Euro trip - October 2024 - Part 3 -Switzerland

 Sunday morning- 9am train from Bregenz to Zurich - my planned game at 12am had been changed to 11am kick off, it would be tight- but should make it on time - I did ..by 10 minutes but when I arrived, pitch empty game had been moved back to 12 noon!!

Sunday 27 October 2024
12 noon
Zurich City SC 0 FC Wiedikon ZHH 0
2 Liga Region Zurich Gruppe 1
Sportanlage Neudorf

F & N
Attendance: 75 h/c

The complex is in Oerlikon, next to the Zurich Ice Rink, it has 6 pitches 4 on one side of the road along with a changing room block and café. The main pitch is on the other side of the road next to another grass pitch.

There was another lower level game on the main G3 pitch on the changing room side. By game was on the main grass pitch, railed on one side and seating along one side which included part of it under cover. Dug outs and electric scoreboard on the other side of the pitch.

I was surprised, and pleased to see the game had 3 qualified neutral match officials ... and they were needed.

The game was feisty from the start, a number of yellow cards shown but the Ref kept very cool and did not fall for the gamesmanship, displayed by both sides - with Zurich City being the worst offenders.

In the 74th minute a home player received a second yellow card for diving, I thought this may start a few more scuffles but the game finished with the other 21 players on the pitch, but then it kicked off with one of the Zurich City coaching team getting a red card, one of the subs from Zurich City who had come on with about 20 minutes to also wanting to argue with everyone then a Zurich City supporter, also joined in on the pitch confronting most of the visiting team whilst his partner attempted to drag him back off the pitch!

Great public transport in Zurich, meant I was at my main game with plenty of time to spare, was surprised that not many other fans were on the trams, as the game was 1st v 2nd in the Super League

FC Zurich 1 Servette 3
Swiss Super League
Letzigrund Stadium

Admission: 45 Swiss Francs, print at home
Programme: Free inside the ground - easy to pick up, not many home fans bothering.
Attendance: 16239

Tickets were still on sale at the game, and when I entered the ground with 45 minutes to spare it was still quite empty - in the end the home fans packed the SudKurve and the stand , I was sat in- East stand was full but the expensive seats in the West were empty and Servette had very fabs in attendance- and what a game the away fans missed!

Right from the start of the game they looked the sharper team and no surprise when they took the lead on 32 minutes, thought that might give Zurich the kick up the arse they needed but the second half continued in the same vein, two further goals from Servette and Zurich still lacking a final pass. The Zurich subs made a slight difference and they did get a goal back in the last minute of the game, but a great win for Servette who went top with Zurich dropping to third place.

Great tram times afterwards meant I was back in the city centre in less that 30 minutes after the game ended. Zurich may have been poor on the pitch but the support from the SudKueve was fantastic throughout the game. The stadium looks far more impressive from the outside rather than the view from inside.

Fun part, 10 minutes from the end a Zurich fan left in disgust at the display by his team - but somehow he had unbolted his seat and took it with him!!

Euro trip - October 2024 - Part 2 Austria, Liechtenstein, Austria

 Friday 25 October train from Frankfurt to Bregenz in Austria, plan was to watch the Second Division Derby game in Bregenz but that was moved to Saturday for live TV. So found 3 further options, like to use public transport but was not sure how reliable it would be so hired a car for 24 hours. this made it easier but in hindsight could have used public transport as in the Vorarlberg region is very good and their own transport APP is very easy to use and gives up to date times.

A short drive up into the mountains and the Friday night game:

Friday 25 October
FC Hittisau 1 SC Austria Lustenau II 2
Vorarlbergliga
Sportplatz Hittisau

Admission: 6 Euros
Programme: Nil
Attendance: 79 h/c

Arrived as getting dark but you are right up in the mountains, surrounded by alpine scenery. the pitch has been cut into the hillside, so on the dug out side you have behind it a large stone wall that holds the rest of the hill back. On the other side is decent stand with a small hut selling beer. Behind the goal are the changing rooms, club canteen and some covered seats and standing. Beer and food on sale, just stuck to coffee as driving plus Currywurst and Pommes! The block behind the goal reminded me of the new set up at Melton. Pitch was astro.

Visitors were the more dominant ream, however it was the host who had the first 3 clear chances in the game. The visitors then got a penalty in 28th minute but it was easily saved.

The visitors took the lead on 62 minutes only for the home team to get back on terms in the 82nd minute, but the game was won by Austria Lustenau Amateurs in the 86th minute with a great individual goal, however there was still time left for the visitors to go down to 10 men after one of their defenders got a second yellow card.

Short drive down to next village where I was staying, a couple of beers and then ready for a Saturday with 3 games, in 2 countries whilst driving through a third!

After a short 15 minute drive on Saturday morning, I was in the village of Egg, 500 m above sea level to see a team, with a great name, sponsored by a brewery and a ground that could be part of the set for the 'Sound of Music'.

Saturday 26 October
11am
FC Egg 1 FC Wolfurt 1
Eliteliga Vorarlberg
Sportanlage Junkerau

Admission: 8 Euro
Programme: Nil
Attendance: 229 h/c

A level higher than Friday night and football was of a higher quality but the star of the show is the ground itself, set amongst the mountains with a great view every way you look, helped by a cracking blue sky and the sun shining.

