EDITION twenty four

PRE SEASON SPECIAL

WEISSE ROSE

Iusuallyhatetheoff-season.There’snothingtowatchontheteleandsportstvisallaboutgolfandcricketandsportsijustcan’tgetinterestedin.Thesummermonthsareusuallypainfullyslowandseemslikeforeverbeforethefootballseasonisback.I’ms?llnotsurewhy,butthissummerhasbeendifferent.

ItseemslikeonlyweeksagosincetheSonderzugtriptoBochumforthelastgameoftheseason(moreonthatlaterfromMrDavidson),yetonFridaywe’llbebackthereagain.Wheredidthesummergo?

By‘summer’imeantheGmebetweentheendoflastseasonandthestartofthecurrentcampaign,ofcourse.Theweatherdoesn’tmaIerbeforeoraJerthat,exceptit’salwayssunnyontheopeningdayoftheseason.That’sthelaw.ItmayhavesomethingtodowiththechaoGcsummerscheduleofYSPFC-we’vehadourtournamentinamongstvarioustripsandfriendlies,andthenwe’vehadafourweekFAcoachingcourse.Perhapsthat’swheresummerwent?Whoknows.

I’vealsofoundmyselfquitefarawayfromSt.Pauli,disconnectedfromthedailyoccurrencesoftheclub.Notinabadway,itjustseemsthateverythingissteadyawayattheclubinthepresentmoment.ThetransiGonfromLienentoJanßenwasn’tenGrelyunexpectedandwasdoneinacalmandprofessionalmanner,aswastheintroducGontothecoachingstaff.Theoverhaulinplayersthatwe’veseeninrecentseasonshasn’toccurredeither.ThecalmnatureoftheclubwaspersonifiedwhenPresidentOkeGoeIlichwhenannouncingtheclub’stransferbusinesswasfinishedlastweek.

Theclubhavegottheirshittogether,theyseeminglyknowwhattheyaredoing,andonthebackoftheimpressivesecondhalfoflastseason

it’sGmetojustsitbackandrelaxaheadofthenewseason.AsisalwaysthecasewithSt.Pauli,nodoubtthatboatwillberockedinduecourse.Butit’llbefunalongthewayeh?

That’swhythisfanzinedoesn’tmenGonanymoreaboutthebackroomchanges,theincomingtransfersorthepre-seasonfriendlies.Justletitbesaidthattheteamisreadyforthenewseason.InsteadthisediGonofthefanzinelooksattheregularquesGonswegetaskedasafanclub-wherecanigetGckets,whereshouldistay,where’sgoodfordrinking.

Aseditorofthefanzine,iwouldliketoencourageallofyoureadingthistoconsiderbecomingaYorkshireSt.Paulimember.Youdon’tneedtobefromYorkshire,youdon’thavetoaIendscreenings,youdon’tevenhavetolikeusverymuch.ButbybecomingaYSPmemberyousupportthefanzine,yousupporttheFootballForAllprojectandmostimportantlyyouhelpussupportcausesthatmeanalottous-moredetailsonthenextpage!Soifyouenjoythefanzine,pleasebecomeamember!Ifyoudon’tenjoyit,writetoourcomplaintsdepartment.

I’dliketothankallthosewhohavecontributedtothefanzine,asalwaysatveryshortnoGceandwithoutalotoforganisaGonordirecGon!Ifyoureadthisandwanttocontribute,whetherasaone-offoronaregularbasis,thenpleasegetintouchbecausewearealwaysdesperatefornewcontributorstoensureitdoesn’tbecomethesamefewpeoplewriGngthesameoldthingsthatyou’renotveryinterestedin.Dropusanemailatinfo@yorkshirestpauli.com.

Enjoythefanzine,enjoytheseason,andlet’sfinishin4th,eh?

ScoI,YSP.

EDITOR’S NOTE WHERE DID THE

SUMMER GO?

BECOME A YORKSHIRE ST. PAULI MEMBER

EveryyearweaskyoutobecomeaYorkshireSt.Paulimember.There’snotangiblebenefitstobecomingamember,exceptyoumightgetashinymembershipcardifyou’relucky.There’snopreferen?altreatmentfor?ckets,nodiscountsonskullandcrossbonesteesetc.Butthemembershipisvitalinallowingthefanclubtocon?nue.Themembershipsupportsthefanclubinshowingscreenings,runningourwebsite,registeringasanofficialfanclubandgenerallykeepingtheYSPwheelturning.

Butit’salsoachanceforustosupportwhatwereallycareabout.St.Pauliisagreatclubwithacommunityconsciencethatisbothawareofandprovidesassistancetothosewhoneedit,bothinSt.Pauliandbeyond.St.PaulihasabroadawarenessofpoliGcalissues,andtherearemanyprojectsrunbothofficiallybytheclubandalsobythevariousfangroupsofSt.Pauli.WewantYorkshireSt.Paulinotonlytomirrorthesupportofthefootballteam,butthesupportofthecommunityaswell.

YorkshireSt.Pauliwas(non-)establishedinMay2011,withtheideatogetagroupoflike-mindedSt.Paulifanstogethertowatchgames.SixyearsonandafewGredandwearyfaceslater,thegrouphasgrownbeyondourwildestexpectaGons.WemeeteveryfewweeksinLeedstowatchmatches,weareinvolvedincharityworkwithlocalrefugeecharityPAFRAS,werunaweeklyFootballprojectandweorganiseseveraltripsoverperseasontowatchtheboysinbrown.

Thisyear,aswedidlastyear,wewillbesplidngthemajorityofthemembershipmoneybetweenPAFRASandLeedsAnG-FascistNetwork.Thefirst£1fromeverymembershipfeegoestoYSP,andtheremainderissplit50/50betweenPAFRASandLAFN.

PosiGveAcGonforRefugeesandAsylumSeekers,moreeasilyreferredtoasPAFRASworkswithasylumseekers,refugeesandlocalcommuniGesin

Leedsandthesurroundingarea,providingarangeofservicessuchasfood,hotmealsandvitalhelpandadvicetothosewhoneedit.YoucanfindmoreinformaGononPAFRASontheirwebsite,here:hIp://www.pafras.org.uk/about/background/

LeedsAnG-fascistNetworkisanindependentgroupofacGvistsfromacrosstheleJforamilitant,workingclassanG-fascismandanG-racism.

HOWTOJOIN.Membershipisavailablenow,andyoucanrenewyourmembershiporbecomeanewmemberbysimplypayingyourmembershipfee.MembershipcanbepaideitherinpersonduringoneofourmeeGngs,orviaPayPaltoouremailaddressinfo@yorkshirestpauli.com.

Thecostis£5ifyouareemployed,or£3otherwise.Asylumseekersandrefugeescanbecomemembersforfree.

