Gradski Stadion Štip (Macedonia)

Štip is a city of 47,000 and apparently is home of the fashion industry in Macedonia.  The football stadium is located right next to the main bus station in the city which is on the main line between Skopje and Strumica.  FK Breglanica (2nd tier) and FK Astibo (4th tier) currently call the stadium home.  The biggest event held at the stadium was the 2012 Macedonian Cup Final. Breglanica have always been the most famous club in the city and were formed in 1921.

June 5, 2017 - Czech Open - ATP Challenger Tour

Prostějov is kind of the home of tennis in the Czech Republic, and every year the city hosts the ATP Challenger Tour.  I decided to check out one qualifying match on a Monday morning.  Apparently, not many other people were bothered to watch qualifiers.  Attendance always picks up later on in the tournament.  

June 3, 2017 - Okresní Přebor Prostějov - Olšany 0 Haná Prostějov 5

June 3, 2017

Okresní Přebor Prostějov - 8th tier

Olšany 0 Haná Prostějov 5

Attendance - 110

Olšany is a small village almost exactly between Olomouc and Prostějov.  It does not have a lot of character, and kind of feels like a suburb of both cities.  With that being said, it is still pleasant enough and the pitch is fantastic for such a low level.

The local side have since been relegated to the 9th tier, and Haná have been promoted to the 7th tier.  Former Czechoslovak international, Roman Sedláček, manages Olšany but he does not have a lot to work with.  Olšany kept the match close in the first half.  This all changed when Patrik Gábor scored 3 goals in 4 minutes. He ended up scoring 4 goals in the match.

Okresní Přebor Prostějov - May 28, 2017 - Ptení 0 Haná Prostějov 2

Okresní Přebor Prostějov - 8th tier
May 28, 2017
Ptení 0 Haná Prostějov 2
Attendance - 100

Like most villages, Ptení is best reached by car and not by public transportation.  The train station is actually located in Ptenský Dvorek, which is about a 3km walk through the fields.  I had the good fortune that there were bus replacements, so the trains were not running on the Prostějov-Konice line, which meant the bus stopped in the village.

Ptení was one of the few places in Okres Prostějov that I had not visited before to watch football.  Now I only have three left, Kladky, Tištín and Pavlovice u Kojetina.

The pitch is located just behind the school on the edge of the village.  The facilities are good enough for the 8th tier, but the pitch was the worst I had seen all season.  It was rock hard, and seemed difficult to play on.  Haná did just enough to win 2-0, which they had to do if they wanted to keep hold of first place.

Since this match, Haná has won 3 in a row to stay in first place and secure promotion to the 7th tier for next season.

May 14, 2017 - Brodek u Prostějova 1 Haná Prostějov 3

May 14, 2017 - Okresní Přebor Prostějov - 8th tier

Brodek u Prostějova 1 Haná Prostějov 3

Attendance - 110

The facilities in Brodek are quite good for an 8th tier team in a small town.  Not many clubs in this area, and at this level have an actual covered stand.  However, it seems that the local teenagers use it more for their graffiti rather than watching the local side.

Going into this game, Haná Prostějov were in 1st place by only 2 points over Vrahovice, making this away game in Brodek crucial.  Hana played a 'professional', well disciplined  match, and fully deserved the three points.