Kde je Stadion?

1980/81 - 2nd division - Železárny Prostějov 1 Sigma Olomouc 0

2012-01-29T12:17:00.000-08:00

A few interesting pictures of a game back in the 1980/81 season of the 2nd division group B in Czechoslovakia between Železárny Prostějov and Sigma Olomouc. Prostějov won 1-0 in front of 7,000 fans. Will we ever see this again in Prostějov?

The pictures can be found here on the SK Prostějov supporters site. Full credit to the original uploader.

January 21st, 2012 - Friendly - SK Prostějov U19 vs USC Grafenwörth (Austria - 6th tier)

2012-01-22T07:10:00.000-08:00

January 21st, 2012

Friendly

SK Prostějov U19 vs USC Grafenwörth (Austria - 6th tier)

Attendance: 30

The first football game of the year! I haven't been able to get to any games outside of the city, so I have to do yet another update about a game in the city. I was quite interested to see this match, as it involved a youth side against a men's team from Austria. I am not quite sure what level they play at, but I think they play in the 6th tier.

Both clubs are warming up for the Spring half of their seasons, and it showed. The level of football was good enough, but there was some rusty play from both teams, which is to be expected.

I had to leave early, and come back late in the second half, but I saw two goals by the home side. So, it is perhaps safe to assume that SK Prostějov U19 won. Not really a surprise, as it is quite common to see U19 sides from the top few division defeating men's teams.

The crowd was quite small, but as far as I could tell, it was unadvertised.

Prostějov area winter training friendlies for 2012

2012-01-19T23:25:00.000-08:00

This list is not complete, and there is a possibility it isn't accurate. These friendlies can change at any time, so best bet to confirm before heading out to a match. This list will be updated a number of times throughout the next few months.

January 21st

SK Prostějov U19 vs USC Grafenworth (Austria) - 15:00 (UMT)

February 4th

SK Prostějov (9th tier) vs Čechovice (6th tier) (UMT) maybe Feb 5th

Výškov U19 vs Pivín (7th tier) (9:00 - Morkovice UMT)

Morkovice B (8th tier) vs Nezamyslice (7th tier) (11:00 - UMT)

February 5th

Těšnovice (7th tier) vs Kralice na Hané (5th tier) (13:00 - Chropyně)

February 11th
SK Prostějov (9th tier) vs Vrchoslavice (8th tier) (UMT) maybe Feb 12th

Morkovice B (8th tier) vs Pivín (7th tier) (15:00 UMT)

February 12th

Frýštak (5th tier) vs Určice (5th tier) (12:00 UMT in Zlín)

Sigma Olomouc U18 vs Kralice na Hané (5th tier) (14:00 in Olomouc UMT)

Nezamyslice (7th tier) vs Bohdalice (6th tier) (17:00 Morkovice UMT)

February 18th

Bohdalice vs Pivín (7th tier) (11:00 Morkovice UMT)

Zborovice (7th tier) vs Nezamyslice (7th tier) (13:00 Morkovice UMT)

Němčice (8th tier) vs Měrovice (8th tier) (17:00 Morkovice UMT)

February 19th

SK Prostějov (9th tier) vs Plumlov (6th tier) (14:00 - UMT)

Kralice na Hané (5th tier) vs Troubky (5th tier) (13:00 - Chropyně UMT)

February 25th

HFK Olomouc B (5th tier) vs Určice (5th tier) (12:30 UMT)

February 26th

SK Prostějov (9th tier) vs Mostkovice (7th tier) (14:00 - Olomouc Holice UMT)

Kralice na Hané (5th tier) vs Kojetín (6th tier) (11:00 - Chropyně UMT

March 3rd

SK Prostějov (9th tier) vs Kostelec na Hané (7th tier) (14:00 UMT)

Morkovice (5th tier) vs Určice (5th tier) (13:00)

March 4th

Želatovice (5th tier) vs Kralice na Hané (5th tier) (11:00 - Chropyně)

Hoštice-Heroltice (9th tier) vs Němčice (8th tier) (11:00 - Morkovice UMT)

Pačlavice (8th tier) vs Nezamyslice (7th tier) (13:00 - Morkovice UMT)

March 10th

Olšany (8th tier) vs SK Prostějov (9th tier)

Dědice (8th tier) vs Otinoves (9th tier) (15:00 - Morkovice)

March 11th

Kojetín (6th tier) vs Určice (5th tier) (11:00 in Chropyně)

Klenovice (6th tier) vs Kralice na Hané (5th tier) (Chropyně or Klenovice)

March 17th

Klenovice (6th tier) vs SK Prostějov (9th tier) (15:00)

Mohelnice (4th tier) vs Určice (5th tier) (13:00)

March 18th

Chropyně (5th tier) vs Kralice na Hané (5th tier) (13:00)

Ivanovice na Hané (6th tier) vs Nezamyslice (7th tier) (15:00 - Morkovice UMT)

March 25th

Lipová (7th tier) vs SK Prostějov (9th tier)

Haná Prostějov (7th tier) vs Velký Týnec (7th tier) maybe played on March 24th

April 1st

Mostkovice (7th tier) vs SK Prostějov (9th tier)

December 31st, 2011 - Friendly - SK/FK Prostějov 'young' 3 SK/FK Prostějov 'old' 1

2012-01-10T11:59:00.000-08:00

December 31st, 2011

SK/FK Prostějov 'young' 3 SK/FK Prostějov 'old' 3

Attendance: 30

Admission: Free

Desperate for a live match, I was happy when I read that SK/FK Prostějov would host a New Years Eve match. These type of matches have become more and more popular around the Czech Republic, with the biggest probably being Slavia Prague vs Sparta Prague 'oldtimers'.

The match in Prostějov had much less fan-fare, or should I say, almost zero. It kicked off at 10am, and a crowd of around 30 people were in attendance. The weather was beautiful, but I guess most people didn't know about the match, or just didn't care. Both sides were a mixture of current players, with a smattering of former players who are still playing, and from the Prostějov area.

The level of play was quite good, despite the awful quality of the artificial pitch. The city really needs to replace it as soon as possible. If they put in a better quality pitch, perhaps they could get more use out of it?

December 30, 2011 - Hockey exhibition - HC Přerov Boys U18 1 Canada Girls U18 5

2011-12-30T06:49:00.000-08:00

December 30th, 2011

International ice hockey exhibition

HC Přerov Boys U18 1 Canada U18 Girls 5

Attendance: 400

Admission: Free

This match was played as a warm-up for the Canadian U18 Girls side, who are set to play in the 2012 U18 Girl's World Championships, which began on December 31st in Přerov and Zlín.

I had never been to the arena in Přerov, so I was looking forward to my visit last week. It is a shame I hadn't been able to get to Přerov a few years earlier to see the old arena before it was renovated. Based on the pictures I looked at, it was oozing with character. A classic, old, Czech arena. However, it is safe to assume that it needed renovation, and it didn't come to much surprise to see that the city redeveloped the arena a few years back. Now, it is a fantastic looking 3,500 seat arena.

Since I couldn't make it to any of the games, I decided to take in the exhibition game between the Canadian U18 girls side and Přerov U18 boys. I wasn't sure what to expect, as girls hockey isn't too popular in this country, especially compared to Canada. I was surprised when about 400 people showed up on a Thursday afternoon. However, I wasn't surprised to see Canada run away with the win. They were better technically, much more fit, and could have won by more, based on the last two periods of play.

December 11, 2011 - Olomoucký Kraj Futsal - Relax Prostějov 7 AC Gamaspol Jeseník "B" 2

2011-12-24T11:34:00.000-08:00

December 11th, 2011

Olomoucký Kraj - Futsal (4th tier)

Relax Prostějov 7 AC Gamaspol Jeseník "B" 2

Attendance - 30

Admission - Free

December is usually a football free month (the 1st division had one round in the month this year), so I must look elsewhere for my football fix. A few weeks back I made the short 5-minute train trip to the near-by village of Kostelec na Hané to watch an Olomoucký Kraj futsal match. The league falls into the 4th tier of futsal in the country.

Relax Prostějov last year played all the their games in Šumperk, which is where the weekly tournaments were played. This year, they are being spread around a little more, with tournaments taking place in Šumperk, Kostelec na Hané, and Mikulovice. I certainly appreciate it, as it gives me a chance to see the highest level of futsal in the city.

Admission to all the games on the day was free. Despite this, a crowd of mostly friends and family showed up, with a smattering of local village kids. It is too bad, as the level of futsal was certainly entertaining, with Jeseník being a younger squad, while Prostějov were the much more experienced side. This showed, as the hosts ran away with an easy victory. So far this year they have played 6 matches, and have won them all. Last year, they finished first in the competition, and I was hoping they would get promoted to the Divize (3rd tier), but sadly this didn't happen.

November 19th, 2011 - Jižní Moravy a Zlín - Hockey - Plumlov 4 Uherský Brod 3

2011-12-03T10:13:00.000-08:00

November 19th, 2011 - Jižní Moravy a Zlín (4th tier)

Plumlov 4 Uherský Brod 3

Admission: 20kc

Attendance: 20

As football in the lower divisions is on a winter break, I must look to a few other sports over the next few months. Since I am Canadian, hockey seems like a logical choice.

On the night when Jestřabi Prostějov (3rd place in the 3rd tier of hockey), played a crucial derby game away to Přerov, I decided to see what kind of a turn out Plumlov would get. Jestřabi Prostějov typically gets around 1,200-2,000 fans a game. Plumlov on the other hand gets 20-50. They have to play their games in Prostějov, as the town of Plumlov (population 2,000), doesn't have any proper facilities for hockey.

I heard that around 400-500 Prostějov supporters went to Přerov, and that the atmosphere was fantastic as usual. Things couldn't have been any more different at the Plumlov game. I walked into the arena a few minutes before the puck dropped. The lights were dim, and I counted one person on the far side stands, and one other in the stands closest to the main doors. As the puck dropped, a few people slowly stepped out of the arena pub, more out of nothing better to do, I suspect. The game itself was quite good, as are most at this level. Usually they are quite high scoring, as the players tend to make quite a few mistakes.

The game had zero atmosphere. Most people couldn't be bothered to clap if there was a goal. Two or three people from Uherský Brod made the trip, which helped push the crowd to 20 people. I wonder, does Plumlov have any supporters? The town isn't too far away, so how come they don't come and support a club which has had a long history?

