And as Inter Milan and PSG meet tonight in Munich in the Champions League final here’s a Danke for der German football memories.
Not that I’d wish my early experiences on supporters or neutrals converging on the pride of Bavaria.
A fresh-faced pilgrim to the Oktoberfest I resolved to visit the cathedral of football that was the Olympiastadion.
To see the mighty Bayern Munich face Nuremberg in a fiercely-fought Bavarian derby.
Inside the ground I, of course, used what little German I had, Muller, Beckenbauer, Hoeness and they their Scottish knowledge, Stein.
Only here for der blows
Only the duelling didn’t stop there.
As I found out when I got back to the Hofbrau House where I encountered two footballing frauleins fighting.
And proceeded in true noble spirit to split them apart.
Only to get punched in the nose for my troubles.
And, to this day, I insist that it was their boyfriends, who had entered the row, who delivered the bloody blow.
With ambulances on hand, well this is Oktoberfest, the hospital patched me up and sent me on my way.
Only I couldn’t remember the name of the campsite and was grateful for the taxi driver’s local knowledge.
And for taking me to the biggest site in the city.
Where the Aussies and Kiwis, my Top Deck companions for the week, took up annual residence.
German lessons
The story, of course, ought to have ended there.
Only a hospital envelope arrived at my family home a month later addressed to James J Murty.
And, of course, my dad sharing my name but for the G initial would see it as his right to open my mail.
And he gave me a lecture about high jinx and reminded me that the bill was on me.
G’day my Beerfest buddies
As a thrill-seeking teen I, of course, ignored Pater’s advice.
And the high jinx continued up at Aberdeen particularly when the Aussies turned up unexpectedly one night and stayed a year.
But that and the next year’s Oktoberfest and singing on the bandstand are another story.
Fans for the memories
That brush with the Bavarians, of course, wasn’t about to put me off Germany.
And I have been fortunate enough to return regularly over the years.
And even tour the heartland of German football, the Ruhr
As well as Dortmund and the German Football Museum where I got pictured with the European Cup.
Alas, those Bayern Munich fans, wherever they are, will not get the pleasure this year.
Of seeing their favourites lift ‘Old Big Ears’.
But they can console themselves with their rich history to call on.
Of which I am part… Danke for der German football memories.