I travelled with refugee team, FC Lampedusa St. Pauli to an Anti-Racist tournament in the east of Germany. It was an inspiring experience. Read about it here.
Refugees United!
I travelled with refugee team, FC Lampedusa St. Pauli to an Anti-Racist tournament in the east of Germany. It was an inspiring experience. Read about it here.
Lübeck: Home of Marzipan
Here's a report from Lübeck, the actual home of marzipan. VfB Lübeck versus FC St. Pauli in the first round of the DFB Pokal. St. Pauli managed to navigate the first round of the cup, which is unusual. Plus, there were fireworks. Lots of fireworks. Read about it here.
National Football Museum
Here's a nice photo from The National Football Museum. Not just Pirates, Punks & Politics, but also possibly the last remaining copy of Modern Football is Rubbish! Thanks to André Bâbord for spotting it.
Everyone Welcome: FC Lampedusa St. Pauli
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| Photo: Peter Boehmer |
FC St. Pauli's integrity is often called into question by cynical football fans and media alike. We are accused of being a sell-out; a marketing behemoth, milking the perceived 'coolness' of the skull-and-crossbones brand; a corporate cash-cow. Sure, there's some truth in the commercialism, but don't ever believe that the club has lost its core values or its soul.
Many German supporters' groups have been supportive of the 'Refugees Welcome' movement, many clubs have run programmes encouraging refugees and migrants to attend matches or have established soccer schools for youngsters. FC St. Pauli have expanded on this good work by formally adopting FC Lampedusa – a refugee football team.
FC Lampedusa began playing football in 2012/13, set up to support the "Lampedusa refugees" who arrived in Hamburg after fleeing war in Libya. Since then the team has welcomed all refugees, giving anyone over the age of 16 the chance to play football in a safe, friendly and fun environment (they are also pretty good, as Yorkshire St. Pauli can testify, we lost 10-1 to them in May, and FCL never really had to get out of first gear).
The lack of official 'papers' bars the players of FC Lampedusa from playing in formal league competition in Hamburg, instead the club play in a series of friendlies and tournaments raising awareness about the scale and scope of the refugee crisis.
FC St. Pauli have extended the hand of friendship and support to FC Lampedusa, who will now benefit from practical support in booking pitches and training sessions, supply of kit, logistical support and, of course, raising awareness.
FC Lampedusa has formally become FC Lampedusa St. Pauli – an announcement made in front of over 16,000 fans at the recent pre-season friendly at the Millerntor against Sevilla.
Read more about FC Lampedua St. Pauli here.
FC Lampedusa St.Pauli fc.lampedusa@gmx.de
Facebook: FCLampedusa
Twitter: @FCLampedusaHH
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| Here's Yorkshire St. Pauli & FC Lampedusa St. Pauli |
There's some people on the stage, they think it's all over...
Watching the match 'live' was a fascinating experience, to some extent debunking the mythology that has grown up around the victory. Once I'd adjusted to the lack of a back-pass rule (how quickly we forget the chaos that introduced my Sunday League team back in 1992!) what was noticeable was how stretched the play was: both teams defending their 18-yard box virtually from kick-off. The result was plenty of space to pick up the ball in midfield and run with it. For my money, Alan Ball was man of the match, Geoff Hurst a virtual passenger! Moore & Jackie Charlton a formidable partnership. Off the pitch, there was a complete lack of hysteria, cliche or extended metaphor from commentator Kenneth Wolstenholme – Clive Tyldesley would've injected more hyperbole into the early rounds of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.
Okay, enough of this World Cup nonsense. The real thing starts on Monday night: VfB Stuttgart v FC St. Pauli. Forza Sankt Pauli!
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