Winter break

2011-11-27T07:17:00.000-08:00

So, the winter break is upon us, except for a two more rounds of the Gambrinus Liga. Over the break, I plan on posting a few football matches which I haven't gotten around to doing yet. I'll also post the odd futsal, hockey and handball match. Keep an eye out for football guides to Prostejov, and Olomouc. I plan on writing about how to get to the various pitches, pubs to visit, and where to stay.

I'll be back to live football sometime in mid-January for winter training matches.

November 6, 2011 - Okres Prostějov - III třída - Bedihošt 1 Smržice 5

2011-11-11T08:14:00.000-08:00

November 6, 2011

Okres Prostějov - III třída (9th tier)

Bedihošt 1 Smržice 5

Attendance: 40

Admission: 15kc

I finally got to another ground a few weeks back, and this time I only had to make the short 4km trip. I have been meaning to get to Bedihošt for some time now, but for one reason or another, I had not managed to get there.

There are a few buses on the weekend from Prostějov, but it is generally easier to take the train, as they are more frequent. It is also possible to walk, as there is a paved path from Prostějov. Of course, a car is useful.

To get to the ground from the train station, it is about a 10 minute walk. The pitch was in decent shape, but other than that, the facilities are quite basic. A few years ago, they had an old cement wall going down one side of the pitch, but it seems that has been replaced by a metal wall now. There is almost no room for renovations, as there are only 3-5 meters on both sides between the pitch and the walls.

Much like all Czech village grounds, it is possible to get various shots of alcohol, beer, and sausages. Despite the 10am kickoff on a Sunday morning, many people were enjoying their first, or second beers of the morning.

The visitors on the day were deserving of the victory, but the final score line was a little harsh on the hosts. Even though the level of play was the 9th tier, I thought it was quite a strong and attacking game to watch. I'd much rather pay 15kc than 80kc, or whatever it is now, to go and watch Sigma Olomouc play.

October 23rd, 2011 - Olomoucký Kraj - Okres Olomouc - IV třída, skupina B` - Pnovice 3 Hnojice 1

2011-10-28T11:57:00.000-07:00

October 23rd, 2011

Olomoucký Kraj - Okres Olomouc - IV třída, skupina B (10th tier)

Pnovice 3 Hnojice 1

Attendance: 75

Admission: Free (?)

Finally, I got to a new ground last weekend. Like the previous years, this village was a little difficult to reach by public transportation on the weekend. First, I took a train from Prostějov to Olomouc. From there, I caught a train to Střen, which only took about 15 minutes. After getting off at the edge of the village, I walked down a country road for about 3-km towards Pnovice.

Pnovice, is a small village of around 800 people, located about 15km to the NW of Olomouc. In previous years, it was probably quite a sleepy place, but recently newer homes have been built, due to its proximity to Olomouc.

Once arriving, I decided to take a short walk around, but there wasn't much to see. A church, a small creek, and a sawn. However, I did see one or two people walking around, but that is it. The only people who were really outside on this Sunday afternoon were at the football match.

Walking down the lane towards to pitch, I could hear a Beatles song being played over the loud speaker. Walking through the gate, I saw a decent amount of people for a 10th tier match. A few benches were located on both sides, with a rather run-down clubhouse. Behind one of the goals to the right was an equally run-down pub. However, it served its purpose... beer.

The match was a local derby, as Hnojice is located about 5km from Pnovice. They brought a few supporters with them, but they had little to cheer for. The hosts controlled much of the match, and were unlucky not to score more goals.

A full set of photos from the match can be found here

October 9th, 2011 - Prostějov IV třída, skupina A - Plumlov B 2 Ptení 2

2011-10-14T12:27:00.001-07:00

October 9th, 2011

Okres Prostějov - IV třída, skupina A (10th level)

Plumlov "B" 2 Ptení 2

Attendance: 30

Admission: Free

Last Sunday, I made the short bus trip (about 20 minutes) to the village of Krumsín. Like most villages in the Czech Republic, which aren't serviced by trains, buses are few and far between. However, as a result of the earlier kick-offs as the autumn drags on, I was able to get to Krumsín for a match.

The village has a population of 600, and is probably best known in the area for hosting the 5-a side Haná Cup every summer attracting teams from across the country, and the occasional international side.

Since the village is quite small, it is almost impossible not to find the ground. It is located about 200 meters from the village centre, which features a pub, church and a school.

As of three seasons ago, the village doesn't have a club to call its own. The 2009/10 season saw the end of Sokol Krumsín, when they lost their last match 8-1 at home against Otaslavice B in the Okres Prostějov IV třída, skupina B (1oth level). They finished the 14 match season in mid-table. Over the previous few years, the club finished near the top of the table, but for whatever reason, they decided to leave league football. I can only speculate, but it was probably a result of lack of money, and lack of players. Seven years ago, the club was playing 8th division football.

At the same time this was happening, Plumlov reformed their reserves side, and moved it to Krumsín. Plumlov is about 5km from the village, so it makes geographical sense. However, based on the attendance of the game last weekend, it seems most villagers can't be bothered. A majority of people there were from Ptení, and some from Plumlov. I can't really blame the locals, as how much connection could they have to a reserve side from a different village?

Despite all this, Krumsín has a nice little set-up, with a decent pitch and a good quality outdoor pub. The match itself wasn't too bad for the level of football. Both sides played attacking football, and enjoyed many quality chances on goal. It was a good afternoon spend, beer, free football, and a decent local match. How can you go wrong?

All the pictures can be found on the Kde je Stadion Facebook page - http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kde-je-Stadion/218913734791381

October 3rd, 2011 - Prostějov III třída - SK Prostějov 4 Kladky 0

2011-10-04T11:34:00.000-07:00

October 3rd, 2011

Prostějov - III třída (9th division)

SK Prostějov 4 Kladky 0

Admission: 10kc

Attendance: 60

Unfortunately, my camera broke on the day of the game, so I wasn't able to take any pictures of video. However, I can write a little bit about the game. A few times a year, I will head to Mostkovice to watch SK Prostějov, even though I am a supporter of Haná Prostějov. SK usually plays good football, and the bar at Mostkovice has Černá Hora on tap, which is a big draw for me.

Overall, I was disappointed with the game on Sunday. SK didn't seem to play up to their potential, and most of the game was quite sloppy. Neither team could get much going, but SK obviously did enough to get the three points. Perhaps it had something to do with the pitch? It was simply in awful condition. There were many places with brown, dry grass, but it must be said it hasn't rained here in a few weeks. I can't imagine it was nice to play on such a hard surface.

FK Prostějov (4th division) were playing on the other side of town, with a crowd of 520, compared to only around 60 for SK Prostějov. Too bad, but I guess most people want to see a higher level of play, rather than supporting a club (SK) with a longer history. Full credit to those who show up every week to watch SK play.

September 28th, 2011 - Okres Prostejov - U15 boys - Haná Prostějov vs Smržice

2011-09-28T08:35:00.000-07:00

September 28th, 2011

Okres Prostějov - U15 boys

Haná Prostějov vs Smržice

Attendance: 25

As today is a national holiday, and I couldn't get out of the city for a game, I had to settle for a youth football match early in the morning. Well, not so early, only 10am.

The game was played at the old SK Prostějov training ground, which has been cleaned up a little since my last visit. The grass around the pitch has been cut, and portable changing rooms have been added. Last year the pitch beside it was in awful condition. Weeds, and long grass were growing all over it. How it has been levelled, grass cut, metal railings put up, and soil put down. All in preparation for a new pitch, which I assume will be ready sometime next year.

I only stayed for the first half, but what I saw was an okay level of standard for youth football. the home side had more of the chances, but oddly enough were down 3-0 at the half because of some poor defensive errors.

September 18th, 2011 - Olomoucký Kraj - 1 A třída, skupina B - Náměst na Hané 2 Hlubočky 1

2011-09-26T10:31:00.001-07:00

September 18th, 2011

Olomoucký Kraj - 1 A třída, Skupina B (6th division)

Náměšt na Hané 2 Hlubočky 1

Attendance: 180 (away support 40)

Admission: 20kc

Náměšt na Hané is a town of around 2,000 people located about 15km from Olomouc and Prostějov. It is best known across the Czech Republic, not for its football, but for its musical festival called Zahrada. Thousands of people converge on the town every July to hear a wide range of music from folk, world music, celtic, jazz, bluegrass to rock. Ask people in the music scene in this country if they have heard of this festival, and the answer would probably be yes. Ask a football fan from Prague (for example) if they know anything about the club, and the answer would probably be no.

Back in the 1990's, the football club spent two seasons in the 5th division. For the last 8 or 9 years, they have played in the 6th level of football, usually finishing in the top half of the table. This past summer, the club played in the early round of the Czech Cup, going out 2-0 at home to 4th division club Šumperk. A rather credible result against a club who have been pushing hard for promotion to the 3rd division over the past few years.

Without a car, the only way to get to the town on the weekends is by the slow regional train, either from Prostějov (direct), or from Olomouc, with one change in Senice na Hané. If arriving by train, the walk is about 15 minutes to the stadium up a hill and past the chateau.

I'd say the stadium has a classic Czech Republic lower level feel to it. A rusted metal fence, surrounds a small gravel track, which goes around the entirety of the pitch. The stands look old, but perhaps refurbished 10 or so years ago. There are two main stands, which look to hold about 75-100 people each. In between is an old pub, which I must say felt like I was walking into the tropics when I entered. The heat was unbearable, but well worth it for the beer. On the other side of the pitch are the changing rooms. Above it, an old style wooden structure which serves as the score keepers clock. An old man had a perfect view of the playing pitch.

Hlubočky were heavy favourites going into this match, as it was a classic first place versus last place. However, things didn't go their way. The hosts frustrated them all day long, and managed to capitalize on two of the chances they had to send their visitors home unhappy. The visitors brought about 40 supporters with them, which is quite unusual for this level of football. They had Hlubočky scarves, some drums and shirts. A nice change from the usual atmosphere at these games.

When Prostějov hosted Europe - 1999 European U16 Championships

2011-09-17T04:09:00.000-07:00

The state of football in Prostějov right now is in the midst of chaos. I suppose that is the best way to explain it. A 4th division club which calls itself FK Prostějov formed the week their division was scheduled to start this year. SK Prostějov which is the parent club of FK Prostějov, but they play in the 9th division. I see them as the real club if the city and not this FK Prostějov. SK has a long history, and should always remain the in the minds of football supporters in the city. Then there is Haná Prostějov, the club which I support. They formed in 1931, and currently play in the 7th division, which is the highest level the club has ever playd in their history.

