Red Star Penzing - Red Star Platz

Red Star Penzing

Red Star Platz

Kendlerstraße 38a

1160 Vienna

Austria

Official Website

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Ground Number: 1489
Friday 10th October 2025

Red Star Penzing 3-0 Mauerwerk
Wiener Stadtliga

RED STAR PENZING FC - A BRIEF HISTORY

Though the club was officially established in 1903, the inspiration for its name came at the end of the previous year. Metalworkers from Ottakring considered founding a team but didn't have a name for it. That Christmas, some of them were strolling along Vienna's Ringstrasse at night and spotted the brightly lit window of an American shipping company with the catchy name 'Red Star Line' on the Kärntner Ring, whose logo featured a gleaming red star. Thus, the club had found its name and its football crest. They joined the Austrian FA in 1904 and were placed in the 2nd Division. They won the title in 1908, but were denied promotion as they didn't have their own ground. They came close again in 1912 and won the 2nd Division A title in 1916, but were denied promotion due to the war. During the war years, they were known as SC Rotstern Wien because they were unable to use the English language in their name.

In 1926, they decided to abandon the professional game in favour of joining the Association of Amateur Football Clubs of Austria. became one of the leading clubs within the association. In their first year of existence, 1927, the Red Stars became VAFÖ champions of the 1st Division West and won several smaller cup competitions organised by the association. After winning their league title again in 1928, SC Red Star played against the VAFÖ champions of the 1st Division East, SC E-Werk Wien, for the Vienna VAFÖ championship title, winning the match 4-2. Also in 1928, the club merged with SC Sturm 1914 Vienna. A change of government to a fascist one led to the dissolution of the amateur game in 1934, and they were forced to rejoin the professional game. A short time later, however, the club was once again permitted to participate in the Austrian Football Association's championship. The club was relegated to the bottom division. The following years were marked by several club mergers, which helped SC Red Star to re-establish itself in the second tier. In 1940, the club was forced to rename itself SC Rot-Stern 03 by order of the National Socialist rulers, though again they reverted to their original name at the end of the war.

A nationwide league was established in Austria in 1949, which made life tougher for Red Star and other Vienna clubs. The 1950s saw the club bouncing between the State League B and the third-tier Vienna League. The 1960s saw them remain at the lower level. They moved to their current home ground in 1975, again amidst a series of mergers with other clubs. In 1982, the championship title in the now fifth-tier Vienna League led to promotion to the 1. Landesliga (tier 4). A year later, the 1. Landesliga was renamed the Vienna League. In 1985, SC Red Star/Auto finished second in the Vienna League and thus celebrated a return to the Regionalliga Ost, only lasting a single season at the higher level. In 1990, another Vienna League title was won, and the club was renamed SC Red Star-Heimlich. Another title in 1998 saw a partnership with SK Rapid Vienna and was renamed SK Rapid Wien Amateure/Red Star. This only lasted a year, with their Reserves and youth teams retaining their original name during this period.

The new Austria Vienna amateur team retained the league place of the de-merged club, which would have seen Red Star having to start from the bottom again. Yet another merger, this time with tenants SC Janecka- Penzing, with the new club being called SC Red Star Penzing, an identity which they retain to this day. The club entered the Amateur 1st division in 1998, achieving promotion to the Oberliga A in 2002 as runners-up. In 2014, they joined the newly founded 2nd Regional League, a division formed from the merger of the former Oberligas A and B. In 2015, they won the Toto Cup at the Ernst Happel Stadium. considered the greatest success in the club's history, as it was played at the National Stadium. They currently play in the Wiener Stadtliga or the Vienna State League, which is a regional league at the 4th level of Austrian football. SC Red Star Penzing is supported at home and away games by the "Guardia Rossa" fan club. The fans are largely left-wing, partly communist, and cite SC Red Star Penzing's founding and tradition as a working-class club. They frequently take a stand on social issues and regularly perform choreographies. The most well-known player to play for the club is Jurgen Macho. He was a youth team player for Red Star and went on to play 26 games for the Austria national team, as well as making 22 appearances for Sunderland as well as bench warming and injury at Chelsea.

