Football Supporters’ Federation Wales
FSF Cymru Issue 23
Croatia v Wales
International Friendly match
Sunday 23rd May, 2010
Stadion Gradski Vrt, Osijek
Kick off 7pm local, 6pm UK
Information for Welsh fans compiled by Welsh Fans.
This information is produced to be issued free of charge to Welsh football fans. Thanks
to the Home office and the FAW for help with distribution.
Chairman/Treasurer... Vince Alm ...+447814 779441 FSF Executive council member
Secretary Paul Corkrey... 07903 619654 International officer/Home office Liaison
F.A.W. Liaison officer Melanie Richards 07823 337791
Away match reconnaissance officer Neil Dymock +44 7852 305447
FSF Cymru helpline number + 44 7905 861848
FSF CYMRU - by Wales fans, for Wales fans - an independent organisation, committed to helping
Wales supporters.
MISSION STATEMENT
To help and support Wales fans who travel away. Our role is to provide accurate and objective
information, including a Risk Assessment: we convey what other agencies, such as police forces,
government departments, and football authorities are recommending: we publish a
comprehensive guide which is distributed free of charge to all travelling supporters: we operate
and publicise a 24 hour Hotline for fans in difficulties: we arrange a Football embassy operation,
at venues abroad, where we can offer advice, guidance and support as necessary.
To work with the Football Association of Wales in all aspects affecting the fans, to ensure that the
supporters voice is heard.
A continuous, running dialogue is held with Mr Mark Evans, Head, International Affairs, we take
supporters complaints, views to the FAW for discussion
“To take every possible action to eradicate any inter club rivalry when fans are following the
Welsh national team”
Neil Dymock will co ordinate the fans’ embassy in Croatia. Neil
has not missed a Welsh international match for many years and
he also runs the Welsh fans football team. Neil will be based at
Maksimilian,Franjevacka 12 Tvrđa ,around the corner from the
St Patrick Irish bar and can be contacted on the FSF help line on
+ 44 7905 861848. Please contact Neil if any emergencies occur
during your trip, he will have contact with the police and
British embassy officials and will be able to assist you.
Welcome to Issue 23 of the FSF Cymru information booklet. The draw for the 2012 European
championships is interesting and we believe that Wales has a real chance of qualifying. We have some
challenging trips to face in Switzerland, Montenegro, Bulgaria and of course London. FSF Cymru will
provide Fans embassy assistance at all the venues. For this friendly game in Croatia we have provided a
smaller than usual booklet but hope that it is of use to the fans. Could this be the tournament that
Wales finally qualify? lets hope so and all get behind the national team during the next two years .
Regardless of your club allegiances Wear Red for Wales and unite behind
the team.
British Embassy Information about Osijek, Croatia
WHAT THE EMBASSY CAN DO
:
Issue Emergency passports (one way) and Emergency Travel Documents (could be two-way);
Provide information about transferring funds from the UK;
Provide a list of local lawyers;
Do all we can to contact you within 24 hours of being told that you have been hospitalised or detained;
In an emergency and with your permission., contact your family and friends.
WHAT THE EMBASSY CANNOT DO:
Get you out of prison or interfere in criminal or civil court proceedings;
Give you legal advice;
Investigate a crime;
Get you better treatment in hospital or prison than is given to local people;
Pay any bills or give you money;
Make travel arrangements for you or find accommodation
PASSPORT FEE:
Emergency Passport £71=HRK605,00 (payable in Croatian Kunas only)
Emergency Travel Document £91.50=HRK780,00
Documents required for a replacement lost/stolen passport:
Passport application form C1, form for lost/ stolen passport
Two passport size photographs
Local police report of lost/stolen passport
Any other identity e.g. driving licence
Travel itinerary
British Embassy Zagreb
Consular Section
Luciceva 4, 10000 Zagreb
Tel: +385 1 6009 100
British Consulate Split
Obala narodnog preporoda
10/III, 21000 Split
Tel: +385 21 346 007
Working hours:
08:30 - 17:00 Mon-Thu
08:30 - 14:00 Fri
Working hours:
07:30-15:30 Mon-Thu
07:30-13:30 Fri
British Consulate Dubrovnik
Vukovarska 22, 1st floor
20000 Dubrovnik
Tel: +385 20 324 597
Working hours Mon/Tue/Thurs/Fri 10:00-13:00
Out of office hours please call 00385 1 6009 268
Please Contact Neil Dymock FSF Cymru, who will have access to the Welsh police liaison
officers and he will assist you with any issues relating to the Embassy..
FSF CYMRU HELP LINE + 44 7905 861848
British Embassy Information about Osijek, Croatia
BRITISH EMBASSY ZAGREB
http://ukincroatia.fco.gov.uk
INFORMATION FOR SUPPORTERS OF THE WELSH FOOTBALL TEAM
OSIJEK, CROATIA, MAY 2010
DO’S AND DON’TS IN CROATIA
1.TRAVEL INSURANCE: Do make sure you are fully covered for unexpected losses or expenses,
particularly if you are travelling on ‘discount tickets’. Do specify Croatia in your insurance cover.
2. MEDICAL INSURANCE: Do make sure you are fully covered for medical treatment and medical
evacuation.
Croatia has a reciprocal emergency health arrangement with the UK. European health insurance
(EHIC) is not valid in Croatia.
3. PASSPORTS: Do keep a separate record of your passport details, preferably a photocopy of the
details pages with next of kin contact details. Do report a lost/stolen passport immediately to the local
police. Police reports are needed to obtain a new passport. The British Embassy in Zagreb and The
British Consulates in Dubrovnik and Split only issue Emergency passports. See Passport Fee.
A good idea is to scan your passport on your PC and e mail it to yourself, if you subsequently
lose your passport you can check your e mails and all the details will be there.
4. FUNDS: Croatian Kunas are the official currency for everyday transactions in Croatia. You should
only change money through official exchange offices (Mjenjacnica) or banks. Do declare all foreign
currency of and above the worth of 10.000 Euros on entry into the country. Customs officers hold
declaration forms. You can use the Western Union money transfer arrangement in case of loss of
funds. Be prepared to pay for some types of consular assistance, e.g. issuing an Emergency passport.
5. BELONGINGS/VALUABLES: Do leave passports/valuables in a safe place. Beware of bag and
mobile phone snatchers especially in the camp sites, on the beach, public transport, restaurants, cafés
and at the stadium. Don’t leave them in your car if you are driving. Do ensure you know whom to
contact to obtain emergency credit cards and replacement cheques if they are stolen. Do report the
loss of valuables to the local police and obtain a written police report.
6. DRUGS: Don’t get involved in any way with drugs. Penalties can be severe, heavy fines or
imprisonment. Don’t carry anything through customs for anyone else.
7. VISAS: Visas are not required for visits to Croatia for tourist stays up to 90 days. Do enter the
country at an official border crossing. Carry identification at all times. Do register with the police within
48 hours of arriving, if you are not staying in registered accommodation, such as hotels, hostels etc.
Special thanks to Miss Suncica Aganbegovic from the British Embassy for
providing the information and assisting us before and during the trip
Information from Reconnaissance trips
The following information is the updated news following the FSF Cymru reconnaissance trip on May 5th.
2010. It compliments earlier information from the FAW and police already inside this booklet.
Thanks to Lucy, Mark Evans and Wayne Palmer
The exchange rate is currently working out at around 8.25 Kuna to the pound. The average cost of a
bottle of beer was 15 Kuna and a meal at McDonalds worked out at 32 Kuna, about £4...the prices are
a little cheaper than the UK but not by much and it will be slightly cheaper to eat and drink in local back
street bars rather than themed bars or main street cafe/bars etc.
On arrival in Zagreb Airport –to get to the city centre a Taxi charges a minimum of 150K, (about £18)
Bus 30K (about £3.50)
Bus takes 20 minutes, leaves every 30 minutes on the hour and half hour until 8pm.
Starts 7am, less frequent after 8pm
Takes you to bus station you then have to take a tram 0.80K ticket bought at kiosk but driver can sell
you a ticket. Tram is Number 6, goes left to Crnomerec to go back to station you need tram 6 going to
Sopot.
Bus Zagreb to Osijek 135 kuna one way
7.30 - 11.45 10.00 - 14.00 16.00 - 19.50 17.00 - 21.00
Bus Osijek to Zagreb
08.00 - 12.20 10.00 - 14.00 16.00 - 22.30 21.00 - 01.00
Train Zagreb to Osijek 130 Kuna one way
6.56 - 11.19 7.20 - 12.47 10.00 - 14.29 13.00 - 18.30 17.01 - 21.11 18.20 - 21.42
Train Osijek to Zagreb
0.05 - 5.05 3.16 - 9.02 5.22 - 8.36 5.25 - 9.36 12.02 - 16.22 16.20 - 20.56 19.32 - 0.53
There is a Good taxi deal until end of May. Any journey less than 5km is 13 Kuna Taxi Cammeo
031 205 205 (This offer applies to Osijek only)
We are currently not happy with the state of the away end for the Welsh fans...It is in a mess at
the moment and many of the seats are broken...Toilets are inadequate, there are no turnstiles
and generally it is very poor. We have been in contact with the FAW to try to improve the
situation and they have contacted the Croatian FA... hopefully Welsh fans will have a
satisfactory area of the stadium.
Internet cafes charge approx £1.60 an hour or 15 Kuna
Transport
Public transport Osijek
Osijek offers you two possibilities to get around town: buses and trams. They both operate from
05:00 till 23:00 or midnight, except the tram line that connects Višnjevac and Zeleno Polje on
Saturdays nights, on which you can catch a night ride every half hour. You can use the same ticket for
both of them and transfer with the same one from bus to tram and vice versa. A ticket is good for 40
minutes after it is validated.
Public transport ticketing news
There is a new and improved ticketing system that will have you travelling via public transport carefree.
It’s called ‘Butra’ and you can purchase it with the driver, as soon as you do so you are to scan it by
using the ticket machine on a bus or tram. Now you’re free to ride and once you’re about to depart the
bus or tram, scan your ticket one more time. A public transport inspector will check if you really have
scanned your ticket or not. The display tells you exactly how much money was taken from your ticket
and once you get on a bus or tram, you have to repeat the same procedure. If by chance you don’t
spend the entire 40 kuna whilst staying in Osijek, the remaining amount on your Butra ticket will be
refunded. Those who own a Diners credit card with a chip can use the card directly instead of using
Butra.
Fans Embassy, Tvrđa Square, Osijek
Lucy Jones ticket officer
In Croatia she will be based at the, at the Hotel Villa Lenije. VINCOVCI. Which is a fair
distance from Osijek )over 20 miles)
She said that the Croatian FA have promised her a booth at the away end of the
stadium on match day for fans to collect tickets...check with Neil Dymock if any doubts
We are basing the FSF Cymru fans embassy at the St. Patrick's Pub.
it was opened in 1999 in Osijek. It was the first real Irish pub in the city. It is located in Tvrđa,
the 18th-century fortress. This is a great place for fans to meet with traditional food and drinks
served. There are many local pubs , bars, cafes and restaurants close by to sample the local
culture and cuisine.
The stadium is just a ten to fifteen minute walk from the square.
Getting to and getting around Osijek
Rail services
To Osijek terminate at the grand 1880s railway building at the bottom edge of the central town.
In addition to the numerous train services operate each day to Zagreb (including the new, highspeed tilt train which completes the journey in around 3 hours), there are services to Sarajev,
Budapest, Koprivnica and Rijeka as well as other local services within Croatia to places like
Slavonski Brod and Đakovo. The Croatian Railways has information on train times and tickets.
