Switzerland v WalesUEFA Euro 2012 Qualifier Tuesday 12 October 2010

Kick-off: 19:30 Venue: St.Jakob Park, Basel,

Football Supporters’ Federation WalesFSF Cymru Issue 25

Information for Welsh fans compiled by Welsh Fans.Information for Welsh fans compiled by Welsh Fans.

This information is produced to be issued free of charge to Welsh football fans. Thanks to the Home office ,Foreign office and the FAW for help with distribution.

FSF CYMRU HELP LINE + 44 7905861848

Barfussertrade is circled, this is where FSF volunteers will mainly be found at Pickwick pub and surrounding areas on match day .Give yourself at least 45 minutes to get to the stadium from here. The main station (Bahnhof ) is 4 tram stops on route 8 or 11 from Barfussertrade

Basel City centre map

Chairman/Treasurer... Vince Alm ...+447814 779441 FSF Executive council memberSecretary Paul Corkrey... 07903 619654 International officer/Home office LiaisonF.A.W. Liaison officer Melanie Richards 07823 337791Away match reconnaissance officer Neil Dymock +44 7852 305447

FSF Cymru helpline number + 44 7905 861848

Welcome to Issue 25 of the FSF Cymru information guide. Once again we will endeavour to provide a service for Welsh fans and collate information from the Home and Foreign office which we will add to other information we gather from other agencies and our own reconnaissance trips. All of this will be put together in FSF Cymru information booklets and distributed free of charge to all supporters travelling to International away matches. We hope you all have a great time in Switzerland’Thanks to Kevin Miles and the “three lions” producers for some of the information contained within this booklet

FSF CYMRU – by Wales fans, for Wales fans - an independent organisation, committed to helping Wales supporters.MISSION STATEMENT

To help and support Wales fans who travel away. Our role is to provide accurate and objective information, including a Risk Assessment: we convey what other agencies, such as police forces, government departments, and football authorities are recommending: we publish a comprehensive guide which is distributed free of charge to all travelling supporters: we operate and publicise a 24 hour Hotline for fans in difficulties: we arrange a Football embassy operation, at venues abroad, where we can offer advice, guidance and support as necessary.To work with the Football Association of Wales in all aspects affecting the fans, to ensure that the supporters voice is heard.A continuous, running dialogue is held with Mr Mark Evans, Head, International Affairs, we take supporters complaints, views to the F.A.W. for discussion. Mr Jonathan Ford , the new chief executive officer of the F.A.W. also attends meetings whenever he is available “To take every possible action to eradicate any inter club rivalry when fans are following the Welsh national team”

Neil Dymock Paul Corkrey Tommie CollinsThe Football Supporters Federation representatives from Wales (FSF Cymru) will be based in Basel the day before and on the actual match day...they can be contacted by calling the FSF help line number on+ 44 7905 861848..They will be happy to assist fans during our trip to Switzerland. Most Welsh fans are more than capable of looking after themselves but we are here if you need us. Hopefully Wales can have a great tournament and finally qualify for a finals...if this happens the FSF have already made preparations for the trip to Poland and the Ukraine. Have a safe trip...and lets take home three points

Images of Basel...Airport

Basel Mulhouse Euro Airport is located in France, in the tri-national Upper Rhine Region, i.e. very near to Switzerland and to Germany. In the French sector of the airport, it is usual to pay in Euros, in the Swiss sector in Swiss Francs.You leave through the Swiss/German customs and if you turn right out of the airport you will see the green number 50 bus, This will take you into the city centre (Main railway station, Bahnhof) You can pay the driver it is less than £3 and takes approx 20 minutes to reach the station in Basel centre.Taxi’s are also available but are quite expensive

General information about Basel and the surrounding areas

On arrival at Basel airport(also known as Mulhouse Freiberg ) you will notice that it is quite a modern small airport. You can change money on arrival from booths but you tend to get a better rate from ATM’s ( £67 gets you 100 Swiss Francs including charges with Lloyds TSB debit card). Once through the baggage area head out through the Swiss/German customs area rather than the French customs, into the main reception of the airport. You can hire cars here if required. Outside to your right at taxi ranks but they can be expensive to travel into the city centre. There will be a green bus (Number 50) available at regular intervals to take you into the city centre for only £2 one way (3 franks 40 cents) this takes you to Bahnhof SBB (the main Swiss/French railway station). From this area you can get trams to virtually anywhere in the City.( for more details read the transport section of this booklet)

There are many places to eat and drink throughout the City but it is a very expensive place, be prepared to pay almost double UK prices for beer and food, although there are cheaper options available for food around the Marktplatz and Barfusserplatz areas( see other pages in this booklet) On the day of the match FSF Cymru reps will mainly be found in the two main squares at Marktplatz and Barfusserplatz, and we will be at the Pickwick pub between 3-5 pm. There is a pedestrian area along that street with many choices for the fans to chose from.You will notice many McDonald restaurants during your visits and the cost of a value meal there is approximately £9.

On the evening of the game it is possible to walk to the stadium from the City centre, it takes 45 minutes, but trams are the best option and NUMBER 14 is the one you need, this stops at many locations in the centre including Messeplatz, Claraplatz, Rheingasse,Schiffande, Marktplatz, Barfusserplatz, Bankverein and Aeschenplatz (please see map on transport system page). It is wise to get to the stadium at least 30 minutes before kick off. Please carry your Match ticket with you it entitles fans to FREE transport on trams on match day only

Inside the stadium food and drink is available and it costs 5.50 Swiss Franks (about £3.70) for a beer but it will be NON ALCOHOLIC. Coffee, tea, chocolate, soft drinks costs 3.50 Swiss franks ( about £2.20 ) Hot dogs, Sandwiches etc start from 5 Swiss franks (about £3.40). Wales fans will be behind the goals. However street vendors do sell alcohol at the stadium tram station and there is alcohol available in restaurants which form part of the stadium

After the game you may be asked to stay behind for a short period of time but this is not always the case, on leaving the stadium you will see Trams to your left, these get very crowded for about twenty minutes but they are very efficient and almost as soon as one goes another pulls into the station...there area is cleared of fans quite quickly, but if you don’t like a crush hang back a little and wait until it quietens down.

Important telephone numbers

The FAW's Ticketing Officer, Lucy Jones, will be present in Basel to assist with ticket queries or problems. Her mobile telephone number is +44 (0) 7827 157 874.Please note it is unlikely there will be any spare tickets on sale in Switzerland. Tickets will not be on general public sale for the Wales supporters stand under any circumstances

British embassy + 44 31 359 7700Police 117 Fire 118, Ambulance 144FSF Cymru helpline + 44 7905 861 848

Basel

Basel...orientationThe Rhine passes through Basel from the east to the north therefore dividing the city in two. The south/west bank is classed as Greater Basel and it is here where you’ll find the old town including Marktplatz and Barfusserplatz, the two main squares. The old town is also where the main shopping and nightlife areas are. The north/east bank is known as Lesser Basel and is a more residential area with minimal sights.The border with France is approximately 2km north of the centre on the west bank and a little further down the Rhine (3km) on the east bank is the German border

About BaselBasel is the third most populated city in Switzerland, behind Zurich and Geneva, there were approximately 190,000 inhabitants living there at the last count, however Basel has suburbs in nearby Germany and France and as of 2004 it became the second most populated urban area with over 830,000 inhabitants.The main language spoken in Basel is German but the majority of the population speaks Baseldytsch, an Alemannic dialect, as their mother tongue. German is taught in schools and fluently spoken by virtually everyone, so if you speak German and they notice that you are a foreigner, they will most likely answer you in German as well. Also widely spoken are English and French, both of which many people are able to communicate in comfortably enough to deal with everyday interactions and will gladly work to understand you. The unit of currency is the Swiss Franc although Euros are accepted in various locations. The city is located in the Dreiländerecke (three countries' corner), of Switzerland and Basel is a gateway to the Swiss Jura mountains and nearby cities of Zürich and Lucerne, as well as the neighbouring French region of Alsace and the German Black Forest. There are a number of things to see and do if you have a few days to spend.

Eating and Drinking whilst in Basel

The streets of the old town in Basle are lined with many good cafe’s and during the summer most visitors eat outside, it does get quite cold in the evenings during October though.When you visit a sit down restaurant it is not always necessary to tip, most restaurants already have an allowance on the bill to ensure that the staff are paid proper salaries. However, while tipping is optional, it is a sign of appreciation of good service. If you have a drink or a snack, leaving "pocket change" is acceptable. For example, if your bill comes to 4.55 francs, you may leave .45 francs as a tip. If you have an inexpensive meal (up to 25 francs), a good waiter or waitress will appreciate a tip in the neighbourhood of 1-3 francs. In more expensive restaurants (meals for over 60 francs), it is fairly common to leave a tip of 8-10% - if you were happy with the service.If you are on a budget you will find food expensive in Switzerland compared to other European Cities and sometimes taking the short trip to nearby France or Germany can work out cheaper...you can make your own food but most food stores are closed in the evenings.McDonald's. Central Basel has several locations, and the ones in Claraplatz and Barfusserplatz are open until early in the morning. Be prepared for a shock though, as a combo meal costs well over 10 CHFSome of the large department stores in the city centre, Coop City, Pfauen, and Manor, have self-service cafeterias on the top floor. While they are not particularly cheap, they serve good food that is a reasonably priced alternative to a full-service restaurant. Note that salad bars usually sell food by plate, not by weight. If you are looking for a snack, the Coop Pronto convenience store usually has fresh baked breads and pastries, and sometimes has heartier pastries filled with meat and some packaged sandwiches. As can be expected, drinks are much cheaper at grocery stores than at cafés or restaurants. Many of the excellent bakeries and confiseries in town sell petite sandwiches that you can take away, and usually you can get some kind of small snack at any street café.

McGuiness Irish pub Elisabethenstrasse 33, Basel city centre

3 minutes from main railway station Tram 22 Floors, nine huge screens and competitive prices for food and drink

Unlike some bars in town they guarantee the full 0.5 L and they sell many favourites0.5l Strongbow, Guinness, Kilkenny, Newcastle Brown 8.20 Swiss Franks (£5.20)

0.5l Kronenbourg or Fosters 7.20 Swiss Franks (£4.60)

Switzerland is expensive and these are not bad prices for Basel !!

Images of Basel...Marktplatz and Barfusserplatz areas

Marktplatz square, Tram 8 and 11 from the main station gets you here. Tram 14 stops here for stadium

Lörrach, Germany... a short tram ride from Basel

The geography of Basel is confusing to many with it being a Swiss City with parts in Germany and France, however this can be an advantage to tourists especially those looking to avoid the expensive prices found in Switzerland.Tram number 6 will take you from many stops in the centre of Basel including Marktplatz and Barfusserplatz towards the terminus at Riehen Grenze, once you reach this terminus you will see a small bar/diner that is cheaper than Basel centre but if you walk a few yards you will cross the border into the town of Lörrach in Germany, the prices of eating and drinking is cheaper than Basel but its quite a quiet town. It maybe worth taking the short trip if you fancy a change from Basel prices.

Above we see the border crossing into Lörrach ,Germany, a few yards from where you get off Tram number 6, don’t forget your passport although the guards are rarely there and hardly ever ask to see it

FSF CYMRU HELP LINE + 44 7905861848

Saint Jakob Park Stadium, Basle

St Jakob Park was opened in 2001, so its a relatively new stadium, it replaced the old Basle stadium of the same name. It is the largest venue in Switzerland and was awarded four stars by UEFA, which is a prestigious award and the highest available for a stadium with a capacity of 42,500It hosted matches at the recent European Championships of 2008 in which the Swiss were joint hosts with Austria, including the semi final in which Germany beat Turkey 3-3 in front of over 39,000 spectators. Within the stadium, there are 32 shops on three different floors, as well as two restaurants The stadium has parking spaces for 680 cars on two different floors. Overall the ground ticks all the boxes with concourses lined with food and drink outlets, but like many modern stadiums it does lack some character and atmosphere.

