Kent School Association

Age 15 1974, lived at Wildenrath.
world cup year (soccer) in west Germany.
I would be interested to know if any of my contemporaries at KENT went to any of the matches. A few were held in dusseldorf including some with the brilliant dutch team of CRUYFF & NEESKENS. DID anybody from Kent get to the momentous west Germany v east Germany match in hamburg! east won 1-0
goal scored by JURGEN SPARWASSER who later defected to the WEST.
I myself went to the BRAZIL 3 ZAIRE 0
which was held in GELSESKIRCHEN
all the best mike doherty

Hi Mike,

Pretty random subject but interesting all the same, I was living in Dusseldorf at the time, only 11 years old prior to moving to Antwerp and then going to Kent School, I remember that World Cup because I had plenty of German friends and we loved playing and watching football also that was probably one of the best tournaments staged with brilliant players on display, you can watch most of the games now on youtube

Hi Mike,
Lived in Dusseldorf 71-75. Only got to one World Cup match at the Rheinstadion - Sweden v Yugoslavia, great atmosphere but boring match. We did used to go to Fortuna home matches occasionally but never paid. Went to the big swimming pool next door, top of the tribune then climb around the barbed wire into the stadium. Any one remember when the Fortuna chant was based on a Slade record "My Friend Stan is a Fortuna fan Oh yeah!"

Hi Mike,
Lived in Dusseldorf 71-75. Only got to one World Cup match at the Rheinstadion - Sweden v Yugoslavia, great atmosphere but boring match. We did used to go to Fortuna home matches occasionally but never paid. Went to the big swimming pool next door, top of the tribune then climb around the barbed wire into the stadium. Any one remember when the Fortuna chant was based on a Slade record "My Friend Stan is a Fortuna fan Oh yeah!"

nice to get a few comments back including one from old classmate clive.
i was mistaken about the dutch playing in D'dorf. 4 matches held there including one with west germans. must have been a memorable day for people who lived there.
some scots might read this!
I am sure they will remind us that Scotland made the finals and England didna qualify

Clive,
I used to watch Fortuna play as well and do exactely the same thing as you via the swimming pool, prior to getting there we used to jump on a tram and use any ticket we found and got it double stamped, we were possible reconised as British kids so they just let us away with it, scary all the same.

Hi Tony, Mike
I can remember getting the No 10 or No 11 tram at the front of the SKC Cinema at the bottom of Erich Klausener Strasse as well. We did use to buy a "sammelkarte" at the kiosk which was good for four journeys but like you we used to stamp it to death! We also got off the tram one stop early and cut through the allotments where we introduced the Germans to the noble British pastime of scrumping. Was up in my parents attic the other month and found my Fortuna pennant, "Tip & Tap' 1974 World Cup mascots litre tankard and Yugoslavia flag and banner found discarded after the match. Cue violins and much reminiscing!

5 games played in dusseldorf. two with west Germany. versus Sweden and yugoslavia

An American Journalist from Brooklyn! has contacted me about The Brazil vs. Zaire match! His Parents are from Congo & He is doing research about this match for a Documentary. He spoke to me on the phone to ask for my memories from 43 years ago. He might use an interview with me as part of The Programme... He says..

Bit of an add on. Went to Dusseldorf last October as 60th birthday present [OO-ER!] with the family. Daughters arranged to go to Fortuna - Schalke04. Wow have there been some changes. New stadium, Free travel on Tram/Bus/Underground with valid match ticket. Can still drink in the stadium. Last match I saw many years ago Fortuna 0 - Schalke04 2 result this time after 40+ years Fortuna 0 - Schalke04 2. Plus ca change! For those that may go at the end of Nord Park where there used to be a big house there is now an aquarium and the SKC and NAAFI are gone. The cafe in Nord Park still does some seriously good cakes.