Damage In The Box!: HAMBURGER FUSSBALL CLUB FALKE (Stadion Stellingen)

HAMBURGER POKAL 1, HFC FALKE 3-0 SV WEST-EIMSBUTTEL, ATTENDANCE: 750

It was an early start from Magdeburg as the train headed north to the famous port of Hamburg. However the journey this morning was different as I was travelling with just a little more than excitement than usual because I was heading to see a fledgling football club take it's first competitive steps.

Hamburger Fussball Club Falke has been formed by disillusioned fans of Hamburg Sport-Verein (HSV). Most were/are loyal supporters, season ticket holders and had followed the the club through thick and, in recent times, mostly thin. HSV were one of the few remaining Bundesliga clubs that were 100% member owned. However this all changed in last year.

In May 2014 a vote by HSV members resulted in 86.9% of them electing to separate the club’s professional football section into a new company, which would be open to investors. This decision also sacrificed many of their rights as members. This vote was the final straw for some supporters and sparked the move to set up a new club.

Buoyed by the success of the likes of AFC Wimbledon and FC United of Manchester in England, some Hamburg supporters decided to go their own way, indeed members of the HFC Falke board made a trip across to Manchester last November for some pointers and advice.

You only have to look at our own Premier League to see the way the professional game has developed in recent years. Soaring ticket prices and fans being treated with contempt are the norm in England but the German model is what many in England look to with envy with cheap tickets, safe standing and fans having a say, but ironically, that vote could ultimately take Hamburg away from that model.

HFC Falke aims to be a club that is run by the fans for the fans, to give supporters an alternative home and to keep the spirit of old going. The club has not been set up to be a direct replacement to HSV as, speaking to few supporters at the ground today, you could still see clearly how much HSV still mean to some of them and how much the result of that election upset them.

The decision to kick off their home fixtures at midday on a Saturday is designed to allow supporters to watch both teams if they so desire. Indeed the official HSV twitter feed tweeted HFC Falke to wish them good luck before the game.

The new club takes its name from two of the three clubs who originally merged to form the current HSV in June 1919, namely Hamburger FC (originally founded in 1888) and FC Falke (originally founded in 1906). The third founding club, SC Germania, is also "reborn" within the new club colours and badge. HFC Falke was formally established on 19 June 2014, with the initial meeting taking place on 13 July, when over 300 people signed up as founder members.

For the 2015/16 season the club have been placed in the Hamburg Kreisklasse (group 5) which is the lowest level of football in Germany. The club are groundsharing at the Rudi Barth Sportplatz, which is the home of Kreisliga side SC Union 03 Altona. However that ground was unavailable today, as the pitch is being re-seeded, so this Hamburger Pokal tie was switched to SV West-Eimsbüttel's Stellingen Stadion. This also doubles up a Falke's training ground too. There is no cover at this basic ground, meaning this particular groundhopper ended the day with a very red and very burnt head!

Dirk Hellmann was appointed coach of HFC Falke in January 2015, along with assistant Christopher Dobirr, and began the task of putting together a squad in order to begin this season. Open training sessions were conducted and a squad was finalised.

The players that lined up this afternoon for this historic occasion were;

24 Dennis Verstege

3 Christopher Dobirr, 5 Damian Haras, 31 Onno Lorenzen, 18 Tobias Herbert

27 Jan Ramelow, 21 Timo Wedler (sub 17 Francis Fabian 61m) 8 Sebastian Semtner

13 Björn Naruhn (sub 7 Christian Schümann 61m), 16 Timo Braasch,

11 Angelo Litrico (sub 23 David Rogge, 83m)

The long term aims of the club, on the field, are to try and reach the Oberliga, which is four levels above where the club is now. However the short term aim of today was to progress to the next round of the Hamburger Pokal. SV West-Eimsbuttel play in the Kreisliga, which is the league above HFC Falke, but the Falke squad contained many players that have played at a much higher level than that.

The players are not being paid and actually have to pay subs to the club, but I was told the deal clincher for many players to drop to this level was the fact they don't have to wash their own kit!

The players, cheered on by a 700+ crowd, took to the field to a superb display of from the fans, with their blue and white flags shining in the afternoon sun, and a large banner with the legend "Kämpfen und glänzen" which translates as "Fight and shine"

A day of celebration was made complete by victory on the pitch. Player/Assistant coach Christopher Dobirr had the honour of scoring HFC Falke's first ever competitive goal after 20 minutes when he headed home a Tobias Herbert corner (pictured right). Timo Braasch tapped home from close range home after 68 minutes to double HFC Falke's advantage before Christian Schümann fired home after 88 minutes to seal the tie.

"Number 86"

It was a successful day off the pitch as well as the makeshift "fan shop" did a roaring trade as shirts, scarves and badges were all snapped up by the supporters. The club also sold well over 100 season tickets, of which I did my little bit by purchasing one, hopefully I will get the chance to use it when the club finally head "home".

Crates and crates of ale were also sold. Indeed the beer had been flowing since the gates were opened at 11am and the beer continued to flow well into the evening as players, officials and fans all celebrated together as one. That in a nutshell was what today was all about.