“Let’s pick up your legacy and throw the waste paper baskets that were put in the eijens!” Unfriendly, but honest, the groundskeeper on Wedding’s Lüderitzstraße points out his misconduct to a visitor when a candy wrapper falls out of his hand.
Because there is one thing you should definitely know as a sports ground visitor: The P in VIP stands for groundskeeper!
First of all: Most of the employees of the sports office who are responsible for a football field are sociable and friendly. You can have a nice chat with them at the sausage stand. But there are such and such.
Putting up the sign “Walking on the lawn is prohibited” and the associated chasing away of ball-playing kids is one of a groundskeeper’s favorite pastime. He also puts corner flags in the holes provided. Sometimes he also generously lets team supervisors do this.
I, too, got my grunt at the state league game in Wedding. When I dared to go in the direction of the toilet, it was already 30 meters away: “Please enter only with a mask!” Okay, it’s a pandemic. But as if I could ever enter a public sports field toilet without a respirator…
After the final whistle, the Platzmeister is in top form. After he has made sure that no drink lid is left on the players’ bench, he monitors the clean leaving of the cabins. And alas, there is a tape bandage stuck to the wall.
In the past, when natural grass was played more often, the master watched with eagle eyes to ensure that the football shoes were properly cleaned of grass and dirt residues in the designated area before entering the changing room building.
Last but not least, the sports facility will be closed on time. And don’t you step over the fence… Thanks, groundskeeper!