Right well I'm getting really behind on these entries so my apologies to the avid follower of my blog, I hesitate in using the plural. I'm coming towards the end of my time in Berlin and haven't even told you about the end of Hannover so a once again belated post! Also apolgies to the frontbums out there as this is largely about football, don't worry tomorrow's entry will include a tender love story!

I think all that is left to tell you about is the football on Sunday...it certainly didn't dissapoint! The atmosphere was CRAZY! They sing ALL game and I mean all game. Fortunately due to not having an incident with a load of pissed Scousers being silly (controversial) you can still stand in very well organised controlled areas in German grounds!

EVERYBODY wears a shirt and a scarf...sometimes more than one scarf! At the front of the standing area there are two guys who stand on the guard rails with a megaphone, they aren't the ring leaders however...up on the second tier there is a guy with a microphone, it isn't attached to a karaoke machine he has brought in himself, but a system of loud speakers on the front of the second tier that stretch along "die Röte Kurve" which is the end where all the die hard fans sit! He dictates what is sung, voices opinions, on what I am not sure but several times the whole stand turned and applauded him. The two at the bottom wait for a signal from him of what song to get going and then they shout encouragement to keep the song going. It feels more like a mass demonstration!

They have a song they sing before the game with everybody holding their flags aloft much like Liverpool's "you'll never walk alone", I'm not about to say it was better than it but it was extremely loud and passionate! The only part I could make out was "sechs und neunzig, alte liebe" which translates to "96, my old love" Infact singing was not an issue as most songs were merely tunes that you would sing in England but just putting "sechs und neunzig" in it so I sang alot! The Schalke fans sing "Schalke null vier" (Schalke 04) so Hannover change it rather inventively....well...they change it to "Schiesse null vier" (s*** 04).

Segregation of fans is not so much of a problem, you have the hardcore fans behind the goal and an away end which were just full of their own fans but loads of Schalke fans sat in with Hannover fans at the sides of the pitch with no problem. One of the best parts of the spectacle was when all the Hannover fans raised their hands and pointed towards the opposition fans, my initial thought was (and I think with a Lancastrian accent) "oohh err what's going on here" They chanted something towards the Schalke fans, what I am not sure so if anybody knows this ritual please let me know, I think it might be something like we all love Germany as all the stadium shouted it so it wasn't rude. The Schalke fans chanted exactly the same thing back...this went on for around a minute and then upon ending both sets of supporters stood and applauded eachother! I actually did feel the hairs on the back of my neck go, a really lovely moment.

The Bundesliga puts the Premier league to shame in a lot of ways ticket prices, atmosphere and attitude towards opposition fans. I can't really say that for the standard of football but it was a great game! Hannover took the lead but ended up 2-1 behind until the 80th minute, the place became unglued, everyone was hugging eachother like it was the last game of the season to win the league...it was the first and for a home draw, all be it against a strong side!

Sorry for just talking about the football, in fact no I'm not sorry, this is my blog and I'll do what the f*** I want! Anyway you must add go to a Bundesliga game to your bucket list! You will not be dissapointed! Auf Wiedersehen.

(Join me tomorrow on a blog that you are only reading because your own life is boring, where I will be telling you all about my time in Berlin, it's eventful)