Happy winterpause! Thanks you for all your help and support with the book this year.
All Together Now
Happy winterpause! Thanks you for all your help and support with the book this year.
(Football) season's greetings
This will probably upset my publisher, so I'd better put in the caveat that copies of Pirates, Punks & Politics are still available here! But really, as FCSP fans all we want for Christmas is #Nakiback with apologies to Half Man Half Biscuit and others.
Bollzen
with Ian Joy
Socialist Review
"More than just a story of a love affair with a football team
— to describe it as Fever Pitch with politics would be a huge insult."
Rebecca Bryson, Socialist Review
Rebecca Bryson, Socialist Review
Just published, a lovely review of the book in Socialist Review. Including my favourite pull-quote of all time (although, to be fair, I love Fever Pitch!) Many thanks! Read it here.
Available at The National Football Museum...
Pirates, Punks & Politics is available at The National Football Museum in Manchester. Many thanks to Nicole Cunliffe and Fuzz Meister for the photo! Forza Sankt Pauli!
Playing Politics: Politics in Sport
Back in June I was delighted to take part
in Playing
Politics: Politics in Sport festival at the People’s History Museum in Manchester.
Having not visited the Museum before, I
found it a really inspiring place. Documenting the history of working people in
Britain, it was so refreshing to wander through the exhibits, seeing the
achievements of real, working people celebrated. In an era where the political
and economic elite persist in demonizing the working class, using the age-old
(but finely-tuned) techniques of divide and rule to drive a wedge between
public and private sector workers; the unemployed and the working poor;
economic migrants and more established communities it was incredible to see the
progress that can be made if we put aside the crap the elite feed us and work
together. Of course, hysterical stories about migrants and refugees, stealing
‘our’ jobs and bringing the country to its knees is just Daily Mail hyperbole designed to protect those really looting the
nation for all it is worth – big business and the bankers. We live in a time
where wages are suppressed to record lows, yet corporate profits and
shareholders dividends continue to grow. They really don’t want us to work that
out. Owen Jones pretty much nails it here.
The trade union banners were a particular
highlight. I especially loved the Country Standard banner, embroidered with the
legend: ‘Peace and Socialism in the Countryside’ – stick that in your pipe and
smoke it Countryside Alliance!
After an enjoyable wander around the
museum, it was time to attend the talks. I was on near the end, which gave me
plenty of time to feel nervous, but also to listen to some other really
interesting presentations. I enjoyed learning about the ‘Tennis Radicals’
Arthur Ashe and Billie Jean King along with the story of Dick, Kerr Ladies FC –
a factory team – who back in1921 played to over 900,000 fans. Both papers were
presented eloquently by Peter Marsden.
Of obvious interest to me was Michael Lavalette’s presentation on the Green Brigade, there being so
many close links between the Green Brigade and Ultra Sankt Pauli. We also
managed a nice book swap, which saw me bag a copy of the excellent Capitalism and Sport.
My talk went ok, with my overview
of the fan scene at St. Pauli turning into its usual recruitment drive, trying
to persuade people to visit the Millerntor!
It was a pleasure to discuss
sport and politics with so many distinguished speakers and a well-informed
audience. It was even nicer to discover that a place like the People’s History
Museum exists. It’s about time our story was told and celebrated. People not profit.
Blog about the Museum and FCSP v SV Sandhausen
Here's my latest blog, which looks at the F*ck You, Freudenhaus! Das Millerntor exhibition and St. Pauli's 2-1 win over Sandhausen.
New York times – Book launch and conference debut, blogged
East River Bar
Still playing catch up here... Back in April, I was fortunate enough to be invited to New York to speak about FC St. Pauli at Hofstra University's conference: Soccer as the Beautiful Game – Football’s Artistry, Identity and Politics. I was also lucky enough to combine this with visiting the East River Pirates, New York's wondeful St. Pauli fanclub. Read about it, in quite some detail, here.
Millerntor Exhibition (until 30.08.2014)
I was asked to do a few Skype interviews with St. Pauli fans from around the world and I'm looking forward to seeing the results (and the rest of the exhibition in August), reports and pictures to follow.
One of the highlights of the exhibition is the scale model of the Millerntor, that has been lovingly recreated. I'm also looking forward to seeing the model of the 'Freakwave' stand that was one of the options for a rebuilt Gegengerade.
The people behind the Museum project deserve a lot of praise, they give up an awful lot of free-time to make events like this happen. It's is great to be connected with them via the book.
