CZEAUTSVKPOL #4: Zbrojovka Brno

 The Road to Brno

The great thing about this week is already being in Brno, although given my earlier attendance at Vyškov, I did actually need to hop on the train back to Brno, followed by one of the abundant supply of trams. Easy peasy.

 

I have to admit to arrogantly assuming all would go to plan before Saturday and writing the above in advance. In actual fact, things did not go according to plan. At all.

 

My plan had been to attend another game for a blog next week, given the international gap. That game was supposed to be MFK Vyškov v SK Prostějov, but some idiot (me) forgot to check that MFK Vyškov definitely played in Vyškov rather than nearby Drnovice. It wasn’t all bad though, as I still managed to watch MFK Vyškov U19s play out a 1-1 draw against SK Hodonin U19s. What is life if not a lesson though, eh?

 

The nonsense didn’t end there. As nice as Vyškov was, I had to get back to Brno. Regrettably the RegioJet train was delayed. By an hour. Any notion of a couple of pre-match beers went straight out the window. Alas I got to Zbrojovka just before my phone died (it didn’t charge properly the night before, and it had my ticket, obviously). The post-match beers flowed at the very least, and despite my hangover, I can say the day was salvaged.

 

Before the game

Both sides had confidence boosting results last week, with Brno winning 3-2 at Zlin, and Teplice earning a late point in a 2-2 draw at home to Sparta Praha. Both have also played lower league opposition in the cup during the week, with Teplice needing extra time to scrape past Zizkov (1-2), and Brno easing past Slovan Rosice (0-4).

 

As for the league, Brno have had an excellent start, with Flinta occupying fifth place at present. Teplice were expected to struggle, and despite a couple of drubbings, it hasn’t been as bad as expected. They make the long trip to Brno in 11^th place

 

PREDICTION: Both sides were involved in goal frenzies last week, which can only mean that this bad boy is finishing goalless.

 

After the game

So I expected goallessness and got the very opposite, with both teams continuing to score freely (probably more to do with suspect defences than anything else). Teplice took the lead after 8 minutes through Robert Jukl, before the electric Wale Musa Ali levelled eleven minutes later. Michal Sevcik made it 2-1 after 37 with a superb effort, before Tomas Kucera levelled right on the stroke of half-time.

 

The second half was goalless, so I’ll consider my prediction half-right. Teplice did hit the back of the net (I didn’t see it), but it was apparently ruled out by VAR whilst I was getting a klobasa. It was a 2-2 draw that owed a lot to some poor defending, and high-flying Zbrojovka will definitely be the more disappointed of the two sides going into the international break, but they still sit 6th after the weekend, with Teplice dropping to 13th.

 

What’s the ground like?

The 12,550 capacity Městský fotbalový stadion is well worth a visit. Getting there is easy too – you just take the number 1 tram to Reckovice  from the main station and hop off at Semilasso before taking the short walk.

 

Each stand tells a story of its own, even if the numbers aren’t always there. Though sparsely attended, the ultras created a phenomenal atmosphere in the west stand. The away atmosphere last week at Zlin was probably rowdier, but both were pretty raucous. Winning in Zlin probably helped on that front too.

 

In any case, I’m glad to have found Zbrojovka, and I get the sense that following them where possible will be a lot of fun as I find my feet in Brno.

 

Who are ya?

Founded in 1918, Flinta (The Gun) were initially named SK Židenice, though they changed their name to FC Zbrojovka Brno after a local firearms manufacturer. They’ve toyed with a few different names in their 113-year history – Stavo Artikel Brno and Boby Brno to name a couple – but they’ve been Zbrojovka Brno since 2010.

 

Zbrojovka have had their ups and downs, playing in the top tier of Czechoslovak football from 1933 until 1947. They played outside the top tier for twelve years from 1950, before embarking on another five years of top flight football. That was followed by four in the second tier before returning again. West Zbrojovkomwich Albion anyone?

 

Things were to improve, as Zbrojovka won the Czechoslovak First League in 1978, though of course they were relegated again in 1983. They were back up in 1989! I’ll let you guess what happened in 1991.

 

After an immediate return, their presence in the newly formed Czech top flight spanned an impressive 19 years, before relegation in 2011. Despite finishing fourth, various stadium regulations elsewhere meant they made an immediate return. They went down once more in 2018, only to return in 2020.

 

The last three seasons have been Zbrojovkaci’s history in miniature, with a promotion or a relegation happening in all of them. An utterly ridiculous footballing institution, but a delightful one all the same. Pretty soon, fans may well end up Googling ‘Can you get relegated from a European Group Stage?’