Best Ground On The Island

Csepel-Csep-Gól 1 v Szentlorinc 2

Magyar Kupa (I'm saying "Round 2")

Saturday 26 August 2023

The exceedingly ramshackle Csepel Stadion is the 444th different ground I've watched a football game on. Weeds and trees growing up through the terraces and stands. All of one side, and most of both ends, closed and increasingly derelict. Effectively only one third of the ground open.

Recent reports have suggested that Csepel Stadion has been relegated to only the second best stadium on Csepel Island. We are here in Budapest for the World Athletics Championships. Which are being held at a new, purpose built stadium. Some claim that stadium has now become the best stadium on Csepel Island. While I can vouch for the quality of the new athletics stadium, I do bring important geographical intelligence.

Get real. Consult a map. Read my lips. The new Athletics Stadium is not even on Csepel fucking Island you morons. Csepel Stadion remains the best on the Island. End of.

Let's deal firstly with the in-ground drinking. One DON (I was too scared to grab a photo) put down a bottle (drunk straight from the bottle) of Rosé Wine in the first half. As the second half started, my Carrier Bag Firm companion gobsmacked;

"Look Phil, he's just opened another, bigger bottle."

As a full litre of Rosé hove into view. We went;

Soproni Sörgyár, Soproni Klasszikus, Lager from a Tin at 4.5%

That's from the Heineken Hungária stable. Standard Footie Beer. But … you can imagine. That has pushed my Hungarian Beer Ticks up to a respectable 14.

We spent much of the game a polite distance from the Islander Division, the Csepel Ultras. Drums. Big wavy flags. A few British club "references". Including a Newcastle United shirt. A Glasgow Rangers scarf hung on the fence. And a Mum's sewing kit attempt at a West Ham Cross of St George.

Anyway. I know not the relationship between the Csepel hierarchy and the Islander Division. But, I can only assume it's mutual and cordial. Because on 55 minutes, a guy in a club training top and keks delivered a tray of Dreher Sörgyárak, Dreher Gold (5%) tins to the IDs. Gratefully received it appears.

We'd already pre-loaded at the superb;

Rizmajer Sörház Csepel

Budapest, Táncsics Mihály u. 110, 1212

Just five minutes from the turnstiles of the best stadium on Csepel Island. A proper Mittel Europe low rise housing estate across the street. The gaff appears to be squeezed in between terraced houses. The bar is in the first room fronting the street. But, the subsequent rooms get more and more airy and open until they merge into a lovely beer garden. "Our" barman was lovely and attentive. He simply couldn't believe we'd made it out to his part of the Island. He wanted to try his English on me. (He pronounced the "int" part of Pint as we'd pronounce it in Lint).

"Phil, how many litres in Pint?"

"568 mils mate"

"In Pint?"

"Yes Bruv, one Pint is 568 millilitres. Always has been."

"... why Phil …?"

His heads gone.

In the event, with "specials", they had twelve of their own on. We couldn't manage all those. So, we went;

Rizmajer Kézmuves Sörfozde, Világos, Lager on Keg at 4.3%

That was a straight ahead, pleasant enough, light lager.

Rizmajer Kézmuves Sörfozde, Collab with Hopfanatic Brewery, Pils Of Simcoe, Hoppy Indian Pale Lager thingamabob, on Keg at 5.5%

That was a great, bang on, Hoppy Lager. Opaque. Hint of tropical fruit. But that beer is really about the just so bitterness coming in to dip over the finish line.

Rizmajer Kézmuves Sörfozde, Collab with Hopfanatic Brewery, Popcorn IPA on Keg at 6.5%

A lovely big powerful IPA. Maybe not as malty as it looks. Citrus comes in soapy at times.

But. Outstanding Beer Of The Day was;

Rizmajer Kézmuves Sörfozde, Fekete Cherry, Cherry Porter on Keg at 5.5%

That was gloriously too sweet. Tastes of CHERRIES. Which I think was the motif the brewer was aiming for. And a very nice balance to it if you hang around for a bit.

Csepel lead at half time with a goal on 42. Szentlorinc pegged it back with a goal on 60. Csepel had a penalty saved on 71. Which fucked their day up. As the away team won it on 90+3 with a goal by Réyti Róbert.

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