Nearly six months after our previous trip, we headed back to Germany. Then, our main attraction was the Schalke v Bochum clash, this time it was the return fixture. Over the intervening months, our group had grown to thirteen, including four from Leicester. After all the planning, a late snowfall threatened to ruin our weekend. The night before depature, nearly all of the flights in and out of Stansted were be cancelled, causing us no end of worry.
But after a broken night sleep, staring out of the window at regular intervals, we awoke to find that the snow had melted. After picking up Olly in Barnet, I drove on to Stansted where we met up with Graham, on his first Euro trip. If Pete had been with us, we would doubtless have sunk a couple in the airport pub, as it was we settled for breakfast, amusing ourselves that someone had reserved a table. In Wetherspoon's. Well, it was Valentine's weekend.
While the snow had melted around Barnet, there was still plenty at the airport. Thankfully it didn't affect the flight.
Ryanair, cheap flights, even cheaper snacks.
After landing at Weeze, we made our way to Cologne, where we would meet the Leicester four, who had travlled on the train via Brussels.
It was here that we had lunch and sampled our first beers of the trip. In Cologne, this means Kolsch and Dom. As the saying goes, Kolsch and Dom are to Cologne, as Romeo is to Juliet.
After a while, it was back on the train as we headed north to Oberhausen to meet up with the others, who had come an assortment of ways. Most impressive was John G, who had been forced to take a taxi from City to Heathrow after his flight had been cancelled, but did at least arrive in Dusseldorf (Dusseldorf) rather than Dusseldorf (Field near Holland) as we had done.
The Niederrheinstadion was our first destination of the weekend. The surrounds suggested it would be a typical Bundesliga 2 ground (ie rickety and decrepit). Still, the Pauli fans were friendly enough.
Pauli fans:
The police (as ever far more than necesarry):
With Pauli pushing for promotion, and RWO struggling at the wrong end of the table, it was something of a surprise when the home side apparently raced into a three goal lead within the first twenty minutes. I say apparently because I completely missed the first two goals. My excuse is that they were at the other end and I hadn't bought my telescope.
Pauli pulled one back in the second half, but couldn't find an equaliser, givign a final score of 3-2.
It was here that we had lunch and sampled our first beers of the trip. In Cologne, this means Kolsch and Dom. As the saying goes, Kolsch and Dom are to Cologne, as Romeo is to Juliet.
After a while, it was back on the train as we headed north to Oberhausen to meet up with the others, who had come an assortment of ways. Most impressive was John G, who had been forced to take a taxi from City to Heathrow after his flight had been cancelled, but did at least arrive in Dusseldorf (Dusseldorf) rather than Dusseldorf (Field near Holland) as we had done.
The Niederrheinstadion was our first destination of the weekend. The surrounds suggested it would be a typical Bundesliga 2 ground (ie rickety and decrepit). Still, the Pauli fans were friendly enough. 
This was not the most modern of arenas! We stood in the open air, got snowed on. There was a huge running track seperating us from the pitch and the toliets (accesible via a muddy embankment) were full of stickers.
Pauli fans:
The police (as ever far more than necesarry):
With Pauli pushing for promotion, and RWO struggling at the wrong end of the table, it was something of a surprise when the home side apparently raced into a three goal lead within the first twenty minutes. I say apparently because I completely missed the first two goals. My excuse is that they were at the other end and I hadn't bought my telescope. Pauli pulled one back in the second half, but couldn't find an equaliser, givign a final score of 3-2. Still, it had been fun, and we went away with the tune of Whoah, Oh, Oh, RWO spinning in our heads.
Asleep
Awake
Next autumn, we're all off to Tilburg! For now though, it was pride of the Pott that was at stake.
Ready to go, it was up to the stadium:
The atmosphere and the game were both absolutely brilliant. Despite an early strike for the visitors, Bochum kept pressing and forced twelve corners in the first half without reply. Bochum piled on the pressure and just before the break Mimoun Azaouagh belted in the equaliser. 1-1 at half time.
Since last season, the hard beer cups have been replaced by flimsier plastic ones and a good job. The number that went flying, mine among them, as Christoph Dabrowski poked in the winner minutes after the break, was insane.
Our first win for Vfl, and what a time to do it.
The aftermath:
Before long the B3Eck beckoned and in Brinkhoff's the party continued. Tief in Westhooooorrrnn...
Whatever else might be better in Germany (ie. most things), curries are not one of them. This was not the wisest of choices for a post match meal, though at least there was some change from Cobra and Kingfisher.
Back at Brinkhoff's, we met Christoph, who had driven up from Luxembourg just for the evening. Shame his brother wasn't quite so attentive.
He did not disappoint, and soon enough was slobbering all over Hayley:
Much to John's envy:
So as not to feel left out, John got a kiss too.
But Hayley was clearly preferred:
Soon enough everyone was too drunk to care.
Sunday 15th February - Vfl Osnabruck v 1.FSV Mainz 05
The morning after the night before. Impressively, everyone managed to make it up for the Sunday morning train to Osnabruck. Everyone, that is, except for Potter, who it seemed had come off a little worse for wear and was sleeping it off in the hotel. The hangover cure of choice today was Haribo.
Still lots of snow about.
As ever in Germany, there are two ways to travel. John Lewis and Graham had paid a premium for the inter-city train, while the rest of us contented ourselves with a the voyage of discovery that is the Schones Wochenende. This time, it gave us forty minutes in Munster that I went off to explore with Tom.
Game over, we headed back to Bochum, changing again at Duisburg to pick up our bags. Duisburg Hbf had a strange array of displays from the customary model train set to some fishing rods.
Back in Bochum, we checked into the hotel, after which most of us headed out for one or two quiet drinks in Brinkhoff's. Pete (who had just arrived having spent the day in the office) & the Leicester crew stayed rather longer; the promised 3am 'early night' never quite materialising.
Derbyday! And a hangover. Damn. Never mind, after a hearty breakfast in the hotel it was over the road with the best cure of them all, beer.
Asleep
Awake
Since my last trip, my badge collection had grown. Many thanks to Danny Last, Brighton fan and creator of http://www.europeanfootballweekends.blogspot.com/ and the facebook group of the same name. From the success of the group it seems that there are many others with a similar interest in European football tours.
Next autumn, we're all off to Tilburg! For now though, it was pride of the Pott that was at stake.
As ever, we made our way to the Bierkutscher for a few pre-match drinks.
Ready to go, it was up to the stadium:
The atmosphere and the game were both absolutely brilliant. Despite an early strike for the visitors, Bochum kept pressing and forced twelve corners in the first half without reply. Bochum piled on the pressure and just before the break Mimoun Azaouagh belted in the equaliser. 1-1 at half time.Since last season, the hard beer cups have been replaced by flimsier plastic ones and a good job. The number that went flying, mine among them, as Christoph Dabrowski poked in the winner minutes after the break, was insane.
Schalke hit the post in the last minute but it ended 2-1. The old tunes came out, the Ostkurve doing the Humba and the South Stand lighting candles.
Our first win for Vfl, and what a time to do it.
The aftermath:
Back in the Bierkutscher, now totally surrounded by the Polezei, it was time to party.
Before long the B3Eck beckoned and in Brinkhoff's the party continued. Tief in Westhooooorrrnn...
Whatever else might be better in Germany (ie. most things), curries are not one of them. This was not the wisest of choices for a post match meal, though at least there was some change from Cobra and Kingfisher.
Back at Brinkhoff's, we met Christoph, who had driven up from Luxembourg just for the evening. Shame his brother wasn't quite so attentive.I have observed that when Pete goes to Germany, he occasionally has a beer or two.
He did not disappoint, and soon enough was slobbering all over Hayley:
Much to John's envy:
So as not to feel left out, John got a kiss too.
But Hayley was clearly preferred:
Soon enough everyone was too drunk to care.
Sunday 15th February - Vfl Osnabruck v 1.FSV Mainz 05 The morning after the night before. Impressively, everyone managed to make it up for the Sunday morning train to Osnabruck. Everyone, that is, except for Potter, who it seemed had come off a little worse for wear and was sleeping it off in the hotel. The hangover cure of choice today was Haribo.
Still lots of snow about.
As ever in Germany, there are two ways to travel. John Lewis and Graham had paid a premium for the inter-city train, while the rest of us contented ourselves with a the voyage of discovery that is the Schones Wochenende. This time, it gave us forty minutes in Munster that I went off to explore with Tom.
Here Tom bought himself a Magnum...
and others some more spirits:
In Osnabruck, we made the short walk to the ground, minus John & Graham, their inter-city train having been delayed. The irony.
The delay gave us time to collect the tickets and sample the delights around the ground.
and others some more spirits:
In Osnabruck, we made the short walk to the ground, minus John & Graham, their inter-city train having been delayed. The irony.
The delay gave us time to collect the tickets and sample the delights around the ground.
The Piepenbrockstadion had been described to me as old skool, but I didn't see it. It looked very modern to me, closed in on four sides and looking like it had the potential for a great atmosphere.
Unfortunately, our tickets were not in the curva but in the opposite end, next to the Mainz fans.
One reasonable spot, but we couldn't stand here.
The game itself was not the best, after an early strike Osnabruck fell apart and Mainz ended up winning 3-1. 
Back at the Hauptbahnhof, it was time to go our separate ways as the trip drew to a close.
Air Berlin then flew us home, in it must be said rather more style than Ryanair. The flight may have been £30 more, but we did get a free sandwich. What a way to round off a trip.
Unfortunately, our tickets were not in the curva but in the opposite end, next to the Mainz fans.
As we had arrived late, all the good places had gone and so we were left with a view that was frankly abysmal.
One reasonable spot, but we couldn't stand here.
It is said that German football is great value, and Euro 12 to see a game in the second division is pretty good. In practice, we only really saw half the game, if you want to see the whole thing you buy a seat for twice the price.
The game itself was not the best, after an early strike Osnabruck fell apart and Mainz ended up winning 3-1. 
Back at the Hauptbahnhof, it was time to go our separate ways as the trip drew to a close.
Leaving the others behind, Olly and Graham joined me on the bus back to Munster-Osnabruck airport.
Air Berlin then flew us home, in it must be said rather more style than Ryanair. The flight may have been £30 more, but we did get a free sandwich. What a way to round off a trip.
