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Pirates, Punks & Politics
FC Sankt Pauli ? the football club in the red-light district of Hamburg; a transvestite chairman; terraces populated by punks, pimps and prostitutes; a club run by anarchists, united under the skull and crossbones flag. This is the clich(r) that has been lazily peddled, one which attracts clueless stag parties from the Reeperbahn to the Millerntor stadium. But itOCOs not the real St Pauli. In Pirates, Punks & Politics author Nick Davidson puts the record straight, intermingling the history of FC St. Pauli, and the district it represents, with an account of his own involvement with the club. Back in 2007 Davidson travelled with his father to watch his first game at the Millerntor. What he found reinforced his faith in football. This book goes beyond the stereotype to seek out the real St. Pauli ? a club with a passionate, left-wing fan base that has made a stand against, fascism, racism, sexism and both in football and wider society. As the author and countless others have discovered, the Millerntor is also a place which welcomes with open arms fans seeking an alternative to the rabid commercialisation of football elsewhere, encouraging them to stay for hours after the final whistle and immerse themselves in the vibrant fan culture. Read this book and fall in love with a different kind of football. All the authorOCOs royalties will be donated to the 1910.V. Museum, FC St. Pauli museum project."
252 pages, Paperback
First published February 14, 2014
35 people are currently reading
314 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
March 6, 2014
Nick Davidson's book about FC St Pauli is an absolute delight. I enjoyed every second of reading it and I wish everyone would read it, too. Not only does it introduce what FC St Pauli is about, it also shows what being a football supporter can (and in my opinion should) be about and the lengths some people go to find again what has been lost in the UK.
Nick provides the necessary facts and figures to establish how FC St Pauli fits into Germany, into Hamburg and into the district of St Pauli but more importantly he gives it life through the accounts of his personal experiences. I found myself cheering, fretting and even shedding the odd (happy-) tear (over the account of his daughter's first away match at Freiburg) with Nick Davidson.
Having read many other books about FC St Pauli, I can say that this is one of the best, and one I'll pick up again and again when I feel that twinge of "home"sickness for the Millerntor and the amazing supporters that make FC St Pauli what it is today.
If you have any interest in left-leaning politics, FC St Pauli, football, football fan culture, Hamburg, or even just a good non-fiction book, please buy this book and do it through the publisher as the money will then benefit the future FC St Pauli 1910 museum! :D
Nick provides the necessary facts and figures to establish how FC St Pauli fits into Germany, into Hamburg and into the district of St Pauli but more importantly he gives it life through the accounts of his personal experiences. I found myself cheering, fretting and even shedding the odd (happy-) tear (over the account of his daughter's first away match at Freiburg) with Nick Davidson.
Having read many other books about FC St Pauli, I can say that this is one of the best, and one I'll pick up again and again when I feel that twinge of "home"sickness for the Millerntor and the amazing supporters that make FC St Pauli what it is today.
If you have any interest in left-leaning politics, FC St Pauli, football, football fan culture, Hamburg, or even just a good non-fiction book, please buy this book and do it through the publisher as the money will then benefit the future FC St Pauli 1910 museum! :D
August 18, 2014
Didn't know whether to give this 2 stars or 4. I loved reading about the history of St Pauli, especially of the 80s and 90s, but much of Davidson's personal diaries of travelling to games were not very interesting. It didn't help that the editing of the book was poor, with mistakes and bad grammar still evident. Still, I'm pleased I read it.
September 9, 2023
Even though the majority of academic work deals with sport of various kinds, the vast majority of writing about sport bores me – so much of it focuses on highly corporatized, elite sport celebrating the conformist performer as hero. I say most because there is, in football (as in soccer) for instance, a dissident tendency but around the notion that another football is possible. There’s other counter forces in other areas as well – look at the level of athlete activism around issues related sexism and racism for instance, or the growth of alternative ownership models. One of the clubs that has drawn a lot of attention in the another football is possible debates is FC St Pauli in Hamburg, a team that has recrafted itself in the light of its neighbourhood, on the edge of the city and docks – or rather on the edge of urbanity – in an area with a strong leftist tendency. The cub has become associated with anti-fascism, anti-racism and –sexism, and with queer politics more generally: as Davidson shows, it’s not quite that straightforward but the image and reality are powerful.
This is a fan’s view of the club, well aware of its limitations, but setting out to give us a good sense of what it means to be an English fan of a German club that bounces around the league – at times in the Bundesliga, but more often more regionally focused. Davidson mixes reportage and discussion with narrative of specific games, traveling to and from match sites, and builds a sense of being a follower. It’s a powerful image that another football is possible but at time feels a bit hagiographic. Even so, it’s an engaging read and a reminder that not only is another football (or sport model more generally) possible, but that building it is both hard work and good fun.
