1.FC KöLN (Müngersdorfer Stadion) FC COLOGNE

BUNDESLIGA, 1.FC KöLN 0-0 1860 MüNCHEN, ATTENDANCE: 48,300

The final day of our European weekend saw us cross the border back into Germany for the Monday night Bundesliga 2 game between FC Cologne and 1860 Munich.

We caught the train from Groningen to Utrecht, where we were to change to catch our train to Cologne, but upon arrival the train had been cancelled! This meant a train to Arnhem, then a coach to Duisburg and finally another train to Cologne. This put another 90 minutes on our journey which wasn't bad in the circumstances.

Cologne is one of my favourite German cities with it's imposing cathedral and vast array of Kolsch (the local brew) beer houses.

The ground had been redeveloped for the 2006 World Cup and as redevelopments go, I was really impressed with the stadium. The capacity of the ground is 50,000 and the stands are built upwards so you are really on top of the action. The noise was fantastic and it would have been interesting to hear what it was like if Cologne actually scored a goal. It was an impressive attendance for a second level game, on a Monday night, that was live on TV.

The game ended goalless but it was the homesters who came closest to breaking the deadlock. Anthony Ujah had a penalty saved by ex-Crystal Palace 'keeper Gabor Kiraly in the first half and Daniel Halfar hit the crossbar in the second period. It was a good game overall and i'm guessing Munich would be far happier with the point, however the result displaced Cologne from top spot in the table.

I met up with another couple of Evertonian hoppers and we all headed into town for a few late Kolsch's before catching an early morning flight back to the UK. Another fine weekend of European groundhopping at an end!!

FC Koln's mascot - Hennes the Billy Goat

FC GRONINGEN (Euroborg Stadion)

EREDIVISE, FC GRONINGEN 1-0 PSV EINDHOVEN, ATTENDANCE: 19,776

After the shenanigans in Bremen the previous day, I came round, as opposed to woke up, in order to catch the 0854 train across the border into Holland. Destination was Groningen for their Eredivise game with PSV Eindhoven. 

The train stopped at the ground, which is about 1 mile out of town, and my first impression on alighting the train was this can't be the ground as we are in the middle of a business park and that looks like a block of offices rather than a football stadium.

Upon closer inspection it turns out it is a bit of both a one side of the ground is office space and the other side of the ground is a casino and Chinese restaurant (their all you can eat and drink buffet for 28 euros comes highly recommended).

Groningen moved to the Euroborg Stadion in 2006 after playing at the Oosterpark Stadion since 1933. It is a functional new build ground but the acoustics are fantastic and that made for a great atmosphere.

The crowd had plenty to cheer as well as their team produced a great performance to win the game 1-0. On any other day there could have been a sackful of goals, PSV probably guilty of missing 3 or 4 gilt edged chances.

The goal came early in the second period when the impressive Filip Kostic broke clear to slot home. It was Marco Bizot in the Green & White goal that was the hero of the day as he produced 4 top draw saves to keep PSV out.

Prior to the game I was told to keep and eye on two players on opposing sides as they are tipped for big things. PSV's Zakaria Bakkali is 17 year old Belgian winger and today he was a constant threat and arguably the visitors best player today. The other was Groningen's Richairo Zivkovic, who is also 17. He came on as a 2nd half substitute and looked a useful player with pace and a great touch. He nearly added a second late on for the homesters. 

After the match my friend and I headed into the delightful town centre where, slightly off the beaten track, we found a superb Belgian bar where we supped away into the early hours, whilst observing some local students making complete arses of themselves, some people eh?

SV WERDER BREMEN (Weserstadion)

BUNDESLIGA, SV WERDER BREMEN 0-0 SC FREIBURG, ATTENDANCE: 40,423

My friend and I annual autumn jaunt into was slightly curtailed this year as the Champions League was not particularly kind, so it was a three day, three game trip across two countries. Not as extensive as last season's France/Romania/Germany but just as enjoyable.

The weekend started with a £15 Ryanair flight to Bremen, landing just after 9.00am in the morning. A tram took us to the main station where there was a hive of activity as workers cleaned up the debris from the first night of the Bremen Beer Festival. I was completely unaware of this but my mate said oh yeah forgot to tell you about that....

The Bremen Festival is the Cities answer to Munich's Oktoberfest and combines beer and fairground rides, surely a dubious combination? The most thrilling ride appeared to be Olympic Ride, which was basically a loop-the-loop through the 5 Olympic rings. I thought to myself I must have a go on that later!

We met up with a pal from Hamburg and his friend and the pre-match supping began. It would have been rude not to get on the Beck's seeing as Bremen is where it originates.

The talk in the bar surrounding the ghost goal that Leverkeusen 'scored' against Hoffenheim when the ball was headed wide but went through a hole in the side netting and bounced out of the goal. The referee awarded a goal http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQZmRqxnH6M

At least that provided a taking point, which was more than can be said for the game we saw.

Bremen and Frieburg played out a drab 0-0 draw, which was the first of the Bundesliga season, the closest to a goal was when Bremen's Luca Caldirola hit the post. There's not really much more to add.

Bremen's last major success was in 2004, when the completed a league and cup double, though they did reach the UEFA Cup Final in 2009, and on this evidence it might be while yet before success returns.

The Weserstadion is located on the banks of the River Weser and despite redevelopment the ground was not chosen as a venue for the 2006 World Cup.

Once the game was over, it was a few more beers and a taxi ride back to the fair. We had to go and check into the hotel first and I took the chance to lay down for a quick power nap. There endeth my night and I never got the chance for any fairground thrills!

BARNET (The Hive)

CONFERENCE PREMIER, BARNET 1-1 WREXHAM, ATTENDANCE: 2,143

The second part of my North London double was a Barnet's new home, The Hive. This game was moved to the Sunday for live TV coverage and I was certainly not the only groundhopper attracted to this fixture. It also helped that The Bees had an offer on the tickets, knocking 50% of the normal prices.

Barnet left their home since 1907, Underhill, in May after a disagreement with the local council. This move took them out of the London Borough of Barnet and into the London Borough of Harrow.

The land where The Hive was built was originally called The Prince Edward Playing Fields and when construction began it was supposed to be for a new home for Wealdstone FC. Building was halted when Weadlstone's investment partners went into liquidation and Harrow council put the site up for tender in 2006, which Barnet won and it was used as their training ground.

The arguments for both sides can be found on this link...

http://www.onlybarnet.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=3231

The ground has recently run into problems regards planning permission for the West Stand and the floodlights;

http://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/news/10707322.Barnet_FC_issued_enforcement_notice_from_council_over_stadium_at_the_Hive/?ref=rss

Nonetheless it wasn't really a that bad for a new build and the view from the away end was good.

The game was typical Conference fayre with plenty of perspiration but very little inspiration. Barnet took an early lead through Anthony Acheampong. It was a simple header as the guy was left unchallenged by a static Wrexham defence. Barnet played well in the opening 25 minutes, their defence protected superbly by their No1 Edgar Davids - don't think I have ever seen an outfield player with the No1 on his back - but Wrexham did have their moments going forward.

In the second half Barnet seemed content to sit back and play on the counter attack as Wrexham pushed forward in search of an equaliser. The homesters nearly pulled it off until the last minute of normal of play when they conceded a free kick. Dean Keates duly fired it home to level but it was what happened in the moments before the kick was taken that proved the talking point.

Edgar Davids picked up the ball to prevent a quick free kick and Stephen Wright tried to grab the ball from his hands. Davids proceeded to elbow Wright in the face and both were sent off, though why Wright was sent off I haven't the foggiest.

Deep into the 9 added minutes of stoppage time, Wrexham were reduced to 9 men as Johnny Hunt was shown a red card for a dreadful two footed 'tackle' and Barnet's David Stephens could have won the game but his header hit the post, when it looked simpler to score.

Home via the Euston Tap, another enjoyable day out, but I was so happy to have only paid £8 to watch the actual game!

A tribute to Barnet's fan base

ENFIELD TOWN (The Queen Elizabeth II Stadium)

ISTHMIAN PREMIER LEAGUE, ENFIELD TOWN 1-2 BILLERICAY TOWN, ATTENDANCE: 554

The first part of my North London double took place at The Queen Elizabeth II Stadium (aka Donkey Dome as the ground is located on Donkey Lane) in Enfield. Football returned to town in 2011 after a gap of 12 years.  

The Enfield story is far to complex to explain in a few lines, so can I point everyone in the direction of this write up by Ian King on the ever superb 200% blog http://twohundredpercent.net/?p=19845#respond which tells you all what you need to know.

The ground is located about half a mile from Enfield's old Southbury Road stadium, which is now a housing estate.

The ground was a dilapidated old athletics stadium when Enfield took control but lots of time, effort and money has gone into to restoring the stadium to it's former glory. The main stand is art deco, set way back from the pitch but it offers the best views of the game.

The rest of the stands in the ground are of the pre-fab variety but with the athletics track you feel away from the action. I watched the game from the balcony of the clubhouse, which had two Redemption Ales on sale. Happy days!

The game was a cliched game of two halves as the homesters had the better of the first before the visitors came back to claim the points.

Enfield took the lead after 19 minutes when captain Mark Kirby was played through and he fired past Billy Lumley in the Billericay goal.

Ricay were level after 68 minutes when Glen Poole scored from the penalty spot (pictured left). This was after Enfield's Joe Stevens was adjudged to have fouled Isaac Layne in the area. 

It was actually the linesman who indicated the penalty and once this was done then the referee had no option to show Stevens a red card as he was the last man.

The advantage told with a couple of minutes remaining when Billericay's Junior Luke headed home the winner after 87 minutes.