Well, if he does register:

Matthias, it's St. Pauli fans, if you don't mind.

Good point, Zim.

Agree that the Zeitgeist meet ups do not offer much for a story. On the other hand I think that the Brownstock event might be well worth a story.

Will they be getting the beers in I wonder?

Could do a feature on me sitting in front of the computer eyes scrunched trying to watch pixilated St Pauli games in my pants!

Not sure it would make German news coverage, one of those 'special interest' shops not far from the Milentor maybe, but not the news.

london , london , always the same who have the fame ...

what about stpaulifans.london on the scarf lol

he could go to the murrayfield as well..

Sorry, only just got to this. Actually I think this is a nice idea, whether London, Birmingham, Edinburgh, or all three.

We're publicity-shy are we, John? . I'd have thought the further the word is spread, the better.

Just my two penn'orth.

some of my friends (german and non) are amazed groups of us meet in pubs in the UK to watch bundesliga 2 games!

so, i think it is a good story.

Yeah, my point entirely. I think it's great when we're in Zeitgeist cheering and yelling, and someone comes up to see what game it is. Chelsea v Man U? Nope. Just two German second division teams. I love it.

I seriously think we should take this guy up on his offer, though I accept that Brownstock might be the better option.

WaddockHunt wrote:

My feeling is that spreading the word in Germany doesn't really do us any favours. I'm anxious that we'd be viewed as a "curiosity", and whilst it may be interesting for German viewers to watch a bunch of odd-balls in a south London boozer watching a TV screen - no offence, Mick!! - I'm not entirely sure it does us a lot of good.

Ooh, I think you're being way over-sensitive, John. I suggested we form a London branch of the supporters' club, and you were down on that, too.

Anyway, no offence mate, but I'm really not quite sure where you're coming from.

See you Sunday.

BrentfordPete wrote:

I suggested we form a London branch of the supporters' club, and you were down on that, too.

I wasn't down on that, Pete. I merely suggested that if you were serious about the idea then it should be done properly. Like a constitution, and a committee with appointed officials (Chairperson, treasurer etc).

If you want to set up a London Supporters Club please go ahead, I'm not stopping you or anyone else. I just don't want to be part of a half-baked organisation that offers little incentive for prospective members. Yes, I know that you could get a discount at the club shop!!

A fully constitutional supporters club would mean that Nico would not be left sorting out the scarves on his "jack jones" or Astro (based in Hamburg) left to set up a web address for Urbs to access.

As I keep trying to point out Roger and I just Admin this Board. We're not responsible for the activities our members get up to. You want a London Supporters Club? Do it! You don't need my approval.

I think that's where I'm coming from!!

John x

Well, I guess I was taking the more laid-back attitude which is displayed on the "Fans" page of the official site:

"Wer einen Fan-Club gründen möchte, muss eigentlich nur zwei Bedingungen erfüllen. Erstens mindestens fünf Personen um sich scharen und zweitens sich im Fan-Laden ein Formular abholen, dieses komplett ausfüllen und dann wieder abgeben. Das ist alles."

My understanding of German is not great, but my reading of this is we can just start up with five names and give them to the Fanladen. We don't need formal structures, secretaries, treasurers, constitutions etc.

Edited to add: then we could move on from there, if we wanted to. I would just like to get it off the ground in the first place, rather than have to have a whole structure there before we start.

And yes, I did spend 20 years in the Labour Party , so doing things the St Pauli way kind of appeals to me.

I think what John wants to say (and has said) is that a bunch of people sitting in a pub isn't much of newsworthy material when being filmed.
The story behind them might be interesting, but it is a story that is very hard to tell in pictures.

In other words, as far as tv is concerned, it really isn't much of a story.

And even if they accompany people to the game, it will all boil down to some "Brits on the piss" footage.

The Birmingham Boys in Brown do have an interesting event coming up and more of a story to tell, plus anufc quite rightly pointed out "why does it ALWAYS have to be London?"

petruschka wrote:

The Birmingham Boys in Brown do have an interesting event coming up and more of a story to tell, plus anufc quite rightly pointed out "why does it ALWAYS have to be London?"

I agree entirely, and will be at Brownstock. But it doesn't have to be mutually exclusive.