“Another world is possible,” according to anti globalisation groups, echoing a slogan probably first aired by Che Guevara, “Otro mundo es posible.” The ins and outs of this aren’t for this blog, though there must actually be some other way and we probably need to find it pretty fast one way or another.
For the limited scope of the blog, we’ll go a bit less ambitious than an overthrow of the entire world order, pinch the slogan and make it “Another football is possible.” Or, given the weekend I’ve just enjoyed, “ein andere Fussball ist möglich.”
Whilst Forest were embarking on an unimaginable goal-fest at home to Preston, scoring three for the first time since (I think) April’s 3-1 at home to QPR, I was over in Cologne on the day of the annual meeting for members. Some problems with my registration meant that I couldn’t attend or vote on this occasion, so I’ve had to rely on friends who did and who were deeply involved for a run-down on the outcomes. First some background…
1FC Köln might or might not be the world’s biggest members club. It’s debateable. What is undeniable is that they have a huge membership; well over 100,000, including yours truly. This is a fan-owned club. Ignoring those football-companies / "clubs” that have sold shares, Effzeh is the sixth biggest independent football-club in the world. All these members have a stake and a vote in how things are run. One member, one vote. Almost inconceivable in high level football here and something very special and dear to the majority of those who love the club. In fact, the very reason for the strength of feeling and passions that ‘Effzeh’ inspire, which is quite unlike anything else I’ve ever encountered. Köln is a big city with a deep-running local identity and culture. Its own language, customs, music, literature and way of life. It’s a one club city, with apologies to followers of Victoria Köln, who play in the 3. Liga, or Fortuna who play in the Regionaliga West. The club is the embodiment of a city that has a fervent pride and identity which you can probably only compare to the likes of Liverpool, Newcastle or Glasgow. Only more so. An independent (literally) history, A recognised distinct language (Kölsch), a recognised distinct much-loved and revered beer (also Kölsch), a remarkable range of local songs, pledging love and allegiance to the city; some beautiful and heart-wrenching, others cheesy music hall style, right up to modern euro-pop versions. And everyone, young and old, knows them all and gathers to sings them regularly. An insane Karneval that runs from November (this Thursday in fact) through to Spring, which begins and ends with street debauchery and partying on an unimaginable scale.
This local pride and the geography makes for a massive club.
Effzeh are certainly one of the 4 biggest clubs in Germany, with a decent, if chequered history. Three Bundesliga titles (‘62, ‘64, ‘78) and a smattering (four) of cup wins, pales alongside the record of monoliths such as Bayern, of course. Recent times haven’t been great, with repeated relegations and some pretty mediocre seasons. The Europa League qualification which famously ended in November 2017 with about 25,000 travelling to London for the match v Arsenal, being the exception rather than the rule.
It is out of a previous European run that a strong link with Forest has developed, one which seems to get stronger and more widespread with the passing years. The magical Champions Cup semi final in ‘79 might be more fondly remembered by Forest fans, but a friendship arose from this. Fans travel in both directions, solo, in smaller friendship groups, or in a more organised fan-group way. Many Effzeh fans, including many ‘ultras’ have spent time over here supporting Forest and a good few Forest fans do the reverse. Talk about Forest in a bar or pub and you will quite likely get asked, “oh, do you know so and so back in Nottingham?” So and so quite often transpiring to be one of a number of fans with what we might call a ‘colourful past’. The long train journey from Köln to Berlin for the match at Union in 2019 was certainly enlivened by meeting with a group who had recently been on very ‘active service’ over here. There is contact at board level, through how ‘official’ that is I don’t know. There have been musings about playing a friendly, which would be incredible and would surely draw a good crowd whether played here or there. Nothing forthcoming yet, though.
Köln are special and precious - living proof that another football is indeed possible. Saturday’s meeting focussed largely around whether or not to support moves to change the club’s constitution, so that individuals or, even worse, corporations could buy multiple shares and effectively take over the club. A year or so back, this looked a likely outcome. The battle for fan groups opposing this idea seemed to be going the wrong way. Of course, fan groups want a successful club, but not at any cost. Not at the cost of losing that unique quality. Not by selling the soul to the highest bidder, be that multinational corporation, state with dodgy human rights record, the petro-chem dollar or the cash of the dubious Greek shipping magnate looking to expand his portfolio. ”Spurbar anders,” they say and it is embroidered on the shirt - “Noticeably different”: fan owned, a deranged anthem lasting a good 5 or six minutes, a live goat pitch side for every home match.
