My Soccer History

Well, I told you already that I like watching soccer on TV or in a big stadium when two professional teams clash. But the best is always: do it yourself...

My first memories of playing soccer are in my hometown playing on a small playground with my fellows and friends from high school. As I recall I was in fifth or sixth grade when I met with friends and fellows from school to play. It was a small field with metal frames as goals, but it was sufficient. However, my soccer skills were just developing so I was not the guy who chosen first when it came to electing the teams. But it was fun...

I never joined a soccer club at that age. I was always too picky to play during winter in a snow storm on a sand field, yuk. Hence, I never made it to a world class player... well, probably I should have gone into a club...

Also a good opportunity to play soccer offered the local public swimming pool. I nice recreation facility in almost every little town in Germany, well kept and equipped with all kinds of sport areas, including a soccer field. I think I played a couple times every year there...mmmm, barefeet on hot grass..and then sweaty into the pool...

In 1990 I moved to Cologne and began studying chemistry. As I said, I was lucky to get to know friends with the same interest: soccer (watching, playing and computer playing). Now I really started playing on a regular basis once a week, at least in spring, summer and fall. Most of the time 5 or 6 players on each side and backpacks as posts.
I actually think I improved my skills there. I remember clearly a scene, where dribbled around Lutz, one of most skilled defenders. Luckily Lutz' brother took a foto of this incident. You see it below.



We also participated in several tournaments for, let's say "unprofessional", soccer teams. These tourney had most of the time 8 to 16 teams and were played on a small field with 5 or 6 players each. Especially the 'JuSo-Tourneys' in Köln-Poll are nice memories. We won this tourney twice as I recall, I think 1997 and 1999. Below you see team of 1998, where we came in second:




standing: 4 Alex, 9 Schildao, 11 Rudi, 8 Eckart, 1 Christof
below: 5 Lutz (Cpt.)(Sammer), 3 Olaf, 7 Daniel, 6 Päddi, 10 Carsten (Lineker)


Yes, the guy with the Obelix pants, that's me...
Sometimes I switched with Christof, then I played as goalkeeper and he was defender.

The following year we were able to win the tourney again. Fortunately Lutz brought up the idea to sponsor a real trophy last year, so basically we won our own trophy back. Below you see a foto of the cup winners 1999:




standing: 4 Alex, 11 Rudi, 9 Schildao, 1 Christof
below: 3 Olaf, 5 Lutz (Cpt. with "The JuSo Cup"), 10 Carsten, 8 Eckart


In 2000 I wasn't able to join the team due to my postdoc in Philadelphia, but in 2001 I returned and played the with the old comrads. As I recall we made it to the semi-finals, which was due to the lack of players, a success. I think we had only one substitute, so we were all pretty exhausted...


A special thank belongs surely to Lutz, our Captain, who was always the great motivator and organisator, unforgettable his verbal eruption: "Wenn hier noch einer mit der Hacke spielt, wird er am nächsten Baum aufgeknüpft". (Translation: "If anyone dares to play with the heel again, he will be hung on the next tree.")

Also thanks to Carsten who was our skilled midfielder, many freekicks and dribblings lead to goals. I still think he's a clone of Gary Lineker, he looks too similar. I just hope his talent went to his son ...

One incident must be mentioned as well: Once we played in a tournament on the fields at the Müngersdofer Stadium in Cologne and Kühn, a great skilled player, shot an unforgettable goal. While defending, close to our box Kühn shot a high ball towards the opponent's goal. All players were following the curve the ball took, good for us, the keeper of the other team was quite baffled as well. Needless to say he underestimated the ball and it went behind his head into the net. What a goal, from about 40 Meters! Unfortunately this moment was never caught on camera.


After I left to Philadelphia, I started playing in the FC Stun, a community of local hobby soccer players. We meet up to three times a week to play. Most of the time it's about 22 players who show up, so you have a big field with full teams.... Probably I should mention that I am not that disciplined to show up three times a week, mostly once a week. I try to get some fotos of this, so that you believe me I really do this.....




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