Then I found out that the game was going to be Ferencváros vs Újpest. The biggest derby in Hungary. And that it was going to be the last league game at Ferencváros stadium (which they’re going to demolish and rebuild soon). Well, that just made me even more excited about the match. Friends and colleagues warned me that passions would be high around the match – and that sometimes there was trouble between supporters. But, having followed football for several decades now, that didn’t put me off at all.

And I am so glad that I went. The atmosphere was incredible. The Albert stadium seats around 16,000 people. And I reckon every one of them was singing and chanting throughout the game. There were fireworks, flares, placards, cheering, jeering, jumping. A real show. The game was good too. Maybe not Champions League standard, but very exciting. And the home team won with the last kick of the game – sending the crowd (well most of them) into delighted celebrations. But the players weren’t the stars: the supporters were. I’ve been to football games round the world and I’ve never seen anything like it. A very big thank you to Botond for inviting me and to the Ferencváros club for taking such good care of me.

As I made my way home after the match I started to think about all the passion I’d seen. And, knowing the passion for sport in the UK, I wondered how I could best help encourage sporting links between our countries. There are big events here like the Formula 1 Grand Prix that might be opportunities. But what about other events? I’d struggle to get a Premier League club to visit. But maybe another British football team? Maybe exchanges in other sports? It would be an exciting project.

But what do you think? Where is the best chance of getting that Hungarian and British sporting passion together?

PS Thanks for the tips on preparing for the Balaton swim. My fitness regime started this week. I’ll let you know how it goes.

Source: British Embassy Budapest