alpine_saint

Just found out where the training camp is in relation to the Austrian matches. Its a place called Velden, just on the western edge of the Wöthersee, about 12 km from Villach. They are training there between 23. and 30. July. Anyone know how I can find out if they do any public training sessions I can take the kids along to ?

Doesnt mean one or the other is wrong, though.............

I would do if it had the club crest.

My mistake..

I am back in my office for the first time since the announcement today, and a few Italians from Udine have already indicated they might go.

Seriously, if some of you are so disinterested or so dismissive of the info I offered in good will, why bother posting ? No point in my saying I wont bother again in future, because its so unlikely I will be "at point" again, but if I hear any interesting developments in the weeks running up to these two games, I simply wont bother.

Its worse than this. It has gold print, FFS. Tacky. Very tacky.

Great, lets all look like a barmaid behind the bar at the Rovers Return......

For anyone interested and doesnt want to trawl through the prissy pedantic arguing-for-the-sake of it crap from the likes of DullDays, the turn up time is only a suggestion from the stadium; observe or ignore as you deem appropriate. In addition there was a bit of other useful info - your kids can get in free if you want to bring them for an interesting weekend. DullDays, Sour Mash, care to tell us how thats b*ll*cks and the kids will be charged ??

For you, maybe. I wont be buying that design under any circumstances. First kit with addidas. What a wasted opportunity to produce a memorable classic.

We may as well go back to Hummel...

OMG, that's crapper than crap. The gold makes it even tackier...

This site is really pathetic at times. 30-odd posts of complete b*ll*cks when someone shares some info that might prove useful at the end of several hundred miles of travelling. I am glad there are a few appreciative whispers amongst the c*ck-swinging sh*t.

Whereas some are arseholes permanently and feel compelled to change their user name to make everyone treat them better, even though everyone knows who they are because its still the same contents in the tin. Just saying

Villach has its own brewery. Superb beer. Strong, always served cold, herby. Not a place for the CAMRA chunky-sweater loons.

England will lose the Ashes on the first morning

I assume some enjoy the idea of exploring new places (if only to get p*ssed) as well as supporting the team. On the other hand, I dont get certain elements of the Barmy Army that follow the cricketers from the UK either. In my case, the reasoning is self explanatory, I think. I used to come back to the UK in August in time for the last pre-season friendly or first home match, every year. As my family has expanded, that became every 2 years. Now we are 6, with 2 very young kids, it would have entailed some of us driving, some of us flying, and renting somewhere because no family can put us up anymore. I estimated stumping up 3000 to 3500 euro just to step foot in England. Seeing as this meant not seeing Saints for ages longer, I am absolutely over-the-bloody-moon about this pre-season schedule, and am happy to grab what may be my last opportunity to see Saints for a very long time.

Its a recommendation from the stadium, FFS. You can do what you bloody well want at the end of the day. I dont understand the issue. Over here the local beer is good, cheap, and is served in the stand; you can take your glass to your seat. I think it a good idea to have your last beer in the stand so as to ensure a good seat.

Some very strange responses on here to what was a geunine attempt to be helpful. C'est la vie..

No tickets in advance - expected to be 15-20 Euro for adults, KIDS FREE Arrive 1 hr in advance expected to be sufficient for pay-at-the-gate But maybe a little earlier for the Schalke match, their official fan club expected to bring up to 800 fans, seating in stand is restricted to 2000. Direct quotes from stadium office this morning, hope you find useful.

I am expecting a big up-take from the locals for these matches. Not 100% sure there wont be an advance. There is a significant Turkish population in Villach, and both matches will be viewed as quite high-level games in an area in which football is quite popular. My missus is going to ask at the stadium about advance sales when she drops my son off on Tuesday.

How you managed that then ? I live 10mins away from the stadium, and I cant find anyone who even knows about it, let alone a "vorverkauf" since I found out yesterday morning. No-one answered the phone at the stadium yesterday morning...

I expect this thread will last a few hours more before flipped into a slanging match and closed by a mod. I respect most posters, thats why I give answers as much as possible (not always if 20 people are simultaneously howling at you). There are a few loons of course, but even they make the place entertaining.

There is a bit of a problem with the timing of the Villach games - a week later is the Villacher Kirchtag, which is the local equivalent for the Oktoberfest. Superb for a p*ss-up if you can stay long enough, loads of loose-moralled buxom wenches in dirndl, but you might struggle to find cheap flights to Klagenfurt with Ryanair, and also struggle to find cheap accomodation in the city centre.