Energie Cottbus

Cottbus is about 80 miles from Berlin, not far from the border with Poland. The local club, Energie Cottbus was founded in 1963, but has roots right back to a team founded by miners in 1919.

The club began life after German reunification in the 3. Liga. Relegation after six seasons began a 17-year stint between 1997 and 2014 of floating between the second and first divisions. Relegation in 2014 to the 3. Liga was followed by a further relegation in 2016 to the Regionalliga Nordost. Two years later they gained promotion back to the third division.

Stadium

The club describes Stadion der Freundschaft – Friendship Stadium – as an ‘atmospheric jewel with English flair’. I am not sure exactly what they mean, but it is a comfortable and thoroughly modern ground with a capacity 22,528, including 10,945 seats. It is designed to bring fans as close as possible to the action on the pitch and to make sure everyone gets a good view.

Tickets

You can get tickets from the Online Shop  for between 11 and 21 euros.

Directions

You can travel from Berlin to Cottbus by regional train. A ticket will cost 14.50 euros each way and the journey will take just under 90 minutes.

You can walk to the ground from the main station in about 10 minutes, following Vetschauer Straße and Görlitzer Gasse until you can see the floodlights