Ventspils

Ground: Olimpiskais centrs Ventspils stadions

Visits: 1

Date: 22nd June 2014

Match: FK Ventspils - BFC Daugavpils 0-1 (Virsliga)

Attendance: 260

My 5th and final match on this tour was the Virsliga match between FK Ventspils and BFC Daugavpils. At 11.40 I boarded the bus in Liepaja and 13.50 I arrived in Ventspils. Ventspils has a huge harbour and most of Latvia´s import/export go via Ventspils. When it comes to football Ventspils are second in the league table, level on points with leaders Skonto Riga. Last year Ventspils were crowned champions and will play in the Champions League qualifying this summer. My hotel was only 500 m or so from Olimpiskais centrs Ventspils stadions, the home of FK Ventspils. After checking in and having a rest I then made the short walk to to the ground. Olimpiskais centrs Ventspils stadions has a quite a big main stand on the west side of the ground. This stand is elevated and has a capacity of 3 200. Since Ventspils average is around 300 this year that stand is more than enough for Ventspils. I was at the ground 70 minutes before kick-off, found an open gate and sneaked in. When I had taken some pictures I went outside again. Entrance was only 1,42 Euro and I wanted a ticket for my collection.

15 minutes before kick-off I was seriously worried about the attendance but quite a few fans arrived shortly before kick-off and in total 260 were inside Olimpiskais centrs Ventspils stadions this evening. To be fair those who stayed at home didn´t miss much. The quality of the football was low but the visitors still managed to score a goal, 0-1 at half-time. In the second half Ventspils tried finding the equalizer but were not able to do so. The most exciting thing happening in the last 45 minutes was a hailstorm. Suddenly the sky went dark (like in a movie) and it started to rain heavily. That soon turned into hail but thankfully I was under the roof in the main stand. 0-1 to BFC Daugavpils was the final score. After the match I made a short sightseeing tour of Ventspils. I visited the Livonian Order Castle and the harbour area before finishing off my day with a late dinner. 5 matches in 5 days in two different countries was the summary of my week and I will now have short break from football. My next trip will be to Skellefteå in northern Sweden as well as a visit to Åland for IFK Mariehamn vs Inter Turku. Later in the summer I will hopefully visit Ireland and Scotland as well.

livonian order castle2