Bohemians 1905 1-1 Zbrojovka Brno, Saturday 25th February 2023

Bohemians 1905 1-1 Zbrojovka Brno, Czech Liga, Dolicek, att. 4,079

I came to the attention of the ultras today, and not in a nice way. It was the second half, and I’d decided to stand on the terrace behind the goal. Heading for the more sparsely populated far side, I walked along the front and behind their cheerleader’s platform. Then, as I stood on the terrace, minding my business, supping my beer, watching the football….a yoof came up to me. ‘LGBT’ he said. I wasn’t sure whether this was a statement or question, but I knew what he was referring to. He pointed at my hat and repeated ‘LGBT’. ‘It’s a very colourful hat’ I replied, ingenuously. ‘That’s my football team’ I added, pointing at the club badge.

I wasn’t too fazed, as he’d broken the rule of combat and ceded higher ground (I was a couple of steps above him). I also overly trust my ability to avoid confrontation, or as my mate Dave says ‘you’re the only person I know who can talk himself into and out of a fight in the same sentence.’ Then his mate came and joined him. This one was dressed in all black, his face disguised by a scarf across his face, hoodie and sunglasses. Perhaps he’s famous and doesn’t want to be recognised? An older, and, crucially, BIGGER bloke stepped in to discuss matters with them in Czech. After a minute or so, the 1st lad asks me if ‘in the interests of keeping the peace would you mind removing your hat.’ It was so terribly formal I said ‘no bother, it’s not too cold’ whereupon his disguised accomplice was now insistent that I keep it on. ‘I can’t win’ I replied. Anyway, I took it off and enjoyed repartee with big bloke’s mate for the rest of the match, a Chemistry graduate from the provinces who’d adopted Bohemians. ‘I’m surprised and shocked’ he said. ‘I thought young people had more…respect.’

I’d got to Dolicek bang on kick-off time, as I messed up and went the wrong way on the tram. So much for reading the timetable. Thus, with no time to spare I paid the 300CHK for a seating ticket and went in the 1st entrance. The stand may not be too photogenic, but it provides an excellent view, as it’s quite steep. I sat about 6 rows up, but the view was still good as the stand begins at a height. To the right, behind the goal, there are no spectators, but a portacabin and cameraman up high. Opposite is the away ‘end’, 2 or 3 rows of open seating, with maybe 100 away fans today. Space is extremely tight on that side as the street lies immediately behind. That leaves the far (left) end, a large terrace with some seats bolted on the left side (which no-one sits down on). This is where the vocal element converge, though there were a few call-and-response chants from the main stand.

The first half was notable for a couple of disallowed goals. Bohemians thought they’d gone a goal up with a neat turn and shot off the far post. My chemist told me it was ruled out for handball. Who knew the Czech league had VAR? Like everywhere else, it wished it hadn’t for the 2nd disallowed goal…an absolute rocket from 25 yards by the Brno left back, which screamed into the top corner. I’ve heard a rumour VAR decided it was offside. Maybe there was a player standing ‘off’. Was he obstructing the keeper? There wasn’t a goalkeeper in the world saving that shot. Ho hum.

At half-time I visited the club shop…they had great t-shirts last time I was here…then a klobasa (sausage) and beer. I’d been eying up a ‘cigaro’, a foot long baguette with sausage, but they ran out just I should have been served. I say ‘should have been’ as 3 Glasweigans somehow inveigled their way in front of me by pushing in from the side. They seemed to want a ‘cigaro’ too, so justice was served (unlike the cigaro). Then a cheer went up. Great. Bohemians were a goal ahead. VAR didn’t rule this one out for nefarious reasons. Then I decided to go behind the goal, which I probably would have done to begin with had I arrived in good time. I did see one goal though. Brno equalised in the 70th minute and neither side looked likely to get another. Full-time came, we said our goodbyes…and a man came down several steps to shake my hand. Was it for wearing my rainbow hat? Coming to support Bohemians? Being English? He never said. He just shook my hand and returned to the throng of leavers.

The Damage:
CHK 300 ent
CHK 50 programme
CHK 45 beer (x2)
CHK 70 klobasa (sausage)
CHK 349 t-shirt= CHK 859 (£34)

The Tunes:
Prague life, the humdrum of the streets and tram.