One large stand/clubhouse/changing room complex on one side, all wooden, with 3 rows of seats then room to stand and drink behind. The club house was doing good business in beer plus Wusrts. A second beer stall by the electric scoreboard.

Even game, with both teams struggling to get a shot on target, the home team went in front on 79 minutes after a dreadful keeper error, he tried to do a quick kick, it hit the back of a retreating opponent and bounced to a home forward who only had to nod in with a header from 2 metres. It looked like the home team were going to get al 3 points until deep in injury time, the visitors hit the post from a direct free kick and a visiting forward was first to react to tap in and gain his team a point.

A number of German hoppers present, with numerous other local games on offer in the afternoon, but I had decoded on a slightly longer drive, to knock off another country - still only 50 minutes vis a Swiss motorway to end up in Liechtenstein for a 4pm kick off

4pm
USV Eschen/Mauren 0 SC YF Juventus 1
Swiss 1 Loga Classic Gruppe 3
Sportpark Eschen-Mauren

Admission: Not sure as was already in ground but late arrivals were charged
Programme: Free 4 sheet programme, with admission and copies in clubhouse
Attendance: 250 h/c

Hard to believe this was the ground where Liechtenstein played home international games, part of a large sports complex on a main road away from the two small towns/large villages.

Main pitch, has one large stand with a clubhouse/VIP bar at top - can also watch games on the G3 pitch behind the stand from the clubhouse. Can watch game from all 4 sides but the main stand is the only place with cover or terracing.

Competitive game but the 'Swiss' Juventus were always in control, and the win was not a surprise, the only real surprise was that they only got the one goal, which was in the second half and helped the visitors from Zurich maintain their second place in the league.

Again amazing scenery, however only once the cloud lifted and from a distance as the ground sits in quite a vast and flat valley floor..

Another drive of under an hour gave me time to book into hotel in Bregenz, return the car and get public transport to the last game of the day.

8.30pm
SC Schwarz Weiss Bregenz 1 Austria Lustenau 1
2 Liga
ImmoAgentur Stadion

Admission: 20 Euro, print at home
Programme: Free, but again most home fans did not bother picking one up
Attendance: 5500

Some suggested this may be the biggest 'Derby' game ever to take place in Vorarlberg, as Austria Lustenau have to share the ground of Bregenz. Not a full house, but with both stands on either side of the ground full but plenty of standing space behind the goals. Late kick off as game on TV. Hosts started as favourites as were sitting third in the league.

Seemed to be a bigger deal for Lustenau as their ultras arrived in good numbers and got behind their team throughout the game. I was sat in the main stand and there was no segregation in that stand. Athletic track round the pitch gave it a feel of the Withdean.

The visitors looked the sharper ream whilst the host final pass was quite poor, the visitors went ahead in 35 minute but 4 minutes later one of their better players chose to handle the ball to stop a certain goal - red card however Bregenz missed the resulting penalty. Bregenz did get level in the last minute of the half.

Even with just 10 men, Austria Lustenau were not that troubled by the hosts and probably still deserved a point. Public transport back to the hotel, and happy to have the extra hour in bed as the clocks went back as had an early start with a train to Zurich in the morning.

Euro trip - October 2024 - Part 1, Germany

Wednesday 23 October 2024,

SV Wiehen Wiesbaden 1 Dynamo Dresden 0

German Third Division

Brita-Arena

Admission: 30 Euros - print at home
Programme: None seen
Attendance: 6512

Not sure how Dresden did not get anything out of this game, were on top most of the game however after 21 minutes the home team took the lead. Dresden still had most of the ball but on 77 minutes were down to 10 men after a straight red but it was still the visitors who had most of the ball and did most of the attacking, but they could not find the net and Wiesbaden should have added a second in the last minute, after breaking quickly but they missed what was almost an open goal.

Stadium very like Colchester but with atmosphere - and great advantage of only being 5 minutes from the main station and close to the town. Good noise from both groups of ultras, but with Dresden looking far more organised when it came to singing and chants.

Great connection back to Frankfurt and was in a bar enjoying a beer by 1015pm.

Thursday 24 October
Eintracht Frankfurt 1 FK RFS 0
Europa League, Group game
Deutsche Bank Park

Admission: 35 Euros, game a sell out but got a ticket via transfer from a Frankfurt fan via social media
Programme: Free inside the ground - hard to find and German fans not interested in picking them up
Admission: 56600

Great stadium, great atmosphere thanks to non stop singing by home support but very poor game!

Frankfurt got the only goal after 79 minutes but that was about the only good bit of football they produced, it was the Latvia team who had showed the most effort the whole game and were very unlucky not to equalise straight after Frankfurt scored.

However the home fans seemed happy enough to get the 3 points and were willing to forgive their players for the poor performance.

Ground wise, impressive, great transport links from the city, and all the paths through the woods to the ground conta9ned numerous mobile bars and bratwurst stalls.