This is a fan’s view of the club, well aware of its limitations, but setting out to give us a good sense of what it means to be an English fan of a German club that bounces around the league – at times in the Bundesliga, but more often more regionally focused. Davidson mixes reportage and discussion with narrative of specific games, traveling to and from match sites, and builds a sense of being a follower. It’s a powerful image that another football is possible but at time feels a bit hagiographic. Even so, it’s an engaging read and a reminder that not only is another football (or sport model more generally) possible, but that building it is both hard work and good fun.
October 26, 2025
brilliant blend of the personal and historical, thorough in its research and coverage of events. liked that individual games were interspersed with the chapters, placing his own experience in context. the volume of typos/mistakes/missing words started to grate after a while and disrupted the flow (though this is probably related to low-cost publishing) and found that he was repeating himself quite a lot in places, mentioning events several times as if for the first time.
but overall a gripping read and one that captures perfectly what football fandom should be about, and how far down the pan the game has gone in england. enjoyed reading this while on my german football weekender in north rhine westphalia
but overall a gripping read and one that captures perfectly what football fandom should be about, and how far down the pan the game has gone in england. enjoyed reading this while on my german football weekender in north rhine westphalia
January 9, 2021
Really good book that touches on everything special about st Pauli and about supporting a football club.
Clinched 5 stars by finishing with the match that Kate and I went to in 2013.
Clinched 5 stars by finishing with the match that Kate and I went to in 2013.
October 19, 2014
A fellow Manchester City fan told me that we should be twinned with Sankt Pauli as we are both teams from the city overshadowed by a wealthier neighbour with the name of our city but outside it. That both of us have spent time in recent memory outside the top division although out stories diverge somewhat after 2008 and the takeover of City by the men from Abu Dhabi. I visited the ground of the club when in Hamburg a couple of years ago. Therefore I was interested to read the history of the club and the travails of an English supporter going to see their matches. This is good. Read it.
May 3, 2014
A clear labour of love by a football fan rediscovering his love of fan culture. Well written and enjoyable, particularly as I read it en route to and in hamburg. Possibly a little overlong at times would be my only criticism but as the proceeds are going to a club fan museum I won't complain. Worth picking up for a fan of European football culture.
July 4, 2021
An affectionate and passionate book from an English fan of the German football club FC St.Pauli based in Hamburg.
As someone who has always had a passing interest in St.Pauli and the political context within which the club exists this was both enlightening and interesting.
The St.Pauli the progressive and left wing club of pirates, punks and politics as the book title suggests has always struggled to to maintain itself both on the pitch in opposition to better funded and more resourceful clubs, and also off the pitch against both the footballing and political authorities.
The author is a UK based fan who visits games in Germany three or four times a year and part of the interest in the book is the detail of the less than straightforward journeys this involves and also ( by implication ) the impact that these weekend long visits have upon his family back at home.
The period covered by the book sees St.Pauli experience some ups and downs on the field , relegations and promotions upto the Bundesliga and dangerously close to the regional level of German football.
The pleasure that the author gets from not only the football but the culture of supporting St.Pauli , the camaraderie and the sense of belonging is evident and enjoyable to read.
The remainder of the book is an overview of the history of the club, it's development and struggles and the unique place it inhabits not only in German football but arguably on a wider scale as a community focused and campaigning club.
There is very little available in English for people interested in the club as the author themselves acknowledges so this book does a service to those of us whose interest has been piqued by the clubs of pirates, punks and politics
As someone who has always had a passing interest in St.Pauli and the political context within which the club exists this was both enlightening and interesting.
The St.Pauli the progressive and left wing club of pirates, punks and politics as the book title suggests has always struggled to to maintain itself both on the pitch in opposition to better funded and more resourceful clubs, and also off the pitch against both the footballing and political authorities.
The author is a UK based fan who visits games in Germany three or four times a year and part of the interest in the book is the detail of the less than straightforward journeys this involves and also ( by implication ) the impact that these weekend long visits have upon his family back at home.
The period covered by the book sees St.Pauli experience some ups and downs on the field , relegations and promotions upto the Bundesliga and dangerously close to the regional level of German football.
The pleasure that the author gets from not only the football but the culture of supporting St.Pauli , the camaraderie and the sense of belonging is evident and enjoyable to read.
The remainder of the book is an overview of the history of the club, it's development and struggles and the unique place it inhabits not only in German football but arguably on a wider scale as a community focused and campaigning club.
There is very little available in English for people interested in the club as the author themselves acknowledges so this book does a service to those of us whose interest has been piqued by the clubs of pirates, punks and politics
June 10, 2017
Sanırım Şenol Güneş'e ait olan pek güzel bir söz var: "Futbol eskiden yoksulların oynadığı ve varlıklıların seyrettiği bir spordu, şimdi ise varlıklıların oynadığı ve yoksulların seyrettiği bir spor."
