Czech Republic: a fan's guide for 2009-10

• Why go to the Czech Republic?
• A-Z of Gambrinus Liga clubs
• Gambrinus Liga map 
• Czech Republic kick off times
  

 

Why go to the Czech Republic? The country

 

OK, it's not a footballing powerhouse when it comes to league football. If you put together a top ten of leagues in Europe the Czechs may just edge out the Hungarians into tenth spot - but only just.

 

However, when it comes to playing on the international stage this is one talented country. For a place of just a few million people, since it split from Slovakia (so no, it's NOT still called Czechoslovakia) it has embarrassed major nations such as the English with its performances at major tournaments.

 

 

The centre of Prague.

 

With the likes of Pavel Nedved the country rocked to the final of Euro 2004, and is always there or thereabouts as an outside bet.

 

As the aforementioned Czechoslovakia, it did win the Euros back in the seventies. So they're no mugs.

 

The pulling power of the top leagues has robbed the Czechs of their best players. Tomas Rosicky and the likes have hot footed it to the bright lights of the Champions League and the gigantic wages on offer, leaving the domestic league shorn of star players.

 

However, this is the league where those Czech stars began so you can catch a glimpse of up and coming whippersnappers before they make it big.

 

The league's dominated by two big names - Sparta and Slavia Prague, who routinely make it through to the early rounds of the Champions League and occasionally make the group stage. The city is the Czech Republic's one true international gem and is a good enough excuse for a weekend away anyway.

 

Beyond there the clubs are smaller but the competition is fierce, with a UEFA spot up for grabs for whoever finishes third and the cup winners.

 

 

Quit work early: 5.15pm Monday night game at FC Brno.

 

The crowds may be modest and some of the grounds have seen better days but a visit to a Czech game is a well spent 90 minutes of your time. The football's not classic but it's tidy and competitive.

 

If you're still not convinced - entry, a programme and a beer can set you back less than £4. Bargain.  

 

A-Z of Gambrinus Liga clubs

 

 

FC Banik Ostrava (Ostrava)
Stadium: Stadium Bazaly (17,000)
Closest airports with UK links: kjhk
Closest Czech clubs: SK Sigma Olomouc, Slovacko, Brno.
Club website: www.fcb.cz
Reviews: http://moravianfootball.blogspot.com/search?q=banik+ostrava


Bohemians 1905 (Praha)
Stadium: Dolicek Stadion (7,000)
Closest airports: Praha
Closest Czech clubs: Slavia Praha, Sparta Praha, Bohemians Praha
Club website: www.fc-bohemians.cz
Review: http://prague.tv/articles/sports/czech-football-guide


Bohemians Praha (Praha)
Stadium: Dolicek Stadium (7,000)
Closest airports: Praha
Closest Czech clubs: Slavia Praha, Sparta Praha, Bohemians 1905
Club website: www.bohemiansfc.cz

Review: http://prague.tv/articles/sports/czech-football-guide

 

Eurofootballcities review
FC Brno (Brno)
Stadium: Mestsky fotbalovy stadion Srbska (12,500)
Closest airports: Brno, Bratislava
Closest Czech clubs: Slovacko, SK Sigma Olomouc, Banik Ostrava

Club website: www.1fcbrno.cz

Reviews: www.eurofootballcities.com

 

SK Dynamo Ceske Budejovice (Ceske Budejovice)
Stadium: Stadion Streclecky ostrov (6,700)
Closest airports: Linz (Austria), Praha
Closest Czech clubs: Marila Pribram
Club website: www.skcb.cz



FK Jablonec (Jablonec nad Nisou)
Stadium: Chance arena (6,200)
Closest airports: Brno, Bratislava
Closest Czech clubs: Slovan Liberec, Mlada Boleslav
Club website: www.fkjablonec.cz