MY VISIT

This visit had been seven months in the making and was mainly happening due to it being close to a potential second game at First Vienna. I had been gutted to miss out on a visit here in March due to the lack of card acceptance in Austrian football, at least at the lower levels. It was due to be game two of the day after a 12 PM game at the nearby Dinamo Helfort, and it looked like a great club with a decent range of merchandise. It was cash only, though, and so the fruitless search for an ATM began. 50 minutes, a couple of miles jogged and four out-of-service ATM's later, I was back at the ground I'd seen my first game at to see the closing stages of the first half. I headed to FCJ Alt-Ottakring after yet another fruitless search for a cash machine, and luckily, they took pity on me even though they didn't take cards. I didn't hold it against the club, though, as small clubs rely on gate money. I was armed with cash this time, though had I been Daniel Turner, I'd probably get free entry, a bag of free merch and a three-course meal, such is his innate ability to scrounge freebies whilst abroad.

Thursday night saw a couple of drinks and some planning, although I still hadn't finalised Sunday. The HNK Semafor app was super useful, but I wish you could sort by distance or time and filter out kids games. I didn't bother with the England v Wales game and went to bed early. It was a crap night's sleep, but I felt OK when I woke a couple of hours before my alarm and went back to sleep. I'd pre-booked and paid for a Taxi, otherwise I'd have walked it. I'd been over-cautious, and £12 got me to High Wycombe Parkway 25 minutes before the coach was due. I was also getting to the airport three hours early, as the coaches were hourly and had the one that got me to the airport 110 minutes before my flight, not shown up, my flight could be in peril. I was well ahead of time and could have left it later. Evidence Of Evil, John Mac in Zagreb and the first half of Question Time had kept me entertained on the pleasant journey. I found the one Wetherspoons that I needed, The Beehive, which was the one in the South Terminal before security. Rather than the chaos on the other side, it was an oasis of calm at this time in the morning and a lovely place for a pint of Stowford Press. Security was a breeze, and I went to Nando's for breakfast. I misread the menu and thought that Peri Mac and Cheese was a quid add-on on but it was a quid supplement. Definitely not worth the money but overall, £23 was OK for this: a Peri Burger, Fries and a Sxollie cider. Soft drinks were the order of the day after this, and there was plenty of room to spread out and rest. The gate was efficient, and the only thing I'd have liked was more charging points to top up my phone. The flight took off early, very decent considering the plane was packed. The journey really dragged, though, being cut off from the internet. It took nearly half an hour to get off the plane, due to a slow ground crew, but the upshot of being last off the plane and last on the cattle truck was that I was also first off.

 

Security was very quick and I headed straight to the train station and into Vienna. Mel's Diner was my first port of call and I had a Jameson Caskmates Burger, Chips, Onion Rings and two Delirium Red for under £20. It was fantastic and one of my favorite places in Vienna. I then headed to my room, stocking up at BILLA and getting some Austrian cider amongst other things. It was then across the road to my hotel, the Ibis Budget Wien St Markt. I had to wait another 15 minutes for my room to be ready, but I was glad to get up there to put stuff on charge. I also had a shower and watched some TV and YouTube before leaving at 5.10. I was still only on partial charge, but I needed to head out, so I took my power bank. I'd allowed 20 minutes delay for the 30-minute journey and was glad I did as the subway fannied about, stopping for longer than I'd have liked at some stations. I had a very good Lemonade Cocktail can on the way, which alleviated the stress. Google Maps tried to stitch me up but I knew the way by now. I was at the ground bang on kickoff, paying ten euros for entry and a pennant. I was surprised to bump into Pete Abbott from my groundhopping group. It is a very small world when it comes to groundhopping.

 

The hosts had not won in three games; last time out, they lost 4-1 at Dinamo Helfort, a few minutes walk down the road. Similarly, the visitors had not won in four games but had gained a 2-2 draw against Brigitenau in their last game. Red Star Penzing took the lead on 15 minutes, Maslaston heading home from a corner. They dominated, and Mauerwerk let the frustration get the better of them, for a home player ended up at my feet in the stand following a hefty tackle. Following half-time, Maslaston grabbed his second on 51 minutes, a great shot from the edge of the area into the top corner. Maslaston again. On 58 minutes, the ball was bundled home from a cross by Esleston, and it looked to be game, set and match. That it was, not that Mauerwerk offered much aside from the occasional chance on the break.

