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Wolfsburg Travel Reports Please

Started by finnster01, April 09, 2010, 01:46:51 PM

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finnster01

Bring them on please.

Somebody wake up FatFreddy, Lorky and the rest of them
If you wake up in the morning and nothing hurts, you are most likely dead

Brede Butter Pudding

#1
Basically...

It was bloody early, had to be up for 5:00am cab to take me to Gatwick to get the Vacation Club flight. Brilliant to see so many Fulham fans in the airport, we took the place over! Vacation Club were superb, everything was swift and prompt and flight went by without any hassle. Arrived in Hannover airport at about 10am local time  and were coached into the city. Nice place overall, if not similar to almost every other German town. Some nice buildings, decent train station, trams in the city etc etc but really not an awful lot to do except go to a bar and get the beers in!

At 3:30 we were coached into Wolfsburg. As we approached the city it looked as if there was literally not a soul in sight. However, as we rounded the corner it was clear that the Fulham faithful had over run the Irish Pub in the city (it seemed to be the only pub in the entire place). By the time our coach arrived people had already started putting up flags, banners etc, and about 2 hours later the locals were crowding round just to watch us sing our stuff. We literally didn't stop singing for about 3 hours. There was a bit of argy bargy with the police etc, but I'm sure others will tell you more about that as I didn't really see what was going on. Went for a wonder around Wolfsburg at about 5pm, just before the drinking started, not much there at all really, afterall, it only exists because of the absolutely enormous VW factory there. You only get a sense of the sheer size of the factory when you cross over the bridge on your way to the ground, it's absolutely massive, but you can see that really there is nothing much in Wolfsburg apart from the stadium and factory, although my interpretations of the place may have been a bit hazey!

At about 7:30pm my mates and I went in search of the stadium, basically by following a few people in wolfsburg colours. We crossed over this massive bridge which leads you straight to the stadium and saw the VW factory, and then the stadium came into view. It really is pretty impressive, illuminated green and in a similar shape of the Donbass in Donestsk. Even though it only has a capacity of 30 000 it felt like it could hold double that when we were inside. On the walk to the stadium which took about 25 minutes, we saw the Wolfsburg 'ultras' being escorted across the town and directly into the stadium by riot police. Was pretty funny, us singing our songs as they passed and not hearing much of a response. Ultras my left foot! Had a wonder around the stadium and found the away section, had a laugh at the 'Official Fulham team' van which was pretty much a rentacar white van. We said that's probably what the subs were traveling in!

Unlike Turin, where you had about 4 security checks and were just put in this caged pen with no facilities or anything, the Germans really knew how to deal with us. There was no argy bargy whatsoever, although the entrance to the away section was just a massive stairs with a cage around the entrance - you just put your ticket into the bar code reader, one security check and off you go, no trouble at all. We hung around outside the entrance with the rest of the Fulham faithful for a bit, downing our beers and getting the singing going again. Went to our seats at about 8:30 because we wanted to soak up a bit of the atmosphere and see the lads warming up, and couldn't believe our luck when we got to our seats and found we were the second row from the front on the top tier. Incredible seats, and in almost every picture of the fans on the official photos you can see us, to the extreme right. Was just unbelievable.

Before the match started, the home fans were making a bit of a racket. They had these massive screens that were showing some film of wolves at night , a bit weird, and these speakers which were blaring out god awful Euro rubbish. Anyway, us Brits were having none of that and really got going with the vocals, about 15 minutes before kick off we were already in full voice. At the other end of the ground, directly opposite us, were the 'ultras' waving these massive flags. If the rest of the ground had been like that it would have been pretty intimidating, but really the entire rest of the stadium was silent and left it to those lads for the noise.

The match kicked off with some people still finding their seats, so you can imagine the euphoria at scoring after 22 seconds! I thought they were still warming up! Unbelievable, the home crowd were silenced immediately and we really sarted to make some noise. The tiers were a bit strange. The top tier which was where the majority of the away fans were, was seating, but everyone stood for the full 90 minutes which was a welcome change - it really adds to the atmosphere. Below was strange though, as it was almost like a terrace, so some of the lads went down there to stand. Another strange thing was that we were able to smoke in our seats which was a first!

The atmosphere was just electric. We dominated really, and luckily all the decent action from both halves seemed to happen at our end. We should have scored at least 4 but their keeper was in outstanding form. Bobby was inspired, Gera has an engine and no human organs, Chrissy "he used to be shi** but now he's alright" Baird was magnificent, Hughsey was sublime, Mark pulled off some blinders, Dicko Etuhu was phenomenal, and Davies and Duffer bossed the flanks like nobody's business. WE DESTROYED THE BUNDESLIGA CHAMPIONS AT HOME! As always with Fulham and a 1 - 0 lead it was tense throughout, but when Brede did that clearance off the line (if you haven't seen it yet highlights are on ITV4 at 7:30 tonight, you will be amazed) I just knew it was our night. We were invincible and could have beaten bloody Barcelona with that performance.

At full time the players thanked us but more importantly we thanked them. They were unbelievable and so were the fans, who didn't stop singing until at least 20 minutes after the final whistle. I was on the day trip so needed to get back to the airport, and as we left our seats and began our descent down the stairs we carried on singing like there was no tomorrow. The coaches were perfectly waiting for us, but I didn't get on until I joined in with a group of lads going mental in front of a TV camera! We sang on the coach all the way to the airport, and a journey which would have felt like years rather than hours went by in a jiffy.

We boarded the plane within 30 mins of arriving at the airport, but bloody hell i was shattered by then. Cab was waiting at Gatwick and I got home at about 3:30am and I woke up today at 1pm, luckily I'd taken the day off work! Not sure how I'll finance the Hamburg trip but hopefully I'll find a way, but I would recommend the Vacation Club to anyone who fancies going for the day trip, they were sensational.

