Introduction

If you ask any football fan who grew up in the sixties and seventies to name five German football teams, I guarantee that Borussia Mönchengladbach would be on the list.  In those days you didn’t hear a lot about foreign football. If you did at all it was probably stories about the glamour and money in Italy. But the exploits of Borussia Mönchengladbach and the names of the star players in that golden period of their history did reach our ears.  Along with Bayern München,  Borussia Mönchengladbach was the team which epitomised German football at that time.

Today the club is probably the third or fourth best supported in Germany, with gates of at least 50,000 every week. It has the most amazing and passionate fans, who can create an atmosphere guaranteed to raise the hairs on the back of your neck. 

Stadium

The Borussia Park stadium was built in 2004 to replace the old (and smaller) Bökelberg. It has a capacity of 54,000, with great views from every section.

The noisiest hardcore fans gather in the lower section of the Nordkurve, which is standing only. So there, or the upper tier behind might be a good place to experience the passion and noise. I usually sit in the Osttribüne – partly because I prefer to watch games from the side, but also because you get to see the home end and the away fans, and you get a good view of the giant TV screens.

There’s a fan shop outside the ground and you should definitely also make time to visit the new beer garden.

Of course, you can also something to drink inside the stadium. For a two euro deposit, you get a decent quality glass (which also serves as a good souvenir because it has the club logo on the side) and you can get beer for about 3 euros. Unlike some German stadiums, you don’t need a special card to buy things. It’s cash inside and out. And, of course, you can take your drinks to your seat.

Tickets

The best way to buy tickets is to use the Online Ticket Service.  You can choose your seats and have your tickets delivered. The only complicated bit is that you have to register first.

Of course, you can also buy tickets at the stadium, but most games sell out.

Directions

There are plenty of trains from Düsseldorf to Mönchengladbach. It’ll take about 30 minutes and your ticket entitles you to free travel to and from the game!

The most straightforward way is to catch the S8 (trains run about every 30 minutes), but if you fancy trying one of the double-decker trains they have in Germany the RE4 to Aachen and the RE 13 to Venlo also stop there.

The Borussia Park is basically in the middle of nowhere (they moved there in 2004 from a smaller stadium in town), but really easy to get to. On match days there is a free shuttle bus to and from the stadium. All you need to do is go to the small square behind the station where a fleet of bendy buses will be waiting.  The bus will drop you just outside the stadium.

Getting back is just as simple – fleets of buses ferry fans back to the station from the drop-off point.

And they put on extra trains on match-days (shown on the big screen towards the end of the game).

More Information

Website : www.borussia.de  (There is also a section in English where you can get match reports and news)

Colours : Black white green

Home shirt : white

Away shirt : green

Manager : Dieter Hecking

Nickname :  Die Fohlen (the foals – first used in the 1970’s because they had a particularly young side with a high-tempo style of play.

Songs

Like all teams there are many songs, but every match starts with Die elf vom Niederrhein (follow the link to get a taste of the atmosphere).  Borussia also has one of the best goal celebration songs in football.

Major honours

• German Champion: 1970, 1971, 1975, 1976, 1977
• German Cup-Winner: 1960, 1973, 1995
• German Supercup-Winner: 1977
• UEFA-Cup-Winner: 1975, 1979
• Finalist European Cup of National Champions: 1977
• UEFA-Cup-Finalist: 1973, 1980

Famous ex players

• Herbert Wimmer
• Berti Vogts
• Gunter Netzer
• Lothar Matthaus
• Marco Reuss

Before and after the match

Opposite the station, there is a  bakers called Kamp with seating where you can grab a coffee and a pastry before you get the shuttle bus to the ground. If you have time, walk a bit further and go up the hill and through the city centre.  You will pass a brand new shopping mall (Minto). There is a branch of the club shop inside.  A bit further on you come to a large square lined with pubs, cafes and restaurants. Ideal for a beer or a meal. There are a couple of bars within easy reach of the station. Humboldt Schänke is on the right of the main square at the station – and you will usually come across home fans before and after the game.