Games abroad (not involving Newcastle)

[Mowen]

Anyone been to many? Good experience, different culture or the same?

 

I'm planning on going to an MTK Budapest game when I'm there on holiday, tickets will cost me about £1.50 so if anyone knows anything about Hungarian football (hooliganism?) then that would be pretty helpful, even a decent English website to read about it on would be good.

 

Quite looking forward to it, will be an interesting way to spend an afternoon for not much money. Obviously would prefer a higher profile game but there isn't that much scope for it in Croatia and Hungary

[Dave]

Hopefully going to see Barca in January.

[NSG]

Hopefully going to see Barca in September 08.

[Optimistic Nut]

Went to a number of St-Etienne matches, every single one of them whether they played Lyon or Metz, had an electric atmosphere.

[Mowen]

Hopefully going to see Barca in January.

 

I wanted to go when I was out there, the bastards were away that weekend though! Couldn't be bothered with Espanyol.

[WarrenBartonCentrePartin]

Anyone been to many? Good experience, different culture or the same?

 

I'm planning on going to an MTK Budapest game when I'm there on holiday, tickets will cost me about £1.50 so if anyone knows anything about Hungarian football (hooliganism?) then that would be pretty helpful, even a decent English website to read about it on would be good.

 

Quite looking forward to it, will be an interesting way to spend an afternoon for not much money. Obviously would prefer a higher profile game but there isn't that much scope for it in Croatia and Hungary

the band "Half Man Half Biscuit", are specialists on such a thing, I do believe

[OzzieMandias]

Anyone been to many? Good experience, different culture or the same?

 

I'm planning on going to an MTK Budapest game when I'm there on holiday, tickets will cost me about £1.50 so if anyone knows anything about Hungarian football (hooliganism?) then that would be pretty helpful, even a decent English website to read about it on would be good.

 

Quite looking forward to it, will be an interesting way to spend an afternoon for not much money. Obviously would prefer a higher profile game but there isn't that much scope for it in Croatia and Hungary

 

I lived in Budapest for a while, and went to games at Ferencvaros, Ujpest, Vasas and MTK. It was all pretty crap. At that point (late '90s) only Ferencvaros could fill their stadium, Ujpest had the next strongest support, and MTK were winning everything because a businessman who'd made his money out of a national retail chain (!) had put some cash into the playing staff.

 

MTK were always known as the "Jewish" team, which meant they got a lot of racist crap from rival supporters. I was at an MTK-Ferencvaros game where the Fradi support outnumbered the MTK fans, and they were all singing anti-semitic songs. I found that aspect of the game there pretty depressing.

 

Otherwise, no money, crumbling stadiums, bumbling football. Everyone eats toasted pumpkin seeds, which you can buy from street sellers on the way to the stadium. Ferencvaros had the best atmosphere even though I hated the club. Vasas was my favourite. Friendly crowd of drunken trade unionist types, and a bar behind one of the goals where you could get a beer and breaded chicken sandwich while watching the game.

 

It's changed a bit since I was there -- then dominant Ferencvaros in deep shit, for example -- but I think you'll find it's still pretty crap.

 

When you go, who are MTK playing?

[Guest Roland]

See of course a lot of NL games.

 

Went to Slavia Prague - Zilina (2nd round qualifier) last week when I was on holiday. Was quite ok, Slavia won after penalties. 0-0 after extra time, just like the first game.

 

In january, I have visited 2 serie A games in 1 weekend. Torino-Inter and Sampdoria-Fiorentina. Really liked the atmosphere, most likely we will visit Italy again next year.

 

Have been to Sankt Pauli (Hamburg 2nd team) twice. Alternative well supported (by mostly fans who are left wing orientated, but no politics in football for me) club who are now promoted to the 2nd division again. Love the brown shirts. We try to go again, because they will play away games quite nearby (like Monchengladbach or Aachen)

[OzzieMandias]

Sankt Pauli's probably my favourite club in Germany.

[Optimistic Nut]

Is that who Isegrim supports?

[Parky]

Sankt Pauli's probably my favourite club in Germany.

 

FC St. Pauli von 1910 e. V.

My local side. blueyes.gif

 

 

 

Been to HSV a few times.

[Mowen]

Anyone been to many? Good experience, different culture or the same?

 

I'm planning on going to an MTK Budapest game when I'm there on holiday, tickets will cost me about £1.50 so if anyone knows anything about Hungarian football (hooliganism?) then that would be pretty helpful, even a decent English website to read about it on would be good.