Another night in Frankfurt, before an early morning train to Austria 

Game delayed but took us even longer to start

Saturday 19 October 2024, Ipswich Town 0 Everton 2 - Premier League, Portman Road

A missed chance, two poor defensive mistakes, a penalty given, then taken away by VAR and we do not start being aggressive till after 70 minutes- we need to improve and quick.

The club has done so many things right in the last 3 years and the Programme cover design this season was another example - but now the modern poster, new one each game has been relegated to the back of the programme - a mistake in my opinion! 

Strange game

Tuesday 15 October 2024, Charlton Athletic Under 21s 2 Ipswich Town Under 21s 2 - Professional Development League, Price's Park, Dartford

Very strange game for an hour Charlton totally dominated, and it was only down to a number of great saves by the young Ipswich keeper that Charlton were not ahead by more goals at half time, in fact it was just 1-0, after a free kick hit the post and Charlton were first to react for an easy tap in, on the 44th minute.

Ipswich had been very poor, in the 58th minute Charlton added a second with a fantastic volley. It looked then like Ipswich could concede every time Charlton attacked but the opposite happened.

Ipswich made a number of subs and started to look and play like a team, even making a few good chances then in the last 10 minutes it was Town on top, getting one goal back on 80 minutes then the same player, Jesse Nwabueze getting the equaliser on 83 minutes. Ipswich could have even got the winner in the last minute, a very strange game indeed.

Worth the drive

 A midland double - another dip into the Midland Under 21 League then onto Gornal Athletic - to tick a ground on bucket list

12 noon
Walsall Wood Under 21s 4 Stafford Rangers Under 21s 0
MFL Under 21 Division, North
Oak Park

Arrived to an almost deserted ground, had good chat with a couple related to one of the Stafford players, main talking point for the Walsall Wood locals was the survival of the 1st team - third in the Division, but the manager followed by the players have walked out last week. Not being paid the issue - not sure where the money has gone, as it certainly has not been spent on the ground and the pitch. When I see the work Ipswich Wanderers have had to do to play at the same level in the East, do wonder if there are a different set of rules in other regions! Saying that, loved the ground, old wooden stand and the pit wheel in the field behind the ground.

The off field issues certainly did not seem to concern the Under 21 team as they were one nil up in the first minute and 3 nil up by half time. they added a further goal in the second half, for an easy win against a team who were second in the division at the start of the day. Will try and dip into this division again, a good way of seeing grounds you may not visit and the standard of football is OK.

It was then off to 

Gornal Athletic 1 Birstall United Community 1

Midland League, Divsions One

Garden Walk

This ground is a 'must visit' - I have been lucky enough to have been on a few of the hops to Romania and Serbia and we would be going overboard on how great this ground is if we hade visited something similar in Eastern Europe.

It is not just the ground that is great, obvious from listening to the fans, that this is real community club, and with most of them stood close together on the steep terrace, you get to hear some great conversations and banter. What ever they get - new ground wise, they will miss the Garden Walk but the new ground will bring benefits to the club, what they must try hard not to lose, is that close knit community spirit that obviously exists at this club - that may be a harder task to retain.

Just enjoy the photos - then plan your visit, they may be gone soon!

No Russell

Wednesday 9 October 2024, Staines & Lammas (Middlesex) 5 London Samurai Rovers 1 - Combined Counties, Division One, Addlestone Moor

84 of us gathered to the west of London for this game but Russell Grant the club president never made it! Maybe he should have checked his horoscope and would have seen a good home win was on the cards and most of the rain would keep away.

A club that ahs been boosted by a strong volunteer force from disbanded Staines Town, and seem to be putting a decent team together. Wonder if they will ever get their own ground? But Abbey rangers home does the job at the moment.

Back under the lights

Tuesday 8 October 2024, Ipswich Town Under 21 2 Watford Under 21 1 - Professional Development League, Portman Road

A good crowd at Portman Road for the first game under the new lights, and very entertaining, Ipswich the better side but poor finishing meant it was 0-0 at half time. Then Watford scored with a deflection as Ipswich started to struggle but Ipswich got back on terms and then a good solo goal saw Ipswich win.

Hammered

Saturday 5 October 2024, West Ham United 4 Ipswich Town 1 - London Stadium, Premier League

We know we will lose plenty this season, but to lose so badly to such a poor team was hard to take.

Positives -discovered the bars by the canal at Hackney Wick.

Dreaming of a Portman Road Final?

Wednesday 2 October 2024, Cornard United 1 Ipswich Town Under 19 6 - Suffolk Premier Cup, 2nd Round, Blackhouse Lane

Ipswich gave up home advantage and travelled to West Suffolk, low crowd but they were greatly entertained in a good game played on a wet pitch that held up well even with more rain during the first half.

It was Cornard who took an early lead after just 3 minutes, but Ipswich were in front by the break thanks to a well taken penalty and a forward chasing down the keeper and getting a rebound into the goal.

Cornard will feel they were unlucky to be behind at the break but in the second half Ipswich took them to the cleaners with their superior fitness being a key telling point.

What a difference a week makes, last week the same team struggled to get past Stowmarket in a dour game, but  today we were well entertained and the young Ipswich team, got a well deserved win.