MEL MORGAN SPORTS9-11 CHURCH STREET,EBBW VALE,GWENT,NP23 6BE

01495 302660Store@melmorgansports.co.uk

We recommend this company...they are probably the best independent sports suppliers outside of the major Cities

Proud Sponsors of FSF Cymru

To reach the stadium by road you need to follow signs along the A2, The stadium is located next to the A2... It's a long walk from Basel city centre to St Jakob-Park and not really worth it as there are trams and trains that do the journey in about 15 minutes.By tram, take Line 14 from the centre, either Marktplatz or Barfusserplatz, to St Jakob - the tram halt is at the corner of the stadium nearest to the away end.Alternatively grab a suburban train from Basel SBB station to St Jakob

British Embassy Information about Switzerland

 British embassy information for supporters of the Welsh football team

Basel, Switzerland October 12th 2010  1.TRAVEL INSURANCE: Do make sure you are fully covered for unexpected losses or expenses, particularly if you are travelling on ‘discount tickets’.  2. MEDICAL INSURANCE: Do make sure you are fully covered for medical treatment and medical evacuation.

3. HEALTHThe Form E111 is no longer valid. You should obtain a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) before leaving the UK. The EHIC is not a substitute for medical and travel insurance, but entitles you to emergency medical treatment on the same terms as Swiss nationals. It also does not cover you for medical repatriation, on-going medical treatment or treatment of a non-urgent nature.

3. PASSPORTS: Do keep a separate record of your passport details, preferably a photocopy of the details pages with next of kin contact details. Do report a lost/stolen passport immediately to the local police. Police reports are needed to obtain a new passport’ There will be a representative available to assist during this trip so please contact the FSF on the help line number + 44 7905 861848A good idea is to scan your passport on your PC and e mail it to yourself, if you subsequently lose your passport you can check your e mails and all the details will be there.

4. MONEYSwitzerland's official currency is the Swiss Franc (abbreviations CHF, sFr, Fr.), and is divided into 100 Rappen [Rp] / Centimes [cts], but the smallest coin in use is 5 Rp. It is recommended to have a small amount of cash (50 CHF) on hand upon arrival in Switzerland or to change at the airport / railway station for immediate expenses (taxi, city transportation etc.).Under Swiss laws, tourists may import and export any reasonable amount of Swiss or foreign currency to and from Switzerland in cash or traveller cheques. Please note that other countries do have severe restrictions and check with the regulations applicable in your country of origin and in countries you may visit in transitExchange rate September 1st 2010 1.00 British pounds sterling = 1.51 Swiss francs

5. SECURITY Switzerland is probably really the "safest place on the planet", considering both technical safety standards and security aspects (low rate of criminality, cautiousness of the population). But nobody and no system is perfect. Be cautious of pocket thieves, especially in crowded places.Statistics tell us that next to smoking, eating too much, drinking alcohol excessively, climbing chairs to reach the ceiling and using electrical devices in bathrooms, there are two major risks for Switzerland's inhabitants: sports and traffic accidents

6. DRUGS: Don’t get involved in any way with drugs. Penalties can be severe, heavy fines or imprisonment. Don’t carry anything through customs for anyone else

Welsh police officers at Wales away games

Please note that the Welsh police officers present at Wales games outside of the UK have no jurisdiction over the local police. They will assist fans whenever possible and communicate with the local police to try to ensure Welsh fans are treated fairly. They also liaise with the British embassy and assist FSF Cymru if any fans lose passports or need consulate assistance. They are also there to ensure no known hooligans or banned fans from Wales cause problems for the rest of the Welsh supporters.

British Embassy Information Switzerland

WHAT THE EMBASSY CAN DO:

Issue Emergency passports (one way) and Emergency Travel Documents (could be two-way);Provide information about transferring funds from the UK;Provide a list of local lawyers;Do all we can to contact you within 24 hours of being told that you have been hospitalised or detained;In an emergency and with your permission., contact your family and friends. 

