German R’s Vox Populi – Part Two

Back in the summer of last year, a number of us travelled to Germany for the pre-season friendly in Augsburg. We were surprised to meet several German Rangers fans who had travelled considerable distances to be at the game.

Since then several of them have travelled to the UK to attend both home and away games. Paul Finney and I discussed recently about running a feature on them for the Indy R’s site so I then mailed some of them with a short list of questions and their responses are shown below:

Name: Rudi

Q: When and how did you first become aware of QPR ?

A: In March 2006, QPR-Brighton, 1-1.

Q: What made you decide to start following Rangers as your English team ?

A: I was with my brother Werner in the Stadium, of course, I had no chance, I had to be a fan of our SuperhoopS !

Q: Who is your German team ?

A: Rot-Weiss Essen.

Q: When did you first visit Loftus Road and what was your impression of the Stadium and the fans ?

A: 2006 against Brighton. I was immediately impressed by the atmosphere.

Q: How many times have you now seen Rangers play ?

A: Around 15 times.

Q: What’s the most memorable Rangers game that you have seen ?

A: The same as Werner, the 2-1 win away at Palace in October 2010.

Q: Please tell us something more about yourself.

A: I am a courier driver – always on the move.

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Name: Christian Sczesny

Q: When and how did you first become aware of QPR ?

A: Mid-80’s, English football magazine called “Match” and German magazine “Kicker”.

Q: What made you decide to start following Rangers as your English team ?

A: The shirts, crest and the players.

Q: Who is your German team ?

A: Rot-Weiss Essen

Q: When did you first visit Loftus Road and what was your impression of the Stadium and the fans ?

A: 27/11/2004, QPR against Cardiff City, 1-0, fantastic crowd, the compact Stadium, the pitch is so near the supporters – brilliant !

Q: How many times have you now seen Rangers play ?

A: 15 times.

Q: What’s the most memorable Rangers game that you have seen ?

A: 1-0 away win at Everton.

Q: Please tell us something more about yourself.

A: I am working in a hospital as a Physiotherapist. I am 44 and have two brothers. One of them is called Martin. He flies often with us. He is in the Crown and Sceptre picture near me.

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Name: Maik Steuerberg

Q: When and how did you first become aware of QPR ?

A: In 1985, I was 11-years-old and I saw QPR in the German Sports magazine “Kicker”.

Q: What made you decide to start following Rangers as your English team ?

A: The name was very interesting to me.

Q: Who is your German team ?

A: VFL Buckeburg (local team, 5th level league) and the Bundesliga team Hannover 96. But my heart belongs to QPR !!!

Q: When did you first visit Loftus Road and what was your impression of the Stadium and the fans ?

A: 22 October 2005 against Norwich. We won 3-0. Of course the atmosphere was amazing and the support was loud and proud !!!

Q: How many times have you now seen Rangers play ?

A: Around 20 times.

Q: What’s the most memorable Rangers game that you have seen ?

A: Of course the first game, but also against Norwich in 2006, 3-3 draw in the last minute, or the match against Leicester in March 2011, the win over Chelsea in 2011. Every game is special for me. They have their own history, even the friendly match against Augsburg last year.

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Q: Please tell us something more about yourself.

A: I’m a mechanic and work now as a bus driver. I have 2 QPR tattoos, one on my back and one on my right arm. QPR belongs to my life !!! I met the other guys in an online German forum. Crazy people !

Once again my thanks to everyone that took part.

Martin Percival