"Back for Good"
With Hertha Berlin playing away from home, and recently promoted Union Berlin fully sold out, we had to look a little lower down the German football ladder last weekend for a taste of live action.
A bit of googling led us to Tennis Borussia Berlin's first match of the year, and it became clear it was a significant one for the club. Founded in the early 1900's (originally as a tennis club, hence the name) and once national champions, the team has a proud history and standing within the German game.
Alongside football, they are also well known for their left wing, community driven club focus, something not uncommon amongst German teams, and a clear trend that sets their football apart from other European leagues.
In Germany, by law, the vast majority of clubs have to be at least 51% fan owned, and there seems to be a real cultural focus on preserving clubs and their fan culture, as well as using football for social impact.
For Tennis Borussia, the last few years have seen financial turmoil, and after a dramatic summer behind the scenes, it was doubtful whether or not they would even be competing this year.
But after a recent ousting of a troublesome board member, fans flooded back for the season opener, with banners around the stadium stating TBB are 'Back for Good', (with Take That's classic tune even featuring during a rousing pre-kick off celebration.)
€5 a ticket, €15 for a replica shirt and beers and Bratwursts a plenty, I was convinced we'd made the right decision before the game had even started. The club shop was a treasure trove, and probably the best I’ve ever found in all my years of football travelling.
Alongside the typical, but brilliant ‘stick the club badge on anything’ merchandise strategy of football clubs, there were replica shirts a plenty. A vintage rail of old, discontinued jerseys (usually overpriced as a commodity by clubs) were available for just €10, with last year’s strip a mere €15.
Complete with the names and numbers of last year’s squad, I picked up the number 17 shirt, worn by a man called Bongartz. Whilst queuing to purchase, an old fan in a purple hat reliably informed me this was one of their fiercest and best loved defenders, ‘a man covered in tattoos, who plays with aggression and desire’, clearly a good selection.
The fans had organised confetti, fireworks and banners around the ground, the whole place celebratory and welcoming throughout. They had even handed out small printed flyers around the stadium, explaining the club’s return and their choreographed crowd activity, which began as the teams took to the field.
I was surprised to hear ‘Football’s Coming Home’ play from the tannoy, followed by the tune of the day, fans singing along to the soothing sounds and Robbie and Gary… ‘whatever I said, whatever I did, I didn’t mean it…’
The crowd ranged in age, gender and status, from old men in purple scarves and suit jackets, mods and rockers in their black baggy t-shirts and ripped jeans, to kids in replica kits and even babies in prams. This was clearly a family and community affair, with smiles and songs exchanged by all.
The team lived up to their fans' spirit, setting the pace with early goals and a dominance all over the field. Highlights included a 60 yard shot, nearly catching the keeper off his line as the ball smashed into the bar, a few well worked team goals and a thumping second half volley that nutmegged the keeper from 20 yards out.
Tennis Borussia cruised to a comfortable 5-0 victory as the sun came down, leaving the few hundred attendees happy as we trooped back through the dark parkland to the nearest U-Bahn station.
Lower league football - always a great way to get a different experience in a city you're visiting, regardless of where you are in the world. Thanks to the club for a great evening of football - will definitely be returning on my next visit!