WHAT THE EMBASSY CANNOT DO:

Get you out of prison or interfere in criminal or civil court proceedings;Give you legal advice;Investigate a crime;Get you better treatment in hospital or prison than is given to local people;Pay any bills or give you money;Make travel arrangements for you or find accommodation PASSPORT FEE: For an emergency passport is 118 Swiss Franks(89 Euro) 

Documents required for a replacement lost/stolen passport:

Passport application form C1, form for lost/ stolen passportTwo passport size photographsLocal police report of lost/stolen passportAny other identity e.g. driving licenceTravel itinerary

Lost or stolen passports You should report the theft of a passport to the local police so you can get a police report. You’ll need the report for insurance purposes and to obtain a replacement travel document from us. You should note that some police authorities will not issue a report for lost passports. In such cases we do not require a police report. If your passport is lost or stolen you should contact the nearest British embassy or consulate.You’ll need to complete an LS01 form in order for your passport to be cancelled. Identity theft is a growing crime.  To protect your identity please bring or send this form to us as soon as possible.  You do not need to wait until you apply for a new passport

Please Contact Paul Corkrey or Neil Dymock FSF Cymru, who will have access to the Welsh police liaison officers and they will do all they can to assist you with any issues relating to the Embassy..

FSF CYMRU HELP LINE + 44 7905 861848

Know before you go...before you take a trip anywhere outside the UK please visit the Foreign and commonwealth office website http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/

Basel transport and accommodation news

ACCOMMODATIONThe majority of available accommodation in Basel isn't cheap as it caters mainly for conference trade rather than tourists. That isn't to say there isn't any cheap accommodation available, it's just harder to find than usual. We strongly advise that you book your accommodation in advance - don't expect to just turn up on the day and find something available, you could find it a struggle. Once you have booked into your hotel, you will be issued with a Mobility Ticket (if your hotel participates in the scheme) which allows you to travel free of charge on all trams and buses. Please check this with your hotel.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT Basel has an excellent public transport system, it’s clean, frequent, reliable and covers all of the city centre and suburbs.Free on match day providing you have a match ticketTrams and Buses

BVB operates the majority of tram and bus networks - during peak times there is a tram or a bus every 6 minutes and every 15 minutes from late evening. Some trams are only operational during rush-hour. Buses run every day from 5am until approximately 11.30pm and virtually all trams and buses pass through Barfusserplatz.Travel cards are available if you don’t get issued with a Mobility Card when checking in to your hotel (see ‘Accommodation’ details above).If your hotel doesn’t participate in the scheme, you can still buy a transport pass or pay on the tram or bus for each individual journey of up to four stops in the central zone. An individual fare for up to four stops is CHF1.80 (approx £1) for buses, CHF2.60 (£1.55) for trams or a day pass for CHF8 (£5). Virtually the whole of the city centre of Basel is Zone 10 and the Airport is in zone 13, if you intend to buy travel cards ensure you have one for the correct zones.Tickets and day passes can be purchased from the BVB kiosks in the station or from ticket machines that will take both Swiss francs and Euro coins, but they rarely take notes.

Ferries

Supplementary to public transport there are a number of ferries that cross the Rhine between the bridges. Mobility Passes or other public transport travel tickets are not accepted on the ferries.

Local TaxisAirport Taxi - +41 (0)61 325 7200 33er Taxi AG - +41 (0)61 333 3333Taxi Zentrale - +41 (0)61 222 2222Stern Taxi - +41 (0)61 691 4444

FSF CYMRU HELP LINE + 44 7905861848

Main Swiss/French railway station (Bahnhof) where airport bus 50 terminates

The photograph was taken from the tram/bus station outside the station, the Hilton, Euler, St Gothard, Schweizerhof, Victoria Basel and Ibis hotels are close by. Inside the station there are tourist information offices and currency exchange ( 9am to 6.30 pm Monday to Friday , Saturday 9-4 pm closed Sunday)

St Jacob's stadium can be found on line 14 from the City centre in Zone 10

Transport system in Basel City area

Wear Red for WalesRemaining fixtures

Saturday March 26th 2011 England HOME...Friday September 2nd 2011 Montenegro HOMETuesday September 6th 2011, England AWAY...Friday October 7th 2011 Switzerland HOME

Tuesday October 11th 2011 Bulgaria AWAY

FSF CYMRU HELP LINE + 44 7905861848

St Jacobs stadium Basel