Fan ownership and involvement.

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wizardofos
Posts: 275
Joined: Sun Jul 12, 2009 9:14 am
Team Supported: Darlington

Fan ownership and involvement.

Post by wizardofos » Sun Dec 02, 2018 8:58 am

If I may, here's a brief diversion away from our current woes.

Darlo fans' efforts over the last 6 years have been legendary, but Union Berlin take it to a different level.
Went to see them a couple of years ago and was impressed with the atmosphere and singing. It was non-stop with fans still belting out the songs whilst in the beer queue and even whilst visiting the toilet.
Had a read up on them on Wiki and here's a couple of extracts:

"In May 2004, the supporters raised enough money to secure the club's license for fourth-division football through a campaign called 'Bleed for Union'. This catchphrase was not meant metaphorically. One element of the campaign was that fans donated blood to Berlin hospitals and then gave the money they received from the blood bank to their club"

"In the middle of 2008, the club decided to finally modernise the stadium, the Stadion An der Alten Försterei (Old Forester's House). Money was still tight, and so the fans simply built the ground themselves. More than 2,000 Union supporters invested 140,000 working hours to create what is now regarded as the largest football-only stadium in Berlin."

Full marks. The fans stick with them even though they seem permanently rooted at levels below the Bundesliga.

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