Last Saturday marked the 30th anniversary of the GDR’s accession to the FRG, and great politics invited to the festival in Potsdam. And what does the fan lawyer do on such a day? He goes to Potsdam, not to celebrate, but to the other end of town, to Babelsberg. About football – what else?
The C-Juniors played in the regional league, the highest league in this age group. I admit that I wasn’t there without self-interest, after all, his own son trains the Babelsberg youngsters. These competed against the Loksche from the trade fair city of Leipzig. If the men had played, East German football tradition would hardly work. But it was the 14-year-old Babelsbergers and Saxons who held my attention for over 70 minutes.
And I noticed more and more how much fun it is to see a game far away from big football again. Excited mothers, better-knowing fathers and calming grandmas and grandpas. Everything was there. You quickly get into conversation and you don’t have to be a fan of one or the other club to enjoy it all.
A lot went through my head. For many years, as a father, I myself accompanied the son in his development on the soccer fields of this city, I know almost every gym and I have supported the next generation with my own law firm.
In times when the highest association officials are accused of tax evasion or corruption, every fan should be aware that these full-time employees do not represent real football. It takes place far away from big football with the amateurs or on the artificial turf pitch of the C-youth. And there he will always be alive. Because he doesn’t need millions of TV to survive. Commitment, very little money and, above all, a lot of passion are much more important there.
Every one of us football fans should remember from time to time to attend youth games. Be it from the heart club or the club next door. You are grounded and you realize again why we football fans love our club and live for it.
Anyone of us who is currently excluded from attending a game at the top should just drop by the offspring next weekend. You won’t regret it yourself, and the boys and girls on the square are happy about every fan watching. There you can sing, hop, dance, and when things get exciting, you can poke around a bit.
The Sportforum Berlin as the home of my heart club will see me again more often.
“Sport free!” From the fan lawyer.