All this, without really a proper stadium for football. Yes, there is the Sport Centrum, but it isn't the best for senior teams. Just down the road, the old SK Prostějov home sits, awaiting its fate. Weeds are growing in the old tribunes, cement is cracking, the wooden seats are falling apart. It is tough to see such an old historical stadium which is largely being

ignored. I'm sure the city would love to demolish it and build a supermarket or a parking lot. Right now it is being used for youth training, but even that is a stretch. How did this all happen? What happened to football in this city?

A little over 10 years ago, Prostějov hosted three games in the 1999 U16 European Championships. Other cities to host matches were, Blansko, Vranovice, Třebíč, Jihlava, Drnovice, Staré Město, Slušovice, Zlín, Kunovice, Moravská Třebová, Uničov, Olomouc, Šardice, Lanžhot, Kyjov, and Ratíškovice. An astounding 16 cities, and towns hosted matches. However, we will focus on the matches played in Prostějov,

As I mentioned earlier, the city hosted three games. The first was April 26, 1999 when Croatia played Poland to a 1-1 draw. About a week later, a quarter final was played here between Spain and Israel. The Spanish side ran away with a 6-1 victory. Six days later, Prostějov hosted the 3rd place match between the Czech Republic and Germany, a game which saw the Germans win 2-1.

(thanks to BBPV for sending in the picture)

Mikel Artera, who currently plays for Arsenal, played for Spain during the championships. Another big name that played in Prostějov was Darijo Srna of Croatia who has 83 caps and 19 goals to his name. Or Albert Crusat, from Spain, who currently plays for Wigan.

When will Prostějov ever get a chance to host possible future football stars again? With the current state of things in this city, I can't see it happening any time soon. Yes, there is a pitch that could see a Czech youth side play, but is that really realistic?

It is sad to think just how quickly things have changed. Only 10 years ago, a young Srna and Artera were stepping on the pitch of SK Prostějov. Now what do we have? FK Prostějov buying their way into the 4th division? What a laugh that is.

Let us not forget to support the real football clubs in this city, Haná Prostějov and SK Prostějov. It is only then, that football can take its place where it belongs in the city. At the top!

September 10th, 2011 - III třída - Prostějov - Haná Prostějov B 2 SK Prostějov 0

2011-09-13T09:15:00.000-07:00

September 10th, 2011

III třída (9th division)

Haná Prostějov B 2 SK Prostějov 0

Attendance: 250

Admission: 20kc

The long awaited (or not) derby between Haná Prostějov B and SK Prostějov was played last weekend. Apparently, this was the first derby in Prostějov between clubs in the city in over 40 years. SK Prostějov are clearly the more notable name in the city, as they have been around for much longer, and for a few years they played in the 2nd division. As I have stated a number of times, they recently reformed in the 10th division, which led to the derby match last weekend. Haná has traditionally been the 3rd, or 4th club in the city, depending on how many clubs existed at a given time. Their first team is lucky to get 150 people a game, while their "B" team can generally expect 20-50 people.

Needless to say, SK Prostějov were heavy favourites going into this match. Since they reformed last year, they hadn't lost a league match (25 played), and the average age for Haná B was 33! I must give credit to Haná B, as they didn't really call up any first team players to pad the roster, they played with what they normally play with week in and week out.

I was hoping this match would have been played on the grass pitch, but for some reason it wasn't. It was played on the artificial pitch, which is of poor quality, and the size doesn't fit the regulations. To make matters worse, there were no real facilities for spectators. People had to stand at the back of the main stand (which faces the grass pitch). There wasn't enough room for everyone, so people had to stand two or three deep. Other people sat on the grass behind a huge metal fence. About 30 SK Prostějov ultras showed up to support their club. They had the usual banners etc. There were no real incidents, except for play being stopped for about 10 minutes in the first half. This was as a result of a 'controversial' call by the assistant referee which caused a slight up-roar amongst the ultras. After Haná B scored two quick goals in the second half, they were quiet for the rest of the match. No one really expected the hosts to win, but I have to wonder if SK Prostějov took them a little too lightly, and perhaps did not go into the match with the right frame of mind.

It should be pointed out that the oldest player on the pitch (48 years old), scored the first goal for Haná, on a beautiful side foot volley from just outside the 18-yard box.

September 4th, 2011 - Olomoucký Kraj - Okresní Přebor Prostějov - II Třída - Dobromilice 2 Olšany 2

2011-09-04T22:38:00.000-07:00

September 4th, 2011

Olomoucký Kraj - Okresní Přebor Prostějov II Třída

Dobromilice 2 Olšany 2

Attendance: 90

Dobromilice is a village of around 830 located 20km south of Prostějov. One historical site of the village is a bridge which dates back to the 16th century, but after that there isn't much.

I made an attempt to watch a game here a few years ago, but when I arrived at the pitch I found out that the game was called off. Luckily, this time around I didn't have such bad luck. The village is impossible to reach by public transportation (bus) on the weekends, so my options were limited. I took a 15-minute train ride to Doloplazy, and then walked 2-km to get to Dobromilice. The fastest way to get there was past some dirty, smelly ponds, and down a path through the forest. Without a car getting to a game on the weekends can sometimes be problematic, and you have to be prepared for anything.

When I got to the pitch, I saw a decent crowd filling up most of the wooden benches. The pitch is kind of dug into the side of a hill, so all around it, you watch the game from an elevated stand point. The quality of the grass wasn't so good, as there were many brown spots, and the pitch wasn't exactly level. However, at this level, it never detracts from a game, but perhaps makes it better.

There were two metal 'shacks' which served as a beer/kofola stand and for chips. The beer was 25kc, and didn't taste good at all. This didn't stop the locals from buying it though. The atmosphere at the game was exactly what you would want at a village match. Poor quality play, locals, and a unique setting for a pitch. All in all, a good day out.

August 27th, 2011 - Okres Prostějov - III Třída - Haná Prostějov B 4 Zdětín B 0

2011-08-29T07:57:00.000-07:00

August 27th, 2011

Okres Prostějov - III Třída )9th level)

Haná Prostějov B 4 Zdětín B 0 (in Smržice)

Attendance: 20

Beer: Bernard

Finally, a new ground. It has been a long time, but things have come up recently and I haven't had as much time to travel around Moravia. On the weekend, I made the short trip to Smržice to watch Haná Prostějov B play Zdětín B. The village is only located 4km from Prostějov, but the lack of weekend buses meant that I had to take a train to nearby Čelechovice na Hané. The walk only took about 10 minutes to the football pitch, so it wasn't a big problem.

The match was originally scheduled for Prostějov, but scheduling conflicts for the pitch meant that the match had to be moved. This occurred because of the late addition of FK Pro$tějov into Divize E (4th level).

Walking up to the ground, I was surprised to see that the grass was in such great condition. However, upon closer inspection, the grass was nice, but it was not level. Little slopes were on the pitch, which made it not a level playing surface. Hardly ideal for any level of football. The facilities were basic, as should be expected for this level of football. About 20 benches lined the pitch, with a pub located 50m from it, for less than perfect viewing.

Since the match was moved to a small village, and not really publicized in the local papers, a smaller than normal crowd showed up. Most people there were friends or families of the players. The play wasn't anything spectacular, however Haná were deserving of the three points

October 2000 - A Canadian's experience - Bohemians Prague 1905 2 Sigma Olomouc 2

2011-08-24T12:51:00.000-07:00

11 years ago this autumn, I was living in Olomouc as a student, and since I watched as much football as I could in Canada, I decided to go to a Sigma Olomouc away game in Prague. Needless to say, it was an eye opener for at the time I was kind of a clueless Canadian 'soccer' supporter. I really didn't know what I was getting myself into.

I arrived at Doličku a few hours before the game, and of course I was wearing a Sigma jersey. I was used to going to away games in Canada with no problems, and at the time I didn't think much of wearing a Sigma jersey in Prague. Apparently, it wasn't a good idea, but I didn't really have any problems. I remember being a little scared, as I didn't speak any of the language, and wasn't sure how to get tickets. Luckily, two boys stopped me on the street, and sold me a ticket on the spot. I actually paid the face value, so I think they were just selling tickets to supporters on the street. I walked into the stadium, and saw old style metal cage surrounding the away support with a few cement steps. The toilets were a disgrace, as no one at the club probably bothered to clean them, and the walls were filled with graffiti.

Across the street from the away entrance there was a pub, and I remember hearing glass breaking, and other noises. I took a look around and saw a pile of Sigma hooligans (or ultras) pile out of the pub. Police were in riot gear trying to control the situation. The Sigma supporters pushed their way into the away supporters section without any tickets. It wasn't long after that the police followed, as they frequently entered stadiums at the time. It was then that a few Sigma supporters asked me if they could have my ticket to show proof they paid. I just shook my head, and hoped for the best. I was standing in the furthest corner of the away section, trying to stay away from the trouble. Eventually, the situation cooled down.

On the way home, I zipped up my jacket over my Sigma jersey. Lesson learned.

July 29th, 2011 - 1 SK Prostějov 1 Al Salmiya (Kuwait) 1

2011-08-04T13:32:00.000-07:00

July 29th, 2011 - Friendly

SK Prostějov 1 Al Salmiya (Kuwait) 1

Attendance: 125

This friendly is about as random as they get. Apparently, Al Salmiya, who play in the Kuwait first division, were holding a training camp in the Prostějov area, which is how this game came about. What makes it even stranger is that SK Prostějov were in the midst of preparing for Divize E (4th division), as the club was hoping to buy the license from Vítkovice. So, they brought in a number of players who were out on loan, signed some new players, and brought in some of those who played for the 10th division club last year. From what I understand, nothing has been resolved with the purchase of the 4th division license, because of legal issues. The whole thing is still up in the air, despite the 4th division starting this weekend.

Anyway, back to the game. It took place at 10am on a Friday morning, so I was surprised that more than a handful of people showed up. I suspect they were curious to see what SK would look like, and get a chance to watch an international club.

I had no idea what to expect from this game, as Al Salmiya are a fully professional club with a few international players. The team that SK put on the field, didn't even have a league to play in, and the players had only been training together for a short period of time. It was clear that Al Salmiya were stronger, had better touch, and were faster, but they were frustrated throughout the game by the strong play of SK. Overall, a draw was probably a fair result, and both managers had to go ahead happy.

Jakubčovice Fotbal - Where are they now?

