Fighting Terrace Homogeneity

June 21, 2017June 21, 2017 ~ From Boothferry To Germany ~ 3 Comments

Ultra lifestyle Social Media pages such as “Ultras World” share images and stories from fanatics around the world, the best tifos and pyro shows spreading globally. But when these Social Media pages share images or stories from games in England, they tend to result in lists of comments criticising the modern English stadium atmospheres. “RIP England” and the like. Followers from Casablanca to Java are simply not seeing choreos, pyrotechnic use, custom flags and in-stadium clashes, what they believe characterise good atmosphere, in England. The simple conclusion is that England doesn’t have fanatics and atmosphere any more. FBTG openly acknowledges that English Continue reading →

On Tour 2017

Image ~ June 19, 2017June 21, 2017 ~ From Boothferry To Germany ~ Leave a comment

That moment when you just gotta leave your mark but you left all your Aufkleber at home.

Dedicated to the pretty waitress who served me discounted beer and let me scribble all over her father’s restaurant. Not that she will ever visit this page….

Enjoy your week.

fbtg

A Day in the Life of FBTG

June 17, 2017 ~ From Boothferry To Germany ~ Leave a comment

A rewrite of our post Angry Cops And Belgians, our account of that famous Europa League Knockout clash between Sporting Lokeren and Hull City when the Black & Amber Army came up against the Flanders Law Enforcement. We’re now taking the same match to tell the story of an average FBTG away day. Continue reading →

Ultras Aufkleber of the Week – RB Leipzig

Image ~ June 16, 2017 ~ From Boothferry To Germany ~ Leave a comment

Okay we’ll come clean. This Aufkleber is not from RB Leipzig, but from some other unknown Ultra group (obviously German) demonstrating against the team’s business model and success. This attitude is common across the Bundesliga, and in our post ‘Why Do Germans Hate RB Leipzig So Much?‘ we explore a cultural explanation why.

Nein zu RB Leipzig Aufkleber

fbtg

We Are Canton | Guangzhou Pt 1

June 14, 2017June 20, 2017 ~ From Boothferry To Germany ~ Leave a comment

Guangzhou Evergrande at home to Chongqing Lifan was next on our CSL itinerary. Evergrande, the current dominant force in Chinese Football, were massive favourites at the Tianhe Stadium in the modern city centre (and won 2-0). Tickets purchased and in we went to explore and take photographs prior to the ground filling. We were next to the Ultra block, so we took the liberty of going beneath it to photograph the banners and sector flags with little opposition to do so. One banner caught our eye quickly; “WE Continue reading →

Go On Guoan

June 9, 2017 ~ From Boothferry To Germany ~ 2 Comments

All the other bloggers writing about the rise of the Chinese Super League do it from afar. We wanted to check out the scene first hand. Welcome to your first primary research blog post about Football in China.

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Walking around Beijing, there are no clues that there is a Football club at all. Nobody is wearing the jerseys, there is no colourful graffiti, no Continue reading →

Beijing Bird’s Nest

Image ~ June 7, 2017June 9, 2017 ~ From Boothferry To Germany ~ 3 Comments

After a night of beers we somehow ended up at the Beijing Olympic Park, fortunately with the camera. The National Stadium a.k.a. “The Bird’s Nest” glowed orange as we approached, but the lights suddenly went out. We however much preferred the sight of cold steel weaving in and out, both Continue reading →

One Night in Kiev

May 22, 2017 ~ From Boothferry To Germany ~ 1 Comment

My guide picked me up at the station and found the bus line needed. It’s one of those adorable post-communist buses with peeling paint and a conductor sat in a high-viz issuing tickets. As we approach Kiev’s Olympic Stadium, quite a sight to see, the vast amount of police becomes apparent.

“Can you ask what’s going on?”.

My guide walks up to a guy in knock-off sportswear and they talk.

“Okay so there is a Football game right now inside that Continue reading →