 

Quite looking forward to it, will be an interesting way to spend an afternoon for not much money. Obviously would prefer a higher profile game but there isn't that much scope for it in Croatia and Hungary

 

I lived in Budapest for a while, and went to games at Ferencvaros, Ujpest, Vasas and MTK. It was all pretty crap. At that point (late '90s) only Ferencvaros could fill their stadium, Ujpest had the next strongest support, and MTK were winning everything because a businessman who'd made his money out of a national retail chain (!) had put some cash into the playing staff.

 

MTK were always known as the "Jewish" team, which meant they got a lot of racist crap from rival supporters. I was at an MTK-Ferencvaros game where the Fradi support outnumbered the MTK fans, and they were all singing anti-semitic songs. I found that aspect of the game there pretty depressing.

 

Otherwise, no money, crumbling stadiums, bumbling football. Everyone eats toasted pumpkin seeds, which you can buy from street sellers on the way to the stadium. Ferencvaros had the best atmosphere even though I hated the club. Vasas was my favourite. Friendly crowd of drunken trade unionist types, and a bar behind one of the goals where you could get a beer and breaded chicken sandwich while watching the game.

 

It's changed a bit since I was there -- then dominant Ferencvaros in deep shit, for example -- but I think you'll find it's still pretty crap.

 

When you go, who are MTK playing?

 

They've got Zalaegerszeg (sp.) - we're only going for 5 days and that's the day after we arrive so I figured that a club with the name Budapest would be the wisest - is there another team in the city? It's on 1st sept, was looking into going to a game in croatia first (go there after Buda) but there doesn't seem to be anything on. Don't suppose the Internationals are being played early sept?

[Mowen]

Looking at it, we're going to be in Croatia when they play Estonia at home (Sept 8th), anyone know where the croats play their national games? Isn't there a problem with violence in Croatia?

[OzzieMandias]

Anyone been to many? Good experience, different culture or the same?

 

I'm planning on going to an MTK Budapest game when I'm there on holiday, tickets will cost me about £1.50 so if anyone knows anything about Hungarian football (hooliganism?) then that would be pretty helpful, even a decent English website to read about it on would be good.

 

Quite looking forward to it, will be an interesting way to spend an afternoon for not much money. Obviously would prefer a higher profile game but there isn't that much scope for it in Croatia and Hungary

 

I lived in Budapest for a while, and went to games at Ferencvaros, Ujpest, Vasas and MTK. It was all pretty crap. At that point (late '90s) only Ferencvaros could fill their stadium, Ujpest had the next strongest support, and MTK were winning everything because a businessman who'd made his money out of a national retail chain (!) had put some cash into the playing staff.

 

MTK were always known as the "Jewish" team, which meant they got a lot of racist crap from rival supporters. I was at an MTK-Ferencvaros game where the Fradi support outnumbered the MTK fans, and they were all singing anti-semitic songs. I found that aspect of the game there pretty depressing.

 

Otherwise, no money, crumbling stadiums, bumbling football. Everyone eats toasted pumpkin seeds, which you can buy from street sellers on the way to the stadium. Ferencvaros had the best atmosphere even though I hated the club. Vasas was my favourite. Friendly crowd of drunken trade unionist types, and a bar behind one of the goals where you could get a beer and breaded chicken sandwich while watching the game.

 

It's changed a bit since I was there -- then dominant Ferencvaros in deep shit, for example -- but I think you'll find it's still pretty crap.

 

When you go, who are MTK playing?

 

They've got Zalaegerszeg (sp.) - we're only going for 5 days and that's the day after we arrive so I figured that a club with the name Budapest would be the wisest - is there another team in the city? It's on 1st sept, was looking into going to a game in croatia first (go there after Buda) but there doesn't seem to be anything on. Don't suppose the Internationals are being played early sept?

 

There are loads of teams in Budapest. All the ones I mentioned above, plus a few others -- Honved, BTSC, III. Kerulet... Way too many for a city of two million -- and that's part of the reason why it's all a bit crap. Money's spread too thin.

 

Zalaegerszeg are a provincial team. Beat Man U in the home leg of a CL qualifier a few years back. Don't know much about them, though.

[OzzieMandias]

Looking at it, we're going to be in Croatia when they play Estonia at home (Sept 8th), anyone know where the croats play their national games? Isn't there a problem with violence in Croatia?

 

National stadium is in Zagreb. If that's where you going to be, then go. It'll be a laugh.

