November 28th, 2010 - Hockey - Krajská liga jižní Moravy a Zlina - HC Grewis Plumlov 8 Dynamiters Blansko 0

November 28th, 2010

Krajská liga jižní Moravy a Zlína (4th division)

HC Grewis Plumlov 8 Dynamiters Blansko 0

Attendance: 50

Admission: 20kc

As sporting events are few and far between (I really don't want to go watch the local basketball or volleyball teams), I decided to head out on a late Sunday afternoon to the ice arena in Prostějov.

Plumlov is a small town of around 2,500 located 10km from Prostějov. They play in the 4th (and lowest) level of ice hockey in the Czech Republic. There are around 10 other 4th division leagues in the Czech Republic. Last year, the club actually folded half-way through the season, but this year they were brought back as kind of a "B" team to LHK Prostějov (3rd division club).

Blansko were in the 3rd division a few years back, but are now playing in the 4th division. Not many people were at this game. The admission is cheap, although I am not sure how many people came from Plumlov to watch. It seemed everyone at the game were casual supporters, as they didn't even cheer/clap when Plumlov scored. The game was completely one-sided, as the score would suggest.

Winter break

Another winter break is upon us, and now we have to wait about a month and a half before winter training games begin. In the meantime, I will be posting about various sports in the Prostějov area, such as floorball, and futsal. I will also be posting about games I attended in England four years back, and maybe a few games from Canada.

I also have a news site about football in Moravia which will be updated over the winter break.

http://footballinmoravia.blogspot.com

Old 2nd pitch of 1. SK Prostějov

Despite the pictures, this stadium is still in use, I believe for youth training. However, to get there, you must walk through some rather tall shrubs/grass/hay. I was at the ground two and a half years ago to see 1 SK Prostějov U18's play Litovel U18's. I also saw a Haná Prostějov game at the ground around the same time. Sadly, this area needs major renovation, but the pitch was still in decent condition. Another sad mark on football in Prostějov.

1.SK Prostějov - What happened?

A few days ago, I decided to take a look at the old SK Prostějov stadium, which was built in 1931. I remember I watched a few U19 games there back in the Spring of 2008, and even then one could tell that the stadium had seen better days.

The football club in Prostějov is one of the oldest in the Czech Republic, as it was formed in 1904. They spent a few years in the first division before World War II, and even played in the 1940 Czech Final. In the 1930's, they played in the Mitropa Cup (kind of an early version of the UEFA Cup), against clubs such as Admira Wien, Ujpest FC, and Grasshoppers Zurich. Unfortunately, this time period has to be considered one of the most successful periods of the clubs history.

During the late 1990's and early 2000's, 1. SK played a few seasons in the 2nd division, purchasing the license from LeRK Brno. It was during this time period, that discussions were held to modernize the stadium, but this was met with little support from the city government. This was also coupled with a few relegations, and Prostějov soon found themselves playing in the 5th division in 2006/07. After the season was over, the club decided to pull the men's team. It wasn't until the 2010/11 season that they reformed the men's side in the 10th division.

Now the youth teams play in villages (Olšany u Prostějova and Mostkovice) surrounding the city. The men's team also currently plays in Mostkovice. I am not sure why the old SK Prostějov stadium couldn't been upgraded just a little and cleaned up so the men's team could play there? I guess it is a question of will and money?

November 6th, 2010 - Olomoucký Kraj - 1 B třída Skupina A - Haná Prostějov 0 SK Lipová 1

November 6th, 2010 - Olomoucký Kraj - 1 B Třída Skupina A (7th level)

Haná Prostějov 0 SK Lipová 1

Attendance: 110

Admission: 20kc

Not much to say about this game, other then a lost opportunity. Haná had numerous opportunities to grab at least a draw, and could not convert. Lipová is perhaps the best team I have seen this year in the league, but Haná has no one to blame but themselves. The level of play to get a result was there, it is just too bad they could not score one goal. Two points in the last four games have seen them drop to 2nd place, one point behind Konice "B". However, they have a chance to bounce back with the last game before the winter break away to Pivín on Sunday.

October 27th, 2010 - Ondráškova Cup (Czech Cup) 4th round, 1st leg - HFK Olomouc 4 Jablonec 2

October 27th, 2010

Ondráškova Cup - 4th round, 1st leg

HFK Olomouc 4 (3rd division) Jablonec 1

Admission: 30kc

Attendance: 424 (away support of 3)

Game rating: 9/10

Beer: Radegast 24kc for a pint

Distance travelled: 50km

The first time I was at Holice to watch HFK Olomouc was back in 2002 when they played a cup game against Opava. I honestly can't remember what division they were in back then, but I think the 2nd division. Anyway, at the time, the stadium was very basic, with just one stand behind the benches. Even that stand only went half way down the pitch. On the other side of the pitch there was three concrete steps, with one row of seating. A few years back, the club did a major upgrade to the stadium, and now it has seating on three of the four sides. It isn't quite good enough for the 1st division, but the stadium can be easily expanded. It was only a couple years ago that HFK Olomouc were close to promotion to the 1st division. They now sit in the 3rd division, and look to stay there, because Opava is currently running away with 1st place.

I don't think I have written about a game at this stadium, but I've been there so many times it is easy to forget. The last time I was there, I went to a winter training match in -10C temperatures. Never again.

Jablonec must consider themselves very lucky to come away with only a 4-2 loss. Their only two goals came from the penalty spot, and the last goal was scored on the last play of the game. It was a controversial call, and to be fair, Jablonec didn't deserve it. HFK Olomouc outplayed them all game, but they will be in for it the next leg in Jablonec on November 10th. I have read that the game will be free to the public. The attendance for this game was much better than I thought it would be because it was played on a weekday afternoon at 15:30. HFK Olomouc usually averages around 300-400 a game.