with our goal, I was feeling cock-a-hoop!

Our very own Chuck D

The gig!

Phenomonal, what more is there to say? Although, I thought the vocals of Terry Hall and Neville Staple could have been cranked up a couple of notches.

All the favourites were trotted out, complete with an encore. However, I was waiting for "Ghost Town", which they surprisingly didn't play.

Atmosphere was good, as was to be expected. Venue, was also excellent but I have been there so many times, it is almost like a second home.

Off to Bückeburg on the Sunday and more good news. In the Essex derby, Romford Raiders beat Chelmsford Chieftains 5-4 to maintain their 100% record. Even AJ Smith played with a mashed up thumb (against doctors orders).

Fellow Karl Pilkington fan, AJ Smith

Fantastic start to the season, and to be honest I can't really see us losing at all. It is bound to happen but to win ugly against your local rivals is pretty darn impressive.


That's what it means for JJ McGrath

VfL Bückeburg 2 v RSV Göttingen 05 3

2011-09-18T18:15:00.000+02:00

Bad, bad weekend for my teams. Leyton Orient lost at home, after taking the lead through George Porter, his first goal for the club, against Oldham Pathetic.

Georgie Porter with his 1st Orient goal

It is now only us and S*unthorpe who have not won in League One this season. Rumours are circulating that Steve Tilson or Aidy Boothroyd are being lined up as a replacement for Russell Slade. Even the name of Mark Robins has been banded about.


Flag proudly displayed at The Emirates last season. Is time up?

Romford had a tricky FA Cup tie, away to Southend Manor of the Essex Senior League. And prompty whimpered out 2-4. Cup run over for another year.

Captain, Paul Clayton, scorer of one of Boro's goal

One ray of light was the marvellous Romford Raiders, who went to Bristol and pulled off yet another victory, this time 7-2. Matt Turner with 2+1, turning in a MOM performance.

Super Matty Turner

So to this afternoons game and I was feeling confident. We won 4-2 away to Eintracht Braunschweig II last week, obviously I wasn't there as was celebrating my first wedding anniversary on the Baltic coast.

We were above Göttingen in the league, so a point at least was in the bag. Oh, how wrong could I be?

From start to finish, the Bückeburg team were abysmal. I wrote a couple of blogs ago about not having the time to dwell on the ball too long, and the accurary of passing. Today showed that I am in the Pep Guardiola school of managerial thinking. There was no idea. No passion. Second balls were not won, or even contested for the most part. Marking, particulary at the back was non-existant. The only player to come out of the game with any credit was Tim Engler in goal, as there was nothing he could do, being woefully exposed on each occasion.

We went into the break at 0-0, Göttingen being reduced to 10 men after an elbow in our area. But we showed we had the spine of a jellyfish, with an inept display against a Göttingen team that were in truth, nothing special.


VfL Bückeburg v Göttingen. In other words: Spineless

I am not going to comment on the second half. RSV stormed into a 0-3 lead, and we got two late goals, one a scrambled effort from "Bubi" Bremer, the other a penalty from skipper Nico Werner, but it was too little too late, and if I am honest, the two goals were not deserved.

The Göttingen support was terrific. Their merry band of souls, complete with flags, banners and a fantastic array of songs, drunk and sung their team to victory. Although I thought I had ended up at a Cure concert, they were all dressed in black.


Göttingen fans?

If I am at the Göttingen game, I shall probably stand with the Cider Boyz (the link escapes me what Göttingen has to do with cider, unless they have some tenous link with Yeovil Town or The Wurzels). Anyone with a "Hate Fascism" flag is alright in my book. The right way to support a club, what did Bückeburg have in return? The usual bloke who looks like he got lost on the way to Led Zepellin concert, blowing some sort of horn, and the man with the flag, which can't even be hung up straight!

Göttingen fans

Good songs. Heard Hey Jude, some techno pap, and even at one stage the East German anthem, I am assuming with different lyrics. Good couple of songs in English too, although they need to work on the pronunctiation of "Team", in "We all follow a yellow football team".

After the final whistle I wanted to do a "Sitton" and steam into the dressing room ranting how "I wanna be out there", etc...

