The Sherry Derby

Xerez Deportivo bar
~ From Boothferry To Germany ~ 4 Comments

This weekend would have marked the beginning of the Feria de Jerez; the annual celebration of the various traditions that collectively define the intoxicating Flamenco culture of Spain’s south. Horsemanship, Sevillana dancing, delicate guitar playing, melancholy singing and – of course – sherry are all consumed in abundance by locals eager to revel in the cultural vibrancy of their ville. Coincidentally, today marks two months since the FBTG team last attended a Football game, which happened to be the biggest game of the 2019/2020 season played in Jerez de la Frontera. Though it may seem Continue reading →

The Kozakken Boys

Kozakken Boys fc
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It isn’t often the FBTG boys wake up on a Saturday morning in the Netherlands. But when we do, we are seldom in a state to drive.

On our first Football-culture trip to the Netherlands, stadium tours in Alkmaar and Amsterdam were pleasant, but ultimately outdone by a rain-soaked yet brilliant Friday evening contest between SC Telstar and FC Twente and the Rabobank IJmond Stadion in IJmuiden. Mercifully Continue reading →

10 Great Half-Time Reads

Football culture books
~ From Boothferry To Germany ~ 2 Comments

As usual, one of the first things I did when I woke up this afternoon was to scroll through my social media feeds. “Happy World Book Day!“. I normally take literal interest in such egregiously lame attempts to celebrate something for the sake of it, but, for some reason, I decided to consult your favourite search engine to check.

The search results were inconclusive. As far as I can tell, World Book Day falls either on the 5th of March or the 23rd of April, or possibly on both. Now, it is sad enough that the average person reads as seldom as they do. But devaluing such a pleasurable and rewarding act by lumping it in with these international days of “empowerment” twice really pissed us off.

Let’s fucking do away with “World Book Day” and encourage each other to Continue reading →

Sunnis, Sukarno and Soccer Pt II

Palembang fans
~ From Boothferry To Germany ~ 1 Comment

For part I of Sunnis, Sukarno and Soccer, please click here.

It is easy to make the mental leap that Indonesia is “more Muslim” than its sibling Malaysia is. But if that is the case, why are Koranic prayers read at before Football matches in Malaysia and not in Indonesia? The answer perhaps lies in the path to independence of both modern nation states.

It is something of a sour point to the Chinese and Indian Malaysians that Islam, a faith that is entirely foreign to them, has been chosen as their state religion. Yet in a country where ethnicity is a factor that influences your legal rights and civil status, the Chinese and Indian Malaysians are somewhat used to playing second fiddle.

The British shipped their ancestors into their Southeast Asian territories in Continue reading →

Sunnis, Sukarno and Soccer Pt I

JDT Malaysian super league
~ From Boothferry To Germany ~ 1 Comment

A gruff voice boomed across the ground, magnified to ensure absolute clarity. The chatter of noise from the terraces abruptly stopped, all spectators shuffled to their feet. Way down below I was already on mine, but to my left I noticed a handful of young men in one of the media boxes end their conversation and put their smartphones away in haste, before bowing their heads. The exact message of the announcement was lost on me, but I Continue reading →