Football in Heaven 3 - Romania - Part 1

"Football in Heaven 3" - 21- 25 March 2019
Transylvania - Romania

Another great trip with our superb World Soccer guide - Emmy - these sort of hops are not for those who must have top league football or watch 4 to 5 games a day - it is about scenic/ quirky grounds, plenty of time for culture and mixing and socialising - this trip was truly international as well as us British, a large group of Norwegians, two French, a Belgian, Pole, Dane, some Romanians - all transported around in a our coach with the first 4 nights based in Sibiu ( 10 minutes from airport) and then the last night in the heart of Transylvania - Sighisoara


As usual - (along with 2 others) I turned up late and missed the first two games - from all accounts the location of the first game ( a bonus) was basic but the game on Friday had an amazing rickety wooden stand.

Saturday 23 March
Left our hotel for our 11am game, and visited the ground of ACS Paltinis Rasinari - the Arena Rasinari, we then arrived a few minutes before kick off at our first game ( enough time for our Norwegian friends to empty the local off license of most their stock!


Romanian IV Liga (Sibiu County)


FC Cisnadie 13 (Cotofan 4,72, Dragomir 23, Cocos 33, Coman 36,42, Bratima pen 48,87, Andrei 66, Rodean 76,86,89, Anghel 80)


AS Armata Sibiu 2 (Trasca 12, Raulea 45)


Att:84 (at Stadionul Textila)


Best ground we were going to visit, a well built and impressive wooden main stand plus uncovered seating on the far side plus an electric scoreboard - a ground kept in very good condition, however football wise the game was very one sided, but at one stage it was 1-1 and the visitors second goal was an impressive chip of the keeper.


Two of the home goals would have beaten most keepers. Low crowd but we were made very welcome and supplied with a free beer at half time.


The afternoon game would see two Division 5 sides play however this was Romanian Cup tie, the home side were only playing their second game since the winter break, imagine the ground is covered by snow most of the winter as on the other side of the road was a ski lift.


Cupa Romaniei - Faza 3


AS Cindrelul Gura Raului 2 (Ruse 16, Damaschin og 19)
AS Silvatex Orlat 1 (Topîrcean 17)


Att:198 (at Stadionul Comunal)






The ground was like another we visited last year, with the ground jammed in between the mountain and the river. the ground was new with the clubhouse/changing rooms only being used for the second time. One open wooden stand stuck at the bottom of the mountain with a cage around the pitch. A number of us climbed up the hill to get a good elevated view of the game.


Local derby and a cup match meant the game was scrappy and the second half saw some impressive diving/screaming and play acting.


Afterwards we were asked to stay to share a cold buffet with both teams plus enjoy cups of the local spirits and then we found time for a penalty shoot out between the English, Norwegians and the home team players.


It was then the short drive back to Sibiu, to get tickets for the top league basketball game