ARMINIA BIELEFELD (Bielefelder Alm Stadion)

2.BUNDESLIGA, ARMINIA BIELEFELD 1-1 VfL BOCHUM, ATTENDANCE: 16,720

Once more I headed over to Germany for few games as the Bundesliga's traditional September "Englische Woche" got underway.

This is a full midweek programme of league games that happens twice a season (in September and March) and is dubbed the "English Week" as, because of the size of the leagues, in England midweek football is normal, whereas in Germany it is quite rare for midweek league matches (some may argue unnecessary, especially those clubs that have to make long journeys).

Nonetheless, the "Engilshce Woche" gave this groundhopper a chance to visit three grounds in midweek, starting on a Tuesday evening with a Bundesliga 2 clash between Arminia Bielefeld v Vfl Bochum.

I had an inauspicious start to my trip when flight my to Hamburg was cancelled and I was put on a flight to go via Dusseldorf. Luckily, as I was only flying one way with this airline, I left the airport in Dusseldorf, instead of getting on the connecting flight to Hamburg, and boarded a train to Bielefeld.

I arrived in the city in mid afternoon and, unless I am deceiving myself, I can confirm that Bielefeld does indeed exist and I definitely stepped off a train in a place called Bielefeld!

The football club get their distinctive name from Arminius, who was a chieftain of the Germanic Cherusci, who defeated a Roman army in the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest (which is south of Bielefeld) in 9 AD.

Arminia have called The Bielefelder Alm Stadion home since 1926, but for sponsorship purposes it is currently known as the Schücoarena. It is about a 20 minute walk from the main train station and is in a residential area, with the ground rising between the houses. It does take a while to circumnavigate.

In 1996 rebuilding work began on the ground and was completed in 2007, creating the arena you see before your eyes. My tickets were ordered online for collection at the ground. For the uninitiated this is a hut by the south stand, which I must have walked past about three times!

Arminia are currently in the second tier of German football (they were founding members of Division 2 in 1974) but have spent many seasons in the top flight (their last spell was between 2004 and 2009) but were in Liga 3 as recently as 2013. Their most infamous spell in the top flight was their debut season in 1970/71 where they finished 14th but were found guilty of match fixing and were expelled the following year.

Back to the present and top of the table Bochum, who are unbeaten this season, deservedly took the lead after 28 minutes when Simon Terodde converted from the penalty spot (pictured left) after a handball by Bielefeld's Brian Behrent.



Fabian Klos equalised for Bielefeld with 8 minutes remaining when he got ahead of his marker to fire home a cross from Christopher Nothe.