So disapointing!

It's a funny old game!

2011-09-14T17:49:00.001+02:00

Frank Rjikaard - my hero

So said Jimmy Greaves. Only he didn't. It was Harry Enfield on Spitting Image that first coined the phrase, but has been attached to Jimmy ever since.

There was a time when football existed before Sky. Before the Premier League. Before all seater stadia, cheerleaders, face painting and jesters hats. Some say these were simpler times. I am not sure if it was any better in "the old days".

The racism and homophobia has all but disappeared. Facilities are better. You can now turn up 5 minutes before kick off, take your seat, and munch happily on your prawn sandwich. Watch the "pre-match" entertainment. When I first started attending football, this was the fights on the terracing, now it is scantily clad ladies with pom poms.

A prawn sandwich

So is it better? I remember the away terrace at Reading's Elm Park ground. The toilet facility was basically a brick wall. No roof! No washing facitlites. Just a brick wall you weed against. So toilet wise, yes!

Following Leyton Orient up and down the country was a really thankless, stupid thing to do. We once went nearly 2 years without winning an away game. TWO YEARS. Think about that. Every week we would turn out, in the vain hope, "This is the one, this is it lads". It never was. But spirit in the face of adversity and all that, we were a rag tag bunch of old sweats, alhohlics, indie kids and general buffoons. It bonded us togther. So much so that on the coach to one away game, The Hood Squad was formed.

More to come when I can get some photos!

SV Eintracht Nordhorn 2 VfL Bückeburg 1

2011-08-29T18:12:00.000+02:00

Sunday, Bloody Sunday as Bono once crooned. This could have summed up today. I was in a foul mood due to Leyton Orient losing their 5th game on the trot. Worst start since 1943 and very much akin to German "comedian" Oliver Pocher, pointless. In fact, the only team in England to be so. Added to that Romford failing to hold on to a lead at home to Soham Town Rangers, scraping a 3-3 draw, and I was not in the best frame of mind.

I knew nothing of Nordhorn, except it was near The Netherlands and used to have an RAF base many moons ago. In fact it is 162km away and has a population of 53,052. In the last election, the DKP (Deutsche Kommunist Partei) gained an extra seat.
With this in mind I set off, my usual route overland. Arrived at 12:30 and found a space in the car park.

Had a walk round the ground. Best ground I have visited whilst following Bückeburg. So impressive!


View from the top of the impressive stand

So I went into the clubhouse for a cup of coffee, served in a Nordhorn mug. Nice touch! I also purchased a pennant for my collection. However, I had to quoff the coffee down in double quick time, as I think it was mandatary for everyone sitting at the bar there to smoke. Despite the fact there has been a smoking ban for a few years now. No one seems to give a fuck!


Should've nicked this as suggested by someone

As I went to look at the away side, not end, side, complete with seated area, the players turned up. Embarassingly, I think a couple might actually read this dross, as one of them cheekily remarked about the ratings for the bratwurst.


A view of the away side, with the stand in the background

The teams entered the fray, in another downpour. Seems we have a permanant rain cloud following us on our travels. Goalkeeper Tim Engler has the most hideous kit. In fact, I may just resort to wearing sunglasses, so bright is it. Looks like a massive tangerine is keeping goal.

A tangerine

Tim Engler

I read the report to this game in the local rag. Not sure the reporter was at the same game as me. I thought the tactics were spot on, and it was by far our best performance of the season. Fritsche was playing on the left of a five man midfield, with Bastian Könnemann on the right. This left Alexander Bremer on his own up front, but it seemed to work, as we had a lot of pocession in the middle of the park, but played a bit too deep at times.

Nordhorn took the lead after 8 minutes though, which was harsh on us. Although we were breaking up their attacks, they were still getting through and Engler pushed a shot onto the post in the 28th minute.

After 35 minutes, the best move of the match came from our side. A defence spliting through ball by Bremer found Bastian Könnemann on the right flank. He beat his man, squared to Buruk who back heeled it to Fritsche who was a yard offside. Shame, but encouraging. Went into the break 0-1 down but was confident for the second half.