Pleasenote-IfyoupayviaPayPal,pleasepaythePayPalfees,otherwisewewillincurachargefromPayPalforyourpaymentwhichthenmeanswewon'treceivethefullmembershipfee.PayPalshouldgiveyoutheopGonwhensendingthepaymenttosaythatyouaresendingitto"friendsorfamily"andtopayanytransacGonfee.IfyouarepayingfromabroadanddonothavethisopGon,pleasepayanextra£1andthiswillcoverthePayPalfees.

Membershipfeesarenotobligatory,everyoneiswelcometowatchthegameswithus,butifyoucanaffordtobecomeamembertohelpwiththerunningcoststhatwouldbegreat.

IfyouhaveanyquesGons,pleasecontactusviaoneofoursocialmediapagesoremailtoinfo@yorkshirestpauli.com

Thankyou!

THE BUNDESLIGA FIXTURE MACHINE

CHAOSFixturereleasedayishugeforfans,pencillingintrips,lookingatflightsandhotels,re-arrangingthefamilyplansetc.ButtheGermanschedulingsystemisn’tallitappearsatfirstglance.AspartofthisWeisseRosepre-seasonspecial,welookatthewayinwhichthefixturesareconfirmed..

EveryseasonwefindourselvestryingtoexplaintheprocedurebehindtheBundesligaschedulingsystem.Ifyou'refamiliarwithit,skipthispage!Otherwise,readon…

Atthestartofeachseason,theDFL(DeutscheFussballLiga)releasethefixturelistfortheupcomingseason.However,thedatesforthosefixturesarenotconfirmed.Theyaresimplygivenaweekendinwhichthefixturewillbeplayed,whichcouldmeanaFridaynightgame,aSaturdayorSundayaJernoonkick-offoraMondaynightgame.DiscussionsthentakeplacewiththerelevantauthoriGesandtvcompanies,andthefixturesareconfirmedinbatches.AttheGmeofwriGng,onlyfixturesuptoMatchday8havebeenconfirmed,withthelatestbatchoffixturesrumouredtobeconfirmedtowardstheendofAugust.TheonlyexcepGontothisisthedatesof

thefinaltwoleaguegames,whicharealsoconfirmed.

It’snottoodis-similartothewayinwhichEnglishfootballfixturesareconfirmed.Infact,perhapsitevenmakesmoresense.WhereasEnglishgamescanbemovedfortvschedulingoron‘policeadvice’amonthbeforethegame,theGermansystemjustdoesn’tpromiseadateunGlit’sconfirmed.TheconfusioncomesinthatmostwebsiteswillsGlldisplaydatesforthefixture,usuallytheSaturdayortheSunday,withoutpoinGngoutthatthefixtureissubjecttochange.SoifyoulookonawholehostofBundesligawebsitesfortheschedule,itistellingyoutheprovisionalweekendofthegameandnottheconfirmeddate.

Luckily,theEnglishversionoftheSt.Pauliwebsite(hIps://www.fcstpauli.com/en/teams/fixtures/)nowshows“Schedulepending”nexttoagamewhenthedateisn’tfixed.SoyoucaneitherbooktocovertheFriday-Mondaygames,orwaitunGlthefixturesareconfirmed.ThesitealsodetailsGcketinformaGon!Thebelowfixtures,takenfromtheofficialsite,areconfirmed.Goodluck!

SONDERZUG DRY ThiswasmythirdSonderzug.Previously,I’ddoneSonderzugLite:the0:4lossatKölnwhereShaunandIhadbailed-outfromthereturntriptoHamburg,elec?nginsteadtoflyhomefromKöln.Then,in2015,SonderzugFickDich3.Liga:thepartytraintoendallpartytrains–defeatawayatDarmstadtthatsomehows?llresultedinfinaldaysalva?onasweavoidedrelega?onto3.Liga.

Thetripbackranksasoneofthegreatesteveningsofmylife:dancingforhours,huggingEwaldashemadehiswaythroughthediscocarriageandfinishedoffbywatchingShaunfalldownthegapbetweenthetrainandtheplaqormaswedisembarkedslightlyworseforwearatAltona.ThisGme,withShaununavailableforselecGonandhavingamanicworkscheduleloomingovermethefollowingweek,IdecidedtoaIempttheimpossible:SonderzugDry.ShornofShaunandalcohol,mythirdtriponthepartytrainwasgoing

torequireadegreeofmentalstrengthandresilience,butontheupside,I’datleasthaveafighGngchanceofrememberingthegame(althoughthat’snotalwaysaposiGvewhenitcomestoFCSP,someGmesIthinkwedrinktoforget!).

Friendship&SolidarityHowever,beforethetrain-basedfun,therewastheimportantmaIerofYorkshireSt.Pauli’srematchagainstourfriendsfromFCLampedusa.Wewereclearlydeterminedtomakeafistofitthisyear,aJerour10:1pummellinglastGmeout.Iarrivedattheground-floorapartmentScoIandseveraloftheYSPsquadwerestayingatinAltona,tobedraggedstraightintoadiscussionontacGcsandtobeshowntheline-uponagroovyiPhoneApp(managingSundayleagueteamsmustbesohi-techthesedays).ThiswasamarkedimprovementintermsofpreparaGononlastyear,when10minutesbeforekick-offweonlyhadthreeplayers

astherestofthesquadhadbeendelayeden-routefromBremen.

Thisyear’ssquadhadbeenbolsteredbyanumberofplayersfromGlasgowSt.PauliandtwoplayersfromtheU18Ragazziincludingtheirbrilliantyounggoalkeeper.EvenwiththeseaddiGons,weknewweweresGllinforatoughride.Sadly,FCLampedusahavelostanumberofplayerstodeportaGonsinrecentmonthsbutthereweresGllplentyoffamiliarfacesincludingthelovelyRooneyandMoto.FCLalsolookedgreatintheirnewkitprovidedbynewsponsorCaféExil.

Inshort:welost3:0.Butitfeltlikeavictory.Itwasaproperfootballscore.Andtheperformancewasmuchimproved,althoughI’mnotsurewemanagedasingleshotongoaloverthe90-minutes,asweweresGckingsoresolutelytoScoI’siPhonegameplanofelevenplayersbehindtheball.Wemight’veoccasionallyshownflashesoflookingvaguelyorganised,somethingthatIamsurewillbeleJonthecudngroomfloorbytheteamofdocumentarymakersvisiGngfromLosAngelestofilmFCLampedusa.

