Geordie Al's Groundhopper Scrapbook: SV Meppen 1-2 1.FC Magdeburg, Wednesday 2nd August 2017

Thursday, 3 August 2017

SV Meppen 1-2 1.FC Magdeburg, Wednesday 2nd August 2017

SV Meppen 1-2 1.FC Magdeburg (3.liga, att. 8,389)

Welcome to ...

For SV Meppen, a team in northwestern Germany close to the Dutch border, times are good. Elevated to the national 3.liga, crowds have increased five fold, so it was with some trepidation I set off without a ticket. I could always go in the away end. Surely Magdeburg won't bring many on a Wednesday night? Wrong.

Not much space to be had in the away end.

I arrived early, early enough to set up camp (the tent was making its first team debut) and then have a stroll to the stadium. I really was early, too early to buy a ticket. Police and hamburger men were setting up but with no sign of the ticket booths opening I walked back to town, another 20 minutes away.

Meppen is a pleasant enough place. Every other business was a café. I purchased of a couple of postcards from the tourist information and enjoyed an apfelstrudel before doubling back to the Hansch Arena. By now fans were making their way, down the only road from the town centre which leads to the stadium.

The Big Match.

The ticket office was busy, but organised, and I was served promptly. With a choice of standing areas, I elected for the southwest paddock. Surely the ultras would be behind the goal? Wrong again, though I cosied up towards the halfway line away from the liveliness.

The Hansch Arena is a little quirky, as the southern terrace is tight to the byeline, while the northern terrace (which is half given over to the away team) is elliptical. I'm not sure why. There's no other evidence to suggest there was a running track here. The pitch is bordered by stands with seating above and a paddock below. The east stand is the more modern, larger and cantilevered. The West has stanchions but is darker and more atmospheric.

The elliptical away end, earlier that day.

The ground looked packed, though with a crowd of 8300 this meant it was barely half-full. Two things: Firstly, this is what happens when you cover the fencing with banners and everyone moves up the terrace. Also, how the hell does this ground hold 16500? With difficulty, I'd say. The seats looked sold out, apart from a few gaps in the away sector.

Space in the away seats...

Magdeburg brought 1000+, very impressive. Their fans were perfectly orchestrated and to see these professional opponents must have put into perspective how far Meppen have come. Maybe this nervousness was why the Meppen full back played a suicidal back pass straight to the Magdeburg centre forward, who was taken out by the keeper for a pen and a booking. 0-1 after 4 minutes. Could it turn into a drubbing?

Penalty despatched. 0-1.

Fortunately not. In an open game, Meppen piled forward and should have had 3 before they did get one, scrambled in off a corner. At half time I went looking for a programme (again). Everyone else had one. Musta been on sale outside. I had another sausage and beer instead and took a pew behind the goal. The best thing about my ticket was I could go anywhere in the Southern end while you needed to show a ticket to get on the south west paddock. However, I didn't fancy battling through the crowd to reclaim my old perch and, besides, I wanted a different view.

It was never the best view.

The home side continued to show attacking verve and missed a couple of easy opportunities (not easy enough) and Magdeburg won it when a cut back was buried, low. Meppen coulda…shoulda….scored 5 or 6. That they didn't doesn't bode well in my book. Playing well and losing is what makes for a relegated team. Time will tell.

Meppen ultras wave their flags.

There’s also still no admiration for the rise of Red Bull supported Rasenboll Leipzig, the fans of both sides chanting ‘scheisse RB’. The only other thing of note was the security, in particular, the proliferation of police vehicles. I passed 9 vans and a motorcycle on my first journey back from the stadium. Also, the supermarket, normally open till midnight had been closed at 8:30 to prevent fans grabbing more beer afterwards. You can never be too careful with these football fans.

Inventive ball-carrying system.

I walked back, intending to pick something up from the tent and then go for a beer. Instead, the rain started falling (doesn't it always when you camp?) and I found myself all cosied up. Tomorrow, maybe.

The Damage:

€10 ent

€3 beer (400ml x 2)

€2.50 bratwurst (x 2)
€10 tent pitch

= €31

The Tunes:
Achtung Bono (Half Man Half Biscuit)
Fabric 84 (Mathew Jonson)
I’m New Here (Gil Scott-Heron)
Aman Iman (Tinariwen)
Four-Calendar Cafe (Cocteau Twins)