football culture

Wedding & the Boateng Brothers

Boateng Brothers Wedding
Image ~ ~ From Boothferry To Germany ~ 4 Comments

When you did your stop in Berlin on your European interrailing trip when you were 20, you didn’t stay in Wedding. If you listen to local radio, the news bulletin will frequently talk of bank jobs or violent muggings in the Wedding neighbourhood. One to avoid for outsiders. Much of the former West is known for sophistication and high-end boutiques, over-indulgence and a socialite lifestyle. The former East is known for drug tourism, house music clubbing at 8am, thriving small businesses and now a wave of 20 something Brits quickly snapping up cheap property to escape the looming post-Brexit-meltdown.

Wedding is known for cheap Schawarma, hooka bars and “Kanackisch”. This Continue reading →

Mein Rostock, unser Hansa

Hansa Rostock graffiti
~ From Boothferry To Germany ~ 17 Comments

You’ve not made it as a city until a pop song has been written for you. New York. Paris. Amsterdam. Bangkok. Erm, Amarillo. This tradition exists among songwriters in other languages also. In German, the ballads are usually dedicated to the romance, excitement and hedonism of Berlin. It lends itself far better to poetry than, for example, Bremerhaven. But one unlikely German city has found itself subject of a modern smash-hit.

Rostock. The song Continue reading →

Why do Germans Hate RB Leipzig so much?

Nein zu RB Leipzig Aufkleber
~ From Boothferry To Germany ~ 10 Comments

You know the story. One of East Germany’s biggest “start-ups” now looks a challenger for the Bundesliga title, at time of writing. The story has drawn a different kind of foreign attention to the Bundesliga. Outsiders frequently acknowledge the excellency of the German Football experience, but now they are hearing more about the stark mainstream rejection of this story on behalf of fans. Why do Germans hate RB Leipzig so much? German society and culture play a big part. Continue reading →

All I Got For Christmas Was A Dukla Prague Away Day

Union Berlin Dukla Prag
~ From Boothferry To Germany ~ 8 Comments

This time last year 1. FC Union Berlin hosted SV Austria Salzburg in a ‘charity match’ friendly with proceeds going to everyone’s favourite fan-owned club in the Mozart-Stadt. We were there for the game in the away end with the Salzbürger for what was a momentous occasion and a rowdy atmosphere during the customary January Bundesliga hiatus that makes every German Football loon twitchy. Some, so fed up of the lack Continue reading →

Immorality in the Odds Market

Mike Phelan
Aside ~ ~ From Boothferry To Germany ~ 1 Comment

So after only 78 days in charge of Hull City, Mike Phelan, former assistant manager to Mr Bruce before he quit in the summer, found his tenure of the club cut short yesterday evening. A press conference was called and we the exhiled Black and Amber Faithful woke to learn of the club’s search for a new manager this morning. I know what you’re thinking. Exactly what you want to happen when you’re at the foot of the table in the transfer window.

We are not going to question whether or not it was warranted. We are not going to Continue reading →

Angry Cops And Belgians

Lokeren train station
~ From Boothferry To Germany ~ 12 Comments

A wall of aggression. A barrier of taxpayers’ money. One single channel holding 2,000 fans in complete anarchy. Glassware continued to rain down indiscriminately. A middle-aged woman behind me shook with fear. Two men burst through the crowd, one supporting the other, blood rolling down his face. It wasn’t a fight because it wasn’t fair. Our travelling support suffered greatly; it was more than humiliation Continue reading →