AJerwards,Ididashortinterviewforthedocumentary–Idon’texpectthattobeincludedinthefinalcuteither–buttheonethingIdidmanagetosayinresponsetoaquesGonaboutwhywecomeovertoHamburgtosupportFCLandplayfootballwasthis:

Wecometoshowsolidarityandfriendship,butalsobecausewecan.Wecanbecausewehavethe‘correct’passports;the‘correct’documentaGon;andbecauseweareluckyenoughtobeallowedtosimplygetonaplaneandgotoanothercountryforagameoffootball.UlGmately,beyondtheenjoymentofthesetrips–thelaughswehaveandthefriendswe’vemade–wemustn’tlosesightofthefactthatwearelucky.WewantthesamerightsandopportuniGestoextendtotheyoungladsfromLampedusaandeveryotherrefugeeinEurope.There’snogedngroundthis,nodressingitup:asfellowhumansbeings,theydeservethesamefreedomofmovementandrighttochoosewheretheyliveasthoseofuswiththe‘correct’passports.And–fromapurelyfootballperspecGve–wewanttohostthereturn-leg,soourfriendsfromLampedusacansamplesomeYorkshirehospitalityandsipsometea.

TheabovesenGmentwasbroughtintosharperfocusaJerthegame,whenIfoundoutthatoneoftheFCLplayerswasleavingtheverynextday–deportedwithhisfamilybacktohis‘safe’countryoforigin(basically,ifyouareanasylumseekerfrom

theBalkans,theGermangovernmenthasdeclaredit‘safe’foryoutoreturn,irrespecGveofyourindividualcircumstance).He’dbeenmadecaptainfortheday–achancetosayhisfarewellsandhadbeensodeterminedtoplaythathe’dmadeaspecialdiversionbacktoHamburgtoplay.OneofthegreatthingsaboutFCLampedusaisit’sanextendedfamily.Evenifyou’vebeenforcedtoleaveHamburg,youaresGlllovedandsupported.Ofcourse,socialmediaplaysanimportantpartstayingintouchwithplayers,butthecoachesdon’tstopthere.TheyhavesetupsponsorshipschemestoenableformerplayerstocarryoneplayingfootballintheirnewlocaGon(providingthemwithfundsforkitandtransporttotrainingandmatches)andtheyhaveevenvisitedformerplayersinKosovo.

Thepost-gamepartyintheMuseumwinebarwasbuzzingwithplayers,supportersandacameracrew.Sönkehadbrokenoutthefizzystuffandweweregivingitagobeing‘ProseccoSocialists’.Charliehadcommandeeredthemusicandforamomentitwasthelate‘80s/early‘90salloveragainwithBillyBragg,TheSmithsandPulpblaringout.Asalwayshappens,itisimpossibleforsomanypeopletoagreewhattodonext,sosomeofYSPandGSPwentofftoplaydarts,othersdisappearedintothenighttosamplewhiskeywhilstthemoresensiblefolkwentforapizza.AJerall,theSonderzugwascallinganditrequiredanearlystart.

EveryonewasrelaGvelyawakeandon-the-ballatAltonastaGonthenextmorning.Grantedthe07:39departurefromPlaqorm9¾wasmuchmorecivilizedthanwe’dbeenusedtoinpreviousyears.Thisyear,thepassengersontheO|eatHogwartsExpressweredressedalmostexclusivelyinthegarishpolyesterfootballkitsofyesteryear.ItwaslikeridingthetrainwithathousandJorgeCampos’inanacid-casualty,day-glonightmare.Fortunately,therewasenoughbeeronboardtonullifythepotenGalfire-hazardofallthatman-madefabricinaconfinedspace.Therewasconfusionearlyon,as

wewereallbumpeddownacoach,duetosomegenerosityonbehalfofDBahn,who’dgivenusanextracarriage.

Finally,seIledinourcompartment,weseIleddownforsomeSondezugchatabouttherelaGvemeritsoffoodspreservedinbrineandenjoyedLuke’sdecade-defying,Wikipediainspired‘pop-quiz’–allthispunctuatedbyvariousfriendspoppingbyandenquiring,“How’syerbusiness?”Havingspentallmyprevioustripsinthedisco-carriage,IwaspleasantlysurprisedthattheypipedtheusualselecGonofcheesy80sEuro-popanthemsdirectintoyourcompartmentviaaspeakersystem.

Again,somuchoftheSonderzugisaboutchadngtopeopleyouonlyeverseeontheSonderzug.It’salovelyexperience,interspersedwithrandomfolkpoppingtheirheadsintoyourcompartmentandofferingyouhomemadesnacksfromTupperwarecontainers.EvenqueuingforthetoiletcanbeacatharGcexperience:IwasstoodwaiGngwhenablokestartedchadngtomeinGerman,whenherealisedIdidn’tunderstandhim,hereachedinto

hispocketandgavemeafistfullofsGckers.Fortunately,IhadsomeYSPsGckerstogivetohiminreturn.That’skindahowitworks:languagecanfailyou,butsGckersdon’t.

AJertraversingthelengthofthetrain,toreachthepartofitthathadsomecontactwiththeplaqorm,wedisembarkedintoawarmandmuggyBochum.TherewemetupwiththerestoftheYSPconGngentwhohadn’tbeenluckyenoughtowinSonderzugGcketsinScoI’skitchensinkballot.IthoughttheymightbeinasomewhatbeIerstatethanmanyofthoseonthepartytrain,butitsoonbecameclearthattheywereuIerlyhammeredtoo!Turnsoutit’snevertooearlytodrinkonatrain,especiallyifyou’vegotCharlieandGreginyourcompany.

AJeralongishwalkuphill,wefinallyreachedBochum’sRuhrstadion.Ithasmorethanatouchofconcretebrutalismaboutitsexterior,nottomenGonanimpressivesetoffloodlights.Itdidn’ttaketoolongtogetintotheground,despitetheunderstandablyGghtsecurity.Onceinside,werealisedthatUSPhadstormedtheseaGngsecGon

andhadposiGonedthemselvesdirectlybehindthegoal.ItwasGmethenforourowncunningplan:withsparecapacityontheterrace(vacatedbyUSP)thoseofusalreadyinthestandingsecGondispatchedallourterraceGcketsoutwithonepersonandgottherestofYSPintotheterracesecGon.

Idon’tknowifitwasaresultofhavingUSPintheseatsandlotsofotherfansontheterrace,buttheatmospherewasloudrightfromthestart–attheendofthegameKalladecribeditasthe18thhomegame.Evenwhenwewenttheobligatoryearlygoaldown,itwasnoisy.SomeGmestheSonderzugcanhavethereverseeffectontheatmosphere:amorningofdrinkingtakingitstollandsubduingthecrowd.NotthisGme.We’dequalisedbeforehalf-GmewithaLennart‘Yorkshire’ThyscoringhisfirstgoalsincereturningonloanfromBremen.Thehalf-Gmeintervalwasspentwith‘IJustCan’tGetEnough’bouncingbackandforthbetweenthefansindifferentsecGons.Weweresingingourown‘HakanSuker’Remix(der,der,der-der-der-der-der;der,der,der-der-der-der-der;HAKANSUKER!)intributetotheblokeafewstepsbelowus,exquisitelydressedinayellowandredpolyesterhomagetothemanhimself–butnomaIerhowloudweshoutedtheblokewouldn’tlookround.

