October 8, 2017 - Ústí u Hranic B 3 Haná Prostějov 2

The rough around the edges train station in Hranice

Busy bus station on a Sunday morning in Hranice

Ústí

Train station in Teplice nad Bečvou

Hranice abyss

   

Oct 8, 2017

Olomoucký Kraj - 1 B třída - 7th tier

Ústí u Hranice B Haná Prostějov 2

Attendance - 35

This was the longest trip of the season for me watching Haná Prostějov.  It was also just bad luck that the longest trip was also the earliest kickoff.  Ústí is a village near Hranice, and has a population of around 500 people.  Despite the relative small size of the village, the first team plays in the 4th tier of football in the Czech Republic.

The kickoff was on a Sunday at 10:15 in the morning, which was a horrible time for me, as I almost always insist on taking public transport to matches.  For me, it is part of the game day experience.  To get to Ústí in time, I had to leave Prostějov at 7:35, eventually reaching Ústí at 9:45. All in all, I had to travel around 180km (both ways) by bus and train.  This was a huge difference from my previous 3 seasons watching Haná play in the Okres Prostějov II třída (8th tier).  The longest away trip during those seasons was probably 45km both ways.  Needless to say, I am happy Haná were promoted this past season.

To get to Ústí I had to get to Hranice via Olomouc and finally a bus to Ústí.  The train station in Hranice needs a lot of work, considering it is a train station where many international trains stop.  Unfortunately, it looked even worse on a rainy Sunday morning.  

When I arrived in Ústí nothing was going on, which is not surprising for a small village on a Sunday morning.  The only thing  happening was the football match, and even not many people were bothered to watch it.  

After the match, I walked around 2km back to Teplice nad Bečvou to check out the Hranice abyss which is currently the world's deepest underwater cave.  Teplice also has a spa, and I will assume not many people arrive via the train station.   It is grim.  However, the area around the spa is quite beautiful.

Svatý Kopeček (Olomouc)

Svatý Kopeček is known for having the Olomouc Zoo and a beautiul minor basilica over-looking Olomouc.  The village of around 800 people is definitely not known for football however there is a full size pitch.  I have no idea when the last time 11 a-side football was played in the village, but it looks like it has been many, many years.  There definitely has not been a club since 2004.  At the moment a 5 a-side team called SK Kopeček plays in the Olomouc 3.liga, but they only use one small part of the pitch.

September 24, 2017 - Troubky 0 Haná Prostějov 3

My camera broke, which is why the pictures are of such poor quality

September 24, 2017 
Olomoucký Kraj - 1 B třída (7th tier)
Troubky 0 Haná Prostějov 3
Attedance - 90

Going into this match, Haná were on a bit of a poor run of form.  They had lost a few matches, and gave up 9 goals in those matches.  On the other side, Troubky had played 7 games and won all 7.   I expected this to be a straight forward win for the hosts, but I was way off.

Troubky is only 20km from Prostějov, but I ended up taking the long way.  I got on a bus in Prostějov and 50 minutes later I was in Rokytnice.  The previous day, I had taken a look at Google Maps, and thought that the way did not seem too long.  In the end, it took me 70 minutes walking along the Bečva river in the mud to get to Troubky.  For some stupid reason, I guess I thought that the path was going to be dry.

Unfortunately, I missed the first half because of my lack of proper planning.  I did get to see two unexpected goals by Haná in the 2nd half so I guess it was not so bad.  I did learn one thing, I will never walk along a river when it is raining.

Sigma Olomouc 2002

Sigma scores against Blšany

Sigma Olomouc vs Liberec

Sigma Olomouc vs Hradec Králové

Sigma vs Blšany

Sigma vs Hradec Králové

In July of 2002 I lived in Olomouc for 3 months, which was the length of my visa.  At the time, Canadian citizens needed to have a visa to visit the Czech Republic.  I had been trying to get back to the Czech Republic since I studied in Olomouc for 3 months in 2000. 

During my 2002 visit I lived in student dorms and visited as many football matches as possible.  The high point of my stay had to be the Sigma Olomouc UEFA Cup match in Sarajevo.  I think I also attended every Sigma home league match and a few away matches as well. 

August 13, 2017 - Olomoucký Kraj 1 B třída - Smržice 1 Haná Prostějov 3

August 13, 2017 
Olomoucký Kraj - 1 B třída - 7th tier

Smržice 1 Haná Prostějov 3
Attendance - 150 
  
Haná Prostějov were promoted from Okresní Přebor - 8th tier - last season, and this was their first away match of the season.  I had missed the home opener, but I was back in Prostějov for the Smržice match.  Haná Prostějov had spent 3 seasons in the Okresní Přebor, and I had had enough of the league.  1 B třída is only one level higher, but the skill level of the players is much better.

Smržice is an easy 4km walk from Prostějov, and they have a nice little set up with an impressive pitch for a club at this level.