I'm sure others will give a more detailed and interesting report but I couldn't resist letting you all know my experience. Come on you whites!

Jimpav

Nice one Brede, great read mate. You ready for the next one?!


finnster01

Oustanding read Mr BBP,

Thanks for sharing. Loved every second reading that mate.  :045: :045:
If you wake up in the morning and nothing hurts, you are most likely dead

Brede Butter Pudding

cheers fellas, and I hope I'm ready, the day trips are knackering though but need to find some funds for Hamburg!

epsomraver

Brede Vacation club £220 plus ticket from Fulham as before,  , same flight into Hanover 1hr 30 coach  to Hamburg, seems that other nearer airports shut too early for return, booked already!


Brede Butter Pudding

Quote from: epsomraver on April 09, 2010, 03:54:53 PM
Brede Vacation club £220 plus ticket from Fulham as before,  , same flight into Hanover 1hr 30 coach  to Hamburg, seems that other nearer airports shut too early for return, booked already!

Bloody hell they arranged that quickly! I'm afraid I won't be able to get the £250 needed in time, but if/when we get through nothing will stop e getting there! I fear that if I do push the boat out and go the semis and get through, I won't have anything left to get to the final with! I feel I've done my bit going to Turin and Wolfsburg, so I don't feel too guilty about not going to Hamburg! But that's a great price mate well done for booking it they are a really professionally run business and you will have a ball! Hamburg's supposed to be a lot more interesting than Hannover and Wolfsburg as well!

mrska

Brilliant write up mate... thanks..

epsomraver

Brede I am sending the better half, work and cost  prevents me from going, she went yesterday ,but I will shut up shop if we make the final and we will both be there!


JBH

Quote from: Brede Butter Pudding on April 09, 2010, 04:06:36 PM
Quote from: epsomraver on April 09, 2010, 03:54:53 PM
Brede Vacation club £220 plus ticket from Fulham as before,  , same flight into Hanover 1hr 30 coach  to Hamburg, seems that other nearer airports shut too early for return, booked already!

Bloody hell they arranged that quickly! I'm afraid I won't be able to get the £250 needed in time, but if/when we get through nothing will stop e getting there! I fear that if I do push the boat out and go the semis and get through, I won't have anything left to get to the final with! I feel I've done my bit going to Turin and Wolfsburg, so I don't feel too guilty about not going to Hamburg! But that's a great price mate well done for booking it they are a really professionally run business and you will have a ball! Hamburg's supposed to be a lot more interesting than Hannover and Wolfsburg as well!


Brede do you have a link for the vacation club?

Brede Butter Pudding

http://www.vacation-club.co.uk/TravelSpecialists/About_us_Vacation_Club_Ibiza_Specialists.aspx

That's their link mate, running a day trip for £229 excluding match ticket which I suspect will be about £50 cheaper than the official flyer

JBH

Quote from: Brede Butter Pudding on April 09, 2010, 04:45:56 PM
http://www.vacation-club.co.uk/TravelSpecialists/About_us_Vacation_Club_Ibiza_Specialists.aspx

That's their link mate, running a day trip for £229 excluding match ticket which I suspect will be about £50 cheaper than the official flyer

CHEERS


LRCN

I'll do a short write up in a bit if you want to.

finnster01

Yes Please, Mr Lork.

It helps us jealous and sad bastards to use our imagination and get a sniff of what it would have been like to be there :dft004:
If you wake up in the morning and nothing hurts, you are most likely dead

HatterDon

Mr. BBP: thank you for a brilliant writeup. Lorkster, we're awaiting yours with worms on our tongues.
"As long as there is light, I will sing." -- Juana, la Cubana

www.facebook/dphvocalease
www.facebook/sellersandhymel


HammyH3

I was on the same plane a Brede BP and have not much more to add other than whilst in Hannover 5 or 6 six locals came up and wished us good luck and said they hoped we thrash Wolfsburg. Another Fulham supporter I was speaking to said he and his friends were given a free round of drinks in a bar in Hannover by the barman wishing us success.
One of the German guys we met said Wolfsburg are their hated local rivals who have only been around since 1945, (Hannover96 FC have been in existence since 1896) and that Wolfsburg are backed by Volkswagen money, have a big new stadium and said that they had 'bought' the Bundesliga title last year. Sound familiar? 
Nick and Rachel at Vacation Club did a great job by the way, the whole travel experience was painless.

LRCN

where abouts were you lot sitting on the plane? I was row 23 seat F, had the shirt with murphy on the back but no number.

Brede Butter Pudding

Quote from: Lork on April 09, 2010, 08:53:40 PM
where abouts were you lot sitting on the plane? I was row 23 seat F, had the shirt with murphy on the back but no number.

Lork were you the bloke listening to his iPod? I couldn't believe it still had battery! I was in row 35


LRCN

Quote from: Brede Butter Pudding on April 09, 2010, 09:41:53 PM
Quote from: Lork on April 09, 2010, 08:53:40 PM
where abouts were you lot sitting on the plane? I was row 23 seat F, had the shirt with murphy on the back but no number.

Lork were you the bloke listening to his iPod? I couldn't believe it still had battery! I was in row 35

hehe, yeah that was me

Brede Butter Pudding

Quote from: Lork on April 09, 2010, 09:46:59 PM
Quote from: Brede Butter Pudding on April 09, 2010, 09:41:53 PM
Quote from: Lork on April 09, 2010, 08:53:40 PM
where abouts were you lot sitting on the plane? I was row 23 seat F, had the shirt with murphy on the back but no number.

Lork were you the bloke listening to his iPod? I couldn't believe it still had battery! I was in row 35

hehe, yeah that was me

Great trip wasn't it! Loved every minute