Thesecond-halfwasabitofablur,memorableforbyafineheadedgoalfromLasse;anincrediblegoal-lineclearancefromKalla;andasecondgoalfromThythatputthegametobed.Ithadactuallybeenareallygoodperformance.Ofcourse,itwasreallyallaboutthepost-matchcelebraGons.

TheteamgotahugeovaGon,butitwasnothingcomparedtotherecepGonreservedforEwaldLienen.Weweredead-and-buriedatChristmas,cutadriJattheboIomofthetable,andherewewerefinishingtheseasoninSEVENTHplace.Ithadbeenaremarkableturn-around:credittotheplayers;credittoLienen;credittotheclubfornottakingthewell-troddenpathofsackingthemanager.And–aspointedoutbyEwaldhimselfonthepitchattheendofthegame–credittoOlafJanßen,FCSPassistantmanagerwhoarrivedduringthewinter-break.Also,credittoourveryownsoothsayer,GregfromFCSPAthensScum,whowasastuteenoughtospotthat–morethanjustthankinghisassistant–Ewaldwasvisiblyhanding-overthemanagerialreignstoJanßen,rightthereontheRuhrstadionpitch(somethingconfrimedinapressconferenceafewdayslater).AlthoughIdidn’tknowit,Iwasgladtobetheretosay‘goodbye’toEwald–my

favouriteFCSPmanagerandperhapsthefirstsinceStanitoreallyconnectwithusfans.

WeambledbacktothestaGon.I’dswappedmyGckettoridetheSonderzughomewithanotherYSPerandinsteadwasscheduledtoheadbacktoHamburgviaHannoverontheICE.However,themysteriouscarriageNo.13didusmembersofYorkshireSt.Pauliahugefavour:therewasspaceaboardthepartytrainarrangedforusbytheeverwonderfulFanladen.Itshould’vebeenrelaGvelystriaght-forwardbutkeepingerrantYSPmembersinoneplaceisakintoherdingbeesandCharlieandChrishadwanderedoffinsearchofanoff-licence.AfranGcphonecalllaterandCharliewasleggingitupthestepstotheplaqormwithsecondstosparebeforedeparture.

Thejourneybackwasasyou’dexpecttheSonderzugtobe:discocarriagesinfullswing,peoplestaggeringaroundinvariousstagesofdrunkeness.DespitethistherewereenoughsoberpeoplearoundtohappilypassthefourhoursbacktoHamburgwithsomegreatconversaGonsaboutthemeaningoflife,poliGcsandfootball.Also,inamongchatsaboutcustomembroidery,brineandtheG20,itlookslikeanotherexciGngMuseumprojecthasbeenhatched–staytunedformorenewsaboutthatone…

SonderzugDrei/Drywascertainlydifferent.NobodyqueuedforhoursoutsidethedoortotheDJbooththinkingitwasthetoilet(Shaun);nobodyfelldownthegapbetweenthetrainandtheplaqormaswedismebarked(Shaun);nobodytrippedmeuponthewalkbacktothehotel(Shaun)butitdidn’tmeanitwasn’tasbeauGfullysurrealasalways.HowevermanyGmesyouexperienceit,theconceptofatrainfullofSt.Paulifans,twodiscocarriagesandanendlesssupplyofbeerneverceasetoblowyourmind.

AndwhatSonderzugdoesn’tfinishwithfourofussatinasaunaat01:00inthemorningplodngtooverthrowYSPsvengali,ScoIStubbsandreplacehimwithGaryfromGlasgowSt.Pauli?Taller,moreorganisedandwithsuperiormerch.What’snottolike?

Don’tworry,ScoIwaspresentandinbroadagreement.;)

MrDavidson.

Blog:hIps://outside-leJ.blogspot.co.uk

TWITTER RECOMMENDS PLACES TO STAY

SOUTH WEST ST. PAULIAsaStPaulifanwho'ssGllfairlynewtothefanbase,IwasinstantlyamazedbythefollowinghereintheU.K.WithinafewweeksoffallinginlovewiththeHamburgouqitIcouldn'thelpbutinvesGgatetoseeifitwasjustmefollowingthisuniqueclub.IguessedIwasn'tgoingtostumbleintoaStPaulifaninthelocalTescoorqueuingatthepostofficesoIknewI'dhavetostartmysearchonline.IstumbledacrosstheYorkshireStPaulipageoriginallyandwasamazedtofindjusthowmanyindividualshadgatheredtosupportateamover750milesaway.ItwasrefreshingtoknowthatIwasn'ttheonlyone,andtherewereactuallyalotmorethanIhadimagined.ItwasgreattodiscoverfansregularlymeeGng,sharingstoriesandenjoyingtheopencommunitythatYSPhavecreated.Attheotherendofthecountryhoweverwasme,insunnyDevon.Acountywhichis94%white,highlypopulatedbytheagriculturalindustryandUKIPsupportersandTories.Ididn'tgetmyhopesupaboutmeeGnganyonewhoevenrecognizedStPauli,yetaloneunderstoodtheirnotoriousleJ-wingidenGty.HavingsearchedformoreandmorepagessimilartotheYorkshireStPaulifanbasehopingtoexpandmyknowledgeandaIempttofindsomethingabitmorelocal,Istartedtofollowgroupsspanningalloverthecountry.DerbytoGlasgowandtoManchester,itseemedthattheU.Kactuallyhadareallybroadandvibrantcoverage.ButsGll,Ifeltliketherewasavoidwhichneededtobefilled.DespiteDevonandCornwallcombinedtakingupthemajorityoftheSouth-Westregion,myaIemptshadrevealednothingremotelylocalonsocialmedia.

Idecidedtosetupaprojectformyself,tostartoffa'DevonStPauli'groupwhichwouldallowthosetointeractandsharewithinthearea.Itgavemeahobby,somethingdifferentwhichIwascraving.Iwassodesperatetoconnectotherswhowerebothlocalandnon-localintothegroup.Slowlybutsurely,throughnetworkingwiththealreadyclearlysuccessfulFacebookgroupsandpages,Iwelcomedahighlyappreciated13memberswhichdoesn'tseemalot,butitbuiltthefoundaGonsofthatallimportantsocialplaqormandallowedthosefewpeopletobeapartofsomethingwhichwecoulddevelop.OnlyafewweeksagoIcreatedthelargerandmoreaccessible'StPauliSouthWest'pageon

Facebook.PeoplestartedjoiningfromallovertheworldthisGme.ItwasamazingtoseepeopleappearingfromGermany,TheNetherlands,Spainanditfeltsosurreal.Ithinkitshowsjusthowspecialtheclubis,withitpullinginsomuchinterestglobally.SocialmediahashighlightedthescaleofStPauli'ssupportworldwide,ofwhichmostclubsjustdon'thave.Init'scurrentshortexistence,ithasbeenanhonourtobeabletoshareideasandgenerateafanbasewhichisopentoeveryone.SeeingasIcomefromwhatfeelscanbequiteaculturallydeprivedpartofthecountry,itfeelsveryspecialbeingabletoinviteandwelcomefolkslikeyouandmewhojustwanttoshareandembracetheethosofStPauliandfollowtheclubweareallunitedby.