My view in the first half

Second half got underway and in the 54th minute it was all square. The ball was played to Jonas Abram, and he cut in from the left, finished cooly from 11 metres. 1-1 and game on.

Scorer of the equaliser, Jonas Abram

The Bückeburg goal was leading a charmed life, as yet another shot came crashing off of the right hand upright. On 62 minutes, Niko Werner recklessly challenged their forward in the area. Clear cut penalty and a yellow card for the skipper. Werner had one of those "wish the ground would swallow me up" kind of looks.

The penalty was duly dispatched, to make it 2-1 to the home side. That's the way it finished. I really can't be too disapointed even though it was another loss. We matched them for long periods of the game, and if it wasn't for that penalty, would have got a point. Maybe not a deserved point, but we'll take anything at the moment. Next game is at home Sunday to BV Cloppenburg, who have some nasty fans. Alledgedly!


The home fans

Ratings

Friendliness: 6/10

Clubhouse: 0/10

Seats: Yes, two stands

Behind goals: Terracing, 5 steps

Cover: Yes, two stans

Floodlights: Yes

Barrier: Metal wall

Beer: No idea

Bratwurst: €1.60 - 2/10

Entrance fee: €6

Programme: Yes - 4/10

Weather: 4/10 - Heavy showers

Ground: 10/10

Home fans: 6/10

Player ratings

1. Tim Engler 7

2. Pascal Könnemann 7

3. Jonas Abram 9

4. Dennis Peter 8

5. Niko Werner 6

9. Alexander Bremer 7

10. Niklas Fritsche 7

11. Burak Buruk 7

14. Nils Rinne 7

18. Jan Steiniger 8

20. Bastian Könnemann 7

Subs

12. Tim Buchwald for Buruk

15. Moritz Heine for Könnemann, B

VfL Bückeburg 1 v VfL Osnabrück II 1

2011-08-21T09:54:00.000+02:00

Saturday. We never play at home on a Saturday. This would mean my regime, sat in front of my computer, with various websites open, flicking from one to the other, trying to catch up on scores would be cancelled. Luckily I invested in an iPhone, so would have most of the info at hand, and with Hannover 96 playing the next day, I only had Orient and Romford to concentrate on. Oh, and the match I was at.

In the end Orient got thumped 0-5 at Brentford, and Romford lost 0-1 at Harlow Town. Not too disapointed about the latter, we can put that right at home to Redbridge on Tuesday. But Orient? Bottom of the leage with the worst goal difference? Quite bizarre! Sort it out Slade.

To the game in hand. Osnabrück II are basically the reserve team of the 3rd division protagonists. Or the Under-21's as they like to see themselves. They are managed by American Joe Enochs, who himself represented Osnabrück 359 times. He even had one full cap for the USA, playing against Ecuador in a 0-0 draw.

The Osnabrück team had quite the most hideous kit. All purple with gold numbers on the back. At times it was like looking into a field of lavender.


The Osnabrück team

This was a well fought point. We did not play as well as our previous home game where a 3-1 lead was squandered to lose 3-4 to Goslar, however, there was a lot of guile and the point means we are finally up and running in the Oberliga.

One thing which I did notice, there are a couple of players, and I will not name them, that seem to still be thinking in Landesliga terms. What I mean is, no matter what league you play in, Hackney Marshes to Premier League, everyone knows, that in the league above things are different. You get that little bit less time on the ball, the speed increases, the defenders are shrewder, the technical ability is higher. With that in mind maybe we should start thinking so, and stop trying to dribble past that one extra player, or think that second before the pass is played, as was the case last year, will not be so easily granted to us at this level.

Osnabrück in the first half looked technically superior to us. The goal came on 22 minutes as once again, the right hand side was exposed and a ball into our box found Julian Wold to smash home the cross.


Bubi Bremer. Like Shearer but more subtle

We came out scrapping in the second half and it was a much improved performance. The two Könnemann brothers, Pascal and Bastian were stretching Osnabrück on the flanks, leaving space for the restored Niklas Fritsche and Alexander Bremer through the middle.

Once again though, the referee and his assistants were apalling. The linesman on our side was barely out of nappies.

Another barmy linesman

   In the 83rd minute our deserved equaliser came. High ball into the penalty area, Bubi Bremer was fouled, but got up to get his toe on the ball, swivel round and poke it over the line from 5 metres. The ball trickled over the line but who cares? His 3rd goal of the season in as many games, gave us our first point.

On Sunday we travel to Eintracht Nordhorn. They are a massive club with a 7500 capacity stadium. I think I will drive to this one as well. Looking forward to it.

Player Ratings
1. Tim Engler    7
2. Pascal Könnemann    7
3. Jonas Abram 8
4. Dennis Peter    6
5. Niko Werner 6
9. Alexander Bremer    7
10. Niklas Fritsche    7
11. Burak Buruk    5
12. Tim Buchwald 6
14. Nils Rinner    5
18. Jan Steingiger 5
Subs
15. Mortiz Heine for Niklas Fritsche
19. Jan-Eike Raschke for Pascal Könnemann
20. Bastian Könnemann 7 for Nils Rinne

SC Langenhagen 4 VfL Bückeburg 0

2011-08-14T20:31:00.000+02:00

Well what can I say? Where do I begin? I know, at the beginning. Works for me!

My other teams results were a bit hit and miss. Hannover won 2-1 in Nürnberg, so that's two out of two. Orient lost 0-1 at home to Tranmere and Romford were thumped 1-5 at Hythe, albeit a friendly.

Set off in pouring rain at a ridiculously early time of 11am. I knew the ground was only 45 minutes away, but I thought if I programmed "Emily" to go across country again, maybe, just maybe I could kill a couple of hours. No! I was there at 12:15, having covered the 62.5km from Bückeburg to Langenhagen with consumate ease.

I was feeling pretty confident, as SC Langenhagen had lost their opener last weekend 0-5, so a point would be in the bag. Or so I hoped.

The Walter-Bettges-Stadion is named after the ex mayor of Langenhagen, who died in 1991. Langenhagen is a suburb of Hannover, population 52,583 and is where both Hannover Airport, and the horse racing track are situated. It is also twinned with Southwark, fact fans, although the resemblance escapes me.

On entering the ground, I was greeted with a psychedelic lion. They must have been dropping acid when they conceived that idea.


Why? I mean, why?

For the first time today, just before the kick off, it stopped raining. Within 5 minutes we were one down, as a cross from the left was turned in, with the help of the underside of the cross bar.

I had no idea what formation we were supposed to be playing. Niklas Fritsche was on the bench, and Pascal Könnemann was playing in the centre of defence alongside Werner, with Dennis Peter seemingly on the right of a back 3. Perhaps I was wrong! I usually am.

After 27 minutes it was a second for Langenhagen. Bückeburg were losing possession in midfield, and it seemed that SCL were a lot stronger. We carved no real chances in the first half and went into the break at 0-2, not before Tim Engler in goal, tipped a shot onto the bar. The signs were ominous.


Terracing and main stand

On a side note, as depicted in the photo above, SC Langenhagen have terracing. This has, count them, 5 steps. SCL have played Oberliga for a number of years. So why do they not need crush barriers and the Jahnstadion does? Answers on a postcard to.....

The second half resumed in a downpour and in the 47th minute Bückeburg were denied not one, but two clear penalties. First a handball, which even Stevie Wonder would have spotted, then a push on "Bubi" Bremer which the assistant referee (so much easier to say linesman) failed to spot. His resemblence to Porky Pig was uncanny, and it was all about this jumped up porker. He warned manager Timo Nottebrock for daring to complain and question his judgement.


The assistant referee

VfL were playing some good stuff now. Taking the game to Langenhagen and creating a lot more. Buruk was the outstanding player, he was the centre of most things, and Schmalkoch, playing in a more defensive role was also excellent.

But 55 minutes and it was game over. With their 4th shot of the game, the airport lovers scored again, and again it was a cross from the right, clinically finished. I swore loudly when that one went in, as Porky and the ref were riling me with their biased decisions, and we were actually getting on top.

There was no way back, and I took to trying to spot planes from the nearby airport, in between breaks in the clouds. Total spotted = 6

A plane. 

As the game was winding down, another cross, another finish and it was 4. We have now conceded 8 goals in our last two games. If I have to be critical I would say that the right hand side of defence needs looking at. Abram wasn't his usual self today, won virtually no tackles and wasn't as prominent going forward.

We are rock bottom of the league, but no reason to push the panic button just yet. I am sure there are at least two teams weaker than us, and with only one relegated, great chance to stay in the league.

Next Saturday we have VfL Osnabrück II at home. They are unbeaten and lie in 7th place. I detest reserve teams being in a league, and believe they should have their own reserve league.

Onwards and upwards, the mighty greens!

Ratings

Friendliness: 7
Clubhouse:        10
Seats:    Yes
Behind goals:     Hard standing
Cover:            Yes
Barrier:    Metal fence
Beer:             Gilde Ratskeller - not sampled
Bratwurst:    1.80€ - 5
Entrance fee:     6€
Programme:    No
Weather:          3 - Pissing down
Ground: 5
Home fans:        4

Player Ratings

1. Tim Engler    7
2. Pascal Könnemann    6
3. Jonas Abram 5
4. Dennis Peter          7
5. Niko Werner 6
9. Alexander Bremer      7
11. Burak Buruk    9
12. Tim Buchwald         6
13. Bastian Schmalkoch 8
18. Jan Steiniger        6
20. Bastian Könnemann    6

Subs
15. Moritz Heine 5 for Buchwald after 66 minutes

Apologies!

2011-08-10T16:47:00.001+02:00

This was supposed to be the match report between VfL Bückeburg and Goslarer SC 08/Sudmerberg but events in my home town of London, and subsequently the rest of England over the past 5 days have overtaken.

Hopefully normality will be resumed by the time we visit SC Langenhagen on Sunday.

TV Dinklage 2 v VfL Bückeburg 1 - NFV cup

2011-08-05T13:33:00.004+02:00

At last! Football season 2011/12! Not some poxy pre-season friendly where the manager makes 11 substitutions at half time. Nor when you turn up and the youth team and my favourite player, A.Trialist is playing.

This was the preliminary round of the Niedersachsen Cup, away at Bezirksliga (Step 4) team TV Dinklage. Win this and we would face either TV Havelse or BV Cloppenburg in the next round, both being a plum draw.

I drove to this fixture straight from work, setting Emily (the sat nav) to avoid major roads, so had a nice pootle across country, 114.7km.

The address I had been given were incorrect, it was not the football part of the club where I ended up, but I asked a bloke and he showed me where to go. And so it was that I arrived at the Jahnstadion, built in 1954.

Dinklage has a population of 12,815 and was once ruled by France. Fact!

The game kicked off and in the first minute Tim Buchwald had a fizzing shot which grazed the far upright. It was tit for tat for the first 10 minutes until the wonderfully named Burak Buruk lost the ball in midfield for Bückeburg and the ball was passed forward to the TVD forward. Markowski rushed out and made a fabulous block, then stood up to make a second. Great double save from "The Cat".

The cat was in fine form

After 28 minutes another defence splitting pass put a Dinklage forward through but he fluffed a one on one.

Bückeburg couldn't really get their passing game going and it was left to Jan Steiniger to throw himself round, terrier like in the middle of the park. Niko "Terror" Werner was mopping everything up at the back.

In the 32nd minute, Bückeburg win a free kick on the right. Burak floats the ball over and Schmalkoch ghosted in at the far post to glance a header past the Dinklage custodian.

Three minutes later it was 1-1. A mix up in the VfL penalty area, the ball bobbling around and Ercan Ablak taps home from 5 yards for the leveller.

Just before the half time break, Bastian Könnemann dribbled his way down the left and into the area and unleashed a rasping shot which the Dinklage keeper did well to tip onto the bar.

Halftime 1-1

Colourful dug out

The second half got underway in a storm, with lashing rain. Nico Rüffer had replaced Moritz Heine in the break. Jonas Abram was playing much more offensively in this period and having some success on the left. However, neither side really dominated and the game petered out into a series of half chances at either end as conditions made it difficult.

In the 90th minute, a cross from the right was met by the head of the onrushing Ablak and he glanced his header wide of Markowski and into the Bückeburg goal. 2-1 to the hosts. A few minutes later the referee blew for the end of play and that was it. First game, first defeat. Not a bad performance by any standards and there were a few stand out performances from Markowski, Werner, Steiniger and Rüffer when he came on. Next game is our first league game on Sunday at home to Goslarer SC.

Ratings

Friendliness: 7/10

Clubhouse: 0/10 (Would have been 8 but people were smoking inside it)

Floodlights: No

Seats: No

Behind goals: Hard standing

Cover: Yes

Barrier: Metal fence painted in club colours

Beer: Haake Brau, not sampled

Bratwurst: 1.70€ - 7/10

Entrance fee: 3€

Programme: No

Weather: 5/10 - Dark, showers

Ground: 7.5/10

Home fans: 7/10

Player Ratings

23 Tobias Markowski 8

3 Jonas Abram 7

5 Niko Werner 7

11 Burak Buruk 6

12 Tim Buchwald 6

14 Nils Rinne 6

15 Bastian Schmalkoch 7

18 Jan Steiniger 8

19 Jan-Eike Raschke 5

20 Bastian Könnemann 7

24 Moritz Heine 4

Subs:

17 Nico Rüffer 7 for Heine

9 Spilker for Buchwald

16 Hauke Voß for Schmalkoch

Hannover 96 3 1.FC Nürnberg 1

2011-05-15T09:40:00.001+02:00

Funny old game, this one. I wasn't really looking forward to it as there was not much at stake for either teams. If Mainz failed to win, Hannover would claim 4th spot. Nürnberg had already nailed the 6th spot but could not go any higher. But as soon as I was in the stadium, there was a party atmosphere.
I took to my seat as usual, whereby I was tapped on the shoulder. I turned round to find a man with a cigar in his mouth, waving his ticket in my face. "What do you want?", I politely asked in German. He continued to wave his ticket and point at my seat. I must admit....I lost my rag. When people show me no respect, I show them none in return. This also includes me bothering to converse in their own language, so I hit him with this witty reposte -

"Take that stogie out of your north, stop flapping about like a pregnant seagull and liven yourself up".

He looked bemused and moved on. Obviously he had the wrong row of seating. Tip: Learn to read before tapping me on the shoulder and wanting me to move.

Before the game kicked off, we bade farewell to three players. Mikael Forssell, who in truth was never going to have a future with Hannover, especially after the signings of Ya Konan and Abdelloue. Shame, he could still do a job and we have shared some good banter on Twitter.
Goalkeeper Florian Fromlowitz, who I am sad to see leaving. Not only is he an excellent keeper, the way he handled himself after the death of Robert Enke last season, showed a maturity beyond his years. In Zieler, we do have a great young keeper, and "Flo" obviously needs to be playing first team football. I wish him all the best.
Lastly, Constant Djapka. Another good player, he was on loan from Leverkusen and used to do a somersault whenever we scored.

Nürnberg fans tribute to Mintal

The Nürnberg fans said goodbye to their striker Marek Mintal, who after 8 years is leaving the club. They had a terrific chant to the tune of The Flintstones for him.

The game was quite open, both teams playing some good football. Mehmet Ekici was running the midfield for "The Club" and Hannover although posing no real threat, were showboating a bit.

After 25 minutes, the ball was played through to Wießmeier, with Zieler rushing out to close him down, he expertly lobbed him to put Nürnberg 1-0 up.
Five minutes later, a corner from Rausch, and Karim Haggui tapped in from 5 yards to level the scores.
1-1 going into the half time break.

In the second half, Jan Schlaudraff was playing like a man pocessed, wriggling here and there, neat turns, beating defenders. It was no surprise when he fed Konstantin Rausch in the area, the youngster taking one touch and curling a beauty beyond Schäfer in the visitors goal for his 5th of the season. Cue a mass bundle on the touchline, and Ya Konan emerging minus his shorts.

Jan Schaudraff

In the 78th minute it was than man Schaudraff again, who wriggled his way worm like into the box, only to be felled. Clear penalty and up stepped top scorer Didier Ya Konan to make it 3-1 to Hannover, getting booked for throwing his shirt to the crowd afterwards.
Results elsewhere were indicating that Wolfsburg were down. This was an invite for the whole stadium to rejoice in their downfall. I don't particularly hold sway in seeing our local rivals get relegated. After all, it is a very easy away trip.

So that was it. We clinch 4th place and the delights of the Europa league await. Eintracht Frankfurt join St. Pauli in the 2 Liga, whilst Hertha Berlin and FC Augsburg join us in the Bundesliga. Wolfsburg are safe but Borussia Möchengladbach must play off against 2 liga VfL Bochum.

SSG Halvestorf-Herkendorf 1 VfL Bückeburg 1

2011-05-08T19:23:00.003+02:00

A lovely Sunday afternoon, and quite a local derby, with the village of Herkendorf only being 32.4kms from Bückeburg. I drove to this one for a change, and was listening to the Guardian Football Weekly Extraaaaaaaaa (that may mean something to some of you) podcast.
The game between the two sides earlier in the season produced a 1-1 draw, and the way the hosts started, we would be lucky to come out of this one with a draw.
In fact, SSG (as I shall refer to them throughout this blog) should have gone into the break at least two goals up. We created nothing and Fritsche picked up a needless yellow card for whinging. Shortly after, goalkeeper Tim Engler also recieved a yellow and I am going to quote Arsene Wenger on this one: "I didn't see it".

The entry ticket

Before the kick off, a man came up to me and started to chat. He was a Preussen Hameln fan, and since the folding of his club, followed this lot. Remarkable how I get on with the "away" fans better than our own. May have to work on that one in future.

The second half was in total contrast with the first, with Bückeburg taking the game to the hosts. Jonas Abram was a lot tighter to his man, the forward partnership of Bremer and Fritsche started to cut through the SSG defence at will. Dennis Peter was pulling the strings in midfield, and it was only a question of if and not when we would score. The only low point for me was Bastian Könemann, who is a very talented player but has an annoying habit of throwing himself to the ground and squealing when anybody touches him. Please stop it...!

The main stand

In the 62nd minute, Niklas Fritsche did brilliant to hold off three players and square the ball for the unmarked "Bubi" Bremer, who finished with aplomb. 1-0 and thouroughly deserved.
The next 15 minutes was the Niklas Fritsche show, where the young striker had at least 3 one on ones and fluffed them all. This is a real shame, as if he could work on his first touch a bit more, and sharpen up his finishing could easily play in a couple of leagues higher. However, he did get the assist, so not complaining. And he's a nice geezer (even though he is going to be a cozzer)!

Niklas Fritsche

As long as it remained 1-0, it was never safe and sure enough, Tim Engler pulled off a blinding save to keep us ahead. But it wasn't to last. In the 88th minute, a peach of a volley had the home fans in raptures, and we still couldn't beat SSG.
All in all a fair result. The league leaders 1.FC Wunstorf could only a draw, so we still have a game in hand but 4 points behind. It can still be done, next stop TSV Stelingen away on Tuesday night.

RATINGS

Ground:          5
Weather: 10
Toilets:    7
Bratwurst: Not tested
Home fans: 4

PLAYER RATINGS

1. Tim Engler       7
2. Pascal Könemann 6
3. Jonas Abram      7
4. Dennis Peter 8
7. Jean-Paul Thom   6
9. Alexander Bremer 7
10. Niklas Fritsche 7
13. Bastian Schmalkoch 6
14. Nils Rinne      6
18. Jan Steiniger 5
20. Bastian Könemann 7

SUBS

19. Jan-Eike Raschke 7
11. Nico Gutzeit    6

Hanover 96 0 Borussia Mönchengladbach 1

2011-05-01T08:47:00.003+02:00

As usual I got the train from Bückeburg. Although I have a ticket for first class, I couldn't get to it as it was blocked with racaus Möchengladbach fans.

There were many fans on the train. The Hannover fans were all wearing Hannover shirts. The Möchengladbach fans were all wearing Möchengladbach shirts and singing songs, mostly containing the words, "Borussia" and "Möchengladbach". And yet the woman opposite me on the train asked someone if Hannover were playing at home. When he replied in the affirmative she then asked "Against who?". Some people!!

