Football In Austria

The football season starts in July in Austria, and there are two divisons the Bundesliga (premier division) and the Ersten Liga (First Division). Like some other countries in Europe, Austria have a winters break from almost the end of November (sometimes later) to March. The Bundesliga was founded in 1974, but there has been football in Austria with First Vienna being the earliest team formed in 1894.

Below the First two divisons there are regional leagues Regionalliga Ost (east), Regionalliga Mitte (Middle) and Regionalliga West. In addition to these there are feeders that are the County leagues (much like London, Surrey, Hertfordshire etc.) There is also the Austrian equivilent of the FA Cup the ÖFB-Stiegl-Cup.

Champions Of Austria:
32 Titles
Rapid Wien
23 Titles
Austria Wien
10 Titles
FC Wacker Innsbruck (5) / FC Swarovski Tirol (2) / FC Tirol Innsbruck (3) - all teams are continuation of the other.
9 Titles
SK Admira Wien
6 Titles
First Vienna
5 Titles
Austria/Red Bull Salzburg
3 Titles
Wiener Sport-Club
2 Titles
Sturm Graz
1 Title
Wiener AF, Wiener AC, Floridsdorfer AC, SC Hakoah Wien, SC Wacker Wien, Linzer ASK, SK VÖEST Linz, Grazer AK
The Austrian League website: http://www.bundesliga.at/home/index.php?SID

Vienna Teams:
Austria Vienna:
FK Austria Wien play their home games at the Franz Horr Stadium which has a total capacity of 12,500 with the new East-Stand. Tt is on U1 (red line) to station Reumannplatz, Straßenbahn: Line 67 to Altes Landgut, Bus: Line 15A to station Altes Landgut

Rapid Veinna:
Rapid Wien now plays at the Gerhard Hanappi Stadium which was opened on 10 May 1977 in a game against FK Austria. The nearest station is Hütteldorf which is on the OBB servies and on the U-Bhan (Line U4).

First Vienna:
The club's home venue is the Hohe Warte Stadium built in 1921 and having a current capacity of 5,000 spectators. at the end of the U-Bhan (line U4) at Heiligenstadt.

Klagenfurt Team:
SK Austria Kelag Kärnten:
Austria Kärnten plays its home games at Hypo-Arena in the south-west end of Klagenfurt.

Stats and info in this article have been found on both Wikipedia and RSSSF websites.

EDIT: The new season fixtures are out on June 25th 2010. :)

Ruislip Lido and Woods walk (11th April 2010).

To the West of London is Ruislip. It's a small compact area, but part of the sprawl that is London. Junior had been bought a book on a discount book shop last year on 'Walks in the South East' by the AA. Armed with the book, and a packed lunch we headed off by car to do this walk (it's also on the web here:
http://www.theaa.com/walks/the-woods-and-lido-of-ruislip-420768

We parked in the free car park adjacent to Mad Bess Wood. Ok maybe that should have given us an idea how the day would be going ...

After changing into walking boots (preferable in muddy or wetter weather) and locking the car doors, we walked along the little path in Young’s Wood until we crossed Ducks Hill Road (A4180) in into Copse Wood and followed the signpost for the 'Hillingdon Trail'. The map and directions in the book (and on that link above) are superb. I have no need to replicate them. So if I refer to a number like (2) you will need to look at the link and go to number 2. As it happens at (2) we were over taken by some lads on mountain bikes, which seems to be a rather sad thing now. Walking routes are being used as mountain bikers trying to a) break the land speed record on a bike b) have a total disrespect for anyone on two legs not on a bike. This trio did at least shout excuse me before they raced past.

Dog walkers seem to like these woods, and they are good dog owners making sure their pets do not foul the footpaths which is a real change. It was while walking along the track leading to (3) that a lady passed by with a friendly little pooch and when they came to a bench, she sat on it as did poochy. The lady then got him/her a little bag of water to drink. It was very cute to say the least. We continued on and (3) we turned right. This is a public bridleway so where as the poochy's of the world are cleaned up after, Dobbin isn't. There are some lovely houses bordering the woodland and I would imagine at a hefty price too. As we walked along, the good lady noticed a colourful patch of yellow flowers in a small clearing. On closer inspection they turned out to be Wild primrose (Primula vulgaris). Which I am told are quite rare now. A couple of photos of those and the little bees on them and we set back off along the path. Little Miss T. was doing a good impression of Usain Bolt hare off ahead at every opportunity. This was pretty much testing our patience as the wild life were taking one earful of her and heading into hiding.

We carried on and followed the path to the right and down to the little kissing gate. We needed to be this side of the gate rather than walk through it. But just the other side of the gate is a small pond that is just lovely. It was (due to a recent heavy rainfall and being at the bottom of a small hill) pretty much flooded. Following the path to the left as per the guide we continued to the golf course. and followed round the edge until we re-entered the woods (4).

Birds tweeted, the breeze rustled the trees and parts of this section opf path by the nature reserve were muddy. Walking along towards the Lido we stopped and sat on some logs for our picnic. Some pasta, some sandwiches, and crisps all went down well. The crust of sandwiches were left for the local wildlife, but we didn't envisage Daisy the West Highland Terrier rush past and scoff all the crusts. ha ha ha ha.

Off we went to the bottom of Northwood Hills (5) and alongside the miniature railway line (other side of the fence) until we got down to the lido itself.