OverthelastfewmonthsinparGcular,ithasbeenreallyinspiringtoseesuchgreatcommunitywithinasportwhichisoJenonlyportrayedashooliganswhocarefornothingotherthanabeerandtoverballyabuseeachother.I'dliketothankthosewhohavehelpedmeorganizewhathasbeensetupsofar,that'sgoingbacktotheoriginal'DevonStPauli'groupallthewayuptothefirstfewweeksthat'StPauliSouthWest'hasnowbeenrunning.IhavealotplannedforthefutureandhopefullywewillbeconnecGngwitheveryoneintheupcomingseason.Manchester,Derby,GlasgowandofcourseYorkshireStPaulihaveallbeensuchahelpinpromoGngthepage,andIcanonlythankthemfortheirsupport.

IfyoufeellikestarGngyourownfanbaseup,whynottry?Therecouldbeothersinyourareaexploringanddiscovering,justlikeIwas.StPauliisallaboutcommunityandunity.It'sagreatwaytoletothersknowthatyou,andmanyhundredsandthousandsareoutthere.StPaulihaveanever-growingfollowingwhichspansthousandsofkilometers,it'ssomethingweareveryproudof.EveryoneI'veeverspoketowithinthefangroupsandfollowingingeneralhasalwaysbeensofriendlyandwelcoming,soneverfeeloutoftouchornotpartoftheStPaulisupport.

YoucanfindoutmoreaboutSouthWestSt.PauliontheirFacebookpage:hIps://www.facebook.com/StPauliSouthWest/

YSP SUMMER ANTIRA

Ifyou’vefran?callyclickedthroughedi?on24foranin-depthMarkLawrenson(“Autobahn?!MorelikeAuto-ban!”)gamebygameanalysisofourannualsummertournament,you’regoingtobeprehydisappointed.Thedownsideofplayinginthetournamentisthatyoumissalltheothergamesun?lyouinevitablybomboutatthefirstroundoftheknockoutstages.

The2017ediGonofthetournamentsawalotofnewfaces,withteamsfromBarnsley,Leicester,ManchesterandOxfordallparGcipaGngforthefirstGme.With16teamsintotal(including5fromthemightyYSP)thisyear’swasoneofourbiggestyet.

ThisyearwasalsopreIyspecialbecausewereceivedfundingfromtheFansForDiversityFund(FootballSupporters’FederaGon)meaningwecouldkeepplayingcostsaslowaspossibleandalsoallowrefugeeteamstoplayforfree.ForustheANTIRAtournamentshavebecomejustasmuchaboutinclusionandensuringthatthesetournamentsareaccessibleasmuchastheyareaboutfundraising.PlentyofgreattournamentsraisemoneyforrefugeecausesbutrecognisingthatprovidinganinclusivespacethataIemptstoremoveeconomicandsocialbarrierstopeopletradiGonallyleJoutoftheseeventsisreallyimportanttoo.

2017willalsogodowninhistoryastheyearof‘ManchesterSt.Pauli’.DespiteonlystarGngtheirfanclubafewmonthsback,theyscrambledtogethertwoteamstoparGcipateinthisyearstournament.Likeawell-oiledengine,theytooklikeaducktowaterandonlywentandwonthebastardthing.AhealthybalanceofflairandteamworksawthemdestroyeveryteamtheyplayedsofuckinviGngthemback.

AJerthegroupstages,thetournamentwasdividedintotwoknockoutstagesbasedonthosewhofinishedinthetop2orboIom2placesoftheirgroup.WhilsttheFansForDiversitytrophywentbacktoManchester,theFootballChairmanTrophyremainedinLeeds,wonbyYSPfriendsSubstandardLiege,whoimpressivelyturneduptheirlevelsofperformanceaJerseveralbeersaJerthegroupstages.

Highlightofthetournamentwasthepost-matchpintsintheBrudenellwithUnionStreetfromOxford.NotonlydidtheycompletelybuyintotheethosofthetournamentandwintheFairPlaytrophy,theyalsocompletelyboughtintothedrinking.BeforethatnightIhadneverleJtheBrudenellSocialClubtoastandingovaGonbutapparentlyit’sathingthatUnionStreetdo.Fullmarkstoeveryoneinvolvedforatopclassdayandevening.Sameagainnextyear.

TWITTER RECOMMENDS food and drink

ZWEITE BUNDESLIGA PREVIEW

Aieradrama?c,dreadfulanddelighjul2016-172.Bundesligaseason,thiscampaignhasanawfullottoliveupto.Wesawlatewinners,heartbreak,superbdisplaysbyfansandeverythingin

betweeninwhatprovedtobeyearoffootballthatwasthebestahendedinsecond-?erhistory.Toppingthatwillcertainlybedifficultbut,asseemstobethecaseeveryterm,thecomingseasonlookstobetheclosestyet.

Hannover96andVfBStuIgartbothmadeimmediatereturnstoBundesliga,andintheirplaceFCIngolstadt04andSVDarmstadt98havebecomemembersofthe2.Ligafamilyoncemore.JahnRegensburg,HolsteinKielandMSVDuisburgarethenewcomers,notsomuchintheZebras’case,butitisthefirstGmeinageneraGonthatKielareaseconddivisioncluboncemore.RegensburghaveappearedagainaJerafive-yearabsence,andareonthebackofconsecuGvepromoGonsfromtheRegionalliga.Withthosechanges,itisalmostimpossibletopredicthowthingswillpanoutoverthenext10monthsunGltheendofMay.Ashasbeensaidbyvariousplayers,punditsandfans–thereare10-12clubswhocanveryrealisGcallylookatpromoGonasbeingthegoalfortheseason.Giventhenail-biGngracelastGmeoutwithtwoclearfavourites,thisbaIlepromisestobeevenbeIer.

IngolstadtandDarmstadtwill,ofcourse,belookingtorepeatthefeatsofHannoverandStuIgart,thoughtheydonotquitepossesstheBundesliga-readysquadsofthelaIerduo.Bothhavelostkeyplayers,notleastPascalGroβandJeromeGondorfrespecGvely,yetrecruitedwellinthewindowwiththelikesofTobiasSchröckandJamieMacLarenashigh-profilenewarrivals.DieSchanzerarguablyhavethebestsquadintheleague,whiletheLilieswill

hopethattheirincredibleteamspiritcanshinethroughonceagain.

