By Michael Lachman
Why wander far when the good is so close? And so, on the eve of German Unity Day, I went to the Wuhletal Stadium, a 15-minute drive away.
The FV Rot-Weiß 90 Hellersdorf has its home here, on the edge of a dreary GDR prefabricated housing estate not far from the Kaulsdorf Nord subway station.
Even if the red and white team only play in the district league B, the supply in the sports field snack bar can be described as first class. Probably the most extensive range of products that I have experienced on Berlin’s squares and more reminiscent of a late night. You can get almost everything here: Stadium sausage (of course!) and various types of beer in mugs with the club logo, a pasta pan, sweets and ice cream from a Berlin manufacturer.
And “At Mutti”, as the snack bar is called, there are also first-class stories that can only be experienced in amateur football.
So I dutifully waited in line with a colleague during the break when a player from RW90 opponent Spandau approached the counter from the front. “Um, may I? It’s half time and it’s almost over…”
I responded very nicely: “Well, that comes to mind (in football you use first-name terms) pretty early on, but do it!”
“Okay thanks. Then I’d like a mineral water.” “Still or medium?” asks the snack mom. “Medium.” “Warm or cold?” “Warm.” Boy, come on, the referee’s already on his way back to the pitch.
While Spandauer is paying for his water, I pat him on the shoulder and say with a wink: “You know what I used to do when I was still playing football myself? I always had water with me from home.”
The refreshment didn’t seem to have really helped the young man and his team. His 1st FFV was already 0:4 behind at the break, but for the Spandauer after the change of sides it came thick as a stick. In the end it was 2:15. A hearty pack, even by district league standards.
Well, you drive 30 kilometers through the city and then start your journey home like a drowned poodle. Luckily Monday was a holiday. So one more day to wash away the hangover with mineral water… Hang in there, dear Spandauer.