2011-07-05T05:56:00.000-07:00

For a brief period of time the little village of Jakubčovice nad Odrou had a football club near the top of the Czech football pyramid. It was the 2006/07 season, when this modest club found themselves in the 2nd division. Many people were expecting the worst, but in the end, they finished a respectable 8th out of 16 clubs. Unfortunately, due to financial constraints, they club voluntarily relegated themselves after the season. Before taking a closer look at the club, I'll give a brief history of the village.

The village has a population of 695, and the first records showing the village date back to 1362. It is located in the Nový Jičín region in the north east part of country. The main industry is Hájek a Synové, which also happened to be the main sponsor of the football club.

It was in 1952 that the club was established under TJ Tatran Jakubčovice. By 1966 the club had advanced to the Okresní Přebor - Nový Jičín which by the standards of today is the 8th level on the pyramid. This was the highest level the club had achieved in its history. A new football stand was erected in 1989, and in June of that year the club hosted Baník Ostrava in a friendly to commemorate the new facilities.

The history of the club changed drastically in 1999, when a partnership with local quarry owner Josef Hajek was agreed upon. Hajek had clear goals, and he wanted to modernize the facilities, and move up the football pyramid in the region. During that year, the club played in the Okres Nový Jičín III třída, which they easily won, and thus gained promotion to the II třída. By the 2000/01 season, the club had advanced to the 1 B třída, which is the 7th level of football in the country. By the 2004/05 season, they found themselves in Divize E, the 4th level of football. Amazingly, the club had moved up four levels 5 years. At the end of the season, they had won promotion again, this time to the MSFL, the third level of football. The 2005/06 season saw them top the table in the MSFL, and move up to the 2nd division, a full 7 levels from their position in 1999.

Their ground didn't meet the standards of the 2nd division, so they had to play their games in nearby Fulnek (about 15km away), which previously had a 2nd division club a few years back. As we have seen, the club rapidly progressed up the Czech pyramid, and suddenly people from the village were watching a rather high level of football.

The 2006/07 season kicked off away to Blšany, who were relegated from the 1st division the previous season. Jakubčovice shocked their hosts with a 4-0 victory, probably surprising people across the country. Their first home game was in the next round, when they defeated Opava 1-0 infront of 653 people. Throughout the season, they averaged 574 people, which wasn't too bad considering the village the club comes from isn't much bigger, and they had to play 15km away from home. A season high crowd of 1,070 came out in the 20th round to see the hosts lose 2-0 against Bohemians Praha 1905. The low-point in attendance came near the end of the season, the 26th round, when a small crowd of 251 showed up to see a 2-1 victory over Dosta Bystrc. Despite the rather modest surroundings of the club, they finished the season in mid-table, but this wouldn't be good enough to save their professional status.

The success of the club came with a price, and at the end of the Autumn half of the 2006/07 season, the owner mentioned that a sale of their license to Dukla Praha at the end of the season was a possibility. This became a reality after the end of the 2006/07 season, their license was sold to Dukla Praha. Soon following this, was a yo-yo of up and downs for the supporters of Jakubčovice.

In the 2007/08 season, they found themselves in the Moravskoslezský Kraj - 1 A třída, skupina A, a drop of four levels in play. They went the season without a loss, and earned promotion to the Moravskoslezský Kraj Přebor for the 2008/09 season, where they only lost two games, and won promotion again, this time to Divize E (4th level of football). During the season, they only lost 4 games, and won promotion to the MSFL for the 2009/10 season. This sounds familiar doesn't it? Rapid rise from the lower levels of football in the Czech Republic. We have seen it all before with this club. This time however, the refused promotion, and against dropped themselves down the pyramid, all the way down to the Moravskoslezský Kraj - 1 B třída, skupina B for the 2010/11 season. They missed out on promotion by two points, so they are in the same league for the 2011/12 season.

Has there been a club in the Czech Republic which has had such an up and down history as this small club from the north-eastern corner of the country?

1 FC Přerov

2011-06-21T07:19:00.000-07:00

I found myself in Přerov this week, and happened to walk by the Městský Stadion, so I decided to take a few pictures. The main part of the ground was actually locked, which limited the number (and quality) of pictures I could take.

Přerov is a city of 46,200 located in Moravia. It is on a major train line, so it is easy to reach for those of you who might decide to visit the city from one reason or another.

Football in the city has had a long, but complicated history. It wasn't too long ago, that the club spent three season in the Czech Republic 2nd division from 1996-1999. They underwent a merger and name change, and restarted. In 2002, the club played in the Okresní Přebor, and gained promoted to the Olomoucký Kraj 1 B třída in 2004. After a number of years, they finally find themselves in the Divize D or E (4th level) after winning promotion this past season. They are a club which could find themselves back in the 2nd division in a few years.

As for the stadium, I suppose it has a classic Czech 1970's feel. There is one big main stand, and a small standing section, which was probably bigger at one point. A huge minus for the ground, is the rather large athletics track.

More about the club can be found on their official website - 1 FC Přerov.

A history of football clubs in Prostějov

2011-06-14T04:40:00.001-07:00

I am trying to put together a history of football clubs in Prostějov. Over the next few months, or however long it takes, I hope to write a small story about each club. For now, I'm just trying to sort out the various names.

http://footballinmoravia.blogspot.com/2011/06/history-of-football-clubs-in-prostejov.html

Haná Prostějov to celebrate 80th anniversary (1931)

2011-06-13T00:22:00.000-07:00

Haná Prostějov will be celebrating their 80th anniversary of the founding of the club this Saturday, June 18th. The day kicks off with various youth games at 13:00. At 17:00, the Haná Old Boys will be playing Zbrojovky Brno 1978 Old Boys, who won the old Czechoslovakian league in 1978. The club is currently celebrating a good run of form, as they play in the 7th level of Czech football, and missed out on promotion the last two years with second place finishes. Hopefully things will only get better from here on in for Haná.

A selection of other clubs established in 1931:

Olympiakos Nicosia (Cyprus), Banbury United (England), FC Astrakhan (Russia), Granada (Spain), Defensor Lima (Peru), FC Dynamo Bryansk (Russia), Egaleo FC (Greece), and Club Comunicaciones (Guatemala).

Sokol Zdětín

2011-05-20T02:13:00.000-07:00

Three years ago, I went to Zdětín to watch Haná Prostějov play. The village has a population of 312, and it isn't too far from Prostějov - 15 minutes by train. Despite the small size, they actually have a B team which plays in the 10th level of football. At the time, the A team played in the Okresní Přebor - Prostějov, which is the 8th level of football in the Czech Republic. During the Spring of 2008, I started to follow Haná Prostějov, and I decided to go to as many games as I could.

Getting to the village was slightly problematic, as I had to take a local train to the Zdětín station. Funny, as the train station is located a good 3-4km walk from the village. So, it meant I had long way, both ways, through the Czech countryside.

The pitch was as basic as they come, with a few benches, and no railings. However, it had a beautiful location, looking over the countryside. The game was a little bit of a bust, as I arrived on a Sunday, I think, and the game might have been played on the Saturday. Actually, I never found out what happened. Haná Prostějov had already won promotion, so the game didn't have a lot of important for either team.

Fotbal Fulnek - Where are they now?

2011-05-15T08:32:00.001-07:00

Quick, does anyone remember Fotbal Fulnek? Does anyone actually know where the town is (apart from Czech people that is)? While not a famous club by any means, they did achieve second division status for two years from 2007-2009. Where are they now? Well, they are playing in Okres Nový Jíčin IV třida, skupina B. That places them firmly at the bottom of the Czech pyramid, the 10th level, but more on that later. First, it is important to get a perspective on the town and club.

Fulnek is a small town of 5,930 located about 30km south of Opava in the Moravian-Silesian region of the Czech Republic. The town might best be known for Jan Amos Komenský (Jan Amos Comenius), who lived in the town from 1618-1621. He is widely considered to be the father of education. If you ever find yourself in Fulnek, there is a small, but interesting museum dedicated to him. You can also find a beautiful old chateau which over-looks the town. During WWII, much of the centre of the town was burned down.

I don't know the exact date the club was established but by 2002, it was promoted to 1 A třída, which is the 6th level of football in the country. By 2005/06 season they found themselves in Divize E (4th division), where they were subsequently promoted. The 2006/07 season they were again promoted from the MSFL (3rd division). By the 2007/08 season, they found themselves in the unlikely position of being in the second division.

Their first ever second division game was played away to Marila Přibram infront of a crowd of 1,831. Fulnek earned a 1-1 draw on that day thanks to a goal by Ondřej Malohlava. The following weekend, they hosted Vítkovice. Fulnek came away 3-0 victors, with Ondřej Smetana scoring all three goals. A crowd of 1,320 people looked on as Fulnek celebrated their first three points in the second division. If I remember correctly, stadium capacity was listed around 1,200.

Despite being a rather modest club from the countryside in Moravia, they showed that they belonged in the second division. At the end of the season, they finished a respectable 6th place, and for a time in the Spring were actually pushing for promotion to the first division. For the most part, the club usually got under 1,000 fans a game. The season high came in the 9th round, as regional rivals, Opava turned up, bringing a crowd of 1,632 through the gates. A season low crowd of 330 attended a 27th round game against Ustí nad Labem. The game finished in a 2-2 draw. In the last home game of the season, they beat Slovácko 3-2.

They ended up averaging 780 people a game. Ondřej Smetana was the leading goal scorer for the club with seven. The club had surpassed expectations of almost everyone with their play, but just how long could this small club perform and stay in the second highest competition in the country?

Unfortunately, their 2008/09 second division campaign would be nothing short of a disaster. The club finished with a record of 1 win, 6 draws, and 23 losses in 30 games, scoring 16 goals while giving up 70.

The season started on a positive note, with a 2-2 away draw to Jihlava. During the second round, they hosted Hradec Kralove. The game would finish 0-0, with only 613 in attendance. A sign of things to come? It was certainly a disappointing crowd for the first game of the season, especially since they had performed so well during the previous season. The final 15 games of the season, saw them lose 15 times. They scored 3 goals, while giving up 46. This was all a result of the club trying to cut costs, and shipping away all of their high paid players to help costs. Their final second division game was at home against Slovácko, a 2-0 loss infront of just 154 people. They averaged just 408 people a game. It definitely looked like many in the town had given up, but 15 losses in a row would certainly demoralise even the strongest of football supporter.

