Bristol Hannover Council

** To celebrate the 75th anniversary of the twinning relationship between Hannover and Bristol, a Hannover boys football club travelled to Bristol from August 18 to 21 to play Ashton FC’s boys and girls teams at Greville Smyth Park, near Ashton Gate Stadium.

The German boys football club is part of the Polizei-Sportverein Hannover, which was originally founded by police officers in 1920.

The organisers of the trip were pleased to see that both clubs won and lost matches against each other but celebrated as one afterwards.

On Friday August 19, the Lord Mayor of Bristol Councillor Paula O’Rourke met the young players and their coaches at Bristol City Hall and gave them the tour, including of the Council Chamber that is based on the House of Commons and its spectacular painted ceiling which shows Bristol throughout its history.

Also present were Ashton FC’s safeguarding officer Sarah Maddox and Bristol’s German Honorary Consul Kai von Pahlen [(together with his young daughter who loves football and wanted to meet the players)].

Sarah Maddox said “Everyone had a really good time. The kids now have a strong bond, numbers exchanged and talks are already starting on when we are to visit them next year! We wish them well on their travel home.”

Kai von Pahlen added: “Sports exchanges, especially between the young people of Bristol and Hannover, have always been at the heart of the link between Bristol and Hannover.

“Since the beginning of the twinning in 1947, there has also been a close link between the Lord Mayors of the two cities, so we are very grateful to the Lord Mayor Paula O’Rourke took the time to meet our young friends from Hannover and share with them a part of Bristol’s history.”

Kai von Pahlen

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