Geordie Al's Groundhopper Scrapbook: Bremer SV 5-0 BTS Neustadt, Tuesday 1st August 2017

Wednesday 2 August 2017

Bremer SV 5-0 BTS Neustadt, Tuesday 1st August 2017

Bremer SV 5-0 BTS Neustadt (Oberliga Bremen, att. c150)

Welcome to ...

In terms of groundhopping what constitutes a ground? I only ask as, about half an hour into this game, I realised I couldn't see any seats in the stadium save for a bench a couple of old guys were sat on. Then I spied two rows of seats at the front of a stand otherwise given over to a terrace (actually there were three rows of seats but it only looked like 2 from my vantage point). Then I noticed the lack of floodlights and I got to thinking surely floodlights are a prerequisite of a stadium but then that would be to deny Bremer SV and their Stadion am Panzenberg. With cover down one side and a decent sized terrace (10+ steps) opposite, it would be difficult to deny it was a football stadium despite the lack of terrace or stand behind either goal. You could still walk behind each goal and lean on a barrier to watch the game, however.

Proof it's a stadium?

Or must a stadium reflect a certain level of football? Eg, must be in the league pyramid. But that would be to deny whole swathes of the north east of England and it's venerable standalone Northern League, the second oldest in the world. Bremer SV, in Oberliga Bremen, could conceivably march through the divisions and win the Bundesliga. So they’d be in, under this caveat. Must a stadium be fully enclosed or have an insistence on payment for entrance? Or just ‘Stadium’ (stadion) somewhere in the title in which case that's about 99% of football pitches on the continent

Turnstiles at BSV.

The Stadion am Panzenberg is supremely located just outside the park which encircles the city centre. Basically the city centre is 10 minutes away. The main (only) entrance is at the town end of the stadium, beside a flyover. From tranquility to urban motion within yards. Only one turnstile was open tonight, which looked about right for the 150 or so spectators (no away fans to note).

Stadium entrance and flyover.

There's a small bar upon entry, but walk past that and there's a bigger outdoor bar. Food? That'd be the barbecue underneath the wooden chalet / structure next to the pitch. Some fans never left this area given its view of the action. The ultras, who might have numbered as many as 3 (one per flag or banner) stood in the main stand. I heard A chant of ‘BSV BSV’, otherwise folk spread themselves out, either in their small groups or, like me, on their own. It was a splendid night to watch a game of footy without some of the incumbent trials and tribulations.

The pitch and food 'stand'.

The match itself was a slaughter. Five-nil. Probably the best goal was the first, a side footed volley from about 10 yards. Though I enjoyed the desperate clearance off the line which hit his own player and went in (#3) and number four, where I was just passing behind the net on the way to the stand (it was spitting with rain) when a shot was deflected into the net, right where I was. Man of the match was the ref, a young lad who got everything spot on. He might make the Bundesliga, I doubt the rest will.

The Main Stand at Stadion am Panzenberg

I’d enjoyed my night out at Bremer. When perusing the fixtures, I’d considered a Champions League/Europa League double header in Denmark, but it’s a bit far and the (affordable) accommodation options limited. Besides, I was really keen to see SV Meppen, newly promoted to 3.liga. So, Bremer SV was a positive consequence, leaving me in a good position to get to Meppen, near the Dutch border, the following day.

The Damage:
€6 ent
€5.50 2 beers
€27 hostel
= €38.50

The Tunes:
BBC Sessions (Cocteau Twins)
Be One (Wolfgang Buttress)
Big Balloon (Dutch Uncles)
Proxima Estacion Esperanza (Manu Chao)
Singles Collection: The London Years (Rolling Stones)
Slowdive (Slowdive)
Spirit of Eden (Talk Talk)