SK Kladno (Kladno)
Stadium: Stadion Frantiska Kloze (4,000)
Closest airports: Praha
Closest Czech clubs: Sparta Praha, Slavia Praha, Bohemians Praha, Bohemians 1905
Club website: www.skkladno.cz



FC Slovan Liberec (Liberec)
Stadium: U Nisy Stadium (9,900)
Closest airports: Praha
Closest Czech clubs: FK Jablonec, FK Mlada Boleslav
Club website: www.fcslovanliberec.cz



FK Mlada Boleslav (Mlada Boleslav)
Stadium: Mestsky stadion (5,000)
Closest airports: Praha
Closest Czech clubs: FK Jablonec, Sparta Praha, Slavia Praha, Bohemians Praha, Bohemians 1905
Club website: www.fkmb.cz



SK Marila Pribram (Pribram)
Stadium: Stadion Na Litavce (9,100)
Closest airports: Praha
Closest Czech clubs: Plzen, Slavia Praha, Sparta Praha, Bohemians Praha, Bohemians 1905
Club website: www.fkpribram.cz



MC Viktoria Plzen (Plzen)
Stadium: Struncovy Sady Stadion (7,400)
Closest airports: Praha
Closest Czech clubs: FK Marila Pribram, Sparta Praha, Slavia Praha, Bohemians Praha, Bohemians 1905
Club website: www.fcviktoria.cz



SK Sigma Olomouc (Olomouc)
Stadium: Andruv Stadion (8,800)
Closest airports: Brno, Bratislava
Closest Czech clubs: Slovacko, Brno, Banik Ostrava
Club website: www.sigmafotbal.cz
Review: http://moravianfootball.blogspot.com/2009/08/august-6th-2009-europa-league-3rd.html


SK Slavia Praha (Praha)
Stadium: Stadion Eden (21,000)
Closest airports: Praha
Closest Czech clubs: Sparta Praha, Bohemians Praha, Bohemians 1905
Club website: www.slavia.cz
Review: http://prague.tv/articles/sports/czech-football-guide

 

SK Sparta Praha (Praha)
Stadium: Generali Arena (20,000)
Closest airports: Praha
Closest Czech clubs: Slavia Praha, Bohemians Praha, Bohemians 1905
Club website: www.sparta.cz

Review: http://prague.tv/articles/sports/czech-football-guide

 

FC Slovacko (Uherske Hradiste)
Stadium: Mestsky fotbalovy stadion (8,100)
Closest airports: Brno, Bratislava
Closest Czech clubs: Brno, Sigma Olomouc, Banik Ostrava
Club website: www.fcslovacko.cz



FK Teplice (Teplice)
Stadium: Na Stinadlech (18,000)
Closest airports: Praha, Dresden
Closest Czech clubs: Mlada Boleslav, Kladno
Club website: www.fkteplice.cz

 

Gambrinus Liga map

 

The Czech top teams are spread throughout the country. Click here to see them on a Google map - Prague is towards the western side, Brno in the east on the right hand side.

 

When's kick off? Season and match kick off times

 

 

There are 16 teams in the Gambrinus Liga (that's a beer, by the way) so there's 30 league fixtures, the vast majority of which take place at weekends.

 

The season kicks off in early August but comes to an abrupt halt in mid-December, recommencing in mid-February. Anyone who has sampled winter in that part of the world will know why this is, as temperatures plummet way below zero, and bearing in mind most stadiums are largely uncovered, it's a big relief.

 

The regular kick off time is 5pm on Sunday. There's frequently TV games on Saturday evening and also a 5.15pm teatime game on a Monday. However, kick off arrangements are frequently spread throughout the weekend - often there are two or three games on a Saturday, and sometimes matches are starting at 3pm, 5pm and 8.15pm on a Sunday. So I've not been much help really.

 

Games tend to be scheduled for live TV around a couple of weeks ahead - but if you're making plans, Sunday is the most likely but it's worthwhile ensuring you're in town by Saturday afternoon.