Thencomethechasingpackfrom2016-17.EintrachtBraunschweigand1.FCUnionBerlinweredesperatelyunluckynottogetpromotedaJertheseasonstheyenjoyed,butbothcanlookforwardtoacampaignwerekeyplayershavestuckaround.MarcelCorreira’sdeparturehasbeencoveredbySteveBreitkreuzandLouisSamson’sarrivalsfromErzgebirgeAue,inwhathasbeenaquiettransferperiodfortheLions.AsforJensKeller’scharges,ithasbeentheopposite.ToniLeistnerseemssettostay,andAkakiGogiaandMarcTorrejon’saddiGonswillcertainlypushthemclosertothetop.DynamoDresdenwereinitwiththetopfour,unGltheyletathree-goalleadslipinStuIgart.Fromthere,thingswerepatchyandatGmespoor.ThelossofMarvinStefaniakandStefanKutschkewon’thelp,andGogia’sdecisiontojoinUnionmeanstheynowhavenoneofthefrontthreefromlastseason.AsidefromHaukeWahlandTimKleindienst’sloansexpiring,itwillverymuchbeasyouwereforFrankSchmidt’sHeidenheim.RobertGlatzelandNikolaDovedanwilllooktoreplacetheSCFreiburgman’sgoalsfromlastterm.Consistencyandstayinginjuryfreeshouldseetheclubatleastconsolidatetheirsixth-placefinishlastseason.

St.PauliareposiGonedwelltoo,andanexcellentpre-seasonwillleavethemfullofconfidencethatsomesmartaddiGons,notablyEnverCenkSahin’spermanentmove,shouldseeOlafJanβenpickupwhereEwaldLienenleJoff.Theyshouldn’tsufferfromthesameissuesaslastterm.SpVggGreutherFürthhavebeenoneofthesidesthathavemadeasignificantgaininqualityfromtheirsummerbusiness.ThelikesofNikOmladicandPhilippHofmannshouldaddalottotheirgame,butthelossofMarcelFrankewillhurttheirdefence.VfLBochumaresimilarlyplaced,likeSt.Pauliwithanew,freshcoachinIsmailAtalan.Addedfire-powerandwithFelixBasGansleadingarejuvenatedsidefromthebackislookingliketherecipeforsuccessforoneoftheleague’sstalwarts.Likeseveralsidesinthe

league,theycoulddowithaninjury-freerunthatwouldallowthemtotrulybeattheirbest.Notfanciedbymany,butSVSandhausencouldbethesidetospringarealsurprisethisseason.AJertheirmostsuccessfulcampaigninhistorylastterm,KenanKocak’smenhavewoneverypre-seasongameandLucasHölerhasbeeninsuperbscoringform.RobertHerrmannandMircoBornhavebeenhitwithlong-terminjury,yetthelikesofAliIbrahimajhavehitthegroundrunningandtherecouldbeaspecialseasononthecards.

FortunaDüsseldorfareateamthatmanycan’tmaketheirmindupon.AcertainpublicaGonthinksthey’llfinishsecond,andothershavethemdownasrelegaGonfavourites.It’slikethatit’llbesomewhereinthemiddleofboththatFortunafinish,buttheyhavemadeposiGvestepstoimprove.ThelossofKevinAkpogumaisgreat,butNikoGieβelmann’sarrivalandtheirabilitytokeepKaanAyhanbodeswell.That,andthey’vemanagedtobringinthreeforwards–somethingwhichwillnodoubtpleaseafanbasethatwasstarvedofgoalslastseason.1.FCNürnbergareanotherbigtradiGonalclubwhowillbedesperatetomakeaBundesligareturn,andtheyarewell-placedtodoso.WithHannoBehrensasskipperandthebignamesignoringinterestfromBundesligaclubsandbeyond,theyareoneofthebestplacedandpreparedsidestomakethejump.AdamZrelakwillbetaskedwithfiringthemtoglory,andhehasasupremelytalentedmidfieldbehindhimtodoso.Thiscouldbetheiryear.1.FCKaiserslauterncanhopethattheirraJofnewsigningswillmakeupforthelosesofMarcelGausandJulianPollersbeck,yettheyremainwithoutthatonemanwhowillguaranteegoals.Theirseasonshouldbealotsmootherthanlast,butpromoGonmayjustbetoofaroutoftheirreachthisGmeround.

TwosideswhoalsoneededtowaitunGlthefinalday,andthelastfewminutesoftheseason,toconfirmtheir2.BundesligasurvivalwereErzgebirgeAueandArminiaBielefeld.TheformerhavelostDomenicoTedescoand,aspreviouslymenGoned,bothSamsonandBreitkreuz.However,newcoachThomasLetschhasheldontohisexciGngfrontthreeandhismidfield.It’llbeacaseofpickingupwhereTedescoleJofffortheViolets.AsforJeffSaibene’sBielefelder,theywillstarttheseasonwithlargelythesamesidebutsomeconsistencythroughthesummer.AfronttwoofAndreasVoglsammerandFabianKlosshouldseethempushtowardsmid-table.

Asforthethreepromotedsides,HolsteinKiellooktobeabreathoffreshair.Theirdirectstyle,completewithtrickywingersandSt.Pauliforward,Marvin

Duckschhaswonthemalotofadmirersinpre-season.DuisburghaveconGnuedtheiryo-yostatuswithanimmediatereturntotheleague,andhavequiteafewplayerswhoweretherewhentheydroppeddownto3.Ligatwoyearsago.Itwillbeatoughtaskforthemselves,andJahnRegensburg.Thesidewhosent1860Munichdown,expectedlytothefourthGer,havehadKoljaPuschpinchedandErikThommywillnotreturn.TheywillbehopingforaDarmstadt-styleseasonofsurprises.

Withallthatinmind,it’sgoingtobeatoughtaskforeverysidetoachievetheirgoalsthiscomingcampaign.IngolstadtandNürnbergarearguablythefavouritesforpromoGon,withSt.Pauli,BochumandUnionBerlinbaIlingthemalltheway.DuisburgandRegensburgwillbedoggedlybaIlingtobeatthedrop,andwhoknows,perhapswe’llseesomeonenoneofusexpecteddraggeddownintorelegaGonbaIle.Whoeveryourteam,beitSt.Pauliorotherwise,goodluckfor2017-18.

AllaIenGonswillturntotheobviousstand-outfixturesonthefirstdaywhenVfLBochumhostSt.Pauliastheopeninggame.It’saweekendfullofhighlightsthatbeginsintheRuhrgebietandworksitswaydowntoIngolstadt,astheytakeon1.FCUnionBerlininamassiveclashbetweenpromoGonhopefuls.TheothertwoSaturdaygamestoopentheseasonseesArminiaBielefeldtakeonJahnRegensburg,inwhichtheformerwillbelookingtostartwheretheyleJoffandgetsomeearlypointsontheboard.DarmstadtalsotakeonFürthinthethirdofthreeSaturdayfixtures,astheStadionamBöllenfalltorenterswhatwilllikelybethefinalyearasmanyhaveknownit.Awinwillbetough,however,andtheShamrockswillbeouttolaydownamarkerastheyharbourhopesofapromoGonpushunderJanosRadoki.

