St Pauli A different Experience

Established in 1910 St Pauli are a club with a difference, a yoyo club who has never graced the European stage or never won a competition of any major stature but are one of the most famous clubs in Europe. A population of just over 27,000 St Pauli are Hamburgs second club, living in the shadows of their bigger rivals Hamburger SV they come from the poorer side of the City. Located next to the Reeperbahn red light district on the river Elbe, the area is also known as Party Central. This is not just a normal everyday football club, St Pauli is a way of life. Supporters adopted the skull and crossbones as their own unofficial emblem. The club became the first team in Germany to officially ban right-wing nationalist activities and displays in its stadium in an era when fascist-inspired football hooliganism threatened the game across Europe. St Pauli will never lose its personality, for years supporters and players alike have strived to be an inntegral part of working class Hamburg. The supporters regard themselves as anti-racist, anti-fascist and anti-sexist, much to the anger of neo-Nazis and hooligans at away games.The clubs first journey among Germanys elite came back in 1977, one season the club lasted and they have had mixed fortunes. 16 different coaches in 17 years have not helped the cause.

St Pauli hit rock bottom in the mid 2000s, relegated to Germanys third tier and virtually broke, they needed to grab a hold of the glory years of the 80s. With the club almost bankrupt, the club began its fund-raising activities, the so-called Retteraktion. They printed t-shirts with the club's crest surrounded by the word Retter (rescuer/saviour) and more than 140,000 were sold within 6 weeks. They also organised a benefit game, against Bayern Munich, to try and help rescue the club. Ex player Holger Stanislawski worked his way down the ranks from Chairman to Director of football to head manager to coach and in 2010 they found themselves back in the Bundesliga with a new renovated stadium but keeping their feet firmly on the ground, even VIP section at Millerntor-Stadion somewhat unique, every seat has a beer keg attached and food is handed out via a a train on a carousel. Currently 13 players who had played for the club in the 3rd division were still on their books as they battle Bundesliga survial with St Pauli are definatly a club with a difference, a club that makes you realise that even with the mercanry era of football we live in there is still a reason to love the beautiful game.

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