September 16, 2009 - Olomoucký Kraj Přebor - FK Šternberk 1 FK Jeseník 1

September 16th, 2009

Olomoucký Kraj Přebor (5th level)

FK Šternberk 1 FK Jeseník 1

Attendance: 130 (7 away supporters)

Admission: 25kc

Game rating: 5/10

Šternberk is a short 1 hour train ride from where I live, but over the past few years I have never managed to get there for a football game. It is a small town of 14,000. The town can be considered a tourist stop, as there is an interesting castle and monastery just north of the town centre. Some random history about the town, the Swedes controlled it from 1645-1650. In 1741 the town was briefly held by the Prussians.

The football stadium is a 5-minute walk from the train/bus station. It is located beside the hockey stadium. There is one stand which can hold a few hundred. Across the pitch, there are a few cement steps. Around the pitch there is evidence of an old four lane athletics track.

Going into this game, I expected the visitors to get an easy win. At the time, they were in first place, and Šternberk only had one win. Jeseník never seemed to get up for the game, but a draw was probably a fair result for both sides.

In other Šternberk related news, the local hockey team did not get their 2nd division (3rd level) license, and thus will not be playing this year. I think they didn't get their license for some financial reasons. Hopefully, they will be able to make a return next year.

September 10, 2009 - 2.liga - Tescoma Zlín 0 Viktoria Žižkov 1

September 10, 2009

2. liga

Tescoma Zlín 0 Viktoria Žižkov 1

Attendance: 2000 (away support 15)

Admission: 5okc and 70kc

Game raing: 4/10

Beer: Gambrinus 20kc

A battle of the two relegated teams from the Gambrinus Liga last year. Both clubs are sitting in the top half of the 2.liga, but they are a little off promotion race.

The game was a 17:00 Thursday kick-off, because the Zlín ground is being redeveloped. They are going to install a heated pitch, which is now required for all clubs who are in, or want to be in, the Gambrins Liga. As such, Zlín will play their home games in the town of Kunovice, which is about 20kc south.

The stadium is easy enough to find. It is located about a 10 minute walk north of the city center. I think it has been modernized over the past few years, as I don't remember a stand on one side of the pitch. It looks quite new, but the last time I saw a Zlín game on television was about 5 years ago. So, perhaps it isn't that new?

There was some minor crowd trouble at the game, but this was centered around Zlín supporters and the security.

September 3rd, 2009 - Czech Cup 2nd round- SK Líšeň 1 Sigma Olomouc 3

September 3rd, 2009 - Czech Cup 2nd round

SK Líšen 1 Sigma Olomouc 3

Attendance: 820 (away support of 8)

Admission: 80kc

Game rating: 6/10

Beer: Starobrno of course

Apologies, as I don't know how to make the 'n' with the little mark above it in Líšen. A few years back Líšen were in the fourth division, and they hosted Slavia Praha in the Czech Cup. Before a huge crowd, Líšen knocked off Slavia Praha. In the next round they went on to play Viktoria Žižkov, but they ended up losing. Despite this, I suspect they made a little money off of these games, which have in turn been reinvested into the club. They are now building a stand, which you can see in one of the pictures I posted. It would seem to me that this is a club who are hoping for better things in the future, and are looking at moving up to the 2nd division. It'll be interesting to see what happens to them in the future. Now, Líšen are a 3rd division side.

Líšen is on the eastern edge of Brno, and it is easy to reach from the main train station. All you have to do is take tram 8 outside of the station to the last stop. Travel time is around 20 minutes. From there, it is only a five minute walk to the ground.

I was in Rousínov last Tuesday, and they charged the normal entrance fee of 40kc. However, Líšen charged 80kc to see the Sigma game, which is double their normal price. I guess they wanted to take in a little more money from the game to help with the redevelopment of their ground. The away end looked temporary, as we were surrounded by a 3 metre fence. Behind us were buses, and we only had wooden stands. Only 8 Sigma supporters showed up, which isn't too surprising, as the game was mid-week at 17:00. It was strange that there was no presence of any of the Sigma supporter groups.

