A (Short) Viennese whirl - Day 1

A few days in Vienna - as had a weekend free and wanted somewhere you could get a number of games in. Had to fly out late Friday so missed out on Friday night game, there were a number due to be played. Ryan Air flight 90 minutes late, so not till early hours of Saturday did I get to my lodgings.

Saturday 21st

3 games planned and all walkable from accommodation, only concern was how long it would take to get from game 2 to 3.

Game 1

12 noon

SC Gradisce Reserves 9 FC Mariahilf Reserves 0

1st Klasse 'A' Reserves

Eibesbrunnergasse 13, Platz 2

F & N

Attendance: 12 h/c

Arrived in plenty of time to find game was on Pitch 2, there were also two Junior pitches. Pitch 2 actually looked the better of the 2, better surface and 260 plastic seats in the open on the grass bank, whilst pitch 1 just had a few old wooden benches, but did have lights. Pitch 2 was fully railed with hard standing on 3 sides. Club house/Canteen was open and it seemed to be used by 3 of the clubs who call this complex home, whilst Croatia Vienna had their own changing room block and office complex. 

The visitors only had one sub to start with but did have 3 by half time! Gradisce were soon on top and 2 nil up by half time but if it was not for poor finishing, should have been well clear by the break.

Gradisce added a third from the spot in the 59th minute then the shock of the game as Mariahilf got a penalty- but they missed! This seemed to spur Gradisce on, who added a further 6 goals in the last 17 minutes.

By half time, the First teams of both sides had turned up to play on the same pitch at 2pm. Unlike England, no club linesman were used, so just the Ref on his own, it actually seemed to cause less issues that 2 club linesman can cause in the UK at times.

Only 10 minute half time meant I did not have to break into a jog to my second game of the day. I could have returned here at 6pm for a 4th game, Croatia Vienna, that would have been on pitch 1, but three games would be enough for me today, as food and drink called.

10 minute walk (google maps had it as 16) to arrive at game 2:

Game 2

2pm

SV Wienerberg1921 1 FC Stadlau 1

Wiener Stadtliga

Wienerberg Arena

11 Euro (ticket issued)

Free A5 teamsheet issued at entrance

Attendance: 98 h/c

Cracking little ground, Pitch slightly sunken with spectators only allowed on the far side which had a cracking stand with a bar at the back selling beer and snacks. The entrance was the other side with the Kanteen and changing room block. Players entered vis a tunnel under the grass bank, above the tunnel was an electric scoreboard. Next to the stand was a VIP seated area which was also a 'free' bar for the chosen few.

Stadlau were the far better team but fell behind to an outstanding long range shot in the 23rd minute. they finally got back on terms in the 82nd minute. Both teams lacking any firepower up front, obviously a well run club and a ground that is well worth a visit.

Game 3 was a 20 minute walk (google maps) I had recced it, and game 2 finished on time and so think i could have jogged/walked in the 15 minutes to game 2 but decided on a taxi, using a local app- 5 minutes later taxi arrived, 10 Euros and 5 minutes later was at game 2 , with 5 minutes to spare.

Game 3

4pm

SC Wiener Viktoria 0 Kremer SC 2

Regionalliga Ost

Viktoria-Platz

12 Euro (ticket issued)

No programme

Attendance: 400 plus h/c

Second highest crowd of the 6 games I would see, but probably the worst ground for facilities but it did have a number of plus points. G3 Pitch but in poor condition and no stand , spectators on 3 sides with a few odd benches on two sides, on the far side of the pitch you had the dugouts, a wooden tower for video/cameras but very narrow hard standing so quite packed on that side, with a large number of away fans.

What made it a ground worth visiting was on the near side, a clubhouse with a large outside drinking area with pub tables that you could watch the game from with another outside drinking area close to the half way line with more tables and chairs but also a wooden roof, like a large wooden summer house, most of the home support sat this side, not a great view of the game but plenty of drink being sold plus  a bratwurst stand doing great business.

The home fans probably knew what to expect from the game, so that is why they were happy to drink and not have a great view of the football as Viktoria were poor, plenty of the ball but no real goal threat and Kremser, easily soaked the pressure up and scored on the break in the 34th and 59th minute. They never looked like they would concede. 

Game over and just a 5 minute walk to the hotel, and just 20 minutes on the U-Bahn back into the city centre for drinks and food in the Naschmarkt.

Day 2 to come