[Extract from Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruislip_Lido)

Ruislip Lido is a Victorian reservoir with an artificial sand beach, surrounded
by woodlands through which runs the Ruislip Lido Railway, a miniature 12" gauge
railway with diesel and steam locomotives. Ruislip Lido was established as a
reservoir to feed the Grand Union Canal by damming and flooding the lower part
of the valley between Park Wood and Copse Wood, including the hamlet of Park
Hearn. Work began in 1811; the reservoir began feeding the Canal in 1816.

The kids went on the 'beach' and played on the climbing frames and the other things. On the water were some lovely swans. But my gosh they were BIG. We let them play for a while before we decided that rather than take the route round to the 'Water's Edge' we would take the miniature railway. A family single ticket was only £6.00 which in today’s climate a really good deal. When we alighted at the end of the line, we discovered we'd mislaid the book and directions. Junior was really upset as it was his book, understandably so. but it took the shine off the day for him and he had a rather miserable afternoon from there on in. We located one of the boards on route and managed to work our way back.

The walk back took an unfortunate turn when we ended up between (3) and (4). The maps had all said the path bears to the left. And NOT once had it done so. But we ae a resourceful and are made of better things. We just walked the whole bridleway back to Ducks Hill Road and before we got to the road we turned left and walk in line with the road.

It was along here that Little MissT really blotted her copybook. The Good lady Wife was ahead of us all, when she spied a young deer in the woodland. It was just about 15 feet from the path just sitting there, quietly she put her arms out to stop us all but Little MissT decided to race past making a noise which startled the deer that then rushed off and out of sight.

Heading along the path we then got accross the road and into the car park and Started our trip home.

Despite everything it was a nice walk, and maybe we could take another go at it sometime.

Lessons learnt:
Take a copy of your map/directions.

Kelsey Park, Beckenham (5th April 2010)

On Monday 5th April 2010 (Easter Monday) we needed to get out. The say before my wife had been pretty ill with a stomach bug
and needed to get out and get some fresh air. Someone had mentioned Kelsey Park over in Beckenham a while ago but
like most things in life we had managed to forget or just plain do something else. So it was decided that we would all
take our cameras to see what we could see.

On the internet Kelsey Park is well covered by 'The Friend's Of Kelsey Park (FOKP) There are some nice little leaflets on their wildfowl, Wildlife and Tress etc. Even a kids leaflet on 'what birds can
I see' so they can tick off if they see them.

Taking off in the car we found Kelsey Park quite easily. The FOKP website has maps and directions there. We managed to park on Manor Way which just off Beckenham High Street, and got ready to go. Batteries in Cameras, Warm coats and leaflets and pencil for Little Miss T. There is an old lodge style building at the North and in front is a small bridge which we crossed and walked south. The path is well kept and Dogs are (sadly) allowed off leads. We walked down to the first small waterfall that is pretty much obscured by the bushes and trees, but taking the little bridge over and turning left there were a few Mallard Ducks on one side. Through the gate (to the area where Dogs must be on a lead) and we followed the lake line South.

There is a notice (actually there are a few about) regarding the feeding of the webbed feeted flyers ... Apparently White bread is not good for them (everyone say awwwww). Wholemeal bread is better for them ... Lightly Toasted daffy and would you like some butter?

It's not far along until you come to the main waterfall. Admittedly it is only about 15 feet height, but from the little wooden bridge it is lovely in a busy bustling world. We spent a good ten minutes here (Junior and I competing to take the best milky effect shot of the water) and when we moved on, there sitting on a fence nibble on a nut was a squirrel.

I have to put this in here, Squirrels are considered vermin by many people, kids love them, as does my wife and camera. I think they make great subjects for a picture, and they certainly hone your skills at taking photos on the move!

Little Miss T spied the Ice cream van, so that was the next port of call. Camera, Cider Lolly and Little Miss’s camera in hand we strolled along the lake. Here is where you will see most of the Ducks and Herons etc. In the middle of the main lake is Heron Island, aptly named due to the large numbers of Herons nest on there. These large birds really do make a spectacular sight when in flight (see the photo below). Continuing on we came to the 'Rose Garden, which in summer, is probably lovely, at the moment it's pretty much bare!

A bit further on is a small weir but this is just too close to the bridge so that it makes for less of a photo, but the other side of the is the kids playground ... Yep in they went and were everywhere.

After sometime we left can carried on walking North head back along the other side from which we came. a little way up a squirrel (or two) were rather pleased with the nuts we had brought and posed nicely for the camera. Luckily Squirrel's don't have agents.

We came across Heron Island which is closer this side, The good lady wife wanted to have a few minutes to take some shots, but the foliage is pretty dense and getting a good shot is not easy. (this is the best I could get http://www.thedigitalsite.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6213 )

We headed up to where the waterfall is and passed by this to a bench. The little information portakabin is filled with some lovely things and you really should pay a visit there. I bought some nice information cards in colour of birds, butterflies etc. so the kids can use them. It's staffed by volunteers and the two ladies in there that day were very nice and helpful.

Then it was back to the car.

Can I recommend Kelsey Park to people? I sure can.

If you want a quiet walk - It's lovely.
If you want to go on a photo shoot - Perfect.
If you want the kids to get close to nature - Ideal.

Kelsey Park - Defiantly one to revisit in the summer when the flowers (especially the roses) are in bloom. I might even take a spin over there next winter and see what it's like with snow.