After their awful 2008/09 season, the club was relegated to the MSFL (3rd division). It was hoped that they would be able to establish themselves again, and turn things around. Unfortunately, it didn't work out this way, because the club was too much in debt. They couldn't fulfill their commitment and withdrew altogether from the MSFL after the autumn half of the season. During the first half of the season, they only managed 3 wins, and 1 draw.

At the start of the 2010/11 season, the club reformed in the local IV třída (10th level), with the hopes of slowly moving up the pyramid. Who knows, perhaps one day we might see Fulnek back near the 2nd and 3rd divisions?

So, what happened to football in Fulnek? A victim of their own success? Or moving up too quickly through the Czech football pyramid? Or just a bad timing? Despite all their problems, this small town had, for a short time period, a professional club. Now, the focus is on the men who play in the 10th level of the Czech pyramid, trying to bring football back in the town. The good news is, that they have been promoted to the 9th level of the pyramid. After 17 games this season (so far), they have won all 17. Perhaps things will begin to turn around for Fulnek? It might just take a few years.

The clubs website can be found here.

May 9th, 2011 - Okres Prostějov - III Třída - Haná Prostějov B 6 Kostelec na Hané B 4

2011-05-15T02:41:00.000-07:00

May 9th, 2011 -Okres Prostějov - III třída

Haná Prostějov B 6 Kostelec na Hané B 4

Attendance: 20

Admission: Free

Who would go out and watch a 9th level football game, when at the same time the Czech Republic was playing in the World Ice Hockey Championships, and Manchester United and Chelsea were playing? Well, as it turned out, not too many. Personally, I'd rather go out and watch live football than sit at home watching some sporting event on TV. Actually, I was rather surprised that around 20 people showed up, as I thought it would have been much less.

At this level, the players play for fun (mostly), and there are lots of mistakes, which usually leads to quite a few goals. This game was no different, with lots of goals, some of them which should have been stoppable. The hosts started the season strong and were battling for promotion, but have since fallen off the pace a little, and should be happy if they can finish in the top 5 of the league. At the bottom of this post, you can find videos of two of Haná's goals.

Going out to a game at this level is always enjoyable, especially with a beer or two. It is too bad more people in this city of 50,000 don't support local football. They would rather sit at home and watch a foreign league. Haná's first team plays good, attractive football (for the level), but they they always struggle to get 100 people at a game. It is too bad really.

Born in Prostějov - Series 1 - Luděk Mikloško

2011-05-11T11:05:00.001-07:00

The first in an on-going series about footballers who were born in Prostějov can be found here at my Prostějov football blog.

ČAFC Židenice Brno - 2nd pitch

2011-05-06T13:02:00.001-07:00

I was walking around Brno, and came across this pitch. From what I understand, this is the 2nd pitch of the club ČAFC Židenice Brno. I expect youth clubs, or the reserve team might play here.

The club was established in 1922. By 1926, the club was known as DSK Brno VV; 1934 ČAFC Židenice; 1948 MEZ Židenice; 1971 Zetor Židenice; and finally changing to their present name in 1993.

The main stadium of the club is on Gajdošova ulice which isn't too far from where I was, but at the time I didn't know that. The club currently plays in the Jihomoravský Přebor, which is the 5th level of football in the country. From 2005-2008, they played in Divize D, the 4th level, and have been trying to get back ever since. In the past two years they finished 3rd, and 4th, just missing out on promotion.

Going back to the stadium, it is quite basic, with only some metal railings around part of the pitch. There was no seating, and a simple clubhouse located near the main gate. The pitch had some rather large holes in it, and looked rather bumpy. I'll try to find out who plays here.

Winter training friendly - January 2008 - Zlín 2 Dubnica (Slovakia) 2

2011-04-25T11:40:00.000-07:00

Winter training friendly in Luhačovice - January 2008

Zlín 2 Dubnica 2

Attendance: 15

Over three years ago, I made the trip to Luhačovice, which is a small spa town in Moravia not too far from Zlín. As it was January, I was desperate for some football because of the winter break, so I was happy enough to sit in the freezing cold weather to watch two teams play in a meaningless training friendly.

I don't remember too much about the game, but I do remember almost no one was there. The local football club played in the 5th tier at the time, and they had excellent facilities for the level. The pitch was rather simple, with a small covered stand, and one small blue stand which looked like it had better days.

The club hosts quite a few winter training friendlies, because of their facilities. This past winter a friendly between Zlín and Trnava in the Tipsport Cup made national news, because of Trnava hooligans. A video can be found here.

April 3rd, 2011 - Čechovice 0 Bělotín 2

2011-04-19T12:00:00.000-07:00

April 3rd, 2011

Olomoucký Kraj - 1 A třída, skupina B - 6th tier

Čechovice 0 Bělotín 2

Admission: 20kc

Attendance: 200 (away support of around 10)

A few weeks ago, I made my way to Čechovice, a small village on the outskirts of Prostějov. I usually end up going to one game a year in Čechovice, because it is so easy for me to get to, and the level of play is decent enough.

I was surprised with the size of the crowd, as the hosts aren't playing that well this year, but I suppose the weather had something to do with it. Lots of people were sitting on the benches around the beer stand. Nothing like football and Czech beer.

The pitch was very bumpy, as it had been a long winter, and the play was extremely physical. Both clubs were going at each other really hard, but it was the visitors who came out on top. Last year, they played in the Olomoucký Přebor, which is a 5th tier league, but were relegated.

Facebook page

2011-04-14T02:25:00.001-07:00

I've created a facebook page for "Kde je Stadion". I'll be posting information about football in Moravia, but I'm still not 100% sure where I will go with this. As of now, I don't have any real concrete plans. I'll probably post some news about various clubs in Moravia, some pictures from games etc....

The page can be found here, or just search for "Kde je Stadion" on facebook.

How far has football fallen in Prostějov?

2011-04-13T22:26:00.000-07:00

Back over 10 years ago, Prostějov had a decent, but old stadium, and a competitive team in the 'higher' divisions. The city even hosted a few Czech Republic international games (non-senior). It really wasn't so long ago that this city was seen as a football town, now those days are over for the time being. It has turned into a basketball and volleyball town, but things may change soon with the possible merger of Kralice na Hané and SK Prostějov. Or there is a possibility of Haná Prostějov climbing the football ladder through promotion, as they currently play in the 7th level of football in this country.

On September 30th, 1997 the Czech Republic U20 side defeated Lithuania U20 in a friendly 2-0. Goals were scored by Jankulovski in the 60th minute and Jarošik in the 67th minute. The Czech Roster on that day featured:

Jindřich Skácel

Erich Brabec

Jan Vorel

Martin Švejnoha

Jan Šimák

Jiří Jarošík

Roman Lengyel

Libor Sionko

Marek Jankulovkski

Petr Smíšek

Martin Raška

Jan Buryán

Petr Papoušek

Jiří Krohmer

Marek Heinz

Quite a few big name players were on the squad that day including Jankulovski (AC Milan), Jarošík (Real Zaragoza), Marek Heinz (played for Galatasary, Nantes), Jan Simak (Mainz), Libor Sionko (played for Rangers, and Copenhagen).

Two years later, the Czech U21's came to Prostějov on August 18, 1999, when they face South Korea U21 in a friendly. A crowd of 1200 (reported by the Czech FA) showed up to watch some future Czech footballing stars lose 4-1. The biggest star on the pitch that day was Park Ji-Sung who has won over 100 caps for South Korea and currently plays for Manchester United. He scored on goal on the day. The only goal for the Czech U21's was scored by Tomáš Došek, who currently plays for FC Brno. The line-up on the day featured:

Jindřich Skácel

Lukáš Došek

Adam Petrouš

Marcel Lička

Roman Lengyel

Radoslav Kováč

Jan Šimák

Tomáš Ujfaluši

Marek Jankulovski

Tomáš Došek

Marek Heinz

Jan Polák

Petr Papoušek

Erich Brabec

Jiří Jarošík

April 2nd, 2011 - Olomoucký Kraj - 1 B třída, skupina A - Haná Prostějov 2 Hustopeče nad Bečvou 1

2011-04-08T10:11:00.001-07:00

April 2nd, 2011

Olomoucký Kraj - 1 B třída, skupina A (7th tier)

Haná Prostějov 2 Hustopeče nad Bečvou 1

Attendance: 150 (number reported by a newspaper, closer to 100 I'd say- away support of 4)

Admission: 20kc

Finally, after over a four month winter break Haná was back on the pitch in league play. It is going to be an important three months for them as they close out the season, hoping to gain promotion to the 6th tier.

The visitors on the day were in mid-table, and going into it, I thought it would be a tricky game for Prostějov. As expected, the visitors played a classic counter-attack game. The only thing missing was their build-up in the final third, as they struggled to generate chances on goal. One of the few chances they had actually went into the back of the net (video clip below).

Haná meanwhile seemed to struggle putting anything together. They had a few good plays in the first half, only to be let down by silly mistakes. Thankfully, a 90th minute goal gave them three points, which could prove to be very valuable at the end of the season. They currently sit in first place, one point ahead of Konice "B".

Attendance was reported at 150, but it seemed a little less than that. Most of the people decided to sit and stand on the side of the pitch rather than sitting in the main stand.

March 27th, 2011 - Friendly - Mostkovice 2 SK Prostějov 2

2011-04-01T04:59:00.001-07:00

March 27th, 2011

Friendly

Mostkovice (7th tier) 2 SK Prostějov (10th tier) 2

Attendance: 50

Yet another trip to Mostkovice for me last weekend. I haven't had time to get out to many games during the Winter break, so I have to take the chances when I can.

As I have written before, Mostkovice is a village of a few thousand located about 3km from Prostějov. The local football club was relegated last year from the 6th tier to the 7th tier. They started off the season last Autumn poorly, but finished strong. SK Prostějov plays in the lowest tier after reforming last Summer.

Even though they play in the lowest tier, they can compete with some clubs from the 7th tier, as they showed in the friendly against Mostkovice. With their current line-up, they would most certainly get a few wins in the 7th tier. There has been talk of a merger with 5th tier Kralice na Hané, so we shall see what happens over the next few weeks.

Sokol Drahany

2011-03-12T04:30:00.000-08:00

Drahany is a small village of around 530 people located 20km from Prostějov. It is located in the Drahanská vrchovina (Drahany highlands), which means the village is located at an elevation of 630m. In 1940, the people of the village fell victim to the "Vyškov shooting" by the Germans. People were forcibly evicted from their homes at gun point, and many of the homes were destroyed. This would explain the lack of older buildings in the village. The village was also destroyed during the 30 years war between 1618 and 1648. I ended up in the village yesterday, so I decided to take some pictures of the football pitch.