I have supported Sigma Olomouc for about 10 years now. Whenever I can, I always go to the cup games. I still have nightmares from the 2007/08 Czech Cup game, when Sigma lost on penalties to 4th division Sokol Konice. However, Sigma played a professional game against Líšen, and were clearly the more skilled team.

Olomouc will now travel to 4th division, Protivanov, which is a small village of 1,000 about 20km north of Prostějov.

September 2nd, 2009 - Czech Cup 2nd Round - SK Slavia Hanácká Kroměříž 0 Baník Ostrava

September 2nd, 2009 - Czech Cup 2nd round

SK Slavia Hanácká Kroměříž 0 Baník Ostrava 3

Attendance: 1826 (club record) (350 away supporters)

Admission: 40kc

Game rating: 4.5/10

Kroměříž is known as the 'Athens' of the Haná region. It is town of around 29,000 people located close to Zlín.

Going back a few years, Slavia were in the 2nd division, but they only lasted one or two years. Now they have been back in the 3rd division for a couple of years. They even spent the 2006/07 season in the 4th division, which I understand was a 'voluntary' relegation.

The stadium is about a 20 minute walk from the bus station and train station. It has a capacity of 1,115, but that is only including the seats. The stadium is also one of the few stadiums outside of the Gambrinus Liga to have lights.

Baník Ostrava brought a few hundred supporters, which is impressive considering the game was a 17:00 kickoff on a weekday. Of course, since Baník were in town, it meant that there was a large police presence which follows Baník fans wherever they go. The shops in the train station, always close for 'technical' reasons when it is expected Baník supporters will come through.

The game was quite poor, just like the one in Rousínov the day before. Kroměříž had their best chance to score in the first 10 minutes when Baník were still finding their legs. After that, the hosts had little to no chances on goal, and this made for a rather drab affair.

September 1st, 2009 - Czech Cup 2nd Round - Rousínov 0 Tescoma Zlín 3

September 1st, 2009 - Czech Cup 2nd round

Rousínov 0 Tescoma Zlín 3

Admission: 40kc

Attendance: 500 (away support of 12)

Game rating: 3/10

Rousínov is a small town of 5,000 people roughly located 20kc to the northeast of Brno. They are currently playing in the Divize D, which is one of the five regional fourth divisions. Zlín are spending their first year back in the 2nd division, after a number of years in the top flight.

The stadium is located a few minutes walk north of the town centre, and it is easy enough to find. I suspect it has had better days, as it is now in much need of renovation. However, it does have a lot of 'character'. I would think if Rousínov ever got promoted to the third division, they would have to fix up the stadium.

As it goes with Cup matches, it is either hit or miss. This one was definitely a miss. All of the goals Zlín scored were quite soft, and Rousínov probably felt hard done by them. The biggest difference between the teams, was attacking. Rousínov could compete at the back, but they lacked imagination, and skill up front to penetrate the Zlín back four.

With the win Zlín now moves on to the 3rd round which is scheduled to be played on September 23rd.

August 30, 2009 - Olomoucký Kraj - Určice 3 Přerov 0

August 30th, 2009 - Olomoucký Kraj (5th level)

Určice 3 Přerov 0

Admission: 20kc

Attendance: 220

Beer: Gambrinus 19kc

Game rating: 7/10

I finally got around to going to Určice (population 1,000) on Sunday. It is something I have been meaning to do for a few years, as it is only 5km south of Prostějov. Určice have been at this level since the 2005/06 season.

The pitch is easy enough to find, as it is right beside the Určice hřbitov bus stop. The ground has no stand, only about 20 benches on both sides of the pitch. There was a little pub, as it seems even the smallest Czech club has one. The pitch was in good condition for this level of football.

Going into this game, Přerov had scored 10 goals in their last two games, and Určice were still looking for their first win of the year. The visitors were never really in this game, and they could not match the energy of Určice. The hosts seemed to be more up for the match.