Futbolcular ve antrenörlerin kazandığı dudak uçuklatmakla kalmayıp aksine tüm Afrika'nın midesini doldurabilecek denli yüksek yıllık ücretler, medya patronlarının ceplerini dolduran naklen yayın ihâleleri, kulüplerin yeni pazar arayışına girip dünyaya açılıp restoran zincirleri misali küreselleşmeye katkıda bulunması, taraftarları yolunacak tavuk olarak gören ve futbolu ticari bir oyuncak hâline getiren düzen... Hayır, sevdiğimiz oyun bu değil!
Davidson insanları futbola bağlayan şeylerden ziyade futbolun insanları bağladığı/bağlayabileceği şeyler üzerinde durarak çok farklı bir noktaya dikkat çekiyor. Almanya profesyonel liglerinin asansör takımlarından FC St. Pauli'nin başarı ve mutlak mutluluk gayesi gütmeyen protest taraftarlarına odaklanıyor. Öyle ki homofobiye, ırkçılığa, hükümetlere ve onların baskıcı politikalarına, dayatılan sınırlara, çok sevdiğimiz "oyun"un topla tüfekle zulümle endüstriyelleştirilmesine karşı alabildiğince amatör kalabilmek için tek yumruk direnen ve bunu da hakkıyla yapan sayılı futbol kulüplerinden birini, FC St. Pauli'yi çok daha yakından tanıma fırsatı elde ediyorsunuz.
The Beatles'a, sevdiğimiz oyun futbolun sokak sokak aradığımız o "sevilen" yanına, romantiklere, savaş yıllarına, futboldan çok daha fazlasına dair bir kitap..
Ve pek tabii söylemesek olmaz: Futbol asla sadece futbol değildir.
Futbolcular ve antrenörlerin kazandığı dudak uçuklatmakla kalmayıp aksine tüm Afrika'nın midesini doldurabilecek denli yüksek yıllık ücretler, medya patronlarının ceplerini dolduran naklen yayın ihâleleri, kulüplerin yeni pazar arayışına girip dünyaya açılıp restoran zincirleri misali küreselleşmeye katkıda bulunması, taraftarları yolunacak tavuk olarak gören ve futbolu ticari bir oyuncak hâline getiren düzen... Hayır, sevdiğimiz oyun bu değil!
Davidson insanları futbola bağlayan şeylerden ziyade futbolun insanları bağladığı/bağlayabileceği şeyler üzerinde durarak çok farklı bir noktaya dikkat çekiyor. Almanya profesyonel liglerinin asansör takımlarından FC St. Pauli'nin başarı ve mutlak mutluluk gayesi gütmeyen protest taraftarlarına odaklanıyor. Öyle ki homofobiye, ırkçılığa, hükümetlere ve onların baskıcı politikalarına, dayatılan sınırlara, çok sevdiğimiz "oyun"un topla tüfekle zulümle endüstriyelleştirilmesine karşı alabildiğince amatör kalabilmek için tek yumruk direnen ve bunu da hakkıyla yapan sayılı futbol kulüplerinden birini, FC St. Pauli'yi çok daha yakından tanıma fırsatı elde ediyorsunuz.
The Beatles'a, sevdiğimiz oyun futbolun sokak sokak aradığımız o "sevilen" yanına, romantiklere, savaş yıllarına, futboldan çok daha fazlasına dair bir kitap..
Ve pek tabii söylemesek olmaz: Futbol asla sadece futbol değildir.
August 5, 2019
Nick Davidson writes with sincerity and insight about St. Pauli FC. I particularly like his stories of his matchday adventures with (old and new found) friends and family. I share his political sympathies and his negative views on the gentrification of English football. I'm just a little unconvinced that there are not one or two opportunists out there exploiting the 'mythos of St. Pauli' for their personal gain. I hope I'm, wrong! Regardless, it's an interesting read.
July 22, 2021
Yazar Nick Davidson, günümüz endüstriyel futbol çağında uçuk sayılabilecek, romantik bir işe soyunmuş ve 6 sene boyunca belli aralıklarla İngiltere'den kalkıp Almanya'ya kült futbol kulübü St Pauli'nin maçlarına gitmiş ve sadece maçlardan izlenimleri değil bir futbol kulübünün sosyolojisini de derinlemesine ortaya koymuş.
September 23, 2017
Futbol ve futbol kültürü üzerine okuduğum en nitelikli eserlerden biri olması ile birlikte kitapla ilgili tek eleştirim işin maç anlatımı kısmına biraz fazla yoğunlaşılıp korsanlar, punklar ve diğerleri hakkında beklediğim özgün hikayeleri pek içermemesi. Hoş ama biraz steril bir kitap diyelim.
June 25, 2019
A great read about the relationship of FC St. Pauli to charity, backstory into its political ideology, and the support of a UK fan. In some instances it felt like a chore but overall was an enjoyable read.