The railway station is being renovated and modernised. There are daily connections with
places in the city area. There are also daily connections to Bizovac spa.
By bus
The bus station adjoins the train station and offers international as well as domestic services.
Some of the many destinations on offer include Vukovar
Đakovo, Novi Sad, Belgrade, Pecs and Tuzla. Timetables, tickets and information are easily
accessible. Panturist is the major bus operator out of Osijek and has listings of domestic and
international bus travel - click on the vozni red icon. Central bus station is renovating and it will
become the biggest one in south-eastern Europe. Bus companies Panturist, Polet, APP,
Croatiatrans and many other smaller companies are daily connecting city with all parts of the
country.
By Road
It is a distance of 131 miles or 210 Kilometres between Zagreb and Osijek
Main highways pass nearby to Osijek from Zagreb through to Belgrade and the pan-European
corridor from Budapest through to Sarajevo will see a new motorway added to the Croatian
network, construction to be completed by 2010.
Highway A5 or Slavonika was opened 17.04.2009. It connects Osijek with the A3 highway
which runs from Zagreb to the Serbian border.
Driving to Osijek is easy with good signposting from all directions, and there is on-street as well
as lot parking in the town.
Zagreb airport
Train
There is no train connection with the airport yet. It is not known when the planned rail
connection will be completed.
Car and bus
The airport is 14 kilometres southwest of Zagreb.
The bus station is right in front of the exit of the International Arrivals Hall. Every half hour
between 07:00 and 20:00 a bus goes to the central bus station Zagreb. Outside of these times,
buses run in connection with arriving and departing airplanes. The travel time to the centre of
Zagreb is approximately 25 minutes, a ticket costs HRK 30.00.
Taxi
Taxis are in front of the Arrivals Hall The starting rate is officially HRK 19.00, and then you pay
HRK 7.00 per kilometre and HRK 3.00 for baggage. You can easily pay HRK 200.00 or more
for a ride to the centre of Zagreb. Clearly agree to a price before you get in. Between 22:00
and 05:00 and on Sundays and bank holidays there is a 20% extra charge.
General information for Welsh fans in Croatia
Important Phone Numbers
Police 92 Fire Department 93, Ambulance 94 Time 95
General Information 981, Road Assistance 987 Public Emergency Centre 985
Currency
The Croatian monetary unit is Kuna. It consists of 100 Lipa.
There are 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 Lipa coins, 1, 2, 5 and 25 Kuna coins and 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200,
500 and 1,000 Kuna banknotes.
1.00 British pounds sterling = 8.24 Croatian kuna May 4th 2010
Some basic Croatian words and phrases
YES = DA dah
NO = NE neh
PLEASE = MOLIM moleem
THANK YOU = HVALA VAM hvahlah vahm
HELLO / HI = ZDRAVO / BOG zdrahvo / bog
GOOD-BYE = DOVID-ENJA doveejehñah
DO YOU SPEAK ENGLISH? = GOVORITE LI ENGLESKI? govoreeteh lee ehnglehskee
Eating and Drinking
Main dishes
consists of grilled and pan - fried pork or veal chop (kotlet) or fillet (odrezak.) Becki odrezak fried Wiener schnitzel in breadcrumbs, Pariski odrezak - ( parisienne schnitzel ) fried in batter
and Zagrebacki schnitzell stuffed with cheese and ham. Mjesano meso - mixed grill, Janjetina usually cuts from grilled whole sheep roasted over the open fire.
More expensive restaurants offer specialities like rakovica - (crab), ostrige (oysters) skampi
(scampi) and jastog (lobster).
Salads usually include zelena salata - green salad and mjesana salata - mixed salad, also
krastavci - gherkins and paprika - pickled peppers
desserts : sladoled - ice cream, torta - cake, palacinke - pancakes and rozata - cream
caramel.
Drinking
Pivo - beer mostly light lager variety, better brands are called Karlovacko and Ozujsko pivo.
Vino - wine. Croatia produces many great wines of which the best known are : Vrbnik, Vugava,
Kastelet, Grk and Posip all medium dry whites. Dingac, Babic, Primosten and Viski Plavac
and Teran all red wines.
Zestoka pica - spirits served up and down the country include lozovaca made from grapes,
sljivovica - plum brandy, viljamovka - pear brandy, travarica - made from herbs, pelinkovac juniper based spirit, vinjak - locally produced cognac, maraskino made from cherries.
Prices slightly cheaper than the UK
Osijek
Osijek is the fourth largest city in Croatia with a population of 114,616 in 2001. It is the largest
city and the economic and cultural centre of the eastern Croatian region of Slavonia .Osijek is
located on the right bank of the river Drava. The name was given to the city due to its position
on elevated ground which prevented the city being flooded by the local swamp waters. Its
name Osijek comes from the Croatian word "oseka" which means "ebb tide”
Osijek is divided into two main regions - the upper town and Tvrđa, the preserved fortress town
to the east of the town centre along the Drava River. The whole city has 12 districts/blocks:
Upper Town, Lower Town, Fortress, New Town, South 1, South 2, Green Field, Retfala, New
Retfala, Industrial District, Tvrdjavica and The Left Coast.
Tvrđa is the self-contained 18th-century Hapsburg defensive fortress just east of the city
centre. This immaculately-preserved baroque military compound, designed by Maximillian de
Gosseau in 1721, contains many fine buildings to view by day, and at night becomes the
hotspot with bars and clubs. Luckily there was no damage during the recent conflict to the site,
ensuring great viewing and photos. Tvrđa is based around the main square, Trg Svetog
Trojstva, and the Museum of Slavonia is located here with artefacts throughout history as early
as Roman times. We recommend Welsh fans meet in this square. It is much closer to the
stadium compared to the main city square.
Osijek has a tram system dating back to 1884, and the three main lines connect the railway
station, town square, Tvrđa, industrial district, and all city borders network is currently being
completely overhauled and more than doubled in length. You can also experience the ride with
the oldest tram in Europe, which has been renovated for sightseeing tours. Buses run every
10-15 minutes in the city area.
In OsijekTaxis are available but the city is very well designed to travel by foot with few
hills and you see much more under your own steam. During May all Taxi rides are only
13 Kuna for a 5km journey...fromTvrda square to the stadium FSF recommend the taxi,
the walk is along a busy road and takes 15 minutes, we are trying to sort some
transport for Welsh fans from St Patricks bar on match day, contact Neil Dymock for
details.
Joining the Football supporters Federation is easy and it is free, just go to the website and you
can join online. www.fsf.org.uk It is important that supporters get their voices heard, the
bigger the membership the more representative the organisation becomes.
Welsh end of Gradski Vrt Stadium, Osijek
The facilities at the Welsh end of the stadium are basic, we are concerned that
they are very poor, but you are advised to arrive relatively early.
In the area surrounding the stadium there is a McDonalds and a very good diner.
The Croatian people are friendly and welcoming and no problems are expected
at the game. They are a very proud people and they were at war with Serbia not
so long ago and there is obviously still a lot of bad feeling concerning anything
Serbian...Please be aware of this.
The stadium is home to two clubs NK Osijek and Fortuna VNO Osijek and has a
seating capacity of 19 800. It was built during the 1980’s and a bigger stadium
was planned if the Croatia/Hungary joint bid to hold the 2012 European
championships had won.
Wear Red for Wales
Neil Dymock , Myself, Perry Morgan and Andy Unwin Visiting a charity in Denmark in 2008,
Gol provides gifts and donations to help children through out the world, wherever Wales play
away games Gol representatives travel to orphanages and places of need . FSF Cymru
endorses the work that Gol does and we hope all Welsh fans support Gol initiatives whenever
possible
FSF CYMRU HELP LINE + 44 7905861848