Red star Paris.

When I was in Paris recently, I decided to go for a game with Red Star Paris. Red star Paris is one of the small working class teams in the French capital.

Red Star Paris fans celebrating tonights victory.

“this is different than watching Qatar vs Qatar” says the young guy who helps me to get a ticket for the evening game between Red Star Paris and Avranches. He is talking about the Champions League game two days earlier between Paris Saint Germain and Barcelona. Both teams heavily supported by Qatari business interests. Red Star plays in the third best french league and has few sponsors. But they have a very loyal and lively fan base which is the main reason why I have decided to come and watch the game.

Left wing anarchists and local teenagers.

Red Star Paris fans.

The 1300 fans of Red Star Paris, in tonights game, is a mix of left leaning anarchists and young local teenagers. Mostly with emigrant background. And a few older guys too, who look like they have been to games at the stadium for many years. Red Star has always attracted a bit of an alternative crowd. And it was founded in 1897 as the first sports club in Paris where you could come and play no matter what social status you had. It was founded by Jules Rimet, who later went on to found the football world cup. He founded it because he had problems getting in to a sports club himself when he was young, as he was the son of a poor merchant. Jules Rimet never played football himself, by the way. But he was an active runner and fencer. But because of Jules Rimet’s social awareness, the club has gown in to a bit of a cult football club among left leaning fans. And they are a very lively bunch in the stadium. Even if a lot of them smoke one joint after the other during the game. There is non stop singing from the crowd for every second of the game. And for several minutes after the game has finished too. It get’s pretty wild when Red Star scores the first goal. People are tumbling down the concrete stairs as the fans are running towards the fence to greet the goal scorer. A couple of girls are close to getting crushed. And security looks a little worried. But nothing serious happens. And the atmosphere is 100% friendly even if it’s very tense in the stadium.

Red Star Paris plays at Stade Bauer.

Stade Bauer, where Red Star Paris plays.

The game is at the stadium called Stade Bauer. Stade Bauer is in the northern suburbs of Paris. And the fans love the run down stadium. But they will most likely have to leave the stadium next season as it looks like they will be promoted to the second division. The facilities at the stadium are not at a high enough standard for a fully professional league. So they will most likely have to find a new stadium next year.

The name Red Star is taken from the Red Star shipping line that used to sail passengers between France and England. The name of the team is not Etoile Rouge as one would maybe think, since the team is french. It’s Red Star Paris.

I must look like a football coach.

Me, having a good night at Stade Bauer.

When I first get to the stadium, a couple of hours before kick off, I am met at the stadium by a very friendly guy. He right away takes me in to the club house. He shows me all the trophies of the team. Some of the Red Star players come over to me and says welcome to Paris. And I am starting to feel that they might mistake me for another person, as I would not expect them to give a random tourist such VIP treatment. When they go on to show me “my dressing room” then I realise that they must think I am the coach of the away team. So I tell them that I am just a tourist coming by to see the game. And we all have a good laugh about it. But they assure me that I am most welcome anyway.

In the stadium it’s almost one long party as the team wins 2-1 by two very good goals from Hameur Bouazza.  And when Avranches almost makes a comeback, the Red star keeper saves a penalty and everyone around me is happy. After the game the party goes on in the little local pub across the road, where the regulars gather. I notice that even if we are talking very hard core fans of a ghetto football club, then the french guys there still sweeten their beer with red syrup. Must be the only country in the world where male football fans do that 🙂

My ticket for the Red Star Paris game.

I totally loved the team and the fans. And I would recommend football geeks to pay a visit to Red Star Paris if you happen to be in town. They are happy to see foreign guests at the stadium. It’s grassroots football at it’s best.

At the local cafe across the road from Stade Bauer.