Fotoeins Fotografie

Above/featured: “1. FC Köln” on the wall of Bahnhof Ehrenfeld, winter in my Kölner Kiez.

“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.

RheinEnergie-Stadion (Müngersdorfer Stadion): photo by Raimond Spekking (Wiki CC BY-SA 4.0)

• 2006: 2. Liga, 15. Spieltag
• 2008: 1. Liga, 8. Spieltag
• Anthem: “Mer stonn zo Dir, FC Kölle”
• Home stadium

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)

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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.

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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. Here are the song text and audio on YouTube:

Every year before the first home-match of a new Bundesliga season, people gather for a special Mass inside Cologne Cathedral. The service ends with the congregation singing an anthem for 1. FC Köln. Thanks to domradio.de, these “mass videos” kick off the 1st home match for 2015-2016, 2016-2017, 2017-2018, 2018-2019, 2019-2020, and a limited pandemic version for the 2020-2021 season.

Here below is a 95-second excerpt of the Friday church service inside Cologne Cathedral on 23 August 2019, before 1. FC Köln’s home opener against Borussia Dortmund the following day on Match Day 2 for the Bundesliga’s 1st Division 2019-2020 season.

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Home ground

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.

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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 the exception of the stadium photo, I made the other photos on 4 December 2006, 18 October 2008, and 14 January 2013, all with a Canon EOS450D. This post appears on Fotoeins Fotografie at fotoeins DOT com as http://wp.me/p1BIdT-5yG.