The club currently plays at the 10th and bottom tier of Czech football. They have spent the last 7 years at this level (Olomoucký Kraj - Prostějov - 4 třída, skupina A), as far as I can tell. They usually finish in the bottom half of the table, but this year they are struggling more than usual. After the autumn half of the season, they have 2 draws and 7 losses. It is a rather small village, so the fact they have a team year after year is something to be admired.

The pitch and facilities were basic. On one side there were wooden benches, and across the pitch there was a run-down wooden stand. It has obviously seen better days, and a number of the benches were falling apart.

FC Dynamo Javorník

2011-03-03T03:13:00.001-08:00

I didn't actually go to a game in Jarvoník ve Slezsku, but I remember going to the town in February 2009 because I felt like going on a trip. As it was winter, I had to make due without any football. So, I decided to make the 320km round-trip, 7 hours on a train, trip to the northern-most town in Moravia. It is tucked up in the corner on a narrow strip of land.

Javorník is a town of around 3,000 people. It is located only a few kilometres from Poland. During the summer, the biggest draw is a beautiful chateau on a hill over-looking the town. During the winter, well, there wasn't much to see. I walked around a little, and eventually stumbled upon the football stadium.

The football club, which was formed in 1946, currently plays in the Olomoucký Kraj - 1 B třída, skupina C, which is the 7th tier of football in the country. Their "b" team plays in the Olomoucký Kraj - Okresní Přebor - Jeseníky which is the 8th tier of football. The stadium was quite basic with some covered seats, and an area for standing. The first team currently sits in 10th place after the autumn half of the season. The second half will resume when they play away to Vidnava.

February 27th, 2011 - Winter training friendly - 1 SK Prostějov 4 Čechovice B 1

2011-02-28T02:35:00.003-08:00

February 27th, 2011

Winter training friendly

SK Prostějov 4 Čechovice "B" 1

Attendance: 40

SK Prostějov currently play in the 10th tier of football, but as I have written before, they played in the Czech 2nd division back around 8 years. The club fell into some financial problems, and poor performances on the pitch. This saw them fall all the way down to the 5th division. For a few years, the club only ran youth teams, but this season saw the return of a men's team. They play in the Olomoucký Kraj - Okresní Prostějov - 4 třída Skupina B, where they are currently leading. Their league resumes April 2nd. Their opponents yesterday was Čechovice "B", who play in the Olomoucký Kraj - Okresní Přebor Prostějov, which is the 8th tier of football in the Czech Republic.

This game was played on the artificial turf next to the main pitch in Prostějov. Come to think of it, I don't even know what the stadium is called. I am sure it most have some official name, and i will try to track it down. Anyway, there were no proper stands nor seats to watch this game, as one could only stand at the back of the main stand. The artificial turf wasn't of the best quality, but I suppose it is better than nothing. Most of the people at the game seemed to be the Prostějov supporters who go to home and away games.

Despite playing two levels below Čechovice "B", Prostějov deserved the victory. They were quicker and more talented then their opponents. When Čechovice "B" had a few chances, the Prostějov keeper made some key stops. I can't imagine Prostějov failing to get promoted this year. Actually, I'd be shocked if they didn't. From what I see, they certainly could compete in the 8th tier. It'll be interesting to follow their progress over the next few years.

February 19th, 2011 - Winter training friendly - Určice 0 Haná Prostějov 1

2011-02-22T00:40:00.000-08:00

February 19th, 2011

Winter training friendly

Určice (5th division) 0 Haná Prostějov (7th division) 1

Attendance: 15

This game was played in Konice, which is about 25 kilometres from Prostějov. There is a direct train which takes around 40 minutes. I've started to lost count just how many times I've been to Konice to watch football, so I won't write too much about it this time.

Konice has perhaps the best artificial pitch in the area, so many winter training friendlies are played on the pitch. Prostějov has also got a artificial pitch which is being used, but the quality isn't as good. Haná will play one or two games during the winter training on the pitch.

Attendance for this game was small, as it was cold, and both teams were not from the town. Around 15 people were at the game, but it peaked around 30 during the first half. The play was very entertaining, as both clubs tried to work out the winter rust. This was the first game for Haná, but their play certainly didn't show it. If they were able to finish better, they could have won this game by two or three goals. Apparently, Určice were missing a few players.

Vitkovice withdraw from MSFL

2011-02-10T03:27:00.000-08:00

I haven't been to any games as of late, because pickings are slim as a result of the winter break, but news regarding Vítkovice was released today.

Sad news out of Ostrava, as Vítkovice, has withdrawn from the MSFL (3rd division). They were unable to find further partners to help run the club. The club was formed in 1919, and made it to the 1988 UEFA Cup quarter-final, where they lost 2-0 on aggregate to Spanish club Espanyol. In 1986, they won the Czechoslovak title. Hopefully, they will be able to reform at the lower levels sometime over the next few years.

Article in Czech - http://moravskoslezsky.denik.cz/fotbal_region/je-konec-fotbalove-vitkovice-treti-ligu-20110209.html

I went to see the club play at home against Bohemians Prague 1905 back in September 2008, when they were still in the 2nd division.

January 22nd, 2011 - Winter training friendly - Sigma Olomouc 3 Frýdek-Místek 0

2011-01-24T02:46:00.000-08:00

January 22nd, 2011

Winter training friendly

Sigma Olomouc 3 Frýdek-Místek 0

Admission: Free

Attendance: 125

Finally, my first football game since November 14th. A break which was way too long! I hope that I will be able to get to another winter training friendly sometime over the next few weeks.

On Saturday, I went to Olomouc to catch the Sigma game against MSFL (3rd division side) Frýdek-Místek. Sigma also had a game 60km away in Brno against Znojmo on the same day, so the management basically split the players into two teams. On the Sigma team in the morning were two American trialists, Drew Yates and Stefan Jerome. Both seemed okay, with Jerome scoring one goal. However, they both looked a little step off the pace, so if they get signed, I suspect they will spend some time with the reserves in the 3rd division. The game was nothing special, but football is football.

It was played at the Sigma training pitch located next to the main stadium. There are no seats,so people must stand on one side of the pitch against a railing. Next to the artificial pitch, is a grass pitch where the reserves sometimes play their games in the 3rd division. You can see this pitch in the first picture. Also in the picture is the indoor training pitch, new hotel, and fitness center. Sadly, a huge communist style bowl stadium was torn down 3 years ago (or so), to make way for the upgrades. I attended a few Sigma reserves games at the stadium years ago. I have pictures lying around somewhere, and I will try to locate them.

Winter break

2011-01-19T22:41:00.001-08:00

Sorry about the lack of proper updates, but sadly I haven't been to a football game in over two months, because of the winter break. Preparation matches started last week, and I am hoping to get to the Sigma Olomouc vs Frýdek-Místek game this Saturday on artificial grass (of course).

The Gambrinus Liga starts up again in about six weeks, but my local club Haná Prostějov must wait until the start of April for their first league match.

In the meantime, I came across another Czech football blog, which looks like it will be quite interesting. So far, the author has written about a few clubs, and has explained some of the Czech football pyramid.

You can find the blog here - http://czechfootballblog.wordpress.com/

July 2007 - Ontario Cup Quarter Final - Ottawa St Anthony Italia vs Aurora Hearts

2010-12-30T07:46:00.000-08:00

July 2007 - Ontario Cup Quarter Final

Ottawa St Anthony Italia vs Aurora Hearts

Admission: $3

Attendance: 50

Both clubs are amateur, and play in their respective Ontario senior amateur leagues. As this was a few years back. Ottawa St Anthony's was founded back in 1952, which makes it quite old in terms of Canadian soccer (football). As you can perhaps guess, they are a part of the local Italian social club. In 2006, they won the Canadian National Challenge Cup, as well as the Open Canada Cup. Aurora Hearts were established in 1981. They won the Ontario Cup in 2001, and finished 3rd in the Canadian National Challenge Cup. Aurora is a town of 47,000 located in the Greater Toronto Area.

I can't remember the score or anything about the game. It was played at Oz Optics Stadium, which was the home of the Ottawa Wizards, a semi pro club in the CPSL, from 2001-2003. The stadium is quite basic, with metal bleachers, but I always loved watching games here because you were so close to the pitch. Speaking about the pitch, I've rarely seen one in such beautiful condition, especially during the Ottawa Wizards days. It was like a carpet.

Midlands Football Alliance 2006 - Biddulph Victoria vs Friar Lane & Epworth

2010-12-22T23:31:00.000-08:00

Midlands Football Alliance 2006

Biddulph Victoria vs Friar Lane & Epworth

Unfortunately, I don't remember much about this game, as it was four years ago. As previously I wrote, I lived in Leicester for a few years, and I followed my local non-league club around Leicestershire, and then around the Midlands as Friar Lane & Epworth were promoted to the Midlands Football Alliance.

Biddulph Victoria plays in Biddulph which has a population of around 17,000. To get to Biddulph, I had to take a train from Leicester to Derby, change trains, and then a train to Stoke. From Stoke, I took a bus for about 30 minutes to Biddulph. I remember, it took me about 3 hours to get to Stoke and back on the day.

Biddulph Victoria were formed in 1969, Knypersley Victoria. Back in 1997/98 they made it all the way to 4th qualifying round of the FA Cup, which has to be considered the greatest success for the club. Unfortunately, over the past few years the club has struggled. A few weeks ago, the club tendered its resignation from the MFA, and as it stands now the club will fold at the end of the season. There is a chance that they could survive if they find a new ground to play at. We shall see what happens, and hopefully the club doesn't fold.

Midlands Football Alliance 2006 - Market Drayton Town vs Friar Lane & Epworth

2010-12-11T05:20:00.000-08:00

Midlands Football Alliance 2006 (Step 9 in England)

Market Drayton Town vs Friar Lane & Epworth

Market Drayton is a town in Shropshire of around 10,500. I honestly have no memory as to how I got there, but I assume it was by bus, and it probably took a few hours at least. It was a a beautiful little place, although the weather on the day was awful. I honestly, can't recall much from this game, apart from the small crowd, and old stand.

Market Drayton Town were promoted in 2008/09 to the Northern Premier League First Division South.