 

THE GROUND 

RED STAR PLATZ is a nice venue, although spectator-wise, it is one-sided. This side has benches all along it, with a small cover in the centre. Food and drink is fairly basic, although I gather they do more for a Saturday game. The clubhouse is very nice with lots of club memorabilia on display. There is also an excellent range of merchandise. Public transport is very well linked and there is plenty of street parking.

Dearne & District - The Welfare Ground

Dearne & District FC

Century Cladding Community Welfare Ground

Furlong Road

Goldthorpe Green

Goldthorpe

South Yorkshire

S63 9EH

NCEL Page

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Ground Number: 1488

Friday 3rd October 2025

Dearne & District 7-0 Nostell MW

NCEL D1

DEARNE & DISTRICT FC - A BRIEF HISTORY

Though the club has a history as a junior team back to 1982, the adult side was established in 2018.  They immediately joined the Doncaster Senior League, finishing 3rd in Division 1 and winning promotion to the Senior Division. Following a couple of pandemic-interrupted seasons, they were transferred to the Central Midlands North in 2021. They were runners-up to Retford United in 2023, before winning the title the following season. Last season, they finished 4th in the Northern Counties East D1, winning in the playoff semis against Wakefield but losing in the final to Wombwell Town. Dearne & District have played two campaigns in the FA Vase, but have lost both games.

The club initially played their games at Dearne Valley College before moving to the Kingsmark ground in Goldthorpe. However, after being refused planning permission for floodlights, in 2023, they moved just over a mile to the Welfare Ground. The club is based in the village of Goldthorpe, near Barnsley, which has a population of just over 6,000. The significant industry in the area for much of the 19th and 20th centuries was coal mining. This ended in the immediate area in 1994 with the closure of Goldthorpe Colliery. The 1984-85 Miners' Strike affected the area significantly. In 1984, two teenage boys died in Goldthorpe while collecting coal during the strike; a memorial to them was built in 2011. The actor Brian Blessed once lived on Probert Avenue in Goldthorpe. Goldthorpe was represented in the FA Cup during the 1920s and 1930s by Goldthorpe United F.C. Goldthorpe is home to Dearne CC, a cricket club established in 1926 and currently playing in Division 5 of the South Yorkshire Senior Cricket League.

MY VISIT

Dearne & District were one of the few grounds that Colin had done that I had not. The others that I can think of are South Leeds, Chester Le Street Town, West Auckland Town, Penzance, Charnock Richard & AFC Liverpool. To be honest, I could have done this and South Leeds with him and Hertfordshire Hopper, but I opted to prioritise sleep for work in the morning. I will take my 700+ grounds that I've done over him, though, but it would be nice to catch up. Dearne & District were one of the clubs that did semi-regular Friday night football, something that most clubs are blind to, turning down the chance to double their crowd or better in the process. As it happened, on this Friday, Sheffield FC, a ground Colin really fancied, were at home too, and so it was the perfect time to help out. I only noticed the previous Saturday whilst browsing through the fixtures on the train and duly made arrangements, weather permitting.

It had been a pricier-than-expected trip, so I was glad to have a local game this Tuesday. After my train full of insufferable Milton Keynes fans was delayed, it had a knock-on effect for all the other trains, including mine to Hemel. It was only five minutes, but I was eager to get home. After returning to Hemel, I made my way back to my car and was home by 11:25. A nightcap was tempting, but I prioritised sleep. It had been an unhealthy day once again, although my only regret is that my meal in Crewe should have been some noodles from a Chinese restaurant. This was reflected in the costs I recorded on my spreadsheet. The energy drink at 8 pm was also not the best idea, but I needed a pick-me-up. It was a poor and short night's sleep, but I was OK first thing in the morning. I started to feel tired mid-afternoon and so had a nap for a couple of hours to catch up. Monday was a fairly pleasant day at work, and Tuesday was my usual day off, which was most welcome.