December 31, 2024
Thought it would be a historical record about an enigmatic football club but find myself only marginally more learned having read it - more of a slightly self-indulgent travelogue. Has a lot of grammatical errors and typos, plus the author is a Watford fan... Up the Luton.
August 13, 2025
I’m a big soccer fan and love punk rock so found out about FC St Pauli a few years ago and wanted to learn more about them. Enjoyed learning not just the history of the club but also German soccer and Germany post WW2.
March 11, 2021
Muy buen repaso de la historia reciente de un club icónico por su gente. Creo que redunda un poco en experiencias personales pero de todas maneras lo disfruté mucho.
September 12, 2024
such a shame st pauli decided to ruin it all and side with zionists
May 31, 2014
Having an active interest in St Pauli I looked forward to this book. Unfortunately despite Nick Davidson's obvious love of St Pauli it wasn't that great a read. It starts with a mix of his own experience of attending games as well as the early years of St Pauli. However his own personal tales of travelling are not that interesting. As harsh as it sounds I found the part about his failure to start his rental Mercedes car quite boring. On top of that he seemed to be writing more as an outsider looking in & getting some of his information from various other sources such as the internet.
Nevertheless his love of St Pauli shines through & he does his best to explain that being part of St Pauli is part of a community fighting against injustice. He also explains the 'Kult,' phenomenon of the 1980's which led to the media interest and explains how the skull and bones became associated with St Pauli.
If you've got an interest or want to learn a bit more than St Pauli then you'll probably like it. However if your looking for a book solely about football or following a team then there are better books out there like Tim Parks 'A season with Verona,' Tor!' or any of Simon Kuper's books.
Nevertheless his love of St Pauli shines through & he does his best to explain that being part of St Pauli is part of a community fighting against injustice. He also explains the 'Kult,' phenomenon of the 1980's which led to the media interest and explains how the skull and bones became associated with St Pauli.
If you've got an interest or want to learn a bit more than St Pauli then you'll probably like it. However if your looking for a book solely about football or following a team then there are better books out there like Tim Parks 'A season with Verona,' Tor!' or any of Simon Kuper's books.
March 16, 2015
Mein Überraschungsgeschenk zu Weihnachten und eines, das mich erst etwas skeptisch werden ließ. Denn klar bin ich ein Herzblut-Pauli-Fan, aber Bücher über Fußball oder irgendeine andere Sportart sind nicht eigentlich mein Terrain. Hab damals schon mit Fever Pitch Probleme gehabt. Nick Davidson’s Buch hat mir dennoch gefallen.
Es ist die persönliche Geschichte eines lebenslangen FC Watford Fans, der durch die heftige Kommerzialisierung der Premier League in England mehr und mehr die Lust und Liebe zu seinem Verein verloren hat und diese durch St. Pauli wiedergewonnen hat. Nach der Lektüre eines Artikels (!) über St. Pauli besucht er ein Heimspiel und – bang – ist es um ihn geschehen.
Die komplette Rezension findet ihr hier: http://bingereader.org/2015/01/05/pir...
Es ist die persönliche Geschichte eines lebenslangen FC Watford Fans, der durch die heftige Kommerzialisierung der Premier League in England mehr und mehr die Lust und Liebe zu seinem Verein verloren hat und diese durch St. Pauli wiedergewonnen hat. Nach der Lektüre eines Artikels (!) über St. Pauli besucht er ein Heimspiel und – bang – ist es um ihn geschehen.
Die komplette Rezension findet ihr hier: http://bingereader.org/2015/01/05/pir...
April 8, 2016
Really enjoyed the content of the book, having known next to nothing about FC St Pauli beforehand. There is a lot of waffle from the author of his own personal experiences, but they do depict the impact that St Pauli has had on his life. Definitely worth a read for anyone wanting an introduction to St Pauli and the authors passion has definitely left me keen to head to the Millerntor!
August 19, 2017
A bit dry in it's style but a well researched look at St Pauli, in terms of their history, politics and the authorities not exactly approving of the left wing leanings of the majority of the fan base. Expected more to be honest but it has given me the impetus to find out more about this interesting German football club.
Ray Smillie
Ray Smillie
February 12, 2015
A thoroughly enjoyable read about the history of FC St Pauli and football supporting. If you enjoyed reading Charlie Connelly's 'London Fields: A Journey Through Football's Metroland' you'll probably enjoy this beauty. Marvellous stuff.
July 30, 2015
He covers the history of the club incredibly well, which is nice. But he fails to capture the essence of what it's like to experience a st Pauli game first hand. Not a bad read though.
November 27, 2015
Parte travelog, parte histórico, parte apaixonado, inteiramente divertido.
February 7, 2023
that's a great book. You can't leave it.
January 27, 2016
Loved it, must read for soccer fans
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews