Fanclub Obing: Following Bayern away for 41 years

Leipzig, Dortmund, Stuttgart, Mainz, Bremen, Berlin – wherever the members of the Fanclub Obing have ended up, you can find it on their website. Always dressed in red and normally with their custom jackets, they’ve taken photos of themselves, sometimes with beer and bratwurst in front of the stadium, sometimes in the midst of the crowd, sometimes in front of landmarks such as the Town Musicians of Bremen. “Whenever we are lucky enough to get tickets in the ballot, we go,” says Christian Schnebinger. He was one of the handful of founding members in 1984. The Obing am Chiemsee fan club now has almost 1,000 registered members. Schnebinger can almost always be seen in the photos in the ‘Away trips’ section, for example in Rome on the Spanish Steps wearing a red Bayern jersey and lederhosen. The only place the Fanclub Obing had never been represented before in 41 years is Frankfurt.

From Bremen to Rome, Munich to London

“We had some concerns beforehand,” admits the chairman, referring to Frankfurt's notorious fan base. “But we said, let's just give it a try.” As always, they didn't get into any trouble this time either. “We're not the type to look for trouble,” says Schnebinger. No, the Obing fans are here because of FC Bayern, football, passion, their friendship with each other and curiosity: "I find other stadiums and other cities exciting. We enjoy seeing them and there's always something new," says Schnebinger. He’s been chairman for 41 years and owns a drinks store in the village between the fire station and the DIY store. That's where they always set off from in the fan bus, for every home game at the Allianz Arena at least, and for away games around the world whenever possible.

It started on a whim in the pub with seven people. “We decided at lunchtime that we would go to the Olympiastadion, and then we went home again in the evening,” explains Schnebinger. “At some point we said: Now let's turn this into a fan club.” Then they went away for the first time, then to the cup final, then to the European Cup. As the fan club grew, so did the distances. “By now, we've been to at least 50 away games,” says Schnebinger. “I've seen most of the stadiums by now.” A best one, a most exciting game, a most beautiful city – there's no such thing for the Obing fans. “No matter where we go, it's always exciting and beautiful,” says Werner Specht, deputy chairman. “Although, obviously, the final in London in 2013 was something special. Or Milan in 2000.”

First trip to Olympiastadion at 16

It used to be all about football: getting on the bus first thing in the morning, and returning home late at night. “Now we're at a more sedate age,” says Schnebinger, who’s now 60. “Now we always go for three days: one day to get there and settle in. Then the matchday. Then we take our time getting back home.” This way, you get to see more of the cities and get to know more people, their mentalities and the football fans. It helps that Schnebinger is his own boss at the drinks store and can arrange his work schedule around the match schedule of his favourite club. He went to see Bayern for the first time when he was 16 and was immediately hooked. His love for his club has grown. “We still saw the likes of Beckenbauer, Hoeneß, Breitner, Müller – that was formative,” he explains. “You never forget the images from your youth.”

Particularly formative was the club’s motto, ‘Mia san mia’ (‘We are who we are’), and its help and support for those who are less fortunate. They have adopted this motto in Obing: a large portion of the membership fees goes to social projects. “It's a matter close to our hearts,” says Schnebinger. Whether donations to the hospital, the retirement home, the local history museum, the music association, the food bank or the nursing home – the fan club always lends a hand when it can. That willingness to help adds to its appeal: the Obing club now has members from all over Germany, even from Fehmarn and Lübeck. “For us, it's more than just watching football and cheering on Bayern.” It's ‘Mia san mia’ in action. In the week after their first trip to Frankfurt, they are travelling together to Nördlingen. “We want to get to know Gerd Müller's home town,” adds Schnebinger.

The analysis of the 3-0 win at Eintracht: