FACEBOOK

My love/hate affair with Facebook finally came to an end last week. For a number of reasons which I shall outline in this Blog.

I was a relative latecomer to the world of the internet. But by jove I am making up for it now. 

I was not convinced to join the "dark side" as I was on MySpace (remember that?. Not without cause dubbed MySpack). A colleague at work was extolling the virtues of joining. So one evening I did.

I wrote a cursory profile and began to type in names of people I was at school with, knew from football, old army colleagues etc..

More often than not up popped their profile and a friend request was sent. Ooh, this is fun, I said to myself.

Within a couple of days I had oodles of "friends". Such an easy way to catch up with people.

 
  

It did not take me long however, to find out that a lot of these so called friends really did not want anything to do with me, indeed, we had bugger all in common other than sharing as classroom 20 odd years ago. 

The one positive thing about Facebook is the "Ignore" button. I had to block a couple of army colleague for being racist (who'd have thought it eh?) and an old school friend for basically being a twonk.

Facebook has had some positive affects in my life. The old school reunions were excellent fun, and it was honestly lovely to catch up with old friends, and carry on the banter as though we had never been away.

But then the bottom drops out of it. I recently made an "Event" for another get together on one of my sojourns back to Romford. I think I invited 20 odd people. From those 20 only 4 had the the grace to actually reply either way to let me know. And when I say reply, I mean one, that's ONE click of the mouse to say yay, nay or maybe.

The banality of the excuses that certain people gave for non attendance (although I actually appreciate that they made an effort to lie to me)was laughable. One of them had  been ill "all year" (this was in March), and could not make it. However, the fact that the individual travels the length and breadth of the country following football, and posts about it on Facebook despite his crippling ailment, seems to have not registered.

  

 Another person "just" remembered they had to go to a birthday party. "Just". Are not birthdays every year? Hmmm! However thanks to Roger, Nikki, and Andrew for turning up and making it a lovely evening (as always).

Then a person I regarded as a friend in real life, started to make snide comments, even admitting he was winding me up? Why? Why would you actually want to do that? 

The thing about Facebook is, I am possibly one of the few people who treats it like real life. If someone pissed me off in real life, I ignore them. I don't wish to have anything more to do with them. I "unfriend" them. Obviously not when they are cheeky once or twice, but over a period of time, when the only comments are spiteful.

Another mistake I made, is sending friend requests to players of teams I support. It is inherently clear, 99% of us have nothing in common. I ceased to do this and actually started un-friending players of my local team. One in particular, sent ME another friend request. So I relented. The fact that this player has said less than 10 words to me in the couple of years I have been following the team, and in fact he ignored me completely when I was talking to his team mate literally (I hate using that word) 12 inches away, was the straw that broke the camels back!

I then decided that as I only interact with a few people on Facebook, I would filter my friends, so that only they would see what I post, as it was obvious the rest couldn't give a fuck.

So I whittled it down to just over 20 people. Then out of the 20, not even half commented on things I posted. Surely I can't be that boring can I?

The crowning glory was when I took over the Facebook group for Romford Football Club. I threw my heart and soul into it...providing facts, figures and stats. The only comments I got were from an old school mate and another supporter who I am fairly friendly with. I dramatically announced I was not doing it anymore, and the person who run the group before me stepped up to the plate. 

Curiously, when he posted something, he suddenly gets 5 or 6 comments from different people? No how is one to take that? I don't expect constant thanks for my efforts but a bit of effort with someone replying, or disagreeing with something. Nothing...Nowt....Nada....Nichts! 

So I left Facebook! Whether I return, is open to question. Have I overreacted? Very possibly! Do I care? No!      

HAMBURG TRIP

Hamburg is a city I know very well, having visited for various reasons on a number of occaisions.

I was in Hamburg for a Cock Sparrer concert, their only one in Germany and on their 40th anniversary, and combined it with a groundhopping geekfest, a match at Altona 93, and lots of other wonderful things that I hadn't planned.

But let us start at the beginning. The journey from Bückeburg to St.Pauli (where I was staying) is an easy one. Train to Hannover, change and sit back for a couple of hours while the Inter City delivers you to Hamburg's main station, whereupon a short walk to the U-Bahn station for the U3.

May I take the chance to say that Hamburg's public transport system is fantastic. Being a geek I have an App which tells me how I get to things. This would see me in good stead throughout the weekend.

I arrive in Hamburg

 I stayed at an Ibis hotel, one of those cheap chain type things. I'm not proud, but it suited my needs, central, cheap (ish) and at least you know what you are getting.

After unpacking it was time to hit the town...well, St.Pauli, where there was a little Christmas market.

Very droll!

 I had a tip of a good Portugese restaurant, so went in search for it, only to find it was packed. As was every restaurant in the Portugese/Spanish quarter. So I consoled myself with a drink in a travel agents...with a bar in it!

Not your average Thomas Cook

In the end I found a Thai place and settled down there, then after a little drink in the Christmas market, went back to the hotel, to sleep.

Most hotels these days do not offer breakfast included in the price, and I refuse to pay their prices for a buffet, so the first thing on my mind on the friday morning was coffee and food.

In search of coffee

 My first port of call was to have a mooch around a Russian Cold War submarine. That's how I roll. 

Please...no seamen jokes!

 I was early for the opening times, but luckily found a lovely place to have breakfast, just a 10 minute walk away. Feeling refreshed I ambled back to the sub.

It was 9 am. Entrance was €9, a bit steep but I was willing to pay it. For an extra €2 I could have a guided tour and see the control tower, which I couldn't for the price I paid. "It's at 11", said the lady behind the desk. "But it's 9 now", quoth I. What she expected me to do for two hours in anyones guess.

Like trying to get into a giant washing machine

She could have also mentioned that going round with a rucksack was also a tad silly. 

I won't bore you with all the details of the sub, suffice to say when I got back home I ordered The Hunt for Red October and Crimson Tide. 

Ooh, hello sailor!

 

 The look around the sub only took roughly 40 minutes, and then I emerged into the Hamburg morning, a light drizzle in the air, and turned into super geek, as my groundhopping festival was about to start. More of that in part two.

 
 
 

 

 

 

Predict the score

TSV OTTERSBERG 1 VFL BÜCKEBURG 3

If there were a prize for the most pathetic team, set up, ground and fans, then TSV Ottersberg would win. That's about all they did win on this blistering September Sunday, even their own predict a score was won by our Press Secretary Murat and coach driver Mario.

The ground...it's an athletics track, with a scaffold stand containing about 100 seats. And they wanted €2 extra to sit in it. 

For an extra €2 you get this

 Oh and don't even think about stealing one of their bins....just in case you had the sudden urge to stuff one up your jumper and try to sneak out, as they are all padlocked.

Don't even dare!

Bückeburg went into the game with quite a few injury problems, but the youngsters that came in aquitted themselves well. We went 1-0 down with an OG from Pascal Könemann, but equalised a few minutes later when his brother, Bastian hit a scorcher from the right, which the keeper could only push into the net.

Halftime 1-1 and my predict a score was looking good!

Programme and match ticket

Second half gets underway, and a double substitution from Ottersberg, with the wonderfully named Lord Kwabeme Hoopmann coming on. 51st minute and Bastian Könemann makes it 2-1 after a lovely pass from Nils Rinne.

Two minutes later, Versick, who really impresses on the left of the park, plays a ball flat into the box and Bubi Bremer arrives, Linekeresque to make it 3-1.

Thoroughly deserved the victory and now up to 10th in the league, but take on those crazy cats from Göttingen on Sunday. RSV are flying high in 2nd and also boast one of the leagues top scorers in  Özkan Beyazit. 

IN OTHER NEWS

Romford complete an early season double in the A12 derby againt Ilford, this time a Nick Reynolds strike taking all 3 points.

Orient actually won....at Swindon Town and their lovely mild mannered, not a facist at all, manager. (Tongue firmly in cheek)

W*** H** fans still fawn over this oaf

 This was a game I watched live on Al Jazeera, with the internet feed being interupted every few minutes by an advert splashed across the screen, which you could not get rid of for 30 seconds. Annoying! Even more annoying is that the advert I had was for some sort of Thai Lady dating agency. Good job Mrs Reject never popped her head in, no idea how I would explain that. "Erm, it's not what it looks like".

"Me love you long time"

 And what of the mighty Romford Raiders, I hear you cry? Well, they fought out a hard 7-6 win over Streatham, then thrashed Gosport 10-1 before losing in Chelmsford last night. 

On Friday I visited one of my old haunts, the Rüßheidestadion in Bielefeld, where I first followed a team with a passion, namely VfB Fichte Bielefeld. An old mate is the manager there, so I went along to show support, and what do you know, they get their first win of the season 5-3.
 
 RATINGS
 Bückeburg to Ottersberg: 115.3km
 Friendliness           : 6
 Clubhouse              : 7
 Seats                  : Yes
 Behind goals           : Nothing
 Cover                  : None
 Floodlights            : No
 Barrier                : Metal bar
 Bratwurst              : €2 4/10
 Beer                   : Hakke Brau (Not sampled)
 Entrance fee           : €8 seats, €6 standing
 Programme              : Free
 Weather                : 10
 Ground                 : 3
 Home fans              : 2  

Park the bus!

Rotenburger SV 1 VfL Bückeburg 0

Must not talk about the Olympics, must not talk about the Olympics. I will....but all in good time and in a seperate blog.

We had won our previous two games, including a 4-1 drubbing of VfL Osnabrück II last Saturday, with four wonderful goals. 

The first, a lob over the keeper from Bubi Bremer (who seems to have ditched his fluorescent green boots).The second was the same man, after a defence splitting through ball from Basti Könemann, leaving Bremer a one on one with the keeper which he took with aplomb.

Two goals, but no green boots

 Goal three was a work of art as Tobias Versick recieved the ball on the left, cut inside a defender a curled a wicked right foot shot from 30 yards, took a deflection but still a peach of a goal.

Substitute Bastian Hattendorf rounded things off with a carbon copy of the 3rd goal.

So, to Rotenburg. We beat this lot last season at their place 2-1 and drew 1-1 at home, and went into the match as league leaders (ok, after 1 game but it still counts).

Programme and match ticket

 155kms overland, or 110km using a normal route, to the 3000 capacity Stadion an der Ahe.

Before the game, there was something seriously wrong with their PA system, and we were all subjected to a period of white noise. I would have rather listened to a Scooter album than be subjected to that.

"Are...you...ready?"

 

 

We had a few missing with either injuries or work/study commitments, namely Bremer, Steininger, Heine and Schneckener.

In came Bastian Schmalkoch and Niko Schikora. 

For some obscure reason the match kicked off 15 minutes late.

After 10 minutes we were one down, the defence really all at sea, Rinne and Werner far too far apart from each other, allowing Acel France to smash the  ball into the net.

We finally started to get our act together and young Schikora was a constant thorn in the side of the RSV defence, Buchwald playing a more offensive role since the departure of Niklas Fritsche, also causing havoc.

Niko Schikora

 I liken Schickora to a wasp, buzzing around, making a nuisance of himself. To great effect!

We were taking the game to the home side, who seemed content just to hump the ball foward to their non existant forward line.

Rinne played a lovely cross field ball to the impressive Versick, who cut in once again and unleashed a shot from 35 yards which clipped the crossbar.

Halftime and we were 0-1 down, but creating chances aplenty.

At halftime, I bought a bratwurst and a shandy. To complete this feat I had to stand in one queue for food (not explained), and another for drinks (not explained), while some senile old duffer stood in the middle of the two, chuntering on to himself.

Second half gets underway and the bus was parked firmly in their half.

Rotenburger SV

 In the 63rd minute, manager Timo Nottebrock makes a double substitution, bringing on Buruk and Hattendorf for Buchwald and Basti Könemann.

In the 85th, Pascal Hertig came on for his debut, replacing Schikora (who has bright orange boots).

Niko's boots

In the 90th minute, Christoph Drewes gets booked for a second time for throwing the ball away and leaves the pitch, skipper NiKo Werner playing as a target man by now, curls the ball over the wall from 18 metres, and once again clips the crossbar with the keeper beaten.

So that was it. 0-1 defeat. I shall miss the next couple of games as I shall once again be home (London), including the cup game against TSV Havelse. Pffft!

RATINGS

Friendliness:     9
Clubhouse:        7
Seats:            Yes
Behind goals:     Bugger all
Cover:            One main stand
Floodlights:      No
Barrier:          Metal fence
Bratwurst:        €2 - 5/10
Beer:             Krombacher €2 (not sampled)
Entrance fee:     €6
Programme:        Yes - Free
Weather:          8
Ground:           6
Home fans:        4 

 

Hildesheim Revisited

                         
















VfV Borussia 06 Hildesheim 0 VfL Bückeburg 1

Football is back. Not the Euros, not Olympic football, but proper grass roots football. 

The summer. Went on 3 weeks holiday in June, which coincided with the wettest June for 100 years. 
 Euro 2012. England surpassed my expectations by actually getting past the group stage. But went out on penalties (again). The galling thing was the complete lack of skill or footballing ability shown by Englsnd. 

In all things Bückeburg, we said goodbye to a few players at the end of last season.
 Goalkeeper Tim Engler hang up his gloves, Martin Prange did likewise and is now the Assistant Manager. Jean-Paul Thom also decided to call it a day. Niklas Fritsche left as he actually lives and works in Hamburg and the travelling was becoming too much. Nico Rüffer left to play a couple of leagues lower, to get more first team football.

I had the away block to myself

  As always, we had strengthened from the youth ranks. Last time I was here we lost 0-4 and their managers comments of "thugs" still irked.

As I took my place on the terracing, 4 of our players were warming up and I didn't recognise any of them.

But then led by Bubi Bremer in his new lime green boots, the rest of the team came out to warm up. 

Bubi's new boots

 This was a cup game, the Niedersachsen Cup, now sponsored by the beer, Krombacher, now known as the Krombacher Cup. The winners of this would play TSV Havelse in the next round.

Match day ticket

 We started really brightly and dare I say were the better team. Hildesheim did have a couple of shots, but were woefully wide, whereas we didnt threaten that much but looked very comfortable.


The only down side of the first half was a yellow card for Bastian Könemann.


Half time and a very well played 0-0


And so to the second half. Apart from the starting 10 minutes, we totally dominated. Tim Buchwald was playing a lot more offensively, Bubi missed a one on one. Buchwald also finished neatly after a piece of Tiki Taka football, but the goal was rightly ruled out for offside.


After a Hildesheim attack, Nils Rinne held their foward just before the penalty area and was presented with a yellow card. The resulting free kick was superbly tipped round the post by Spilker.


In the 53rd minute, Nils Rinne gets booked for not retreating at a free kick, and subsequently finds himself sent off for two yellow cards.

Oops!

 Now with ten men, up against it. 72nd minute and Buchwald made way for Burak, and it was his free kick in the 78th minute, swung in from the left, and captain NiKo Werner glanced a header in to the net.


All that was left was for Paddy (that is what I shall call him) Spilker to produce another great save down low to his right, to deny an equalisor.


So all in all, a great performance. Yes, Hildesheim were wasteful, but in parts of the game, totally outclassed. Roll on Sunday when we host Osnabrück II.