Sunday’sacGoniskickedoffwithahugetradiGonalclash,asNürnbergandKaiserslauterngohead-to-head.Itisonenottobemissed,andanearlyvictorywouldmeanalottobothgoingforward.DuisburgandDresdenalsofaceoff,whileKiel’sfirst2.Bundesligacampaigninover30yearsstartsagainstSandhausen.Heidenheim’smeeGngwithAuewillround-upthefourgamesonSunday.MondaywillfeatureBraunschweig’striptoFortuna,inanothereagerlyanGcipatedclashifthepreviousmeeGngsbetweenthetwoinrecentyearsareanythingtogoby.ItiscertainlyamatchdaytowhettheappeGtefortheseasonahead.

JonnyWalsh

TwiIer:@jonathanwalsh_

OnFriday,2December2016,at07h00,anotherFCLampedusaSt.Pauliplayerwasdeportedaierthreedaysofdeten?oninthesocalled“deporta?ondeten?onfacility“,oftheHamburgForeigners‘Registra?onOfficelocatednearHamburgairport.HewasonlythefiihdetaineeinHamburg’shistoryandhadtositthereallaloneun?lhisdeporta?onatdawn.

Monday,5December2016.We–twooftheFCLSPcoachingstaff–gotothefirstrecepGoncentreforrefugeeslocatedinNiendorf,oneofthenortherndistrictsofthecity.Forthisweevenhiredacarsothatwecouldtakethebelongingsofourdeportedplayerwithus.

WecalledtherecepGoncentreinthemorning:“Hello,wearefriendsofR.,whowas,asyouknow,deportedlastFriday.ThedeportaGondetenGonfacilitysenthiskeysbackonWednesday,IwastoldonmyvisitthereonThursday.IhavebeenauthorisedbyR.tocollecthisbelongings.Canwecomearoundat14h00?...Hello?AreyousGllontheline?…Hello?“

Thewomanontheotherendoftheline–let’scallherPetra–answersinaudibleshock:“Whatdidyousay?No,Ihavenoideaaboutitwhatsoever.That’sterrible!Deported?LastFriday?What?DeportaGondetenGon?SinceTuesdaymorning?No,weweren‘tinformedaboutthis,Ihavenoidea,howterrible.Whatwasthenameagain?Youwanttocomearound,youhaveanauthorisaGon…deported…howterrible.Okay,comearoundat14h00.”

OurhiredcarisequippedwithanavigaGondevicesoweknowthatourroutetakesusroughlyinthedirecGonoftheFCSPtrainingfacilityandthenthroughasortof“wilderness”toourdesGnaGon:thefirstrecepGoncentre.OntheleJandrightsideofthestreet,weseetakendownhoardingsandontherighthandsidearowofsinglefloorcontainerswithsmallalleywaysandcolourfulclotheswavinginthecoldwind–typical“Hamburgweather”.

WehavetoturnleJ.Onahoarding,coveredwithgreenplasGcfoilthatpreventsyoufromseeingthrough,thereisasign“ASBFlüchtlingshilfe”(Refugees’Help).Weareabitconfused.“Refugees’Help”?

Wepassamassiveopen-rollerdoortothecontainerthathoststhesecurity.Twomeninsecurityofficers’uniformsstandontheleJandrightside.Speakingthroughthewindow,intotheinnerside,wetrytoexplainwhoweareandwhatwewant.“WehaveanappointmentwithPetra”wesay.Unfortunately,we’dwriIenhersurnamedownwrongly.Tofindout,wewonder,ask,makesuggesGonsandphonecalls.Thenthere’stheanswerthroughthe“doormanlounge”thatsomeonewouldcomeandpickusupandthatweshouldregisterournamesonthevisitorslist.TherewestandjiIeringinthecoldandwetDecemberweather,watchingaboyplayingfootballwithabrokenball.Playingaloneisboringsomehow,heseemstothinkandstartstokickthedeflatedthingtoandfromoneofthesecurityguards,whohashishandsinhispocketsandearplugs.Beforelong,theballwobblesinourdirecGonandsowethreebegintopassitaround.

Of buses that collect children at night and

disinfected teddy bears

An FC Lampedusa St. Pauli trilogy, pt. III

direcGonandsowethreebegintopassitaround.AsituaGonthatseemsbizarre–maybeit’snot.

Beforelong,anothersmallboyjoinsin.Thetwoofthemplaytogether,butsoonsomeargy-bargystartsandtheybegintofightaliIle.Thesecurityguardtakeshishandoffhispockets,grabsthecrying,slashingfive-year-old,holdshisarmfirmlyandtriestosoothehim.Theotherboy–ofasimilarage–triestoexplaintousthat–ofcourse–theotherboystartedit.AconfusingsituaGon–watchingtheuniformedmediatoratwork–thereappearsadegreeofironytothesignonthehoardingthatstates:“Refugees’Help”.

Finally,Petraarrives,totallydistraughtandveryapologeGcathavingforgoIentocallus:“Right

now,itwouldbeimpossibletocollectourplayer’sbelongings”shesays.Hisroommatewasout.

Ibegyourpardon?Again,weinsist.Wetookadayofftocomearound;hiredacar;droveuphere…but–asthiscompoundisnotaprison–itispossiblethatpeoplecanmoveandleavefreely.Becauseofthis,itwouldbeuselesstoassumethattheguywouldwaitinhisroomforsomepeoplecollecGngbelongingsofsomeotherguywhohasn’tbeenseenfordays.Well,butthere’stherighttoprivacy…no,really.Petra,forinstance,hasneverenteredaroomwhenitsoccupantsareout.Andthis,shereallycannotdo.

Welookateachotherfirstandthenaround.Herewearenow:ahugecontainercamperectedonaformerBMWdealer’sparkinglot:bareground

scaIeredwithhuge,deeppuddles.Twostoreyshigheach,thecontainersstandnarrowlyside-by-sidewithsomenarrowalleywaysinbetween.“Onbothsidesofthestreetlive850peoplealtogether,”Petrasays.

Whoeverwantstogothroughtherollingdoormustproducehis/herIDatthesecurityandenterhis/hername,theGmeofthevisitetc.onalist.NomaIeriftheywanttogetinorout.We’resGlloutside,standinginthedrizzle.Ourfeetandhandsarecoldandduskisabouttoset.But,attheendoftheday,wedon’tintendtoleavewithoutourplayer’sbelongings.Fullstop.Punkt.Basta.

