ALTONAER FC VON 1893 (Adolf Jäger Kampfbahn)

OBERLIGA HAMBURG, ALTONA 93 2-2 SV HALSTENBEK-RELLINGEN, ATTENDANCE: 1,000 (est)

For the second part of my Hamburg Oberliga double header I headed west to the borough of Altona. Until 1937 Altona was a city in it's own right before being merged into the city of Hamburg.

Altona Football Club is one of the oldest in Germany having being founded in 1893, initially as a cricket club.

The Adolf Jäger Kampfbahn is a 500m walk from Hamburg Bahrenfeld staion and the ground appears before you as you walk down Freisenweg.

The ground is named after Adolf Jäger, who was a German international, who competed in the 1912 Summer Olympics, who played for Altona from 1907 until 1927, scoring over 2000 goals in over 700 amateur matches.  He died during World War II, whilst working for bomb disposal in Hamburg, and is buried in Altona Main Cemetery.

The ground is another example of one of those ground where you just go "Wow!" when you enter through the turnstile. It has been home to Altona since 1909 and, yes, it is showing it's age, but give me crumbling terraces with trees growing through them any day. I would much prefer standing on a grass bank, or a long open terrace, or sitting in an old wooden stand to a soulless modern stadium.

Altona are looking to move away from their spiritual home in the not too distant future. As far as I can gather, from speaking to fans, it possibly won't be for another year or so, as the planning issues drag on.

There are plans to build flats on the current ground and the club relocate to a site on nearby Memelland Allee. It was supposed to be all done in time for the beginning of the 2016/17 season but it could drag on into 2017. Considering the move was mooted as long ago as 2008, who knows when it will finally happen?

Altona are the third largest supported team in Hamburg and a large number of their fans are left leaning in terms of their political views. There were plenty of anti-fascist, anti-racism, and anti-homophobia stickers and banners posted around the ground.

I was introduced to Jan, who writes/edits the Altona fanzine All-to-Nah and he produced a copy that was written completely in English. A very good read too. There were also plenty of Dulwich Hamlet supporters present today, as the respective clubs have a fan friendship. It all made for a pleasant afternoon.

The game was an entertaining draw.  Jan Novotny (18) headed HR into the lead before Enrik Nrecaj (32) doubled the visitors lead. There was a quick response from Altona when Cody Shields (34) fired home to reduce the deficit.

Altona came out for the second half with more attacking purpose but despite their efforts it appeared that HR were going to hold on for the win but, as the game moved into stoppage time, one last attack resulted in the ball falling to the feet of Mustafa Hadid and he blasted home to earn Altona a deserved share of the spoils.

Post match was spent wandering around the city of Hamburg before having a few nightcaps in the superb Altes Mädchen, the weekend certainly finishing a lot better than it started!