English individuals, contrary to expectations, demonstrate a strong dislike towards Gelsenkirchen
The English soccer team takes on Serbia in the Europa Championship at Gelsenkirchen, a city that presents a less-than-ideal image. Sky-Man Kaveh Solhekol can attest to this, as he's left covered in grime.
Wandering the streets of the tonnes of slag, gazing at Zeche Holland, the old Lohrheide (or Wattenscheid), row houses in Uckendorf, and lots of greenery, all situated 100 meters above sea level, is a sight to behold. But not everyone shares this sentiment. The English, for instance, aren't too fond of it. They're in the city of Horden, Gelsenkirchen, on this particular Sunday, their "Three Lions" set to play against Serbia in the tournament.
The game is already a hot topic before the 9 pm kick-off in Germany. There's a threat of hooligan activity, with the police positioning for a massive response and taking unconventional methods. The police's suggestion that fans might rather smoke than drink is a clear statement.
Smoking is indeed allowed, albeit in designated zones, and it's legal. Contrary to England. Drinking alcohol, however, is not a problem and is enjoyed by both fan cultures. Yet, it's rather expensive during the Europa Championship. In Gelsenkirchen, 0.4 liters in the fan zones cost five euros, and it's an additional two euros in the stadium. Surprisingly, the basic supply of "German beer" in light of the renowned beer hall culture - typically a small booth with sliding windows and friendly hosts - isn't particularly difficult to find. However, there's a sense of disdain towards the host.
"City looks like a dump"
Two posts went viral on Saturday. The divisive, yet united Ruhr area, not typically fond of Gelsenkirchen, comes together, even in the BVB forum schalke-forum.de. The critiques against Sky moderator Kaveh Solhekol, who had praised the old industrial metropolis, were harsh. Paul Brown, upon arrival at the main station via Social Media, expressed his disdain at the city looking like a "dump." He shared a video of the wet station forecourt. It's undeniably less cheerful than other places. It's shocking that Germany is hosting a Europa Championship game in this city!
Both had, honestly, experienced a cultural shock. They came from Munich on a Saturday, from the opening game of the tournament, from the grand DFB party against the previously celebrating and later crying Scots. But is that a reason to destroy everything? After all, they were English, and their cities often appear in the lists of the ugliest in Europe or even the world. For instance, Hull or Luton. Or Manchester. A sense of solidarity should have risen, about football, against the common beauty ideal. A user directly rebuked Brown: "It looks awful, rainy and grey. Shouldn't English people feel at home?"
"Gelsenkirchen is quite different"
Yes, Gelsenkirchen isn't Munich. Nor is it London. Instead of the English Garden or Hyde Park, there's the Nordsternpark and the Revierpark Nienhausen. Instead of Big Ben and the Olympiaturm, there's the Probsteikirche St. Urbanus and Halden! And the Bolzplätze, where Olaf Thon and Ilkay Gündoğan became great masters of their craft, as mentioned on schwatzgelb.de.
And yet Brown and Solhekol couldn't reconcile with their new surroundings. "I have to be careful about what I say. I don't want to offend the nice people of Gelsenkirchen," the Sky-Man stated. "We spent four, five days in Munich, it's a fantastic city," he continued and concluded: "Gelsenkirchen is quite different." Here, where the German economic miracle once had its roots, where coal was mined and steel was produced, "it's all gone," he mourned. "And there's not much left in Gelsenkirchen." A provocation, a direct attack!
Gelsenkirchen, the city of football culture, particularly on Kurt-Schumacher-Straße. This significant street links several districts such as Altstadt, Schalke, Schalke-Nord, Beckhausen, Erle, and Buer, making it the longest in the city area. Key landmarks like the Glückauf-Kampfbahn and the Schalke Mile are located here. Schalke 04's headquarters, Royal Blues, and the erstwhile business of Ernst Kuzorra (operational till 1974, later taken over by Reinhard Libuda) are also present. The city exudes a rough, unique charm, albeit architecturally diverse. Though renowned for Arena and Schalke 04, Gelsenkirchen is often criticized as having limited dining and drinking options.
In his dismay over working in Gelsenkirchen for the weekend, Brown voices his disapproval to English fans about the scarcity of credit card acceptance. He found it surprising that even American Express wasn't accepted. However, as an old-fashioned guy, he had cash on him, which worked out just fine. He had already exploited this loophole during his broadcast.
Moreover, Brown reports on the "Ten German Bombers" in Düsseldorf, a group of German football legends slated to appear at the stadium for the match. The roster includes Lothar Matthäus, Miroslav Klose, and Philipp Lahm. The enthusiastic fans are eager to interact with their idols.
Leaving Gelsenkirchen in the afternoon, Brown journeys to Duesseldorf. Seeking fans engrossed in drinks, a characteristic he didn't find in Gelsenkirchen or nearby Essen. In the Old Town of Duesseldorf, he encounters them, sharing Bratwurst and beer. The fans sing the controversial song "Ten German Bombers," a tune historically criticized as discriminatory by UEFA. Inexperienced singers risk expulsion from events. Brown finds a pub in Gelsenkirchen post-midnight, filled with fans. Remarkably, the pub owner seemed oblivious to the closing hours. Perhaps the city isn't as hideous as perceived?
The next day, it's all about football. There's hope that hooligan invasions and riots can be avoided. According to Peter Both, Leading Police Director, there's no substantial evidence of the arrival of violent groups from England and Serbia. "The fan scene has significantly evolved in the country since the last EM 2016. It's challenging to predict this. Therefore, we're implementing additional security measures," Both said. Approximately 20,000 Englishmen are expected in the football arena. Similar numbers of enthusiasts of "Three Lions" could also be present at the Public Viewing at the Trabrennbahn on site, a comfortable distance from the Rhine Embankment, right next to the Revierpark Nienhausen.
Read also:
Despite the English soccer team's presence in Gelsenkirchen for the Europa Championship, many English individuals express a strong dislike towards the city, dubbing it as less than ideal. This sentiment was echoed by English fan Paul Brown, who described Gelsenkirchen as looking like a "dump" upon arrival.
Leaving aside the differences between Gelsenkirchen and English cities like Munich or London, it seemed that some English individuals struggled to adjust to the unique charm of Gelsenkirchen. Despite the abundance of football culture and landmarks on Kurt-Schumacher-Straße, Brown found himself disapproving of the city, particularly the scarcity of credit card acceptance.
