Running in Budapest (Vasas vs. Debreceni EAC)

Posted on October 20, 2020 by Sub Story

Vasas’s victory over Szeged before the international break was much-needed, if not convincing. On Sunday they had a chance to consolidate this against basement-dwellers Debrecen (not that Debrecen, the other, less successful one – DEAC).

But before that it was time for a race or two. Since lockdown my mate Dom and I have taken up running. Having never run anything beyond a 5K before (good old Middlesbrough Parkrun), I was keen to see how I’d handle something a bit more onerous. A few weeks back I managed my first 10K race, and on Sunday the NATO Run seemed too good to pass up.

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A Map of Football Teams in Budapest by District

Posted on October 5, 2020 by Sub Story

I’ve been travelling to a fair few grounds in Budapest recently, so thought I’d put this district map together. Teams in bold are in the upper leagues or have won league titles in the past.

I’ve updated it with a few of the notable historical connections and associations, either from when the clubs were founded or during the Communist Regime, when ones such as Honvéd and Újpest were co-opted into being army and police teams.

I’m always looking for more input, so let me know if you have any suggestions.

Groundhopping – BVSC Zugló

Posted on September 29, 2020 by Sub Story

Vasas were (losing) away again this Sunday, so once again we used our free day to visit another of Budapest’s storied lower league teams, this time heading north to District XIV to see BVSC Zugló.

*Szőnyi úti Stadion*: built in its current form in 1952. Home of BVSC Zugló

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Groundhopping – Csepel: A Fallen Champion

Posted on September 21, 2020 by Sub Story

Vasas were playing away in the cup this weekend, so Kevin McCluskie (Fitba & Foci) and I decided to visit somewhere we’d been putting off for all too long – Csepel FC. And so (via Kispest after we got on the wrong bus) we ended up in District XXI at the Béke téri Stadium.

Csepel in their 1958/59 title winning season – photo from magyarfutball.hu

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Baptism of Dire (Siofok vs. Vasas)

Posted on September 13, 2020 by Sub Story

The latest sacrificial lamb in the Vasas dugout: Szabolcs Schindler.

Going one-nil down against Siofok within a minute was probably not part of new Vasas manager Szabolcs Schindler’s pre-match plan. Going 2-0 down after 15 minutes was probably a fair indication of what managing this ragged and panicky team is going to be like for him. He’s probably a nice fella – he doesn’t deserve this.

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Bye Bye Bene, Bene Bye Bye

Posted on August 27, 2020 by Sub Story

At this point it’s not really worth my time learning their names.

So despite seemingly having the Hungarian Second Division equivalent of a Man City budget and a team containing pretty much every top scorer of every tier for the last four years, Vasas had started this season with a resounding “meh”.

Well sadly, that “meh” was downgraded to a “ffs” yesterday, as the 13th District boys managed to lose 3-1 at Budaors: a town in a landlocked country that’s primarily famous for its fishmarket.

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Balajti’s Vasas Start to Click (Szentlőrinc vs. Vasas)

Posted on August 16, 2020 by Sub Story

Ádám Balajti makes it 3-0. (photo from http://www.vasasfc.hu)

Depressed though I am that Middlesbrough legend George Friend is leaving for the perennial mediocrity of Birmingham, I have a match to watch. We’re four games into a new campaign and before today it’d been anything but smooth sailing for big-spending Vasas. Two utterly turgid draws dented the fans’ (and my) pre-season optimism, before an unconvincing victory against Csákvár finally saw the Ironworkers get one in the win column.

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Corona Ends Vasas Promotion Hopes

Posted on June 27, 2020 by Sub Story

On the long list of important things affected by Covid-19, a late promotion push by Hungarian second division team Vasas FC is probably not foremost in your brainspace, nor was it in mine. Football is not just secondary right now, it’s so low down the list of priorities as to be near-irrelevant given the loss and disruption inflicted by Coronavirus. Still, I started this season so I’ll finish it with a quick update.

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1979 – The Brazilians in Bahrain

Posted on May 20, 2020 by Sub Story

By Daniel Cochran

Brazil in the late 70s and early 80s are often cited as the greatest team not to win a World Cup. With players such as Sócrates, Zico and Falcão starring in midfield, the Brazilians had fans flocking to see them play on their many worldwide travels. A friendly match against the Seleção was not just a stern test, but also a feather in the cap of a country’s FA – and a strong step towards footballing legitimacy.

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Don’t Call It A Comeback (Yet): Vasas’s Benedek Murka Talks Corona, Injury and The Future

Posted on April 1, 2020 by Sub Story

*photo courtesy of http://www.vasasfc.hu*

Vasas midfielder Benedek Murka hasn’t had a great few years. A promising start to his young career (he’s still only 22) saw him play for the Hungarian National Under-21 team and cement a place in the Vasas starting lineup. Sadly, this early success was brought to a halt last year when a knee injury landed him in the one place no player wants to be – ACL surgery.

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