My Cologne: 1. FC Köln, Stadium, Anthem
Above/featured: “Hennes”, mascot for 1. FC Köln (GO4KÖLN, Breitestr. 36). Photo, 16 Jun 2023 (HL X70).
“Gute Laune, Laute Stimme”: the “EffZeh” (F-C) experience has me hooked.
I’m among men and women, young and old, swimming in a sea of red and white, and surrounded by full-volume chanting. Not only is it a big deal to procure a “Stehplatz” (standing spot) for under €20, but to be present in the stadium’s standing-only terraces is a big thrill. The terraces are present in German football stadia but banned in England (for historical reasons). I’m convinced I’m going to memorize their famous fan anthem as quickly as possible.
Founded on 13 February 1948, the football (soccer) team 1. FC Köln plays out of the Müngersdorfer Stadion, known also as the sponsored Rhein-Energie-Stadion (Rhine Energy Stadium) in Cologne. The stadium’s maximum capacity is about fifty-thousand, and the football side regularly sells out their home matches. The team’s mascot is a billy goat (Geissbock) for its steadfast stubborn perseverance; the team’s nickname is The Billy Goats. I’m also convinced there’s another “Kölle” verbal pun. “Geist-bock” is a compound noun consisting of “Geist” for (team-, fan-) spirit, and “Bock” for the people’s stubborn steadfast support. Various generations of “Hennes”, the mascot goat, have appeared on the sideline for home matches, and the mascot is prominent in the team badge’s and familiar red-and-white home kit (jersey).
The English version of the Bundesliga website highlights the team, reminding us they were the first ever champions of the newly established Bundesliga for the 1963-1964 season.
Basic club info from Bundesliga (2018-2019), with updated FB link.
“1. FC Köln” mural at Ehrenfeld station – 14 Jan 2013 (HL 450D).
“Zesamme Simmer Stark”: Hilton Cologne. Photo, 26 May 2016 (HL 6D1).
1. FC Köln fanshop “Stadion”, at Köln Hbf (Cologne central station). Photo, 13 May 2022 (HL X70).
Personal highlights
- 2006: 2. Liga, 15. Spieltag
- 2008: 1. Liga, 8. Spieltag
- Anthem: “Mer stonn zo Dir, FC Kölle”
- Home season-opener mass at Cathedral
- Home stadium
2006
4. Dezember 2006: 2. Liga, 15. Spieltag
4th December 2006: 2nd Division, 15th match day.
1. FC Köln lose 1-3 at home to MSV Duisburg.
Unter Freunden: waren wir einmal so jung?! (HL 450D)
2008
10. Oktober 2008: 1. Liga, 8. Spieltag
10th October 2008: 1st Division, 8th match day.
1. FC Köln blank visitors FC Energie Cottbus by a score of 1-0.
Mer stonn zo Dir, FC Kölle
The anthem is written and performed in the Kölsch dialect by local band Höhner. Translation into high German (hochdeutsche Übersetzung) is provided here; American Geissbock provides an English translation. Below are the song lyrics (in Kölsch) and a video from YouTube:
Iehrefeld, Raderthal, Nippes, Poll, Esch, Pesch un Kalk
üvverall jitt et Fans vom FC Kölle
en Rio, en Rom, Jläbbisch, Prüm un Habbelrath
üvverall jitt et Fans vom FC KölleFreud oder Leid, Zokunft un Verjangenheit
e Jeföhl da verbingk – FC Kölle
Ov vür ov zoröck – neues Spiel heiß` neues Jlöck
e Jeföhl dat verbingk – FC KölleMer schwöre Dir, he op Treu un op lehr:
Mer stonn zo Dir, FC Kölle
un mer jon met Dir, wenn et sin muß durch et Füer
halde immer nur zo Dir, FC Kölle!Jung oder alt – ov ärm oder rich
zesamme simmer stark FC Kölle
Durch dick und durch dünn – janz ejal wohin
nur zesamme simmer stark FC Kölle!Mer schwöre Dir, he op Treu un op lehr:
Mer stonn zo Dir, FC Kölle
un mer jon met Dir, wenn et sin muß durch et Füer
halde immer nur zo Dir, FC Kölle!… Erste Fussballclub Köln
Erste Fussballclub Köln
Erste Fussballclub Köln
Erste F-C Köln …
Fan-Andacht zum Saisonauftakt
Mass in Cologne Cathedral, before 1st home match
Every year before the first home-match of a new Bundesliga season, people gather for a special Sunday Mass inside Cologne Cathedral. The service ends with the congregation singing the fan/club-anthem “Mer stonn zo Dir”. Thanks to domradio.de, parts of these services are available to view:
- 2025–2026: 77 years of 1.FC Köln, 777 years of the Cathedral
- 2024–2025
- 2023–2024
- 2022–2023
- 2021–2022
- 2020–2021
- 2019–2020
- 2018–2019
- 2017–2018
- 2016–2017
- 2015–2016
Home ground location
The RheinEnergie Stadion (a.k.a., Müngersdorfer Stadion) is easily reached from Cologne city centre with KVB public transport light rail (Stadtbahn) line 1 to station “Rheinenergie-Stadion”. On match day, tens of thousands stream into the stadium.
RheinEnergie-Stadion (Müngersdorfer Stadion): photo by Raimond Spekking (Wiki CC BY-SA 4.0)
I received no compensation for writing this content and I have no material connection to the 1. FC Köln organization, Rhein-Energie-Stadion, or the city of Cologne. With exception to the stadium photo, I made all other photos from 2006 to 2023 with a Canon EOS450D/Rebel XSi (450D), Canon EOS6D mark1 (6D1), and a Fujifilm X70 fixed-lens prime (X70). This post appears on Fotoeins Fotografie at fotoeins DOT com as http://wp.me/p1BIdT-5yG.
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