Members' Stories – Schalke FanClub UK

25 October 2025

John McMenemy (Scotland)

I had watched Bundesliga regularly on TV in Scotland for a considerable time, and was attracted to the passion of the fans in the German game. I was desperate to go to a Bundesliga game, and I knew in my mind that whatever would be my 1st game, that the home team would be my German team to support. My German friend Uwe got us tickets for S04 V Dortmund in Schalke's last season in the top league. I was blown away by the atmosphere in the Veltins that night, and Schalke was my team from that moment. It felt …

25 October 2022

Joffroy Verplancke (Belgium)

In my case, I became a Schalke supporter when I was a teenager. I discovered Schalke because of Marc Wilmots. Because Wilmots played for Schalke, a national television channel broadcast all of Schalke's European matches. I immediately fell in love with them when I saw the fans and the atmosphere at the Parkstadion! I've been going to about 8 to 10 matches a year, both home and away, since 2021. I'm also a supporter and season ticket holder for RSC Anderlecht; I live 10 minutes from the stadium. The atmosphere at the Veltins Arena always gives me goosebumps. I love …

25 October 2021

The flag has disappeared .... 👍💙⚒⚒⚒⚒🤍

A Schalke Advent Story. It so happened that our "Royal Blue" S04 was putting in a dismal Champions League performance when, quite unexpectedly, a winning goal for Schalke was scored in the 91st minute. Caught up in the general euphoria, one particularly devoted Schalke fan took a liking to our arena flag. First, he tugged at it, then waved it around, and finally, he rolled it up and stashed it under his jacket. He left the stadium, swaying unsteadily. After a victory lap around the grounds, he somehow managed to reach the S-Bahn (suburban train) and was eventually taken home. …

25 October 2011

Thomas Leblond (France)

In 2014 my dad let me watch a Champions League match and it was Schalke, 15 days later, I was able to watch the return match, At the end of the school year I had my first console, I necessarily played with Schalke, and this passion has been growing day by day for 12 years, at the age of 18, I was able to take the road to Gelsenkirchen And since then I come as soon as possible, I was still there, 1 month ago against Nuremberg and 1 week ago against Kaiserslautern

20 October 2011

Carl Clarke (England)

Straight out of school my first(and best ever)job was 10 years down a coal mine. I watched a you tube clip of the mine car tifo making its way down the nordkurve and it blew my mind(don't usually have those in English football grounds). From that point I was hooked

2 February 2011

Andy Travers (England)

It was my daughter introduced me to Schalke. She was 15 at the time and learning German. She started watching the Bundesliga and Ralf Fährmann became her idol. For Christmas I got us tickets to a game. However, through Instagram, she ended up being invited to a private box. I was blown away by the stadium and atmosphere, it was amazing and I was hooked there and then, even though we lost the game. Then after, Ralf came to see her and gave her his jersey. It was the only time I ever seen her speechless. 😄 It was a …

25 November 2010

John Mellor (England)

I was stationed at RAF Laarbruch from 1994/96 & went as a neutral to watch Monchengladbach vs Schalke, I was talking to a few fans & they explained that Gelsenkirchen was a coal mining town & as an ex miner they became my adopted team. In 2013 I became a member of the Schalke FanClub UK & saw them play at Chelsea in the champions league & a few days later I flew to Germany to see my first game at the Veltins arena. I was amazed at the friendliness of the Schalke fans & the fantastic arena & have …

13 November 2010

John Palfrey (England)

1982 on a tour of Germany we passed through Köln who were playing Schalke that afternoon. As you can imagine chaos ensued. I was hooked.