Well,inthiscase,we’dhavetoaskhersuperior.So,we’reofftotheofficecontainertogetherwhereasignreads“Flüchtlingshilfe-Büro”(Refugees’sHelpOffice),waiGnginthecoldwhileamanisbeingcalledtoseeus.Well,thethingisthatnooneworkinginthisfacilitywasinformedaboutthedeportaGon,nooneknowsaboutitand,aboveall,they’dneverbeinformedaboutsuchacGonsingeneral.IfhecouldhavetheauthorisaGonofourFCLSPplayer,heasks.Also,heassumedthatwe’dbeinpossessionofhiskeysand,evenmoreimportantly,thekeytohislocker.Hehimselfwouldn’tknowaboutanythingandasksforourfriend’sname…

Well.Again.From.The.Start.Slowly.

OnTuesday,29November,intheearlymorning,ourplayerwasapprehendedinsidetheForeigners’RegistraGonOffice,takentothesocalled“deportaGoncustodyfacility”,heldthereforthreedaysand,onFriday,2December,at7h00DEPORTED!”

OnThursday,1December,oneofusvisitedhiminsaidprison,where:

•anauthorisaGonwaswriIenonbehalfofourplayerwhichpermitsustocollecthisbelongings,

•itwasclaimedbytheprisonmanagementinadirecttalk(i.e.vis-á-vis)thatthekeysofthefirstrecepGoncentrewerealreadyreturnedtotheaccommodaGonsince“theguys”wouldotherwisealwaystakethemwiththemand,

•itwaspromisedtocallandsendafaxtothefacilitywherehelivedtoinformthisfacilityandto

makeitknownthatfriendsofthedeporteewouldcomearoundonMondaytocollectthedetainee’sandeventuallydeportee’sbelongings.Ofcourse,noneofthathappened!

Erm,well,ifthisisthecase,hetoldus,hewouldcallsaidfacilityandinquire,sincehewouldn’tknoweitherwhattodoinsuchacaseexactly.AJerawhile,hereturnsfromhisoffice,returnstheoriginalauthorisaGonandtellsPetraandusthatthedeportaGoncustodyfacilityhasconfirmedthedeportaGonandthatthekeyshould’vebeenreturned.So,hewouldnowcallthefacilitymanagerwiththegeneralkeys.Meanwhile,wecouldgoaheadandwaitinsidethecontainer.AJerall,itwasquitecoldandwet.Goodidea!

Wecrossthewaytooneoftheothercontainersandwaitforthefacilitymanager.Ayoungmanarrives,carryingalargecrowbar.Oh,there’snogeneralkey?“Thisoneisforthelocker”wearetold.Erm,wait,theroomisontheupperfloor.Wegooutagain,uptheironstairs,throughthedoorandintoanarrowhall,withthelargecrowbar.Thepresent“occupants”getscaredofus,staringatusalmostinpanic.Amanwantstogobackintohisroombutdoesn’tdaretopassus.WenoGceitandstepasidetolethimthrough.Twounknown

women,oneemployeeandonemancarryingalargecrowbar.Now,we’rehavingtheworstscenario:refugeeswhoarescaredofus.Purenightmare!

“Really,no,”Petrasays.She’dneverbeeninaroomintheabsenceoftheoccupants;itissomethingshecannotdo.WesootheherbysayingthatallhisbelongingswouldbeintheleJlocker,thatwewouldn’ttouchanythingandwouldknowpreciselywhat’sinsidethat“pieceoffurniture”.Alright.ThefacilitymanageropensthedoortotheroomandwepointattheleJlocker.TheroomisGny,justprovidingspacefortwobeds,atable,achairandtwolockers.Thatone,exactly.InsideisanuglyGermanyU21fleecejacket,agiJfromChristopherAvevor,aplayerofFCSt.Pauli.

Welookateachother,thenatthefacilitymanagerandthenatPetra–theselockersactuallycannotbelocked.Theyjusthaveknobs.Somuchforthat.Weaskthefacilitymanagertoturntheknob.HecomplieswithourwishandpullstheGermanyjacketoutthelocker.Yes,thesearetheclothesofourFCLSPplayerandthesewewillnowtakewithus.It’snotmuch.

Quickly,wepackthefewsporGngclothesfromChristopherAvevor’sclothingdonaGons,somewashroomitemsandsomepaperintoabagandleavethecontainer,includingaheavilyunnecessarycrowbar,sothatthepeoplearenolongerscaredofus!

Outsideagain,Petratellsusthatthisrefugeesfacilityaccommodates850peoplealtogetherandthatshefindsitsosadthatsomeofthemaresuddenlygone,withoutnoGce.Thenshepointsattheone-storeycontainercampontheothersideofthestreetandsays:“Andatnight,busescometocollectthefamilieswiththeirkids!”What??

It’strue,shesays,they’dneverbeinformedaboutitatall.Andatnight,thebuseswouldcomeandcollectthechildren.ThemorningaJer,onlytheteddybearsareleJ.These,theywoulddisinfectthereaJer,sothattheycanbepassedon.What?

It’strue,andthentheseteddybearsaregiventothenextchildren–unGltheyarecollectedatnight,too,andonlytheteddybearsareleJ,andaredisinfected,again.Whatcouldsheandhercolleaguesdo?Theydonotknowaboutit,astheyareneverinformedbyanyone.Weareshocked.YoucertainlycanimaginetheassociaGonsswirlinginourheadshearingthis.“Thisisunbelievable,

youcannotreallyworkhere”,wesaytoher.Sayingthis,sheisclosetotears.

Thisisthefamilyarea,mostofthemfromtheBalkans,shesaysquietly.Andthenthebusescomeatnight.ThereaJer,thefamiliesaregoneandonlytheteddybearsareleJbehind.Petralooksatuswithsad,desperatelookingeyes.NoPetra,youcannotworkhere.It’simpossible!Youcannotbeapartofthis!Youcannotworkinarefugees’facilitywherechildrenarebeingcollectedbybusesatnight.WhereonlytheleJteddybearsremain–whichthendisinfected.NOWAY!

Distraught,wewalkthroughtheduskcarryingthebagfullofaJershave,soap,sweatpantsandTHATGermanyfleecejackettothegate,de-registerourselvesfromthelist,uIeringabrief“Bye”towardstheuniformedgroup,wearebackonthesmallstreet.Again,welooktotheothersideofthestreet,overthecoveredhoardings,totherowswithcontainerswiththewetclothesonthelines.Thehomeofthedisinfectedteddybears.Howmanychildrenmusttheyhavetriedtocomfort–unGlthebusescome–soakedwithdisinfecGonagents–thesadteddybears–ifonlytheycouldspeak!

Beforewegetintothecar,wetakealookback.“Refugees’Help”,thesignsGllreads!

YourFCLampedusaSt.Pauli

Editor’snote-ThankstoNickandThomasforthetransla;ngofthear;cle,andtheFCLSPteamfortakingtheteamtowritethetrilogyofar;cles.