Spring of 2006 - Midlands Football Alliance - Westfields 2 Friar Lane & Epworth 2

2010-12-05T05:00:00.000-08:00

Spring of 2006

Midlands Football Alliance (step 9)

Westfields 2 Friar Lane & Epworth 2

Attendance: 80

It is the Czech winter break, so I will post some old games I have attended over the past few years. I lived in Leciester from 2005-2006, and as such I adopted a local non-league club. My method of selection was to pick the club closest to where I lived. Actually, Leicester City was the closest, but I wanted a non-league club, and it ended up being Friar Lane & Epworth. For those two years, I travelled around Leicestershire following them in their Championship season in the Leicestershire Senior League. The year after, they were promoted to the Midlands Football Alliance, which meant more time spent on the trains. Luckily, I had a students card which saved me quite a lot of money, as trains in England can be quite expensive.

On this particular day, I went to the city of Hereford, which is close to Wales. It took me 3.5 hours to get there with a change in Birmingham and Worcester. The club manager joked that I arrived their quicker than the team bus, as they arrived just before kickoff. I remember it was me and one other Friar Lane supporter at the game, which was typical for Friar Lane & Epworth away games in the Midland Football Alliance. I think on this day, it was close to 100 mile trip one way. Even though I can't go to Friar Lane & Epworth games anymore, as I live in a different country, I still check on them weekly. They were the first club I properly supported outside of Canada.

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

2010-11-28T12:46:00.000-08:00

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

2010-11-23T01:11:00.001-08:00

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

2010-11-21T09:58:00.000-08:00

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?

2010-11-18T13:19:00.001-08:00

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

2010-11-08T02:43:00.000-08:00

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

2010-11-01T03:43:00.001-07:00

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.

October 23, 2010 - Olomoucký Kraj - 1 B Třída Skupina A - Haná Prostějov 2 Kostelec na Hané 3

2010-10-25T02:22:00.001-07:00

October 23rd, 2010

Olomoucký Kraj - 1 B Třída Skupina A

Haná Prostějov 2 Kostelec na Hané 3

Admission - 20kc

Attendance - 150

I thought I would put up a few highlights from the game last weekend. Unfortunately, Haná lost which was their first of the season. The good news is that, the second place team also lost, which means Haná is still in first place by two points. This sets up a huge game against Konice "B" (the 2nd place team) on October 31st.

This was game was rather frustrating, as Haná was missing a few players, and they gave up two goals from stupid defensive mistakes. Oh well, it will be good to beat Kostelec on their home ground next Spring!

October 17th, 2010 - Olomoucký Kraj - Olomouc - IV Třída Skupina B - Odrlice 5 Drahanovice 3

2010-10-20T01:56:00.001-07:00

October 17th, 2010 - Olomoucký Kraj - Olomouc - IV Třída Skupina B (10th level)

Odrlice 5 Drahanovice 3

Attendance - 90kc

Admission - 10kc

Distance travelled - 65km

I finally got to a new ground this past weekend. I was taking a look at the local newspaper, and I came across this game. Odrlice is a village of 220 people, which makes it the smallest place I've watched a game. It was easy for me to get to, as I could take a direct local train from Prostějov which took me about 40 minutes. When I got off of the train, I was in the middle of a field, with the village being a five minute walk away. I knew I was in a farming area because of the tractors and smell. On my way to the village, I came across "New York" with an arrow spray painted on the road. Obviously, someones idea of a joke. The village itself was just one road and that is it. There was obviously a church, and a pub.

It was a very cold day for mid-October with the temperature sitting around 6C and a strong wind. The pitch is right behind the church. I walked up and saw huge trees, and a beautiful pitch for this level of football. The facilities were very basic, but what can you expect? You could buy beer, and sausages. The training facilities have obviously seen better days. Although, they serve their purpose.

I was really surprised with the level of play. The home team were sitting in place, with the visitors in the middle of the table. Both showed good skill (again for the level), and played attacking football. I would say the score is a little harsh on Drahanovice, as they certainly didn't play that bad. They scored a goal in the last minute to make the scoreline a little more respectable. After the match, I walked back to the train stop, sat on the bench, and tried to stay warm for 1-hour.

October 10th, 2010 - Olomoucký Kraj - Přerov - II Třída - Haná Měrovice nad Hanou

2010-10-15T11:58:00.000-07:00

October 10th, 2010

Olomoucký Kraj - Přerov - II Třída (8th level)

Měrovice nad Hanou

The village has a population of around 600, and is located 25km from Prostějov. I went by train with one change in Nezamyslice. All in all, it took about 30 minutes to get to the village. The pitch is about a 10 minute walk from the train station, and it is easy enough to find as the village is rather compact. I obviously did not plan this very well, as I must have misread the schedule. When I walked up to the pitch, I did not hear any noise nor see any balls being kicked. I then saw the locked gate, and I knew I must have misread the schedule. It was a pity, as the stadium looked quite good for this level of football.

October 10, 2010 - Olomoucký Kraj - Prostějov - Skupina B - Doloplazy 2 1. SK Prostějov 4

2010-10-12T01:53:00.000-07:00

October 10th, 2010

Olomoucký Kraj - Prostějov - Skupina B (10th level)

Doloplazy 2 1. SK Prostějov 4

Attendance: 100

Admission: 10kc

First of all, let me say that this was not the planned game I was going to see on Sunday. Instead, I wanted to go to a 8th level game in Měrovice nad Hanou, which I will write about in my next posting.

I think this was the 3rd time I have seen a game in Doloplazy, but as I said, this wasn't my plan. I didn't arrive until the start of the second half, so the first thing I did was find out the score. I have written about the Doloplazy pitch/stadium in previous posts, and I don't think there is any need to go into detail about it again. I tried to take some new pictures though.

1. SK Prostějov reformed their men's club after a few years of not having one. In previous years, the club played in the Czech 2nd division, 3rd division, 4th division, and then 5th division. Even though the club didn't have a men's team, the fans waited, and they are showing up to 10th level games. Around 15 made the short trip to Doloplazy. Overall, Prostějov deserved the win against their more physical opponents.

November 15th, 2006 - FIFA international - Hungary 1 Canada 0

2010-09-30T12:56:00.000-07:00

November 15th, 2006

FIFA Friendly at Szekesfehervar (Stadion Sostoi)

Hungary 1 Canada 0

Attendance: 10,000

Admission: no idea

Back in 2006, I made my way to Szekesfehervar, which is a city of around 100,000 located 1 hour by train from Budapest. I remember it being a brutal city name to pronounce and I am sure that I butchered it while trying to buy a train ticket.

I arrived in the city on the morning of the game. I spent the morning walking around and sitting in pubs. The stadium is located about a 15-20 minute walk back to the train station, and I didn't have too many problems finding it. On the way I ran into the parents of a Canadian player who was going to play in his very first full international. They were shocked to see another Canadian at the game. Actually, it turned out about 15 Canadian's were at the game, scattered around the stadium. I arrived very early, and didn't see any other Canadian's so I put up my flag near the centre of the pitch. People were taking pictures of me, but I didn't feel any reason to be afraid. Eventually, I saw another Canadian flag in the crowd, and made my way over to join them. We were seated right beside the supporters section, and the feeling from them was a little hostile. This was the first time I felt this at any Canadian away game (expect Costa Rica vs Canada WCQ in San Jose 2003).

I don't remember too much of the game, except for a muddy pitch and foggy conditions. After the match, I made my way back to Budapest on the last train back.

June 2nd, 2007 - Canadian Soccer League - Windsor Border Stars 0 Toronto Croatia 2

2010-09-25T13:17:00.000-07:00

June 2nd, 2007

Canadian Soccer League

Windsor Border Stars 0 Toronto Croatia 2

Attendance: 300

Admission: $10

I am finding myself a little busier on the weekends, so apart from Hana Prostejov games, I am not able to get to as many games as before. I hope to go to a few new grounds every month, but in the meantime, I will upload some games from three and four years ago.

The first from my archive is the game from 3 years ago between the Windsor Border Stars and Toronto Croatia. At the time, I was spending a few months in Windsor, so I decided to go to a local CSL game. The Canadian Soccer League isn't the best name, as the league is essentially based in Southern Ontario, and one club from Quebec. The Border Stars were in the league from 2004 to 2008, but they found the travel difficult, and the fees of the league. It was uncommon for Windsor to show up on a Friday night in Toronto (four hour drive) with only one sub. As the league was/is semi-pro at best, many of the players had second jobs.

I don't remember much from the actual game, but I do remember that I was excited to go to a game in Windsor because the stadium kind of had a feel of a proper soccer stadium. One side had concrete seats, while the other was more typical of American football.

It is too bad that Windsor doesn't have a team in the CSL at the moment, but I heard the league has interest in putting another team in the city.

September 14th, 2010 - Czech Republic U16 2 Slovakia U16 1

2010-09-18T01:25:00.001-07:00

September 14th, 2010

Czech Republic U16 2 Slovakia U16 1 (at Staré Město u Uherské Hradiště)

Attendance: 130

Admission: Free

Beer: ?

I have very fond memories of the ground at Staré Město u Uherské Hradiště. I went there three times in 2002, twice to see 1. FC Synto play in the Inter-Toto Cup, and once to see Sigma Olomouc play. The Inter-Toto Cup games were against Konstruktorul (Moldova) and then Helsingborgs (Sweden). The town has a population of 6,853. It is hard to believe that the town and the stadium once hosted 1st division matches with 1. FC Synot. The stadium was in poor shape then, and it looks even rougher now.

1. FC Synot merged with Slavia Uherské Hradiště in 2000, but in 2004/05 the team went back to Uherské Hradiště (a few kilometers away) and 1. FC Slovacko was created. This had much to do with the biggest betting scandal in Czech football history which happened around 2003/04. Three club officials were charged and seven referees.

Since I went to the stadium in 2002, I had no problems remembering how to get there. You can take a train to the Staré Město u Uherské Hradiště stop, and from there it is a 15-20 minute walk. However, the stadium is only used for the 1. FC Slovacko U19 and U17 squads. The first team will also train there throughout the year.

The game kicked off on a weekday at 4pm, so needless to say the crowd was small. Most of them were in the main seated section, with a few other people scattered around the other areas. The seating behind the goal has certainly seen better days, and they probably haven't been replaced or fixed since 1. FC Synot left. Across the pitch from the main stand, the 'seats' are rusted.

There were a few scouts from an English Premier League club at the game, but I never did find out what club. I thought the majority of the match was quite even, but the Czechs showed a bit more creativity up front in the 2nd half and they always looked like the more dangerous side. It will be interesting to see how these players develop over the next few years, and I am sure some of them will find spots of foreign clubs.

September 12th, 2010 - Jihomoravský Kraj - 1 B Třída Skupina A - Ivanovice na Hané 1 Tišnov 0

2010-09-13T07:45:00.000-07:00

September 12th, 2010

Jihomoravský Kraj - 1 B Třída Skupina A (7th division)

Ivanovice na Hané 1 Tišnov 0

Admission: 25kc

Attendance: 215

Beer: 20kc

This past weekend, I made the short trip to Ivanovice na Hané which is a small village of a few thousand people located about a 25 minute train trip south of Prostějov. I have been meaning to get to a game here for a few years, but never got around to it.

The football team played last year in the 6th division, but were relegated. I would say the stadium is about a 20 minute walk south of the train station, if you are walking slow. I had to walk quite fast, as I got to the pitch right as the game was kicking off. The first thing I noticed was the pitch. It has to be the best pitch I have seen at this level over the past 3 years. As for the seating, there was one row of seats on concrete steps running down one side of the pitch. One part was covered. There was also a small covered outdoor pub, which offered bbq fish, steak, and sausages.

Ivanovice na Hané going into the game hadn't lost in 5 games, while the visitors had only lost once. This was one of the reasons why I picked the game. Unfortunately, most of the game was a disappointment, with both had few chances on goal. Much of the play was physical and located in the middle of the pitch. There were two red cards, one to each team, which livened up the game. The last 10 minutes, with Ivanovice na Hané leading, were quite hectic, with the visitors desperately trying to score the tying goal. All in all, it wasn't a bad game.

2012 Euro Qualifier - September 3rd, 2010 - Slovakia 1 Macedonia 0

2010-09-06T03:45:00.001-07:00

2012 Euro Qualifier - September 3rd, 2010

Slovakia 1 Macedonia 0

Attendance: 5500 (250 away supporters)

Admission: 7.5 euros (away section)

I made the rather short trip to Bratislava by train via Brno on Friday for the Euro qualifier. I have been to the city before, but never for a football match. The city centre is beautiful and quite compact.

The game was played at Pasiensky Stadium, which is the current home of Slovan Bratislava, and once home of Inter Bratislava. Tehelne Stadion was the national stadium, however, it is waiting demolition. After talking to a few Slovaks, they felt like the new stadium will never be built. Pasiensky is basically just a big bowl with a few seats on one side covered. Everything else is left to the mercy of the weather. It is a little far to walk from the city centre, but can easily be reached by tram.

As this was the first game for both teams in qualifiers, I was expecting a tight game. Macedonia is a tough team for anyone to play. The first half was rather boring with almost nothing happening. The visitors packed the box, and the hosts couldn't break them down. In the second half, there were two bizarre red cards given to the Macedonians. The first one was a second yellow card, after an injured player crossed back on to the pitch by the corner flag. This was soon followed by their coach getting a red card after he ran on to the pitch to break up the players on both teams pushing each other. Strangely enough, the Slovak keeper pushed a Macedonian player down. It was an act which deserved a red card, but in the end he got nothing. Predictably, the Slovaks scored in injury time to take the three points. Macedonia just couldn't get their heads back into the game.

July 25th, 2010 - Czech Cup (Ondráškova Cup) - 1st round - Výškov 2 Zlín 1

2010-08-24T10:47:00.000-07:00

July 25th, 2010

Czech Cup - 1st round

Vyškov 2 Zlín 1

Attendance: 250

Admission: 40kc

I finally made the trip to the near-by town of Výškov last month to see a Czech Cup game. Over the past three years I have been meaning to get to a game here, only because it is 20km from where I live.

The stadium is on the far end of town, but only a 10 minute walk through a park from the train station. Unfortunately, it has a huge track around the pitch, so the main stand sits a ways back. There was only only stand with bench seating, but it looks like there was a terrace bowl at some point.

The home team currently plays in the 1st division, while the visitors play in the 2nd division. They were recently relegated from the Gambrinus Liga not to long ago. Despite the difference in the level of play, Vyškov took the game to their hosts and were well deserving of their 2-1 victory. Zlín brought about 10 fans to the game,

It is a decent place to watch a game, only if you are in the Czech Republic for a longer stay than a few weeks.

July 25th, 2010 - Gambrinus Liga - Sigma Olomouc 4 Jablonec 1

2010-08-18T07:46:00.001-07:00

July 25th, 2010

Gambrinus Liga

Sigma Olomouc 4 Jablonec 1

Attendance: 5000

Admission: 70kc

Beer: Gambrinus

It had been a few months since I last went to a Sigma game, so I decided to head to Olomouc for the game against Jablonec. It is great to see that the more 'modern' end of the stadium is almost finished. I heard it should be ready for the 2012 Euro Qualifier - Czech Republic vs Latvia. The new stand looks much more impressive than the old one.

Jablonec were considered by some to challenge for a top place finish this year, but Sigma took it to them throughout the game. They were unlucky not to win by more goals. A few Jablonec fans made the long trip to Olomouc.

August 6th, 2010 - Ottawa Carleton Soccer Leagues - Old timers (35+) Division 2 - Perth United 2 Vitosha 4

2010-08-13T12:36:00.000-07:00

August 6th, 2010

Ottawa Carleton Soccer League - Old timers (35+) Division 2

Perth United 2 Vitosha 4

Attendance: 15

First of all, I should clarify that this is Perth, Canada and not Perth, Scotland or Australia. I grew up in Perth, Canada and played my football here as a young boy. It is a town of 5,500 located about 80km south of Ottawa.

Perth has a lovely football complex, with two full size pitches with lights. The grass was in much better condition than I remember. The facilities were quite basic, with a few benches around the pitch, which is enough for the parents or friends who come and watch the games.

The Perth United Soccer club has teams ranging for age 5 to senior, boys and girls. As I was desperate for football, I decided to check out the Perth United old timers. The team plays in the second division, out of eight, so the football was actually pretty good. Vitosha was team filled with Bulgarians who now live in Canada, and I could tell some of them played a decent level when they were younger. The game itself had a few nice goals, and plays, so it was well worth the visit.

July 31st, 2010 - PDL Eastern Conference Semi Final - Ottawa 2 New Jersey 0

2010-08-01T06:10:00.000-07:00

July 31st, 2010
Premier Development League (PDL) Eastern Conference Semi-Final
Ottawa 2 New Jersey 0
Attendance: 500
Admission: $12
Beer: Sadly none :(

Since I am home in the Ottawa, Canada area for a few weeks, I have decided to try to get to a few games. Back in 2005, 2006 I went to almost every Ottawa Fury game. This is when they were first established, and played at Keith Harris Stadium at Carleton University. Now, they are playing on a fieldturf pitch at Algonquin College. The facilities are basic, with just a few metal stands around the pitch, but they are very close.

The PDL is basically an U23 league with a smattering of over 23 players. Most of those who play in the league, compete with NCAA D1 teams, but there are some who don't. There is quite an international flavour to the teams, because of the players who come over to play in the NCAA. There are 67 teams scattered across North America. They all play in regional divisions until the conference semi-finals. The winners of the four conferences advance to the North American 'final four'. The PDL is considered to be the 4th division of soccer in North America.

I must say I was really impressed with the skill level. Certainly much better than I remember from a few years ago. It doesn't hurt that the game tonight was a playoff match, so I was watching the best teams. If I had to guess, I would say the level was around the 4th division in the Czech Republic.

New Jersey started off well, and pressed for the first 30 minutes. They had one glorious chance, but the striker made a mess of it. From then on, Ottawa dominated and fully deserved the victory.

Summer

2010-07-20T00:55:00.001-07:00

I am slowly getting back into the swing of football with a game this Sunday - Sigma Olomouc vs Jablonec. After that, I will be going home to Canada for a few weeks, so I might try to get to a game there.

A blog about football in Moravia and Silesia

2010-06-30T11:04:00.000-07:00

Last year I started another blog where I intended to post news about football in the Moravia and Silesia region. I got off to a slow start, but I hope to keep it more up to date in the future. I will not be posting results, but only news regarding clubs in the area.

Football in Moravia and Silesia

Guide to football in Olomouc - part IV - FK Nové Sady

2010-06-19T10:59:00.000-07:00

The purpose of this post, is to promote the football clubs based in the city of Olomouc. I'll try to provide a little historical background on the clubs and where to find the respective stadiums. With regards to the directions to the stadiums, it'll only be for informational purposes. Please double check the locations before going to a game. I'll do my best to be accurate, but mistakes are possible. Over the next little while, I will feature one club.

FK Nové Sady

Olomoucký Kraj 1. A třída skupina B (6th level)

Map to stadium (The best way to get to the stadium is taking a Olomouc city bus, number 14 or 16. From the bus stop it is just a short walk. You can also take a train to the Olomouc-Nové Sady stop, but this isn't really that pratical.)

Nové Sady is a part of Olomouc with a population of around 15,000. The football club was founded in 1922, but unfortunately I don't have a lot of information at hand. If anyone has some historical information, feel free to send me an e-mail - jpott78 (@) centrum.cz. It can be in Czech, as I will just translate it.

A few years back Nové Sady actually played in the 4th division (Divize E), but since then they have fallen on tough times, and look all but certain for relegation to the 7th level after the 2009/10 season.

Guide to football in Olomouc - part III - Sokol Chomutov

2010-06-14T05:32:00.000-07:00

The purpose of this post, is to promote the football clubs based in the city of Olomouc. I'll try to provide a little historical background on the clubs and where to find the respective stadiums. Withregards to the directions to the stadiums, it'll only be for informational purposes. Please double check the locations before going to a game. I'll do my best to be accurate, but mistakes are possible. Over the next little while, I will feature one club.

Sokol Chomoutov

Olomoucký Kraj - Okresní Přebor (8th level)

Map to stadium (The stadium can be reached by taking Olomouc city bus #20. From there you just need to walk down Horecka street for about 150 meters). The ground will be on the right.)

Chomoutov is a small village of 1,000 people located around 10km north of the Olomouc city centre. The club currently plays in the 8th level, where they have been for the last 5 season. In the 2004/05 season, they were promoted from the 9th level of football. I don't have a lot of information on the club, but I hope to get to the ground sometime in the near future.

Summer break

2010-06-14T05:28:00.000-07:00

I am away from the Czech Republic for most of the next two months, and as such there won't be as many updates. However, I plan on posting a few old games later this month, and continuing the series on Olomouc football clubs.