Find out more about the exhibition here: http://www.millerntor-ausstellung.de/
8th ANTIRA SANKT PAULI Weekend
It's long overdue, but here is a report on my trip to the 8th ANTIRA Sankt Pauli tournament and the Millerntor Gallery #4. It was a hell of a weekend and another reminder of what makes St. Pauli great.
Übersteiger articles
Here's a scan of an article about the Lampedusa march in October 2013,
translated into German and published in Übersteiger 113.
And below is a scan of Übersteiger's review of
Pirates, Punks &Politics from issue 114.
Pirates, Punks &Politics from issue 114.
Millerntor Gallery #4 and 8th ANTIRA Sankt Pauli
Really excited to be taking part in two amazing events in Hamburg this weekend. I am speaking about the book at the Millerntor Gallery on Saturday 31 May at 2.30pm and also taking part in the 8th ANTIRA Sankt Pauli guesting for Republica Internationale of Leeds.
Millerntor Gallery is a joint project between Viva Con Agua and FC St. Pauli, raising money and awareness for Viva Con Agua's clean drinking water projects around the world. The event runs from 29 - 31 May 2014 at the Millerntor Stadium. I'll be posting photos and a report from the even next week.
The 8th ANTIRA Sankt Pauli is running concurrently to the Millerntor Gallery, bringing together 35 like-minded anti-fascist teams from around Europe. There's football, discussion groups and entertainment. This year, for the first time, the tournament is being held on the pitch at the Millerntor.
It promises to be a fantastic weekend of football, art and politics.
Millerntor Gallery is a joint project between Viva Con Agua and FC St. Pauli, raising money and awareness for Viva Con Agua's clean drinking water projects around the world. The event runs from 29 - 31 May 2014 at the Millerntor Stadium. I'll be posting photos and a report from the even next week.
The 8th ANTIRA Sankt Pauli is running concurrently to the Millerntor Gallery, bringing together 35 like-minded anti-fascist teams from around Europe. There's football, discussion groups and entertainment. This year, for the first time, the tournament is being held on the pitch at the Millerntor.
It promises to be a fantastic weekend of football, art and politics.
Just 17
Dear Boller,
Over the course of this weekend alone, thousands of words have been written about you and what you mean to FC St. Pauli. Even in retirement, you’ll never have a chance to read through them all, but hopefully just knowing that so many people have felt the need to put pen to paper (or sit at a keyboard) will make you realise how much you mean to us all.
I only joined your adventure halfway through in 2007, but you scored the first goal that me and my Dad ever saw at the Millerntor (against Bayer Leverkusen in the DFB Pokal). It happened in an instant, yet I can still see it clear as day: you sliding in to score in front of the Nordkurve, wheeling away to celebrate, sliding on your knees, in front of the old Haupttibüne. That 87th minute goal crowned a perfect first visit to the Millerntor and it played its part in me returning as often as I could in the years that followed.
Of course, back on that sunny August afternoon, I was struggling to drink it all in: the fans, the atmosphere, the pitch, the players – the Millerntor was a football experience like no other, it literally blew my mind. I must admit, it wasn’t you that stood out that day for me, but your fellow midfielder Björn Brunnemann. I put it down to the fact it was his debut, he seemed to be an all-action type player, full of energy. In reality it was probably his shock of punk-rock, bleach-blonde hair that made him stand out ;) Indeed, shamefully, it took me a little while longer to realize that it was you Boller, who was the beating-heart, lungs, legs, guts, spirit and so often the brains behind FC St. Pauli in the years that followed. Of course, there have been others too, others that have represented something of St. Pauli’s passion and spirit during my time as a fan: both Florians’ Bruns and Lechner, Takyi, Naki, Eger, Ralle, Bene and Ebbers – I love them all dearly, but over my seven years following FCSP I have realized that you are the modern day embodiment of FC St. Pauli.
There’s so many matches, not even matches, seasons, where you have driven the side forward both physically and mentally. Pushing them over the line. We owe a great deal of the promotion from the Regionalliga in 2006/07 (which admittedly I only watched via the highlights DVD) and the return to the Bundesliga in 2009/10 to you. There were important goals too. We could see from your face what your goal at the Millerntor against HSV in 2010 meant to you. On a personal note, your goal at SV Freiburg that same season meant a lot to me: it was the first game I took my daughter to. As a result, it means that you scored the first goal that three generations of my family had seen watching FCSP (it also triggered the comeback and our eventual 3-1 victory down in the Black Forest on another boiling hot August afternoon).
I can’t believe that your St. Pauli adventure is coming to an end. I wish you weren’t retiring as I still think you’ve got at least another season in you at this level. The influence you have on the pitch you still command was still evident last Sunday in Köln – when you came on, a rudderless, listless and tactically all at sea ship was almost instantly steadied. Sure you couldn’t alter the result, but you instilled some stability and passion into a side that was sadly lacking in all departments. However, I can appreciate the amount you have given on the pitch has taken its toll on your body physically. But also, never underestimate the influence that you have had off the pitch. You have made a genuine connection with those of us that watch from the stands. We understand that you hold the club as close to your heart as we do. You have stood with the fans, supporting us on numerous issues. You have earned our trust and respect – not bad for a policeman, eh? ;) You share our passion and our principles, and that’s why we love you.
In so many ways this feels like the end of an era. I worry that not enough of the players coming through share your ethos, or recognise the need for the bond between player and supporter (although I’m delighted that at least Sebastian Schachten seems to have picked up the baton).
Anyhow, these are just my reflections on your contribution to FC St. Pauli’s rich history. There are many people better placed and who can explain far more eloquently than me what you mean to us all, but I just wanted you know that you will never be replaced in our hearts. Thanks for everything.
You’ll Never Walk Alone.
Nick
talkSPORT interview
For a limited time only (some may view this as fortunate!) you can listen again to my talkSPORT interview with Danny Kelly and Andy Jacobs right here
FC St. Pauli TV
Here's my interview for FC St. Pauli TV filmed before the game against Ingolstadt on 22nd April. Scary stuff!
New York Launch
Pirates, Punks and Politics is Coming To America on Friday 11th April with a launch to coincide with the screening of FCSP v Kaiserslautern at the East River Bar in Brooklyn. They'll be a short Q&A and an opportunity to buy the book during the half-time break. Can't wait!
Earlier the same day, Nick is speaking at Hofstra University's Soccer as the Beautiful Game: Football's Artistry, Identity and Politics conference.
Earlier the same day, Nick is speaking at Hofstra University's Soccer as the Beautiful Game: Football's Artistry, Identity and Politics conference.
Populism, Politics and Football Clubs, Friday 11th April, 11.15am-1pm
at East Multipurpose Room, Sondra and David S. Mack Student Center, North Campus.
at East Multipurpose Room, Sondra and David S. Mack Student Center, North Campus.
I would fly 800 miles...
I would fly eight hundred miles
And I would fly eight hundred more
Just to be the man who flew a thousand (okay, sixteen hundred) miles
To watch another 0-0 draw…
And I would fly eight hundred more
Just to be the man who flew a thousand (okay, sixteen hundred) miles
To watch another 0-0 draw…
Massive apologies to The Proclaimers, but
I’ve had these lines going round in my head all week.
It’s a bit of luck we don’t go to St. Pauli
for the football, eh? This was my second 0-0 on the bounce, the first being the
home game against SV Sandhausen in October – both dreadful games. Fortunately,
like the Sandhausen trip that ended up being a precursor for the Lampedusa
refugee march, the game against Ingolstadt was only one part of a busy weekend.
I was over for the Fanladen launch of Pirates, Punks and Politics and as a
result, had a pretty packed schedule. Even before I’d left Heathrow – by the
power of a St. Pauli hoodie – I’d got chatting to a Celtic/St. Pauli fan called
Scott who was also on his way to the match. In true St. Pauli fashion, on the
U-Bahn into town we discovered we were both trying to text the same person (hello,
Sönke!) about arrangements for later. After dumping my bag at the Fanladen and
a quickly consumed Astra to steady the nerves, I legged it round to the Haupttribüne to meet the guys from St.
Pauli FM. I was pretty sure I was at the right entrance, but after a bit of a
text message mix-up, I decided I wasn’t and started the search for the mythical
northern entrance to the Haupttribüne! This basically involved me doing a lap
of the stadium, realizing pretty quickly that the entrance in the north-east
corner of the ground was for away fans, sprinting round past the bunker,
through the Dom, squeezing through the crowds trying to get into the Südkurve
back to where I’d started. Eventually, I got in and found myself sitting high
up in the press box with a cracking view of the Gegengerade as it began filling
up with people. It’s a pretty inspiring sight, I’ve only ever really seen the
Gegengerade on matchdays from the Südkurve, where it looks pretty impressive,
but from directly opposite it looked incredible. Anyhow, despite being nervous
and slightly sweaty from my warm-up lap of the Millerntor, I bumbled my way
through my radio interview, which included a comedy reading-out of the St.
Pauli team, where I realized two things. First, I can’t pronounce ANYTHING
properly in German (which ironically also means I could do a decent job
commentating on FCSP for BTSport) and, second, that there’s still a fair few of
this new(ish) squad that I don’t really know. Oh, for the days of Tayki, Naki,
Sako & Co. I then got nabbed for an interview with St.Pauli TV, which was
even more nerve-racking as, unlike radio, TV highlights my slightly manic (and
born of nerves) ‘arm waving whilst being interviewed’ technique. Still, at
least, in the space of 45 minutes I’d ruled out future careers in both radio
and television. Finally, then, I was free of media duties – please don’t think
I’m sounding ungrateful, I’m not at all, it made for a really different
pre-match experience, it was just all slightly surreal.
As a result of getting onto
the Südkurve late, I found myself tucked down in the corner by the Gegengerade.
I’d wanted to try and find the guys from Catalunya who were over watching, but
it wasn’t to be. Then, after some great flag-based choreo from the USP, the
game was underway. To say I can’t remember a single incident of note from the
match itself isn’t an exaggeration. Literally nothing exciting happened. Indeed,
the highlight of the second-half was watching Ralph Gunesch warming-up in front
of us for Ingolstadt – further confirmation that I am rooted in the past, or
that I’ve just not bonded with the new St. Pauli team yet. Is it just me, or do
the current team seem a bit devoid of characters?
However, there were two
curios that came about as a result of the game, both not your typical St.
Pauli. First was the appearance of a large Union Jack flag in the middle of the
Gegengerade. It didn’t look like something brought along by chance, as I think
it had ‘FCSP’ stenciled in the middle. Seemed like a strange choice: maybe
ironic, maybe genuine? I’ve not had a chance to check various internet forums
for more information. It just seemed odd. I know the USP, quite rightly
disapprove of national flags on the Südkurve (which fits in nicely with my own
feelings about ‘no nations, no borders’) but it is not unusual to see various
national flags cropping up elsewhere: the Cuban flag, the Irish tricolor or
flags representing the Basque region, or indeed Catalunya, it’s just that I’d
never thought I’d see a Union Jack at the Millerntor. Again, maybe I’m rooted
in the past and a certain historical/political mindset. As the Union Jack
reminds me of growing up in the 1970s and ‘80s England with all its links to
the far-right. Then there’s the flag as the uncomfortable visualization of
patriotism, ‘Great’ Britain, ‘Empire’ and everything that conjures up. And of
course, Morrissey at Finsbury Park… ;) You get the picture: I’m no fan of the
Union Jack – take it down, it clashes with the sunset as Billy Bragg would say.
Second was the treatment of
the referee, Bibiana Steinhaus.
I’d seen her ref a couple of games prior to this one and she’d done a good job.
Today, however, she had an average game (in my opinion, and I’m no referee!) I
don’t think her case was helped by the bity nature of the game and the creeping
frustration of the home crowd, who (despite our shaky home form) expected a
win. As the game wore on, it seemed to become more disrupted by the referee’s
whistle and more often than not those breaks in play were given as free-kicks
to Ingolstadt. Like I said, frustration played a big part in this, both from
the St. Pauli players on the pitch making rash challenges in an increasingly
desperate attempt to break the deadlock and from the fans equally desperate for
three points. At the time, I wondered what sort of criticism Steinhaus was
getting from the stands (again, a lack of German failed to help here.) At
full-time, as Steinhaus and her team made their way to the tunnel there was a crescendo of boos and whistles. I didn’t think too much more
of it, until I got a text from someone watching back in the UK asking if the
team got booed off. Perhaps some of the jeers were directed at the team, but to
me it felt like the loudest criticism was saved for the officials. Much later
that night, in the Jolly Roger, I raised the treatment of the referee in a
discussion, and it seemed my initial suspicions were confirmed. She,
apparently, got a bit of sexist abuse from fans standing on the Gegengerade.
This very un-St. Pauli treatment of
the referee was a real shame and a reality check on how far football (even at
St. Pauli) still has to go to rid the game of sexism. It was disappointing,
although as ever with FCSP fans, it is good to see that so many people were angry
and outraged by the sexist abuse that was directed at Steinhaus.
All that aside, it
was a dull game. I decided that prior to meeting up with everyone at the
Fanladen for the book launch, I’d check into my hotel and have a bit of a nap.
An hour or so later, I was refreshed by sleep and chocolate and headed down to the Fanladen to meet up with the guys from Der Übersteiger’s ‘Millernton’ podcast to record a short interview.
Again, it’s these moments long after the final whistle that make the trip. After exchanging about a million emails during the editing process for the book, I finally got to meet Christoph Nagel. It was great to be able to thank him for all his hard work. Sönke’s help with the editing was also invaluable although he had taken it on himself to celebrate with a beer or two, which manifested itself in an uncanny ability to repeatedly knock bits of artwork of the wall of the Fanladen throughout the book Q&A session!
The book Q&A, like the ones before it in Leeds and London, turned out to be an immensely enjoyable affair. Massive thanks to everyone at the Fanladen for helping it happen, especially Stefan (on bar duty) and Kolja (selling books!) The evening kicked-off with Sönke reading from the FourFourTwo article from 2005 (not 2006 as I’d misremembered) that got me into St. Pauli in the first place. Sönke had picked up a copy on a trip to Glasgow, lent it to a friend years ago, but magically managed to get it back earlier in the day. I then did a short intro about how the book came about, then it was on to my favourite bit: the discussion. I wouldn’t really call it a Q&A, as I don’t really have any actual answers, but it was a brilliant opportunity to share thoughts and ideas on FC St. Pauli; fan culture; differences between German football and the rest of Europe; and hopes and fears for the future. The discussion was so intense that we had to stop for a ‘half-time’ break so people could go to the bar and/or the toilet! It was a real international gathering with contributions from fans from as far afield as Catalunya, Netherlands, France, Scotland and the Canada.
To be honest, after the Q&A, I was expecting to head back to the hotel, write a piece for Der Übersteiger and then get an early night but, of course, in true St. Pauli style, there was no chance of that. Before I knew it, I was sitting in the wonderful Backbord now located on Clemens-Schultz-Straße, drinking beer and talking football, politics, hedgehogs and eagles (now there’s a book title if ever I heard one!) The conversation was fun and informed. I found myself sitting round a table with the guys from the FC St. Pauli Catalunya Supporters Club, a university lecturer from Brighton, members of Republica Internationale (a Leeds based socialist football club), Dani Wurbs the CEO of Football Supporters Europe and a couple of people who had lived the infamous Hafenstraße squats in the late 1980s. We were later joined by Sönke and Christoph from the 1910 e.V. Museum project. We sat chatting until about 1.30am, then moved on for a night-cap of Mexicanas and further discussion at the Jolly Roger.
I got back to my hotel just before 3.00am. So much for the early night. Yet again, the football itself was a distant memory. The team, the club, the stadium might be the hook that brings us all together, but St. Pauli is all about people and I’m more than happy to travel 800-miles for that.
At the airport, the following morning, I bumped into Mark from the University of Brighton and spent an enjoyable hour finding out a bit more about his work on A.S. Livorno. It had been his first experience of the Millerntor. I think he’ll return.
I’m back in May for the Sonderzug to Köln. No radio or TV interview and 24-hours without sleep, I can’t wait.
Book Overview
FC SANKT
PAULI – THE FOOTBALL CLUB IN THE RED-LIGHT DISTRICT OF HAMBURG; A TRANSVESTITE
CHAIRMAN; TERRACES POPULATED BY PUNKS, PIMPS AND PROSTITUTES; A CLUB RUN BY
ANARCHISTS, UNITED UNDER THE SKULL AND CROSSBONES FLAG.
This is the myth that has been lazily
peddled, one which attracts clueless stag parties from the Reeperbahn to the
Millerntor stadium. But it's not the real
St Pauli.
In Pirates, Punks & Politics author
Nick Davidson puts the record straight, intermingling the history of FC St.
Pauli, and the district it represents, with an account of his own involvement
with the club.
Back in 2007 Davidson travelled with his
father to watch his first game at the Millerntor. What he found reinforced his faith
in football.
This book goes beyond the stereotype to
seek out the real St. Pauli – a club with a passionate, left-wing fan-base that
has made a stand against, fascism, racism, sexism and homophobia both in
football and wider society. As the author and countless others have discovered,
the Millerntor is also a place which welcomes with open arms fans seeking an
alternative to the soulless conformity of football elsewhere, encouraging them
to stay for hours after the final whistle and immerse themselves in the vibrant
fan culture. Read this book and fall in love with a different kind of football.
All
the author’s royalties from this book will be donated to the 1910.V. Museum, FC St. Pauli museum
project.
ISBN-10: 190752441X ISBN-13: 978-1907524417
Fanladen book launch - Saturday 22 March, 18.00 hrs
Really looking forward to getting over to the Millerntor on Saturday for the Ingolstadt game and the Q&A session in the Fanladen at 18.00 hrs. See you there!
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