UCS Paloma (Germany)

Uhlenhorster SC Paloma eV, to give the club their full title, are a sports club from Hamburg in Germany which has a football section. The club, based in the Barmbek district of the city, was originally formed in 1909.

During the years of World War Two under the Third Reich the club joined forces with other local clubs Uhlenhorst-Hertha and SC Urania Hamburg to compete as Barmbecker SG to compete in Gauliga Nordmark, one of sixteen top flight divisions of the period from the 1939-40 season.

The hybrid side finished in mid table twice before bottom place in 1941-42 before being relegated to 1. Klassen from the renamed Gauliga Hamburg in 1942-43 before that level became known as Bezirksklasse post war and then later Verbandsliga.

The Verbandsliga would be one of many national fifth tier divisions when Paloma were promoted to it from the Landesliga in 2001-02, finishing their debut season of 2002-03 in fifth position which was repeated the following term.

A series of mid table finishes ensued before relegation was averted on goal difference in 2010-11 followed by another narrow escape twelve months later. However, there would be no escape in 2012-13 as Paloma dropped down to Landesliga Hammonia.

At that point as well as football, USC Paloma have sections for badminton, ball games, basketball, fitness, gymnastics, handball, junior sports, self defence, water sports and table tennis. The football section catered for thirty teams covering all age groups and levels.

A runners-up place was achieved in 2013-14 which was enough to secure promotion back to the Oberliga where they remained until being relegated once more in 2015-16 to Landesliga Hansa where they weighed in with eighth place in 2016-17.

The club was switched to the Hammonia group for 2017-18 around the same time as Kunstrasenplatz was fitted with a new artificial pitch, with Paloma finishing in fourth place with Tom Bein leading the scoring for the team coached by Steffen Harms before ending as runners-up in 2018-19 to win promotion.

The 2019-20 season was suspended owing to the COVID-19 pandemic with Paloma sitting in thirteenth position in the Oberliga with Pascal Haase top scoring.

UCS Paloma will compete in Oberliga Hamburg in the 2020-21 season.

My visit

USC Paloma 3 Niendorfer TSV 1 (Sunday 28th October 2012) Oberliga Hamburg (att: 180)

As ever I had done extensive research in the weeks before I set out on my latest overseas adventure as to accessible fixtures of a suitable level that fitted together with other matches. The excellent Soccerway website had come up trumps.

I was offered the opportunity to take in a game at a level I was more accustomed to with my non league travels around England on the third day of my German trip. Even better, it had an early kick off, which would allow me to still go to watch the St Pauli v Dynamo Dresden at 1.30.

I'd had two tremendous days around North Rhine Westphalia, taking in a couple of matches and visiting some new grounds. After seeing the clash between Schalke 04 and 1FC Nuremburg, I enjoyed a fine Saturday night out in Dusseldorf's Aldstadt. 

I had slept very well at the my budget hotel and awoke relieved that the change of the clocks hadn't made me late for my walk to the Hauptbanhof so that I could catch a train to Hamburg having purchased a new alarm clock to make double sure.

Some early morning entertainment was offered by two women fighting on Düsseldorf station, before a trio of drunks being met off the inter-city service by the polizei at Osnabruck. I dozed and caught up with some more shut eye, waking with about thirty minutes of the long journey to go.

We arrived bang on time at Hamburg Haufbanhof and I quickly sprang into action, as I found the left luggage lockers and then with remarkable simplicity the correct SBahn platform for my service to Barmbek.

The ride lasted around fifteen minutes and I walked out to a beautiful but cold Sunday morning suburban scene. It was at this point I realised that for the second time in two days, the one hour time difference between the UK and Germany had done for me. The kick off was down as 9.45 on the website, but I'd forgotten that the times were for UK viewers!

The ten minute walk through a very nice but deserted area brought me to the club gates, where I was the third or forth customer. There was virtually an hour still until kick off! I paid €6 admission, which included a free programme which was in a box for supporters to help themselves. 

I was about the first spectator in attendance as I wandered in and purchased a very welcome coffee from the wooden hut, from a no doubt slightly confused vendor at seeing an Englishman at a local game at such an early time.

I had a wander around the Jonny Reibahn Sportzplatz ground to survey the scene, and the first thing that struck me was the pitch. It wasn't a grass surface but brown cinders. These pitches were not quite as popular as once before, but there were still a few about, and this would be the first time I'd see a game on one. 

Tall flats were behind both ends, with fans being able to stand inside the tall wire fences that enclosed the playing area. There was a railing down the entrance side with a couple of sections of metal steps to offer a  slightly better view. 

Alongside was a small five a side court. On the opposite there were a few park benches along with the dug outs. It was relatively basic, but nicely presented.

I returned to the clubhouse, where I ordered another coffee and sat in the window overlooking the pitch. It also had an open balcony, and was a fine facility. Gradually more spectators arrived as kick off approached, including the lovely sight of plenty of families. 

One fanatic had a denim jacket with all the clubs crests on the back. I decided to take in some food, and enjoyed a local sausage, with free bread alongside and my first cup of gluwein of the stay. It was a harsh concoction, but it hit the spot.

The teams jogged out to the middle of the pitch to polite applause as the PA man read out the teams and announcements. I stood with the main throng until I realised it would be far warmer at the far side with the sun shining on it. 

The home team, who started the game in second bottom position in the league started out well and took the lead when Jannik Dreyer fired home from an uncleared corner. The pitch started to soften with the players running on it. 

Not many sliding challenges were going in, but all the players looked comfortable on the ball. It maybe explained in general why German's have a better technical ability than the gung ho British players of a similar level?

Tobias Herbert was having a fine game for the visitors at left back, which was just as well, as Paloma were full of attacking intent. Their coach Marco Kraisz had obviously got them fired up. Jonas in the home net was also playing his part as he kept out a scorching free kick. Half time came all too soon for me. I was really enjoying the game.

Sadly after ten minutes of the second period I had to make a move as I had yet to pick up my ticket from the Millerntor, and with news that the game was likely to be a sell out, I didn't want to take any chances in it being re-sold. Inevitably, as soon as I walked out the ground I heard a big cheer. It turned out that Max Liehr had double Paloma's advantage.

The noise from the game could be heard a block or two away, and another loud noise went up, which was a goal back for Neindorfer from Utz. However, and its strange how distant cheers can fool you, another one went up which didn't sound like a goal within a few seconds.

This signified that the visitors were reduced to ten men as Daniel Prange received a second yellow. He was followed into the showers ten minutes later as his team mate Ozden Kocadal saw a straight red. The win was sealed by a last minute goal by Lohfeldt.

The match details were later revealed when I purchased the best local football paper I'd seen for years the following morning. Sport Mikrofon contained details of the Bundesliga games, Regionalliga Nord, Oberliga Hamburg as well as the two local Landesliga divisions. 

Most had large match reports. I recommend anyone in Hamburg to get hold of one if they're interested in all standards of football.

Meanwhile I had headed to Barmbek station and got on board the U3 train to St Pauli, reflecting on a superb start to my day. I would never turn down the opportunity of football of this level on my trips.