The Team Near the High Castle (with the low attendance)

 

Back in April 2023, I took my first of what would be three trips to Trenčín via the convenient FlixBus from Brno, though the fact the FlixBus back wouldn't be 'til the following day meant a night in the city, as for whatever reason I didn't feel the need to look for any trains back that evening in lieu of the absent buses. That said, I wasn't complaining given that during that weekend, it quickly became one of my favourite Slovak cities and somewhere I would return to.

Firstly there's the magnificent castle, visible from the stadium depending on where you happen to be sat. I couldn't see it from there on my second visit back in September of the same year, which was actually to take in a Trenčín game, but I've had the pleasure of visiting the castle itself and experiencing the majestic skyline from the great height that the castle sits upon. 

The first visit was for a game between nearby Dubnica nad Váhom and Košice, which the away side duly won 1-2, with both teams changing leagues in alternate directions - the hosts moved down and the away side moved up. The second visit was an uneventful, but hard-fought 1-0 win for a Trenčín side in good form at the time against Dukla Banská Bystrica. On that occasion, I went home on the same day via a fairly late change in Bratislava (and another in Břeclav).

For reasons that escape me, I didn't manage to write a blog after either occasion, which gave me a nice excuse to return, this time during the Christmas period. Now, Trenčín are struggling big time at the lower end of the table, with their opponents Zemplin Michalovce having a surprisingly good season. It often seems to be the case that Trenčín are either flying or languishing with little in between, similar to Bohemians in the Czech League in some ways you could argue.

In terms of both sides' recent fortunes, the hosts have had a torrid time since a 2-1 win over fellow strugglers Skalica almost two months ago. In the six games since, they've let winning positions go in half of them against Spartak Trnava (2-3), Žilina (2-4), and Dunajska Streda (3-3). Add to that two goalless draws (Ružomberok and Košice), and a 6-1 thrashing at the hands of Dukla Banská Bystrica, and it's little wonder they're in relegation danger.

Zemplin meanwhile have only lost one of their previous six, with four wins in that sequence. Where previously they've struggled, they have a real chance of finishing in the top half before the split, avoiding the prospect of relegation all together. Needless to say, a win for Trenčín would be beyond massive going into the long winter break.

The ground, the game, and any other business

To say the game was flat wouldn't be an understatement perse, but...it was flat. It was perhaps to be expected, given that both sides have had their fair share of goalless draws already this campaign. Furthermore, for Trenčín, merely keeping s clean sheet will at least be welcome.

All that said, the hosts had a few gilt edged chances, one of which should have been put away. Zemplín had chances of their own, but a lack of potency in front of goal was a curse for both sides. When all is said and done, it could prove a valuable point for Trenčín in their battle to avoid the drop 

The main thing that struck me about the game was the attendance - a mere 709 spectators turned up to watch. It could well be the fewest attendees I've seen at a top flight game, and though their poor form will inevitably lead to reduced numbers, I didn't expect those numbers to be this reduced.

Prior to the game, I arrived on a cramped FlixBus around 12 before setting off to Pizza Castello for an excellent dark beer and a lovely prosciutto pizza. I then decided to spend a good hour and a bit walking around the castle, which I seemed to have all to myself give or take a dozen scattered around the castle grounds.

The castle alone is well worth visiting Trenčín for. The view from the top is utter spellbinding, and you can walk around parts in complete and total silence - not even a pindrop. For nine euros, it's well worth it. I even stopped by the cafe for a much needed ovocný čaj to warm up before settling in for a Baltic goalless draw in an empty stadium. What a life, eh?

Five things you didn't know about...Trenčín

1.) The club were actually founded in 1992, making them one of the younger clubs in the Slovak game. That said, the club were founded from a previous miltary unit VTJ Trenčín in the fifties, with various clubs representing the city throughout the 20th century. 

2.) Trenčín Castle is perhaps the most iconic symbol of the city, as well as one of the most iconic castles in Slovakia. Its history can actually be traced back to 179 AD, though Matus Cak was the most famous master of the castle in the 13th and 14th centuries,

3.) Former Ajax midfielder Tscheu La Ling has been majority owner of the club since 2007, with the club maintaining links with the Dutch giants to this day. His aim when taking over was to turn Trenčín into a regular Champions League club, so of course they were relegated in his first season. That said, the club have enjoyed some European nights on the back of some unprecedented league and cup doubles from 2014 to 2016. That said, they are yet to make a group stage, with their last European tie a play-off against Cypriot side AEK Lanarca in 2018.

4.) I mentioned the club had similarities to Bohemians in terms of their unpredictability, but there is also another thing connecting them in terms of both sides having predominantly left-wing fanbases. It would be fair to assume both are very much alone in their respective countries with regard to such politics...

5.) The club are renowned for producing and selling excellent players on for significant profit, with Leon Bailey perhaps being the best example of this. The current Aston Villa winger was on the books of Trenčín from 2013-15, before moving onto Genk, then later Leverkusen and Villa.