 

If you're on the coast, though, I'd say it wasn't worth the journey.

[Guest Barney]

Was at a Barca game last November. Unreal stadium. Ronaldinho was a lazy bastard, but scored a header, a free-kick and hit the cross bar with another free-kick which Saviola tapped in to win it.

 

Brilliant city as well.

[Guest fred]

Saw Sparta Prague play a champions league qualifier a few years back against a cypriot team. Atmosphere was good despite the lowly oposition. The beer was great, the fact you could have it in your seat was a bonus and the bbqs instead of shit pies was also great.

 

Saw Lokomotiv Moscow play Dinamo Moscow a fortnight ago. Football was shit, no beer in the ground at all, no bait to speak of just a bit of raw salmon on some rye bread.

 

The atmosphere was quite poor really, the ground was only 2/3rds full and the dinamo support seemed to make all of the noise.

 

There were babooshkas outside the ground selling the pumpkin seeds there too. In Prague they sold beer! I'm off there again at the weekend, I wonder if they're playing?

[Mowen]

Cheers for your help Ozzie, much appreciated. Vasas are at home to Diosgyori that weekend as well so I might check that one out instead. My knowledge was so limited that I just looked for a team with Budapest in their name! No sign of Ferencvaros in the top flight! I'm going to be in Split when the game is, might look into heading back to Zagreb for the night but probably won't bother, if they'd been up against better opposition it might have been a different story.

[OzzieMandias]

Cheers for your help Ozzie, much appreciated. Vasas are at home to Diosgyori that weekend as well so I might check that one out instead. My knowledge was so limited that I just looked for a team with Budapest in their name! No sign of Ferencvaros in the top flight! I'm going to be in Split when the game is, might look into heading back to Zagreb for the night but probably won't bother, if they'd been up against better opposition it might have been a different story.

 

You'll probably see better football at MTK-Zalaegerszeg than you will at Vasas-Diosgyori. And I can't vouch for the bar still being behind the goal at Vasas.

 

Zagred is a fair old haul from Split.

 

Funnily enough, I might be in Split that weekend. There'll be plenty of people watching the Estonia game in bars.

[ohmelads]

Seen quite a few Spanish games from the Primera plus a couple from the Segunda and Segunda B. Needless to say the atmosphere was better in the lower leagues, but not the kind of attendances you'd find in the Championship for example, people just don't support their local teams anywhere near as much over there. In fact anywhere outside the big cities nearly everyone supports either Real or Barca, it's a real shame but that's the way it is.

[Benwell Lad]

Sankt Pauli's probably my favourite club in Germany.

 

Mine too Oz.

Seen a few games abroad but nothing to compare with Sankt Pauli, love the ground the special atmosphere and the partying that goes on around the ground. Also in a really cool part of town (Schanze viertel) so plenty to do afterwards. A bit like St.James' in that respect.

 

Football has been a bit ropey of late, but it's looking up again and one thing for sure at St.Pauli they will party win, lose or draw.

[FrenchWilliam]

Went to Luxembourg v Ukraine a few months ago. 

[abertoon]

Used to regularly watch AEL Limassol in Cyprus, atmosphere was class for most games, especially the big matches and local derbys which were just mental. Did used to get quite violent though at times, after matches mainly, riots, rocks thrown etc.. People dont realise how mental football fanatics are in other countrys, the English hooligans dont compare. Was good fun when it was just singing and banter, scary when it turned for the worst

 

Standard of football was utter w*** mind. Think Ketsbaia is managing Anorthosis Famagusta out there at the mo

[Mr. Snrub]

Last one was Mallorca vs Valencia in 2006.  Mallorca won 2-1 which Meant Barcelona won the league.  Was a great night.

[Stu]

Went on a football tour to Prague @ Easter, we arrived on the Wednesday at 3pm, by 7.30pm we'd paid our £3 entry and £0.35 for a pint and a 'hotdog' and were sat watching Slavia Prague vs Plzen in the home end.

 

Decent match, nowhere near the pace of the premiership tho, but in return you can sit (or stand) with your pint in one hand, food in the other and still have enough change for several pints after the match. Home supporters weren't amazing (away fans were much, much louder, despite there only being 23 of them stood on the far side on their own!) but it was amusing to watch the 'Ultras' force down the metal fence separating them from the pitch when the ref ruled a Sla2via goal offside. Plzen had been winning from about the 15th min - Slavia were top @ the time.

 

The teams we played during the tour weren't far off the standard of the teams we paid to go and see, mind.