As I took my place in the stadium, the sun was beating down, the Gladbach fans were in good voice.

The game was poor, well, from a Hannover point of view. Gladbach played the ball around very nicely, the front two of Mike Hanke (ex Hannover) and Mo Idrissou causing problems.

Pinto picked up a silly yellow card after 35 minutes. The Hannover midfield were apalling, giving the ball away far too easily through Jan Schlaudraff and the usuall reliable Sergio Pinto.

The usually reliable Pinto

It was only thanks to our keeper, Zieler, that we went in 0-0 at the break. From Manchester United reserve to Bundesliga regular in a few months is impressive. Probaly why Schalke are sniffing around as a replacement for Manuel Neuer when he leaves for Bayern (or Manchester United if you believe the tabloids).

In the 76th minute, Marco Reus waltzed throught the non-existent Hannover defence and hit a screamer from 30 yards that left Zieler with no chance. A deserved lead and a few minutes later, man mountain Idrissou hit the bar with a towering header.

The final whistle was a relief, as it was painful to see Hannover play so badly. Two games left, Stuttgart away and Nürnberg at home. Bayern beat Schalke 4-1 to retain 3rd place and I think it will be hard to knock them off of their perch now. Still, Europa League guaranteed for us next season, and after a final day survival to stay in the Bundesliga last season, no one could have predicted such a season.

Congratulations to Borussia Dortmund who won the Bundesliga for the 7th time in their history and to QPR who return to the Premier League.

One of the sucess stories of the season, goalie

Ron-Robert Zieler

My other teams didn't fare too well either, Orient going down 0-3 at home to Tranmere and Romford losing at home by the same margin to Thamesmead Town.

My bad luck!

2011-04-26T15:02:00.003+02:00

A couple of months ago I had flu! With this flu I had a bad cough as well. Nothing rare about that, it happens.
However, I never go to the doctors straight away, preferring to think that by ignoring any ailment, it will go away on it's own, without medication. It didn't, so on the Wednesday I toddled off. Written sick for 3 days.

I struggled at work for a week, then I flew to UK for a week, whereby it really caught up with me. Had to stay in bed a couple of days towards the end of my week, my wife was nagging me (and quite rightly so) to see a doctor.
On the Saturday I finally succumbed. I was greatful that medical centres were open at all on a Saturday, so caught the 496 from Romford to Harlold Wood. This is, by far, the most dickyarse bus route I have had the mis-fortune to be on. For a 2 and a half mile journey it needed 40 minutes.
Upon arrival at Harold Wood station, the clinic is still a good half a mile away, and some of that is entering the derelict site of the old Harold Wood Hospital, with boarded up windows and old tyres.

After a two hour wait, I finally got to see a doctor. She listened to my chest, told me I had an infected respiratory tract and should take some Paracetamol. Gee, thanks Doc!
Stopped at a chemist and bought said medication, along with some cough medicine. All this and I was missing Romford v Brentwood Town, which irked me.

I was flying back the next day. But wouldn't you know it got diarrhea, as the medicine did not agree with me. Clenching my bowels together I bade my parents farewell and made the journey to Stansted.

An hour later and I was back in the loving arms of my wife, but now as well as coughing for England, my ears had not popped in the plane, and the pressure on them was immense.

The very next day, I went to my local GP. He confirmed what the English doc said, but in addition he found I had bronchitis, and TWO Otits Media (inflammation of the middle ear). In fact, so bad were they that he baulked upon looking in my ear.

Anti-Biotics for me then! So I was off for a week, and because I was coughing so much, I had a permanent headache. THEN, I ruptured a muscle in my diaphragm, due to the intense coughing fits.
2 weeks further on and I am still ill. My left ear is still blocked and I am still coughing although it is easing off.

Experiment

2011-04-26T14:11:00.001+02:00

Here I am experimenting with putting pictures in the blog

First Blog

2011-04-26T13:30:00.002+02:00

No idea what I am doing. But I have always wanted to blog. Suggestions and help will be grately appreciated. Hopefully I can get the hang of this and actually post something decent and interesting.