Fotoeins Fotografie

“Gute Laune, Laute Stimme”: the 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 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. 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).

RheinEnergie-Stadion, photo by Raimond Spekking (Wiki)

2006

4. Dezember 2006: 2. Liga, 15. Spieltag (2nd Division, 15th Round).
1. FC Köln lose 1—3 at home to MSV Duisburg.

Unter Freunden | among friends (HL)

2008

10. Oktober 2008: 1. Liga, 8. Spieltag (1st Division, 8th Round).
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. The German translation (Deutsche Übersetzung) is provided here and here. American Geissbock provides an English translation. The following is the song text in Kölsch.

Every year on the Sunday before the first match of the new Bundesliga season, people gather for mass inside the Cologne Cathedral and sing an anthem for 1. FC Köln. Thanks to domradio.de, these “mass videos” begin the 2015-2016, 2016-2017, and 2017-2018 seasons.

The RheinEnergie Stadion is easily reached from Cologne city centre with KVB public transport light rail (Stadtbahn) line 1 to station “Rheinenergie-Stadion”.

Disclosure: No Connection, Unpaid, My Own Opinions. I have not received any 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 the exception of the stadium photo, I made the other photos on 4 December 2006, 18 October 2008, and 14 January 2013. This post appears on Fotoeins Fotopress at fotoeins.com as http://wp.me/p1BIdT-5yG.