TuRU DUSSELDORF (Stadion an der Feuerbachstraße)

OBERLIGA NIEDERRHEIN, TuRU DUSSELDORF 3-0 VdS NIEVENHEIM, ATTENDANCE: 150

Continuing the theme of superb German lower league grounds, my latest European adventure concluded with a visit to Turn-und Rasensport Union Düsseldorf, or TuRU Dusseldorf as they are more commonly known.

The Stadion an der Feuerbachstraße is another fine example of a proper old ground.

There is every chance you may have gone past this ground on the train as it is on the main route to Dusseldorf airport.

Indeed the stop where you alight, Dusseldorf Volksgarten, overlooks the ground and you can actually watch the action from the station platform.

The ground has a large 1,500 capacity Grandstand which is unmissable as you whizz by on the train.

Today was a mid-table Oberliga Niederrhein (level 5 in Germany) clash between TuRU Dusseldorf and VdS Nievenheim. It was a comfortable 3-0 win for the home side. The goals came courtesy of  Julius Steegman (6) an own goal (76) Saban Ferati (89)

You can witness them via this link...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aR_HIE-mqdA&feature=youtu.be

A perfect way to round off another perfect European adventure!

NK CROATIA 1970 DUSSELDORF (Feuerbachstraße 82)

DUSSELDORF KREISLIGA B, GROUP 2, NK CROATIA 0-5 GARATHER SV, ATTENDANCE: 47 (h/c)

A bonus game for me today!  

I arrived early at Feuerbachstraße 82, Dusseldorf, in readiness for the TuRU Dusseldorf game which kicked off at 3 o'clock.

At the turnstile I noticed a sheet of A4 paper advertising a Kreisliga game. The Kreisliga is the lowest level in German football, the equivalent of county league football in England.

NK Croatia 70 were taking on Garather SV on a pitch behind the main ground. It was an artificial surface not unlike the QPR and Luton Town pitches of the 1980's.

Obviously the standard wasn't the greatest, but it was an entertaining watch all for the princely sum of 3 euros.

Garather ran out comfortable winners and their goals came courtesy of Slawomir Schulte (2) Daniel Haak, Patrick Thiel and an own goal.

FC VIKTORIA KOLN (Sportpark Höhenberg)

REGIONALLIGA WEST, FC VIKTORIA KOLN 2-0 SC VERL, ATTENDANCE: 624

The modernisation of grounds that seems to be taking place across the higher echelons of German football has yet to filter down to the lower regions and fortunately you can still find some absolute gems out there. I certainly put Sportpark Höhenberg, the home of Viktoria Koln, in that category. Today though only the large grandstand was open.

The club has an ambitious owner whose dream it is make Viktoria the second team in the city. The club have had an interesting history with many mergers and takeovers over the past century.

Founded in 1904, they are one of the oldest football clubs in Cologne. They began life as FC Germania Kalk before mergeing with FC Kalk in 1909 to form SV Kalk 04. In 1911 this club joined forces with Mülheimer FC to create VfR Mülheim-Kalk 04. The club was then renamed VfR Köln 04 in 1918.

During the war years the club joined forces with  Mülheimer SV to play as KSG VfR 04 Köln/Mülheimer SV 06 before making the merger permanent and becoming to become SC Rapid Köln 04 in 1949. Rapid joined local rivals SC Preußen Dellbrück forming SC Viktoria 04 Köln in 1957.

In 1963 the club represented Cologne in the Inter Cities Fairs Cup. In 1994 the club merged with SC Brück to create SCB Preußen Köln before changing name to SCB Viktoria Köln in 2002. 

This club was liquidated in 2010 and a new club called FC Viktoria Köln was founded, which took over the youth teams of now insolvent SCB Viktoria. The club were forced to start in the lowest league but in 2011 they took over FC Junkersdorf, who won the 2011 Mittelrheinliga meaning FC Viktoria Köln could start in in the Regionalliga.

Speaking of new beginnings it was the first game in charge for new Viktoria coach Tomasz Kaczmarek and he witnessed his new charges score two goals without reply.

SC Verl succumb to two late goals from Daniel Reiche (76) and Tim Väyrynen (82). Post match is was into the city centre for one or two well deserved glasses of Kolsch!

VfR AALEN (Städtisches Waldstadion)

2.BUNDESLIGA, VfR AALEN 1-1 FC INGLOSTADT, ATTENDANCE: 5,048

Tonight saw me cross the border from Switzerland into Southern Germany for a second division Bundesliga clash between Aalen and Ingolstadt.

Founded in 1921, Aalen led an unremarkable history in the lower tiers of German football before reaching the second tier for the first time in 2011.



The Städtisches Waldstadion, known as the Scholz-Arena for sponsorship purposes, overlooks the town and is about a 20 minute walk from the main train station. The ground has a capacity of 14,500 but was barely a third full tonight.

The game was an insipid affair, and I found it rather difficult to believe that Ingolstadt were points clear at the top of the table. They looked anything but champions-elect.

Jurgen Gjasula gave Aalen the lead from the penalty spot (56) before Mathew Leckie (77) levelled for the visitors.

It was a bitterly cold evening at the ground and, even though I had a couple of beers pre-game, I had to succumb to the Gluhwein by half time, which was very warming indeed!