The opponents of the changes won the day on Saturday. Nine opponents were elected to the board of fifteen. The club is safe for now. Not a done deal, but promising for a continued future as a fan-run club. No 1% of shares can be sold without fan approval by majority vote. The board do hold the right to a smaller share issue (12.5%) in the event of any real financial crisis. There have been casualties in the battle. One acquaintance has had to take a step back given the pressure and stresses and sheer hard work of years devoted to fighting the good cause. Another great friend played a big role in getting the campaigns co-ordinated and bringing different parties together in unity. And so on Saturday night, they partied. And so open Sunday morning, Zagger here was still out and about in a fantastic pub in cool, trendy Ehrenfeld, on the way to being not very well!
Come match-day, Zagger’s hangover not ‘cured’ as hoped for good by the curry wurst and chips, and it is apparent that not all in the garden is rosy. Not yet, at least. A fair number of the guys I had been out with were not prepared to attend the match, or any other, until Covid-19 restrictions are lifted. “Alle oder keine“. All or none. The big four ultra groups are not attending until everyone is allowed in, vaccinated or not. The current arrangements are seen as uninclusive and perhaps a portent of future ‘vetting’ of football fans. And they are missed. Ultras are concerned that the measures are imposed by those who have previously repressed fans. I think the feeling is that there is a fear that some unwanted measures will become permanent. Without the biggest groups, notably the Wilde Horde and Coloniacs (sadly Boyz had to do the honourable thing and disband themselves after their banner was ‘taken’ in 2017), the atmosphere was missing something. The flags, the drums, the ‘never say die’ passion for the team. It was still good, just…not as great. And, as the pandemic has made clear, football is about the fans. “Ohne uns sind wir nichts!” as the slogan says. Without us we are nothing! And those ultras would have loved to be there - whilst Union are not a club most fans are bothered about, there is a serious ultra grudge arising out of Union’s (inexplicable) friendship with hated rivals ‘Gladbach. Much as the ultras want to be there though, they do not want to become just part of a ‘product’, a marketing ploy. These are passionate, caring guys and girls, who think about football and society on a deep level and put the collective good first. Hard, enjoy a brawl under certain circumstances, certainly won’t be pushed around, but far from the sort of mindless ‘Clockwork Orange’ caricature you might see in some places. The Südkurve is lively, but inclusive and welcoming. There are alliances and there is collaboration with other ultras - in fact I learned this weekend that the famed (friendly) Effzeh mass invasion of Sheffield a couple of years ago, to attend a match at Sheffield FC, was in fact a birthday ‘gift’ from friendly ultra groups at Dortmund!
Of course, the match sold out - it always does - and there were buyers for the ultras untaken tickets (most have chosen to suspend or freeze them), 49,000 present, Hennes the Goat was there, the anthem, the special Karneval kit (this year, a bizarre confection with a confetti pattern and a built in bowtie, right up there for sheer good taste with the Sgt Pepper pseudo-military one and the one that made the players look like bier hall waitresses. The players must surely dread the promo photos! However it was a lacklustre performance from Effzeh against a strong, organised looking Union Berlin, salvaged really only by two opportunistic goals from talisman Anthony Modeste (for Forest fans, see Lewis Grabban), who celebrated by cheekily pinching his manager’s trademark flat cap. Not quite what was hoped for from a team that has shown some signs of life this year, under a ‘characterful’ youthful manager (Steffen Baumgart) with a reputation for attacking football. I’d actually gone, believing I’d see only my 2nd win in over a dozen visits; Hennes’ job is safe. I’m no lucky mascot, though to be fair the solitary win was a bonkers 8-1 demolition of Dynamo Dresden back in 2018.
^ The DfB banned the in-built bow-tie from being worn for matches. Anthony protests about the sartorial to his manager!
Still, a fantastic visit to a fantastic club in a fantastic city. Worth missing Lyle Taylor’s magnificent bout of shithousery for (catch it online if you can!)? On balance, for my first taste of “another football” in two years, a reminder of what is possible, absolutely yes! The whole weekend has proven again: 1FC Köln is much more than football and while other clubs are desperately trying to get such a slogan marketed, is just true.
This is Cologne. Below is Lyle! ;-)
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