Viktoria Berlin; Berlin, Germany

This is the Friedrich Ebert Stadion, home of Viktoria Berlin, where I wathc a game in September 2007 against Lichtenberg 47. A nice enough ground, unfortunately with one of my 'footballing bugbears'... the running track!
There was no programme, but I picked up as club quarterly magazine in the clubhouse area.
There were also posters for a match the previous day at the same ground, for a club called S.D. Croatia e.V.



This is the entrance, from the main road. You could just walk in here, there was a table set up by the actual gate to the ground, further inside.



No programme, sadly this poster was securely locked, otherwise I'd have 'arf inched it! ;-)



The pitch itself was further along this drive, on the right.



Just inside the roadside entrance was this bar area & the changing rooms.



Coming into the ground it looks a typical basic running track ground, with grass banking on the far side.



But down the side we're on is a decent stretch of open terrace, with a small stand in the middle. Much as I have an aversion to running tracks, this side is decent, I begrudgingly admit to myself! ;-)



From this side we look across the pitch.



Moving further along, glancing across the pitch again, with some of the crowd in front of us.



A good shot of the stand, with the club crest at the back.



Moving round, there's more open terracing, and we catch a bit of one of the dugouts, in the corner of this shot.



From this corner of the ground you can see exactly why I don't like running tracks! Put me on top of the action anyday!



Behind the goal, up on the grass banking, the game seems distant.



Set back ,atop the banking, is this memorial of some sort. Sadly no plaque on it, of any description.



We've now moved all the way down the far side, this is the best shot I could get, with the sun shaded a little, I liked the benches running along the top.



Here we look back across to the main side.



A bit further along, similar view, from the corner.



And back to where we started.

FC Brandenburg 03; Berlin, Germany

I visited Sportpaltz Sommeringstrasse for a Landesliga Berlin match between the hosts FC Brandenburg 03 & SV Nord-Wedding in Spetember 2007. It was for a Sunday morning game, I went alone, as my two travelling friends, Tony & Tamara, bizarrely preferred to go to the 'delights' of Berlin Zoo instead!

There was a free eight page A5 black & white programme on the gate.


This is the entrance gate, from the road.




Simple hard standing behind this goal, chain fencing obstructing the view of the pitch.



Along the side is some open terracing. Further along is an open bench seated area.



Before we head there this a behind the goal again, the other side of the fencing.



This is the open seated area, nice on a sunny autumn morning like this.



Another angle, from the other side.



Across the pitch from this corner now, not the best of shots I must say!



It is also open standing behind the far goal.



But before we head round there we look back down the side, under the 'shady protection' of a tree.



No reason for taking this snap, apart from catching the two tight gits outside, who are saving themselves a whole three euros!



A little bit of goalmouth action as we move round.



From behind the goal we glance back down the side again.



Further along, at this end, there is some old terracing, and we see the terrace down the far side for the first time.



It stretches all the way down this side.



Trying to get some shade again, it was a nice warm weekend!



Further down, we look back down the terrace, as fans relax at half time.



The changing rooms are set in a building behind the terrace, which includes the bar. Here the visitors come out for the second half, & I settle down for that, having completed our tour of this German non-league ground.

1.FC Union Berlin; Berlin, Germany

I visited the wonderful Stadion An der Alten Forsterei in Spetember 2007, for a Friday night German Third Division match against Rot Weiss Essen. The snaps are a bit dark, due to me only having an average 'digital box brownie', but 1.FC Union Berlin is a wonderful ground to watch football. My travelling mate Tony was so entranced by the place that he 'adopted' them as his German side, and has been back there since, as well as following them via the internet!
If you're ever in Berlin I would heartily reccomend trying to catch a match here.



We entered from a corner, & down the left, was the open terrace, where home supporters stood.



We stood behind the goal, & this is a shot of that end.



From our spot we turn right, looking over to the seats, running the full length of that touchline.



Another glimpse of the home fans behind the goal.



And down the terraced side, again.



Back behind the goal, and a look up the terrace, from the bottom.



From this corner we see the main stand again, and the open terracing at the far end, where the away fans are situated.



Some of the home flags, in the corner where we entered.



From up on that small raised area, another look across the pitch.



And down the side once more.



Looking down, further up the terrace, behind the goal.



The scoreboard, in the same corner, behind the goal.



The packed side terrace again.



Not much room behind the goal either!



Showing their support at the final whistle.



Home fans start to leave.



This is the open terrace at the far end, the away fans were in the far corner.



Here we see the now empty terrace along the side.



And across the pitch to the seats.



A nice shot of the emptying home terracing.



Still soaking up the atmosphere I suppose!



Another view of the side and far end terracing.



I've no idea who he is, I just asked him if i could take a photo of his jumper!



There is an exit in the corner where we entered through a small tunnel under the terrace. There is some sort of 'sponsor a brick' scheme here.



A dark shot of a tunrstile block, as we leave.



And a club van parked outside.