by Old Man Andrews »
19 Feb 2020 09:42
I had a visit to Dortmund in early 2017. It was a business trip where I went on a mission of discovery to learn about their youth set up, community work and training programmes, it was absolutely incredible. Spent 3 days in their head offices talking to cheif exec's, directors of coaching etc. Such a special club.
Highlight of the whole trip was going to a game and standing in the yellow wall, nothing quite like it. You go in about 2 hours before kick off and only see people having fun and laughing and joking with their friends. Drinking in the stands and smoking, singing songs etc. It is more of a social ocassion over there. Despite my limited German everyone was extremely friendly and welcomming to me.
Not only did I watch the game I watched it in the company of Dortmund's head of supporter liason. 4 years prior to getting his job with the club he was actually the head of the Dortmund ultras, he organised fights between supporters and got into all sorts of trouble. Rather than banning him, the club rehabilitated him and used his passion for them for the greater good. He now works directly with the Dortmund ultras to stop violence and act as a link between them and the club. His stories were fascinating about his days as top boy as you can imagine.
English clubs could learn a hell of a lot from how Dortmund operate.