Football in Heaven - Romania - part 2

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

Sunday 24 March 2019
Another 9.15am departure to get to our first game at 11am, once on the coach we were told the game had been changed as the local FA recommended the game we were now heading to, under an hour later we found ourselves in an empty town square, a walk through an arch and we found ourselves at a local sports ground, modern clubhouse and changing rooms, and on one side was a couple of rows of plastic seats, out in the open. as both teams were mid table not sure why this game was being recommended - we soon found out.


Romanian IV Liga (Sibiu County)


ACS Unirea Miercurea-Sibiului 3 (Roman 36,71, Albean 62)
AS LSS Vointa Sibiu 0


Att:155 (at Stadionul Orasenesc-Miercurea)








Just before kick off the away fans arrived from Sibiu, and they were loud, colourful and in good spirits, beer was on sale from the back of a car and they quickly purchased a few cans to go with their bottles of local spirits.


Then the surprise - a programme- however it was produced by the fans of the away team - for those who must have a programme, they also produce for their home games. the programme was A5, 4 pages and colour with a cracking picture of another Sibiu club FC Solimii Sibiu from the days of communism.


The woman giving out the programme was able to give us a brief history of the club, they had been a top division club but had gone bust and ended up in the lower divisions, however their fans had stuck by them and they had a large group with them today plus fans from another top league club who had come along to support them.


So Vointa had great fans, their team looked physically fit and looked the part but they also seemed to be a team of individuals and in the end were easily beaten by the home team.


We then set off for a ground many of us had been looking forward to, as it was in a town that had once been voted the most polluted in Europe!


Romanian IV Liga (Sibiu County)


AS Copsa Mica 1 (Getner 2)
ACS Paltinis Rasinari 4 (Nasta 37,45, Chirila 40, Ganea 73)


Att:116 (at Stadionul Orasenesc)


The ground was large, oval shaped and I guess once had a cinder/shale running track round it. Changing rooms and the groundsmans house were on one side and on the other was a few rows of open seating on crumbling concrete supports.


Around the ground were a umber of now disused factories, all with large chimneys and across the railway line from the ground were blocks of eastern European/ communist style housing blocks - football wise , the game was ruined by a card happy Ref, and just before the break he sent off one of the visitors from a second bookable offence - diving! Looked a bit harsh from where were sat. even with 10 men, the away team had little problem holding on to the win.


We then had 45 minute train to the beautiful Transylvania city of Sighisoara, visiting the small village of Beirtan on the way.


Another brilliant trip, with Emmy our top Romanian and helping make it a great weekend, many new friends made a big thank you to Peter and Steve for inviting us on another great East European adventure.