On Tuesday evening, I went up to my local club, Holmer Green, for their Berks & Bucks Cup game against Milton Keynes. It was a good occasion for the club as they attracted a crowd of 480, their second-highest attendance of all time. On the field, they matched the Football League side's academy for large periods but the visitors were far more clinical. It was a busier than expected day at work on Wednesday, and it continued when I got home as I'd sold some programmes on eBay. It took ages to scan an Abingdon Town v Chesham United one from 2007 in as it had 80 pages full of interesting stuff. The labour-to-reward ratio must have worked out at less than £1 an hour, but I wanted to cut down on clutter and digitise some of my programmes. It was another brutal day at work on Thursday, very tiring indeed. The weather was also looking pretty grim for the game, although I was hoping it wasn't going to be match-affecting.

It was another busy but slightly easier day on Friday. Even so, I only had an hour to have a bath, have lunch and get changed before leaving at 2.30. I picked up Colin and we took a bizarre route through Chesham, Tring and the back end of beyond up to the M1 at Northampton. After that, though, the roads were excellent for a Friday night. I saw that Golcar had bitten the dust and was concerned for my game. However, they passed a 4.30 pitch inspection, and the rain was getting lighter. I dropped Colin off at Sheffield FC at 6.15 and filled up with petrol at Sainsbury's. The game was still on; no news was good news. I got to my desired takeaway, Papa Gino's Pizza at 7.10, parking on a side road. I ordered a spicy pizza burger and chips for £7.80 and caught up with this blog. The place was chaotic and very busy. The visitors had released their team by now, and no problems had cropped up, thankfully. I left with ten minutes to spare, and Google Maps directed me to the wrong side of the ground. It was easy to work out, though, and I was parked up and in the ground on kickoff. My dinner was superb, tasty and great value and the entry was well priced at £6. I also had a cider I'd not had, Crompton Oaks Strawberry for £4, not my usual taste, but low strength and helps the club.

 

Dearne & District topped the league, having won ten, drawn one and lost three of their games so far. On Wednesday, they drew 1-1 at South Leeds. Nostell Miners Welfare were in 20th, having won three, drawn two and lost six. Although they lost in the cup to Appleby Frodingham, they did at least win their last league game at fellow strugglers Glasshoughton Welfare. The hosts started well and Justin Circuit opened the scoring on 6 minutes with a shot from 15 yards into the top of the net. Circuit got his second with a low shot on 21 minutes, and then a looping free kick and a header. Then on 28 minutes, a free kick was put in and Adam Baskerville leapt like a hound to head home from ten yards. Baskerville got his second on 43 minutes, a good ball from the captain played him in, and he finished well. Another Baskerville goal in first-half injury time made it 5-0 at the break. Baskerville got his fourth and his team's 6th on 55 minutes, following up at the back post after an initial shot was saved. Nostell has a couple of half-chances on the break, but Theo Wainman made it 7-0 from a header, twenty minutes from time. 

A rather one-sided contest then, and a great win for the hosts. Sadly, not the advert for Friday night football that I wanted, with only 131 turning up. Maybe because they quite often play on a Friday and the weather was terrible, but it was their second-lowest crowd of the season. They deserved more, although the young group of fans behind the goal were fantastic and never gave up backing their side. The game finished quite late after the Nostell players took their time at the break, but I was away by 9.45. I picked Colin up 40 minutes later, and we initially had a good trip home. However, fifteen minutes from home, the M25 came to a standstill due to an 'accident'. We stood still for 20 minutes and then suddenly started moving. Obviously, the police had been 'holding' the traffic, and although it was only a minor bump, it was handled quite well. How it happened on a quiet motorway is anyone's guess, but I dropped Colin off and got home at half one. I stayed up and got my blog up, and had a couple of drinks. The aim was a 3 am bedtime, and that would give me an ample five hours of sleep with the early Wycombe kickoff and alternate matchday on Saturday.

THE GROUND 

THE WELFARE GROUND is only a 2.5-sided venue, but there is plenty of character in the ground. The covered accommodation is made up of three shipping containers, one seated and one standing along the side, plus a further seated, more basic one behind the goal. The latter is where the noisy young ultras and their excellent support gather. There is also a bar in a portakabin called the Dearne Inn One, a boardroom and a shack selling an interesting range of chilled cans and food. The parking is plentiful but a bit erratic, whilst Goldthorpe train station is walkable. P&G Pizza was an excellent takeaway in my opinion.